Australian racing tips – Saturday 25 June 2022 – Randwick

Best Bet: BATTLETON (Race 8)

Value Bet: MISS DIOR (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 7 – 10).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 7.

This looks to be a tricky race to start off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested.

SOLAR APEX has consistent formlines to his credit and although recorded as finishing fifth last time out over nine furlongs, he was just 1.8L behind the winner. He jumped awkwardly that day and then had to be eased shortly after the start, before being held up entering the home straight, so that effort was encouraging. The form of that race has been franked and from draw five and with having 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he looks to be the one to side with here.

BETHENCOURT won over a mile three runs back and then put his disappointing penultimate run over ten furlongs firmly behind him to finish second last time out when dropping down to a mile, 0.8L back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that contest and then came four wide into the home stretch, but finished off his race well. He has a handy gate three and will also have 2kgs removed from his back courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

BORN A KING is the stable companion to the top choice and had his consistency rewarded with a 1.3L victory last time out over ten furlongs. He hit the front at the 200M pole that day and then held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate fifteen, but he will have ex-SA jockey Glyn Schofield in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle and makes a solid back-up for the powerful Chris Waller yard.

Race 8.

BATTLETON is seldom far off the action as his record of seven runs for two firsts, two seconds and two third place finishes will attest to. He stayed on well when finishing second last time out over a mile, two lengths adrift of the victor and should have little issue with the drop down in trip. The gelding will have to negotiate gate thirteen, but he should be doing his best work late and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

MARIAMIA is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she followed up her penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a fourth place finish last time out over 1300M, just under a length and a half off the winner. She has cracked pole position and should appreciate the extra ground on offer today. The mare could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

OSCAR ZULU came three wide into the home straight, but made good late progress to end up in third place last time out over a mile, two lengths adrift of the winner. He jumps from gate seven and should be involved in the finish.

Race 9.

The day’s value bet, MISS DIOR is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she seldom runs a bad race and finished strongly to win her last start over five furlongs, albeit by just a short-head. She was reported to have bled that day and as a result was rested for 42 weeks. She returns here after winning her only barrier trial and has pulled a useful gate two. The fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them.

HULK raced towards the rear of the field and only saw daylight at the 250M mark, before delivering a powerful finish to end up in sixth spot in his latest outing over five furlongs, 2.3L behind the winner. He gets draw four and should be right up there when they hit the line.

MAMARAGAN came the widest of them all into the home straight before finishing third last time out over 1100M, just under two lengths adrift of the victor. He will start from gate eight and will have the services of a 2kgs claiming apprentice.

Race 10.

SINBA put 5.3L between himself and the opposition when winning his last start over 1300M. He was returning from an 11 week rest that day and kicked clear at the 200M pole and the race was over as a contest at that point. He faces a wide draw eleven, but the double is very much on the cards.

JOJO WAS A MAN has won two of his last three outings, the latest over seven furlongs by 0.8L and the form of that race has been franked. From gate five and with having 2kgs taken off his back for his claiming apprentice, the gelding will be hoping to chalk up his fifth career win today.

KINGSHEIR was returning from a longer 18 week absence when winning his last start by a head, notwithstanding being bumped at the 700M mark. He finished strongly that day and whilst having to overcome a wide seventeen out of eighteen draw, on the plus side he will get 3kg removed from his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should be included in all bets.