Australian racing tips – Monday 17 July 2023 – Goulburn

Race 5

KLUM is a 2yr old filly taking on older horses, but she won on debut over 900M, albeit by just a short-head. It should however be noted that she raced three wide throughout, but still managed to finish off her race well. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat and is made the best bet on the day’s card, with ex-SA jockey, Heavelon Van Der Hoven in the irons.

CROSSFIRE ROAD put her disappointing penultimate start over five furlongs behind her when finishing second last time out over six furlongs, a head back from the winner. She showed plenty of toe that day and whilst drawn wideish in gate eight, she should use that early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. She will also be having her peak run after returning from a 27 week break and could be the biggest threat to the top choice.

WHITE LIAR has consistent formlines to her name and made good late progress when finishing third last time out over six furlongs, just under a half length behind the winner. She is drawn one outside the latter and should be doing her best work late to be involved in the finish.

Race 6

The top three selections for this race all hail from the Danny Williams yard, but the day’s value bet, JALMARI is taken to lead the trio home. He finished a disappointing twelfth last time out over 1550M, but he had nothing go his way that day. He was bumped at the start, overraced in the early and middle stages, held up at the 200M mark and his jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight. That was also at a stronger center and although he will have to negotiate draw eleven, with better luck in running, he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways.

MY BLUE JEANS had to weave his way down the home straight to get up to win his last outing over five furlongs by a neck. From his kinder gate three, he should be right up there when they hit the line and makes a solid back-up for the yard.

RENT A ROCK is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over 2100M, just under two lengths back from the winner. The gelding sat just behind the leaders that day, but couldn’t chase them down, suggesting the drop in distance will be to his liking. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but should use his early speed to overcome that without using up too much gas.

Race 7

ENCROACHMENT is a 2yr old gelding taking on older horses, but he shifted out bumping another runner shortly after the start and hung out on the home turn, before not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight, to end up in fourth place last time out over 1300M, 1.3L back from the victor. He will have to overcome a wide draw thirteen, but he should be doing his best work late.

DENMAN STAR was hampered at the 50M mark when finishing fourth in his latest outing over 1100M, 3.2L off the winner. He will be having his peak run for his new trainer since returning from a 46 week spell and from draw six, he should be viewed as a big runner here.

RISE TO IT is the stable companion to the top pick and has cracked pole position. He finished fourth last time out over a mile, 4.4L adrift of the winner and was immediately rested for 24 weeks. He returns here after having had the benefit if two barrier trials and make a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 8

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. VAAROOM was returning from a 27 week rest when finishing seventh last time out over five furlongs, four and a half length behind the winner, but he lost a length at the start, before finishing strongly over the closing stages and on that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer today. The gelding should put his pole position to good use.

RUPERTSON had his consistency rewarded with a 0.7L victory last time out over six furlongs. He struck the front at the 200M pole and then held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He has his peak run since returning from a 16 week rest, has drawn gate five and will have ex-SA jockey Brandon Lerena aboard, so should get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

MENTALISM finished eleventh last time out over six furlongs, nine lengths off the winner, but he was bumped at the start, overraced in the early stages and had to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 1000M mark, so that effort should be ignored. The gelding jumps from draw seven and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should be included in all bets.