Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Randwick on 30 December 2023.
Best Bet: STEP ASIDE (Race 9)
Value Bet: DOLLAR MAGIC (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 7 – 10)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 2 | 11 | 6 |
1 | 5 | 9 | 11 |
3 | 8 | 8 | |
| 4 | ||
7 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 7
GREBENI has won two of his last three starts, the latest when finishing strongly to get up in the shadow of the post to win a head over this C&D, to record his sixth career victory. He gets a handy draw four and looks to be the one that they all must beat.
CHARTERHOUSE followed up his penultimate run victory over today’s trip with a tenth place finish next time out over this C&D, just over four lengths back from the winner, but he was checked at the 1000M mark and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day. The form of that race has, however, been franked and from gate two, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
EXCELLENT PROPOSAL showed solid improvement for a seventh-place finish last time out over a mile, but just one and a half lengths back from the winner. He made good late progress over the closing stages in that event and whilst drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, on the plus side he will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, DOLLAR MAGIC has finished second in her last five starts, the latest when staying on over five furlongs, 2.3L behind the winner. She has a useful draw three and will be hoping to go one better today.
EITHER OAR has consistent formlines to her name, finishing third last time out over 1300M, just a neck behind the victor. She returns from a 26-week break but has had three barrier trials, winning all three. She is drawn the widest in gate ten, but she gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause.
ACAPPELLA SUN is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over five furlongs, 1.8L back from the winner, but she bumped another runner at the 300M mark and then had to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 200M pole, so she had her excuses. From draw seven, she should turn in another honest performance here.
Race 9
STEP ASIDE has consistent formlines to his credit and followed up his penultimate start win over 1300M with a second-place finish next time out over seven furlongs, just a short-head off the winner. He had to be held up between the 400M and 150M mark that day, so can be considered an unlucky loser. The objection lodged by his connection against the original second-place finisher for that interference was upheld and he was promoted to the runners-up spot. The gelding jumps from gate six and will be having his peak run after returning from an 18-week break and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
TESTATOR SILENS has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1300M, 0.7L behind the winner, when having his second run for his new trainer and returning from a 30-week spell. He did not get the clearest of passages down the home stretch on that occasion and notwithstanding a wide draw nine, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.
GRACILISTYLA is the stable companion to the top choice and battled all the way to the wire when finishing ninth in his latest outing over six furlongs, 2.8L adrift of the victor. He was returning from a 14-week rest that day and from a cosy draw three, he makes a solid backup for the powerful Chris Waller yard.
Race 10
This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. CONTEMPORARY’S last three runs have yielded a third and two second-place finishes, the latest over six furlongs, just a head back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that event and had to be eased off the heels of another runner on the home turn, but stayed on well over the latter stages. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw eight, but he should be doing his best work late.
UNION ARMY is seldom far off the winner, finishing third last time out over 1100M, 1.3L back from the winner, but he was slow away on that occasion, finding himself towards the back of the field and having to be held up at the entrance to the home stretch, before finishing off his race well. The gelding was returning from a 27-week break that day and from one gate outside the former, he seems likely to post another solid performance today.
SHOHEI is a 5-year-old mare taking on males, but she overraced in the early stages, finding herself at the front of affairs, before being run out of it late to end up in third spot last time out over six furlongs, just under a half-length behind the winner. She has pulled gate five and will be having her peak run after returning from a 31-week break. Zac Lloyd takes the ride which is a plus.
