Australian racing tips – Saturday 27 July 2024 – Randwick

Race 7

FLEETWOOD had won twice in a row prior to finishing third in his next two outings, the latest over 1200M, 1.3L behind the winner, but that was in a Listed Race. He tried to go from jump to wire that day, only to be run out of it late. The gelding gets a handy draw four and is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and is made the best bet on the card.

Two 4-year-old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to SHEZANALISTER who has cracked pole position and who has won two of her last three starts, the latest over 1100M by just under a half-length, when returning from a 19-week rest. She was slow away that day, but struck the front at the 200M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The filly could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

BUBBA’S BAY completed her hat-trick when winning her last start over 1200M, albeit by just a short-head. She returns here after a 16-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing second in the latest. The filly is drawn wideish in gate seven, but on the plus side, she will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

Race 8

KERGUELEN has only had three runs to date, winning on debut over 1200M, finishing second next time out over 1300M and then winning again last time out over the same sprint trip 1.8L, this despite having to be eased at the 500M mark. The form of that race has been franked and he should put his pole position to good use to give the trainer/jockey combination of James Cummings and James McDonald the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.

VIVY AIR is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she stayed on well to finish fifth in her last start over 1800M in a Group 3 event, 4.3L back from the winner and was immediately moved to another yard and rested for 15 weeks. She now has her first run for her new trainer after two barrier trials, finishing fourth in the latest and if fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here, jumping from gate six.

INVADER ZIM has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1200M with a second-place finish next time out over 1300M, beaten just a short-head. He was returning from an 18-week rest that day and nothing went his way in that event. He jumped awkwardly bumping another runner, overraced three wide without cover and into the home straight, but still managed to battle on all the way down to the wire. The gelding is drawn one outside the latter and should be included in all bets.

Race 9

AWASH had his consistency rewarded with a 0.8L victory last time out over 1700M, this after kicking clear of the opposition at the 300m pole and hitting the line hard. He faces a wide draw ten, but could complete the hat-trick for champion jockey James McDonald.

ETNA ROSSO sat just behind the leaders and then burst clear at the 200M mark to win his latest outing over 2100M by 1.3L going away. The gelding returns from a 20-week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and from draw six and with him having 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

THE ENGLISHMAN is drawn one inside the latter and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when second over 1800M, just a head behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was slow away on that occasion and came four wide into the home straight, before making good late progress over the closing stages.

Race 10

Two 4-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s value bet, NINGALOO STAR is taken to lead the field home. She has won two of her last four runs and made solid improvement on her previous two outings to win her last start over 1200M by a short-head. The form of that race has been franked and although drawn wideish in gate eight, she will have 2kgs taken off her back for the services of her claiming apprentice.

SEQUESTERED won over 1400M three runs back, finished fourth in her penultimate start over 1600M and then ninth in his latest outing in a Listed Race over the same journey, nine lengths adrift of the victor. She has her first run after a 37-week break, but has had two barrier trials and the engaging of James McDonald is encouraging. The fillies drawn six should not present a problem.

LITTLE COINTREAU won four runs back, then finished third in his next two starts before winning by a head last time out over 1400M. He was slow away that day and was bumped shortly after the start and then again at the 250M mark, so that victory was full of merit and whilst drawn wide in gate fourteen, he should be doing his best work late.