Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Randwick on 23 December 2023.
Best Bet: ARISTONOUS (Race 9)
Value Bet: WAVERIDER BUOY (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 7 – 10)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
10 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
5 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
8 | 8 | 11 | |
11 | |||
9 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 7
WAVERIDER BUOY is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she had finished second in her three runs before winning her last start over 1100M, albeit by just a short-head. She finished strongly that day and whilst returning from a 16-week rest, she has finished third in her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but she should be doing her best work late and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
WITH YOUR BLESSING has consistent form lines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a seventh-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, 1.8L back from the winner. He raced just behind the leaders that day and should be suited to the drop-in trip. He will have to negotiate gate nine, but he should turn in another honest performance today.
VA VIA is another 4-year-old filly in the race. She missed out on her hat-trick after two victories over six furlongs when finishing fifth last time out over 1300M, 2.8L behind the winner, but she jumped awkwardly in that event, bumping another runner and then overraced in the middle stages. She returns from a 16-week break but has benefitted from two barrier trials. Notwithstanding a wide draw eleven, she should not be lightly overlooked.
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. CAVALIER CHARLES struck the front at the top of the home straight and was only outrun late to end up in fourth place last time out over seven furlongs, 2.8L back from the winner. The gelding faces a wide draw nine, but he does look to be the one to side with here.
WAIHAHA FALLS has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over six furlongs, just a neck behind the winner, but he did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, only seeing daylight at the 130M mark, before finishing off his race well. He has his peak run after returning from a 19-week spell, and although drawn wide in gate eleven, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
OUR REDENTE on the other hand has a handy draw three and came five wide into the home straight before staying on well over the closing stages to finish second last time out over six furlongs, just a head back from the victor. The gelding should be included in all bets.
Race 9
The day’s best bet, ARISTONOUS was bumped shortly after the start and found himself towards the back of the field, forcing him to come the widest of them all into the home straight, but then finished off his race well to end up in third spot last time out over a mile, just over a half-length off the winner. The gelding was returning from an 18-week absence that day and from a useful draw three, he could prove hard to topple.
TOO MUCH CAVIAR jumped awkwardly and had to be eased off the heels of another runner shortly after the start when finishing seventh last time out over twelve furlongs, just under seven and a half lengths adrift of the victor, so that effort is best ignored. The gelding returns from a 15-week rest, but has had three barrier trials, winning the latest. From draw seven, he could be the biggest danger to the top choice.
STATE OF AMERICA won over today’s journey three runs back, finished fourth in his penultimate start over the same trip and then third in his latest outing, also over the same distance, 1.7L behind the winner, but he had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 1400M mark and was then hampered at the 400M pole before finally being held up until the 200M mark. In addition, his jockey put up 0.5 kg overweight. The gelding is drawn one inside the latter and is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne and should be involved in the finish.
Race 10
DANAUSTAR goes for his hat-trick after victories over six and seven furlongs the latest by 0.8L. He went from jump to wire that day and from his cosy draw four, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today.
TESTATOR SILENS was returning from a 30-week break and was having his first run for his new trainer when showing solid improvement to finish second last time out over six furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner. He did come four wide into the home stretch in that contest but made good late progress over the latter stages. The gelding jumps from a handy draw two and should be right up there when they hit the line.
MASTER SHOWMAN has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over six furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner and if he has continued down the same path of improvement, he should be right up there when they reach the winning post. He will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but he will be having his peak run after returning from a 17-week break.
