Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday's racing coming your way from Muswellbrook on 2 June 2024.
Best Bet: OAKFIELD DUKE (Race 6)
Value Bet: AQUARTER (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
8 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
4 | 10 | 6 | 11 |
3 | 9 |
| 8 |
6 |
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7 |
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Cost: R90.00
Race 4
This looks to be a tricky race to open the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. CHOICE WITNESS is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but had her consistency rewarded with a one-length victory last time out over 1200M. She finished strongly that day, striking the front at the 200M mark to win going away. The form of that race has been franked and jumping from gate seven, she looks to be the one to side with here.
FIFTY FIVE MUSTANGS has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1250M with a sixth-place finish next time out over 1300M, just under a length back from the winner, but he was slow away that day, losing a length and had to be eased at the 800M mark, so he had his excuses. The gelding gets a wide draw ten, but he should turn in another honest performance today.
CHRISTA is a 4-year-old filly who has only had three runs to date, winning her first two over 1300M and then finishing fourth in her latest outing over 1400M, one and a half lengths back from the victor when returning from a 20-week break. She returns this time after a 17-week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing fourth in both and from draw six, she should be included in all bets.
Race 5
A 4-year-old and a 3-year-old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but FOURTH SPARGO is taken to lead the field home. She had finished third in her two runs prior to ending up in eighth place last time out over 1100M, six lengths adrift of the winner, but she overraced in the early and middle stages in that event and had to be held up at the 250M mark. The filly was also returning from a 49-week break that day and having her first run for her new trainer. She has pulled a handy draw four and if now fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here.
IN MY DREAMS won her maiden race last time out over 1000M by one length, despite racing three wide throughout after jumping awkwardly and having to weave her way through traffic in the home straight and hanging out over the latter stages. She will have to negotiate a wide gate ten, but will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
POCKET PICKER on the other hand has cracked pole position and sat just behind the leaders before staying on well to finish second in his latest outing over 1000M, just a length off the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning.
Race 6
OAKFIELD DUKE won his last start over 1250M by a half-length, notwithstanding being held up at the top of the home straight and only seeing daylight at the 150M pole, before shifting out at the 50M mark, bumping another runner in the process. He is sure to put his pole position to good use and with a trouble-free run, he may prove hard to topple and is made the best bet on the day’s card.
AMICUS CURIAE jumped awkwardly, but hit the line hard to win his last start over 1200M by 0,8L. The gelding returns from a 26-week rest, but has finished second in his only barrier trial and from a useful gate three, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.
DIRTY MERCHANT had finished second in his two runs prior to being a tad disappointing when finishing thirteenth in his latest outing over 1600M, 6,3L adrift of the victor, but it should be noted that he raced four wide into the home straight that day, before not quite going on with his effort over the closing stages. The gelding has pulled gate seven and should do better here over the shorter trip to be involved in the finish.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, AQUARTER has won two of his last three starts, the latest over 1000M by a length, when returning from a 20-week absence. He struck the front at the 200M mark, and the race was over as a contest from that point. The gelding jumps from gate seven and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
LINE OF LAW is a 3-year-old filly taking on males and had solid form prior to finishing tenth last time out over 1100M, 7.3L behind the winner, when returning from a 15-week rest. She tried to go from jump to wire that day and from her cosy draw two, she is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and prove hard to reel in.
STARANE has also won two of his last three outings, the latest over 1000M by putting 2.8L between himself and the opposition, this despite hanging out over the closing stages. The gelding jumps from gate six and will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice in his attempt to chalk up his fifth career win.
