Australian racing tips – Monday 1 January 2024 – Canterbury

Best Bet: RING AHOY (Race 6)
Value Bet: INSURRECTION (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00

Race 5

Two 3-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but BANGETTA is taken to lead the field home. She has won two of her last three starts, the latest over seven furlongs by 1.8L despite having to be checked at the 800M mark. She struck the front at the 200M pole that day to win going away. The filly faces a wide draw eleven, but she should be doing her best work late.

UTOPIAN WINE is another who has won two of her last three outings, the latest over a mile by a length. She hit the front at the 200M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. She has her peak run after returning from a 21-week break and from gate seven, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

HELLFIRE EXPRESS goes for his hat-trick after two victories over seven furlongs, the latest by one and a half lengths. He was bumped at the 200M mark, but stayed on well over the closing stages, so that effort was promising. The gelding has a handy draw four and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

Race 6

RING AHOY has cracked pole position and has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second in his last two outings over this C&D, the latest when beaten a head. He jumped awkwardly in that event, bumping into another runner, but produced a powerful finish from some way back to just fail to reel in the victor, so can be considered an unlucky loser. He gets a set of blinkers re-fitted for today’s run and if this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here and, as such, is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

Two 4-year-old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to VENETIAN BLUE won over 2130M three runs back, finished fifth in his penultimate start over seven furlongs and then sixth in his latest outing over 1550M, 1.3L behind the winner. She raced just behind the leaders in that contest and then finished off her race well. She has pulled draw six and will be having her peak run after returning from a 19-week spell and could be the biggest danger to the top pick.

YANKEE HUSSEL showed solid improvement to win her last start over 2100M, by 1.8L. She jumped awkwardly that day, but took over the running at the 600M mark and was never headed from that point. She gets a wide gate nine, but nevertheless, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

INSURRECTION followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a second-place finish next time out over six furlongs, beaten just a short-head. He jumped awkwardly in that race, bumping another runner, but recovered quickly to take the lead, only to be snared in the shadow of the post. The form of that race has been franked and from a useful draw two and with non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd, in the irons, he is made the value bet of the day.

RECOMMENDATION had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over six furlongs, albeit by just a short-head. He had to be switched for a run at the 350M mark but finished strongly to record a narrow victory. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide gate nine but seems likely to turn in another honest performance today.

BRUDENELL is a seven-time winner from just thirteen starts and has won two of his last three outings, the latest over 1100M by 0.8L. The gelding showed plenty of toe that day and whilst drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

Race 8

FIRE STAR has only had two runs to date, winning first time out over six furlongs and then trying to go from jump to wire before ending up in ninth place next time out over 1100M, four lengths off the winner and was immediately rested for 18 weeks. The colt returns here after finishing fourth in his only barrier trial and from a cosy draw four, he will be looking to bounce back to winning ways today.

TO THE EXTREME is a three-year-old filly taking on males, but she has also only had two runs, finishing fourth over this c&d on debut and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out over this C&D by one and a half lengths. She was crowded at the start and came four wide into the home straight in that event, before finishing strongly. She has pulled gate seven and the double is very much on the cards.

GLOBAL EMPIRE won over 1100M three runs back and has finished second over five furlongs and then third in his latest outing over 1100m, 4.3L behind the winner, this since returning from a 14-week rest. He gets a handy draw two and should turn in another solid effort today. He is a must for all bets.