Australian racing tips – Saturday 23 July 2022 – Randwick

Best Bet: WAIHAHA FALLS (Race 7)

Value Bet: JAL LEI (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 7.

WAIHAHA FALLS is looking to complete his hat-trick after two emphatic victories over six furlongs, the latest when putting 4.8L between himself and the opposition, this despite coming three wide into the home straight. He struck the front at the 200M mark and the race was over as a contest at that point. He is drawn wideish in gate seven, but he has his peak run after returning from a 20 week rest and will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and as such, is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

TITANIUM POWER has solid formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a second place finish next time out over seven furlongs, 3.8L behind the winner. He is a speedy sort who stayed on well over the closing stages, but did hang in down the home straight. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

NIFFLER is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won over seven furlongs three runs back and then finished fifth last time out over nine furlongs, just over two and a half lengths back from the winner. She did hang out down the home stretch that day and was also reported to be lame in her near-fore, so that effort is best ignored. The drop in trip should be to her liking and from draw five, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 8.

JOJO WAS A MAN missed out on his hat-trick after two wins over seven furlongs when finishing up in second spot last time out over the same journey, but just a short-head behind the winner, but he had nothing go his way that day, coming three wide into the home straight and then hanging in from the 200M mark. His objection against the winner on the grounds of interference between the 300M and 200M marks was over-ruled and the result stood. He gets a handy draw five and could provide apprentice jockey Reece Jones with the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.

OSCAR ZULU is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth in his latest outing over seven furlongs, just under three lengths adrift of the victor, but he was held up on entering the home straight, so should have finished closer to the winner than he officially did. He will have to negotiate draw ten, but on that last showing, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer today.

GOLD TRIP has posted solid staying form over ground in France, finishing third last time out over twelve furlongs, just over a length behind the winner. He has his first start in Australia, but he did finish second in his only barrier trial over 950M to showcase his well-being. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate fourteen, so will need some luck in running, but he has jointed a top local stable. The betting could be the best guide as to his chances.

Race 9.

The day’s value bet, JAL LEI is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when second over six furlongs, just a short-head behind the victor. She jumped awkwardly that day and found herself at the back of the field and then had to come the widest of them all into the home stretch, before hanging in down the home straight, so should be considered an unlucky loser. She has cracked pole position and has her peak run after returning from a 14 week rest and could give trainer John O’Shea his second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top pick win the opening leg.

CONSCRIPT had his consistency rewarded with a 1.3L victory last time out over 1100M. He showed plenty of toe that day after jumping awkwardly and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He has his peak run after returning from a longer 21 week absence and is drawn wide in gate ten, but on the plus side of that, he will get 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

NERONE has won two of his last three runs and finished third in the other. He raced four wide throughout last time out, but still had enough in reserve to claim that last victory, which made the win that much more encouraging. The gelding has pulled gate eight and will have the service of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice to aid his cause.

Race 10.

This looks to be a tricky F&M Handicap with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested.

LADY BROOK jumped awkwardly, but still managed to sit second and then quicken well to win her last start over 1100M by 0.8L. She faces a wide draw thirteen, but she is a speedy sort who should be able to work her way across without using up too much energy. She will also be having her peak run after returning from a 28 week spell.

LADY BANFF has finished second in her last two outings, the latest over 1300M, beaten by a short-head in the shadow of the post. She too jumped awkwardly in that contest, but manage to find the front quickly, only to be denied victory in the last stride. She has her first run since returning from a 24 week break, but did finish third in her only barrier trial. She gets gate seven and will be looking to go one better today.

MOLLY NAILS is drawn one outside the latter and returns from a longer 25 week break, but also finished third in her only barrier trial. She won her penultimate start over six furlongs and then finished fourth last time out over seven furlongs, just over a length and a half behind the winner, but she overraced early that day and had to be eased off the heels of other runners at the 600M mark, before coming three wide into the home straight. She was also reported to have bled that day and was rested for the mandatory three months. Her trainer is obviously happy with her recovery and with 1.5kgs taken off her back for her claiming apprentice, she should be included in all bets.