Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Muswellbrook on 19 February 2024.
Best Bet: ADAGIO (Race 6)
Value Bet: SHARP SHOCK (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
8 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
12 | 8 |
| 1 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
ENSIGN PARKER won over 1280M three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over 900M and was then a tad disappointing when finishing eighth in his latest outing over 1312M, eight lengths adrift of the winner, but he jumped awkwardly that day and raced three wide without cover, before being checked at the 100M mark, so he had his excuses. The gelding is drawn in gate six and will have his peak run after returning from a 15-week rest.
TOO MANY STARS is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys and followed up her penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a seventh place finish next time out over a mile, five lengths back from the winner, but she did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day. She gets a handy draw four and will have 1,5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, as well as having a set of blinkers re-fitted. If this move has the desired effect, she should be a big runner here.
BALLET PRIDE has cracked pole position and showed solid improvement when finishing second last time out over six furlongs, two and a half lengths behind the winner, but he had to weave his way through traffic down the home straight in that contest. If he can confirm that improvement, he should be a big runner here.
Race 5
JONNY BE SWIFT missed out on his hat-trick after victories over seven and ten furlongs when finishing third last time out over nine furlongs, just a half-length behind the winner, but he had to be held up at the 200M mark, so can be considered an unlucky loser. From gate seven, he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.
GULF OF TOMINI showed marked improvement to finish third last time out over seven furlongs, one and a half lengths behind the winner when returning from a 19-week break, which was clearly just what was needed. The gelding has pulled a useful draw two and could complete the exacta.
ROTHROCK is a 5-year-old mare taking on males, but she battled all the way down to the wire when finishing seventh in her latest outing over 1550M, just over six and a half lengths back from the victor. That was at a stronger centre and from one gate outside the latter, she should be included in all bets.
Race 6
ADAGIO tried to go from jump to wire, but shifted out at the 150M pole and was run out of it late when finishing second on debut over seven furlongs, one and a half lengths off the winner. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could be the one that they all have to beat. From a cosy draw three, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
ETCHED IN TIME jumped awkwardly bumping another runner and was bumped again at the 50M mark when ending up in fifth place last time out over 1300M, a length and a half behind the winner. That was also at a stronger centre, and he will have blinkers re-fitted for today’s run. The gelding faces a wide gate thirteen, but he has his peak run after returning from a 19-week break and for his new trainer and he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
RED IN THE MORNING finished seventh first time out over 1300M and then showed the expected improvement to end up in second spot next time out over seven furlongs, 0.8L back from the winner, but she was slow away that day and came the widest of them all into the home straight. The filly would have come on further with that run under her belt. She jumps from gate seven, and with 1.5kgs being removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice, she should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, SHARP SHOCK had solid form before finishing ninth last time out over six furlongs, just over two and a half lengths behind the victor, but he had nothing go his way that day. He jumped awkwardly bumping another runner, had to be checked off the heels of another runner at the 800M mark and raced wide throughout. With better luck in running here and from draw six, he will be hoping to chalk up his fourth career victory.
BONJOUR RUPERT raced three wide without cover but stayed on well when finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, just two lengths back from the winner. The gelding will have blinkers re-fitted today and from one gate inside the top pick, he could emerge as his biggest danger.
NEVER SORRY is a 4-year-old filly taking on boys, but she won her penultimate start over six furlongs when returning from a 12-week rest and race three wide throughout when ending up in seventh place next time out over 1300M, six lengths adrift of the winner. She was reported to have been lame in her near-foreleg, so that effort is best ignored. The filly is sure to put her pole position to good use and will also have 2kgs taken off her back for the services of her claiming apprentice.
