Australian racing tips – Sunday 11 August 2024 – Dubbo

Race 5

Although THE HUNGARIAN is recorded as finishing sixth in his latest outing over 1280M, he was just two lengths behind the winner, when returning from a 34-week break. He battled all the way down to the line that day and would have come on further with that run under his belt. The gelding gets a draw of seven and will have ex-SA jockey Donovan Dillon in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

REBEL’S EDGE was bumped at the start and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 150M mark before finishing well, ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1600M, 1.8L behind the winner and whilst draw wider in gate ten, he should be right up there when they hit the wire.

DREAM GAME has won three of his last four outings and goes for his hat-trick after two victories over 1400M, the latest by one and a half lengths. He struck the front at the 150M mark and despite hanging out over the closing stages, he held on for a comfortable win. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning and although drawn one outside the latter, he should be included in all bets.

Race 6

TAPA KICK has posted a career record of eight runs for two wins, four seconds and a third, so he clearly has some ability, the latest a second-place finish over 1600M, 2.3L behind the winner, but he jumped awkwardly that day and was only run out of it late, suggesting that the drop in distance will be to his liking. The gelding returns from a 28-week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing fourth in the latest. He will have to negotiate gate seven, but he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card to give the trainer/jockey combination of P & L Messara & Gavranich and Donovan Dillion the first two legs of the Jackpot.

A 5-year-old and a 6-year-old mare could chase him home, with the slight preference going to CHRISTA who has cracked pole position and raced four wide throughout, but stayed on well when finishing third last time out over 1400M, 2.8L back from the victor. She was returning from a 21-week rest on that occasion and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

BLISS has consistent formlines to her name and was carried wide into the home straight before chasing hard to end up in second place last time out over 1400M, just a head off the winner. She has pulled a wideish gate eight, but she should nevertheless be involved in the finish.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, SANZENO has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1200M with a third-place finish next time out over 1300M, 2.2L back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding faces a wide draw twelve, but he should turn in another honest performance here.

GOLD COUNTER won over 1100M three runs back, finished sixth in his penultimate start over 1000M and then a tad disappointing ninth in his latest outing over 1200M, 4.8L adrift of the winner. He has his first run for his new trainer after a 30-week spell, but has had two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing fifth in the latest and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here, jumping from a handy draw two.

CHAMPERS GIRL is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she raced four wide without cover and hung in from the 800M mark when ending up in ninth place last time out over 1100M, 6.7L behind the winner, so she had her excuses. That was also at a stronger centre and although drawn wideish in gate eight, she should not be easily overlooked.

Race 8

This looks to be a tricky race to end off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. PYROMANIA had solid form prior to finishing seventh in his latest outing over 1100M, six and a half lengths back from the winner, but he jumped awkwardly in that event, and that was also in very heavy going, which was not to his liking. The gelding jumps from a useful, gate three and will be looking to bounce back to his better form today.

WHISTLING STRAITS hit the front at the 200M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to win his last start over 1000M, albeit by just a head. He has pulled draw seven and could complete a quick double.

NOT WRITTEN OFF is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she was reported to be lame when finishing eighth in her latest start over 1000M, 6.2L behind the winner, so that effort is best ignored. She returns from a 33-week spell, but has had two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing third in the latest and has her first run for her new trainer. Although drawn wide in gate eleven, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.