Australian racing tips – Saturday 24 August 2024 – Randwick

Race 7

JOLIESTAR is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she goes for her hat-trick after victories over 1600M and the latest over 1200M, albeit by just a short-head. She jumped awkwardly that day, bumping another runner, but struck the 300M mark and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The filly returns from a 19-week break, but has had two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing second in the latest to showcase her well-being. She faces a wide draw eleven, but she should be doing her best work late.

OUR KOBISON has won three of his last four starts, the latest over 1000M by a length, when returning from a 23-week break. He jumped awkwardly in that event, bumping another runner and then came three wide into the home straight, before finishing best to win going away. The gelding has a kinder draw six and should be right up there when they hit the line.

SOUTHPORT TYCOON followed up her penultimate run victory over 1600M with a tad disappointing ninth place finish next time out over 1400M, 8.7L back from the winner, but he did not act in the heavy going that day, so a line should be drawn through that effort. He returns from an 18-week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and second in the latest and although drawn wide in gate twelve, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.

Race 8

It seems appropriate that the race named after the great Winx should be dominated by three mares, all trained by Chris Waller. FANGIRL is a 6-year-old mare who has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1400M with a second-place finish next time out over 1600M (G1), 0.8L back from the winner, but she was slow away on that occasion, before finishing off her race well from some way back. She has her first run after a 25-week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and despite her wide draw nine, she is made the best bet on the day’s card to give Chris Waller and James McDonald the first two winners in the Jackpot.

VIA SISTINA won her penultimate start over 2000M and then finished second in her next outing over the same c&d, six and a half lengths adrift of the victor, but she jumped awkwardly and found herself some way off the leaders, before finishing well over the closing stages. She is a two-time Group 1 winner and although returning from a 19-week rest, she has had two barrier trials and makes a solid back-up for the yard.

ZOUGOTCHA completed her hat-trick when winning her last start over 1600M by a short-head. She raced just behind the leaders that day and then powered into the lead at the 150M pole, before just lasting long enough to claim victory. She is drawn one inside the latter and the drop-in trip should be to her liking.

Race 9

COMMEMORATIVE has won two of her last three starts and made good late progress to win the latest over 1100M by 1.3L going away. She returns from a 14-week rest, but did finish second in her only barrier trial. The filly has pulled gate six and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd and will be hoping to chalk up her fourth career victory.

THE BLACK CLOUD has cracked pole position and has also won two of her last three outings, the latest victory coming over 1100M by a length, this after showing plenty of early toe. The form of that race has also been franked and the filly has finished second in a subsequent barrier trial.

LADY LAGUNA won over 1300M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1500M and then a disappointing eighteenth in her latest outing over 1600M, 11.3L behind the winner, but she had nothing go her way that day. She jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner, had to be checked off the heels of another runner at the 1100M mark when overracing, came three wide into the home straight, and then finally hung in all the way down the home stretch. She returns from a 20-week break and will be having her first run for her new trainer, but has finished third in her only barrier trial to prove her fitness. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of himself here, notwithstanding a wideish gate eight.

Race 10

The day’s value bet, SPRING LEE is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she has consistent formlines to her name, winning over 1100M three runs back, finishing second in her next two start over 1100M, the latest by just a half-length when returning from an 11-week rest, but she overraced early that day and had to check off the heels at the 700M pole, before not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight. She will have to negotiate a wide draw nine, but with better luck in running she looks to be the one that they all must beat.

PANIC missed out on his hat-trick after victories over 1200M and 1400M when finishing twelfth last time out over 1350M, 34.4L adrift the winner and was immediately rested for 14 weeks. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, winning the latest and although drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, the engaging of champion jockey James McDonald catches the eye.

INVADER ZIM has won two of his last three runs and finished second in the other, so he clearly has some ability, the latest victory coming after being slow away and crowded shortly after the start and bumped at the 200M mark. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning and whilst drawn wide in gate ten, he will be having his peak run after returning from an 18-week break.