Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Saturday's racing coming your way from Gosford on 6 May 2023.
Best Bet: CLEMENCEAU (Race 7)
Value Bet: MILITARY EXPERT (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 7 – 10)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
8 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
1 | 5 | 11 | 6 |
| 1 | 6 | 12 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 7
CLEMENCEAU has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second over this sprint trip last time out, beaten just a short-head. That was a Group 3 event and he came four wide into the home straight, before battling all the way down to the wire. He gets draw six and will be having his peak run after returning from an 18 week break and is made the best bet on the day’s card.
THINK ABOUT IT completed his quartet of victories when winning a Group 3 contest over 1300M by one and a half lengths last time out and has won a subsequent barrier trial. He showed plenty of toe on that occasion and whilst drawn wide in gate thirteen out of fourteen, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
FOX FIGHTER is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over 1100M, just one and a half lengths back from the winner, when returning from an 18 week break. He raced towards the back of the field and came the widest of them all into the home stretch, but made good late progress over the closing stages. The gelding is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne and although drawn wide in gate nine, he should be doing his best work late to involved in the finish.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, MILITARY EXPERT has cracked pole position and was returning from a 24 week break and came four wide into the home straight when ending up in tenth place last time out over seven furlongs, seven and a half lengths adrift of the victor. He stayed on well that day suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking.
PALMETTO came four wide into the home stretch before striking the front at the 200M mark to win his last start over 1500M by 2.3L going away from the opposition. He has his peak run after returning from a 16 week rest and whilst drawn wide in gate ten, he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.
WELWAL has finished second in his last two runs, the latest over seven furlongs, three and a half lengths off the winner, but he is another who came four wide into the home straight, before staying on well. The colt has a kinder draw three and should not be easily discarded.
Race 9
DIAMIL raced three wide towards the rear of the field, but stayed on well to get up in the shadow of the post to win his latest outing over ten furlongs by a head. He should have no issue with the slight step up in distance and he is sure to put his pole position to good use.
NAVAJO PEAK has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over ten furlongs with a second place finish next time out over nine furlongs, just a head back from the winner, notwithstanding being bumped at the start and racing three wide the whole way. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate ten, but he could give David Payne a quick double.
LORD ARDMORE was slow away and had to be held up between the 300M and 100M mark when finishing sixth last time out over a mile, 3.2L behind the winner, so that effort is best ignored. His previous form was solid and jumping from draw seven, he should be included in all bets.
Race 10
SHORT SHORTS is a four year old filly taking on the boys, but she won her penultimate start over seven furlongs and then tried to go from jump to wire when finishing fifth last time out over the same journey, beaten just under six and a half lengths. She has pulled a wide draw nine and is likely to attempt similar tactics today and should appreciate the drop in trip. She has her peak run after returning from a 16 week spell and could provide jockey Rachel King with her second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top pick win the second leg.
MARS MISSION is drawn one inside the top pick and shifted outwards shortly after the start when ending up in third place last time out over six furlongs, just over two and a half lengths behind the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning.
FLAG OF HONOUR has an even better pole position and had consistent formlines prior to finishing eighth in his latest outing over a mile, 25.5L back from the winner, but he was reported to have bled for the first time that day and has taken the mandatory three months recouperation spell. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, winning the latest to showcase his well-being and the blinkers are removed for today’s run. If this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.
