Australian racing tips – Sunday 25 August 2024 – Goulburn

Race 5

GALLIC FOX won over 1400M three runs back, finished second in his penultimate start over 1600M and then ninth in his latest outing over 1500M, 5.3L behind the winner, but that was at a stronger centre, and he jumped awkwardly. The form of that race has however been franked and from gate seven, he looks to be the one to side with here.

KEN’KER followed up his penultimate run victory over 1400M with a second-place finish next time out over 1600M, beaten just a head. The gelding has a wide draw thirteen, but gets the services of ex-SA champion jockey Lyle Hewitson, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

LEASE went from jump to wire to win his last start over 1400M by 1.8L and from draw five, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and could prove hard to reel in over the closing stages. He will also be having his peak run for his new trainer and after returning from an 11-week rest.

Race 6

MAZ KANATA is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner and then overraced throughout before not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight to finish seventh last time out over 1100M, 4.7L back from the winner. That was also at a stronger centre and from a wide draw twelve and with better luck in running, she will be hoping to chalk up her second career victory.

SEPTIME jumped awkwardly and was another who did not get a clear passage in the home stretch, only seeing daylight at the 150M mark before finishing well to end up in seventh spot last time out over 1200M, 3.7L behind the winner. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate fifteen, but nevertheless, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

SKY ARTIST is a 4-year-old filly who has posted two solid last runs, the latest when fourth over 1200M, 1.8L off the winner, when returning from a 19-week break. She came the widest into the home straight in that event, but still managed to make good late progress over the latter stages. The filly jumps from a wideish draw eight, but she should be doing her best work late.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, CHORLTON LANE won over 1400M three runs back, finished seventh in his penultimate start over the same c&d and then fifth in his latest outing over 1300M, 1.2L behind the winner and has finished second in a subsequent barrier trial. He was slow away on that occasion and had to be held up at the 250M pole, before being crowded in the closing stages, so he had his excuses. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw twelve, but 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.

GRAVINA finished third last time out over 1300M, just under a half-length back from the winner at a stronger centre and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding will have non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd in the irons to aid his cause.

ST LAWRENCE is the stable companion of the top choice and chased all the way down to the wire when ending up in third place last time out over 1400M, just a length behind the victor. He gets a handy draw two and makes a solid back-up for the powerful Ciaron Maher yard.

Race 8

FORTINGALL has only had two runs to date, winning on debut over 1000M and then hung out in the middle stages to finish seventh next time out over 1200M, just over three lengths adrift of the winner. He would have come on further with that run under the belt and will get a set of blinkers fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here and although drawn wideish in gate eight, he is taken to be that best bet on the day’s card.

A 4-year-old filly and a 5-year-old mare could chase him home, with the slight preference going to NO SECOND THOUGHTS, whose last three runs have yielded two seconds and the latest a third-place finish over 1200M, one and a half lengths behind the winner, this after battling all the way down to the wire. She has pulled a useful draw two and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

STRUFF has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when third over 1300M, one length behind the winner. She jumped awkwardly that day and was bumped shortly after the start, before being hampered at the 100M mark. The mare faces a wide draw twelve, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy to be involved in the finish.