Australian racing tips – Sunday, 18 May 2025 – Parkes

Race 5

COUGARS followed up his penultimate run victory over 1200M with a fifth place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, just over two lengths back from the winner, when returning from an 11 week rest. He raced just behind the leaders that day and then stayed on well over the closing stages. From his handy draw three, he should turn in another honest performance here and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

SANTASIA is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has finished second in four of her last five starts, the latest over 1200M, 0,8L behind the winner. She showed plenty of toe that day, but hung in down the home straight. The filly is drawn one inside the top pick and will be hoping to go one better today.

MICRO MIKKI goes for his hat-trick for his new trainer after two victories over 1100M, the latest by 1.7L. The gelding finished best despite hanging in down the home straight. He on the other hand will have to negotiate a wide draw fifteen, but the trio is very much on the cards.

Race 6

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 choice goes to LOVE SHUCK who was hampered at the start and came the widest of them all into the home stretch, but still made good late progress to end up in sixth spot last time out over 1200M, just over two and a half lengths back from the winner. The gelding faces a wide draw nine, but will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and he should be doing his best work late.

IMASUPERSTAR finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when seventh over 1200M, two lengths behind the victor. He finished well from some way back in that event and from his useful draw four, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

KEIKOKU had solid form prior to being a tad disappointing when finishing seventh last time out over 1200M, just under four and a half lengths adrift of the winner. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate fourteen, but on the plus side, he will get 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. He 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.

Race 7

The day’s best bet, ROUGE MOULIN jumped awkwardly, but stayed on well to finish fourth in his latest outing over 1400M, just under two lengths off the winner and that was at a stronger center. The form of that race has also been franked and from gate five, he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here.

SIZZLE MINIZZLE is the stable companion of the top choice and jumped awkwardly, losing ground, but then chased hard all the way down to the wire when ending up in sixth place last time out over 1400M, 2.7L behind the victor. He is another who should appreciate the extra ground and from his cozy draw two, he makes a solid back-up for the yard.

LOCKDOWN GAMBLE was returning from an 11 week rest and struck the front at the 100M mark to record a well-time, just under a half length, win last time out over 1400M. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate fourteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy to be involved in the finish.

Race 8

RAYMOND’S REWARD has his hat-trick run after two wins over 1400M, the latest by just under a half length. He went from jump to wire that day and from a handy draw three and the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

GIOVANNA STAR is a 3yr old filly bumping males, but she won her last start over 1200M by a half length, despite coming four wide into the home straight. She kicked clear of the field at the 200M mark on that occasion and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The filly faces a wide draw eighteen, but she is a speedy sort who should be able to work her way across without too much effort and will be having her peak run after returning from a 13 week rest.

LYSANDER has won two of his last four outings, the latest over 1400M by a neck. His jockey was charged with a breach of the use of the crop rule, but from his kinder draw six, he could be good enough to chalk up back to back wins.