Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Coonamble on 17 December 2023.
Best Bet: GO ISLA GO (Race 4)
Value Bet: DRIVING FORCE (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
8 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
1 | 7 | 10 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether either of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either, or both, should be respected. Of the raced runners, the day’s best bet, GO ISLA GO may prove to be the best. She is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but her last three runs have yielded a third and two second-place finishers, the latest over six furlongs, two and a half lengths behind the winner, but it should be noted that she jumped awkwardly bumping another runner that day, raced up with the leaders, but three wide, before staying on well over the closing stages. She has cracked pole position and could prove hard to topple.
MRS BULL is a 4-year-old filly who had solid form before finishing ninth last time out over nine furlongs, 6.3L adrift of the victor, but she was reported to have bled that day and has taken her mandatory three-month suspension. She also moved stables during that time and returns here without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but from one gate outside the top choice, she could be the biggest threat to the former.
SOUTH BULLAWAY is seldom too far off the action, finishing second last time out over 1100M, just a neck back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that event, but recovered quickly to sit just behind the speed and then stayed on well over the latter stages. The gelding has a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, he will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should be involved in the finish.
Race 5
INVASIVE DREAMS is a 3-year-old filly taking on males, but she had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory last time out over six furlongs, albeit by just a short-head. She was hampered at the start, finding herself towards the back of the field, but delivered a powerful finish to get up in the shadow of the post. She faces a wide draw eleven, but she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.
ZEDARI also won his maiden race last time out over six furlongs, but in his case by a head. He raced just behind the leaders and then struck the front at the 200M, before holding off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He is drawn wide, one outside the top pick, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
TABORCA is the stable companion to the top choice and has not fared much better with his draw in gate ten. He finished third last time out over 1300M, just under two lengths back from the winner, but he raced three wide from the 600M mark before kicking clear of the opposition at the 200M pole and was only outrun late. The gelding has his first run after a 74-week spell but has had four barrier trials, winning the latest and the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them. As such, he makes a solid backup for the yard.
Race 6
LEICA STORM has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over the same trip, one length back from the winner. He was returning from a 33-week break that day and made good late progress, only to just fail to overhaul the top two finishers. The cheek pieces are re-fitted for today’s run and if this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, notwithstanding a wideish draw eight.
TURNAWAY is the stablemate to the top choice and has finished second in his last two starts, the latest over seven furlongs, just a short-head back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that event, but raced just back from the pacesetters, before finishing off his race well and gets the blinkers re-fitted here. Should this addition work, he should be right up there when they hit the line, and he makes a solid reserve for the yard.
BLISS is a 5-year-old mare taking on boys, but she goes for her hat-trick after two victories over today’s journey, the latest by a short-head, despite overracing throughout. She is drawn one inside the latter and should not be lightly dismissed.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, DRIVING FORCE won a head last time out over 1180M when having his second run after returning from a 24-week break. He jumped awkwardly, finding himself at the rear of the field, but finished strongly to get up on the line. The gelding has a useful draw four and will have 1,5kgs removed from his back courtesy of his claiming apprentice.
OVEREXTEND followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a second-place finish next time out over 1100M, just a head back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that contest and then hung in all the way down to the line, so he had his excuses. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 23-week spell, has gate seven and will have the services of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice.
TITRATION won his last start over 1100M by a half-length, when returning from a 22-week rest and having had three barrier trials. He had to be eased at the 800M mark in that race, but shot clear of the field at the top of the home stretch and then repelled all challengers to record his third career victory. The gelding is sure to put his pole position to good use and should be included in all bets.
