Australian racing tips – Saturday 24 December 2022 – Randwick

Best Bet: IOWNA MERC (Race 10) 
Value Bet: SAINT OF KATOWICE (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 7 – 10)

Cost: R54.00  

Race 7

DEMOCRACY MANIFEST had his consistency rewarded with a 1.2L victory last time out over seven furlongs, this despite being hampered at the start and having to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 500M mark, before finishing well to win going away. From his handy draw three, he looks to be the one to side with here.

MAHAGONI made good late progress to finish fifth last time out over a mile, 3.7L behind the winner. He gets gate five and is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne and will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd.

SUPER STRIKE stayed on well when ending up in third place last time out over seven furlongs, suggesting that the extra ground on offer today will be to his liking. He gets a useful draw two and should be included in all bets.

Race 8

SUNSHINE IN PARIS has only had the two runs to date, winning over six furlongs on debut and then finishing third next time out over the same sprint trip, just a half-length back from the winner. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and although draw wide in gate ten, on the plus side she will get 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd.

KIR ROYALE’S seven runs to date have yielded three wins, two seconds and a third-place finish, so clearly, she has some ability. She overraced in the early stages when finishing second here latest start over six furlongs, just under a half-length off the winner, when returning from a 29-week break. Jumping from draw five, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

PRETTY WILD is the stable companion to the top choice who has won two of her last four outings and finished second in the other two, the latest one of those second places over six furlongs, just under a half-length adrift of the victor. She was returning from a shorter 18-week rest that day and whilst drawn the widest of them all in gate fourteen, given her style of racing, she 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. She makes a solid backup for the powerful Chris Waller yard.

Race 9

The day’s value bet, SAINT OF KATOWICE has won two of his last four runs, the latest victory coming last time out over seven furlongs by 1.7L. He sat just behind the leaders that day and then quickened smartly in the home straight to win going away. The gelding was returning from a 28-week spell that day and from gate five, he could prove hard to topple.

GREEN SHADOWS has consistent formlines to his name and was bumped shortly after the start and came three wide into the home stretch, before being grabbed in the shadow of the post to lose a short-head last time out over a mile. He has pulled a wide draw nine but will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. He will also get a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.

ROBUSTO won over a mile three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over the same journey and then tenth last time out over seven furlongs, 4.2L behind the winner, but he did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight in that contest and that effort is best ignored. He gets a useful draw two and will be looking to bounce back to some of his better form today.

Race 10

IOWNA MERC has had just the four runs, winning two and finishing second in the other two, the latest victory over 1100M by 0.7L. He jumped awkwardly, but battled all the way down to the wire and notwithstanding a wide draw nine, he is made the best bet on the day’s card.

KALINO had consistent formlines to his name prior to finishing seventh last time out over a mile, 4.7L off the winner, but that was in very heavy going and he raced wide throughout without cover. He returns from a 12-week rest, but did win his only barrier trial to prove his fitness and from draw five, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

DEVIL’S THROAT is seldom far off the action, finishing sixth in his latest outing over six furlongs, two lengths behind the winner. He was slow away that day and came four wide into the home straight, but stayed on well over the latter stages. The gelding will have to deal with a wide eleven draw, but will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should be involved in the finish.