Australian racing tips – Sunday 19 March 2023 – Scone

Best Bet: MELODY AGAIN (Race 8)

Value Bet: LISZTOMANIA (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00  

Race 5

There are four unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether any of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected.

Of the raced runners KISSAKI may well prove to be the best. She is a three year old filly taking on the boys, but she did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 300M mark before finishing well to end up in third spot when making her debut over 900M, just under a length and a half behind the winner. She returns from a 41 week break, but did win her only barrier trial and the fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them. She will have to negotiate draw ten, but she should be doing her best work late.

SHINE YOUR LIGHT is a two year old filly taking on older horses, but she stayed on well after jumping awkwardly last time out to end up in fifth place over six furlongs, 3.8L behind the winner. That was at a stronger center and from her kinder gate three, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

AQUARTER showed plenty of toe when finishing sixth last time out over five furlongs, just under four and a half lengths behind the victor, but he was reported to be lame after that race, so that effort is best ignored. He was also returning from a 22 week rest that day and from draw six, he should be included in all bets.

Race 6

DOLLAR MAGIC is a four year old filly taking on males, but she was returning from a 27 week rest when finishing second last time out over five furlongs, 2.2L behind the winner and she was bumped at the start and came three wide into the home stretch. The was also at a stronger center and the form of that race has been franked. She will have to overcome a wide gate eleven, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

ACOTANGO showed good improvement to win his last outing over five furlongs, albeit by just a short-head in the shadow of the post. The gelding is drawn one inside the top choice, but will have his peak run after returning from a 22 week rest and he should be right up there when they hit the line.

BARRADAS is a two-time winner from five starts and had nothing go his way when finishing nineth last time out over five furlongs, just over four and a half lengths back from the winner. He was slow away, overraced in the early and middle stages, before being bumped at the 600M mark, so under the circumstances, that was not a bad effort. The gelding returns here after a 27 week spell without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he gets a handy draw four and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

Race 7

LISZTOMANIA had his consistency rewarded with a 1.7L victory last time out over six furlongs and has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial. He finished strongly from some way back that day, suggesting that the extra ground on offer today will be to his liking. From a useful gate two, he is made the value bet on the day’s program.

CASINO LORD followed up his penultimate run victory over 1100M with a third place finish next time out over seven furlongs, just a half length back from the winner, but he came three wide into the home straight before running on well. He has pulled draw five and should be considered a big runner in this line-up.

COMMANDO HUNT delivered a powerful finish when showing solid improvement to end up in fifth place last time out over seven furlongs. He was returning from a 19 week rest that day and the gelding will have to geal with a wide draw twenty, 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 latter part of the race.

Race 8

The day’s best bet, MELODY AGAIN is a three year old filly taking on boys, but she has had just the two runs to date, winning over six furlongs on debut and then following that up with a second spot finish next time out over the same sprint trip, just a short-head back from the winner and has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial. She was slow away on that occasion, losing one length and then hit the running rail at the 800M pole, before finishing off her race off strongly. The form of that race has been franked at from a cozy draw two, she could give trainer Scott Singleton the second and the last leg of the day’s Jackpot.

SHARP SHOCK has cracked pole position and has won two of his last four outings, the latest when finishing strongly to win by just under a half length last time out over 1312M. He has his peak run after returning from a 16 week absence and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

REMATCH raced just behind the leader and then made good late progress to win first time out over six furlongs by just under one and a half lengths. The gelding takes on stronger here, but from draw six, he may well be up to the task on hand to complete a quick double.