Australian racing tips – Sunday 03 July 2022 – Grafton

Best Bet: WONDERWHEN (Race 6)

Value Bet: CABSAV (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 6.

WONDERWHEN is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won over seven furlongs three runs back and has finished third twice over today’s c&d since then, the latest just under a length and a half behind the winner. She raced up with the pace that day and was only run out of it late and the form of that contest has stood up well with two runners out of that race subsequently winning. She returns from an 11 week rest, but did win her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate twelve, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

WIZARD OF OZ showed plenty of toe when winning his maiden race last time out over six furlongs by 2.3L. He takes on stronger and faces a wide draw ten, but he may well be up to the task at hand.

D’ORA HEART has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs, the latest when second over six furlongs, just a half length adrift of the victor. He was slow away that day, but finished off his race well. From a kinder draw five, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 7.

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. The tentative top pick goes to SWEET HOME ALABAMA who is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she came from some way back before finishing well to end up in second place last time out over six furlongs, 2.7L behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She has cracked pole position and if her jockey can have her more handily placed turning for home, she could be the one that they all have to beat.

SALT AND PEPPER has finished third in his last two outings, the latest over five furlongs, 2.8L off the winner, but he had to be eased off the heels of other runners shortly after the start that day and then came five wide into the home straight, so that effort was commendable. He faces a wide gate ten, but he should be doing his best work late.

PUERTO RICO had solid form prior to disappointing last time out when tenth over 1450M, just under twelve and a half lengths adrift of the victor. He tried to go from jump to wire that day, but faded tamely in the home stretch, but it should be noted that he was reported to have cardiac arrythmia that day, so that effort is best ignored. The gelding has finished third in a subsequent barrier trial to prove his fitness and despite a wideish gate eight, he should not be lightly overlooked.

Race 8.

The day’s value bet, CABSAV followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a fifth place finish next time out over 1300M, just under two lengths behind the winner. He stayed on well that day and on that performance, he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here. His useful gate four will do him no harm.

FIGHTING MAGNUS missed out on his hat-trick in his penultimate start over nine furlongs and then finished sixth next time out when dropping down to seven furlongs, five lengths back from the winner, but he did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day. He jumps from gate two and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

ROYALE RETURN won his penultimate start over seven furlongs and then finished eighth last time out over 1300M, eight lengths behind the winner, but that was at a stronger center. The gelding is drawn seven and should be right up there when they hit the line.

Race 9.

THE LIONESS is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she has won two of her last three runs, the latest over 1350M by a head when delivering a strong finish to get up in the shadow of the post and the form of that race has been franked. She has her first run since a 20 week break, but she has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the latest. She will have to overcome a wide gate eleven, but will have ex-SA jockey Robbie Fradd in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

GOGOL attracted plenty of betting support when finishing a short-head second last time out over six furlongs, but he jumped awkwardly that day and then hung in from the 250M mark, so can be considered an unlucky loser. He has not fared much better with his wide draw thirteen, but given his style of racing, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the closing stages of the race.

PARKSVILLE on the other hand has pulled gate two and had solid form before disappointing in his latest outing over 1350M, finishing nineth, 7.2L behind the winner and was immediately rested for 14 weeks. He returns here after winning his only barrier trial and should be included in all bets.