Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Mudgee on 25 February 2024.
Best Bet: DEMITASSE (Race 8)
Value Bet: LIFE’S A PARTY (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 7 | 11 | 3 |
1 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
11 | 14 | 5 | |
7 | 3 | ||
12 | 6 |
Cost: R150.00
Race 5
This looks to be a tricky race to start 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. The tentative top pick goes to MEDINAH who had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over seven furlongs, by putting 2.8L between himself and the opposition. He sat just behind the leaders that day and struck the front at the top of the home straight to go on for a comfortable victory. The form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding takes on stronger here, but from draw five, he could well be up to the task at hand.
INDICATIVE had solid form before finishing eleventh last time out over 1450M, just under six lengths adrift of the winner, but he raced two wide throughout that day, so he had an excuse. He gets a handy draw two and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
DANCES WITH HOOVES is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys and is the stable companion of the latter. She won her maiden race over seven furlongs by 0.8L at the second time of asking, this despite coming the widest of them all into the home straight. She delivered a powerful finish from some way back that day and from one gate outside the latter, she makes a solid back-up for the yard. She would also have come on further with that run under her belt.
Race 6
This is another tricky race. TIME BANDIT is a 3-year-old filly taking on males. She tried to go from jump to wire when ending up in second place last time out over 1100M, just a head back from the winner, when returning from a 20-week rest. The form of that race has been franked and although draw wide in gate eleven, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today.
PYROMANIA is the stable companion of the top choice and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a sixth place finish next time out over seven furlongs, eight and a half lengths back from the winner, but he over race throughout in that contest and was immediately rested for 17 weeks. He returns here after having had the benefit of two barrier trials and from a kinder draw five, he makes a firm back-up for the yard.
STARANE is seldom far off the action and stayed on well when finishing third last time out over six furlongs, one and a half lengths back from the winner. The gelding has pulled a wideish gate eight, but he seems likely to turn in another honest performance today.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, LIFE’S A PARTY is a 5-year-old mare taking on boys, but she has won two of her last four outings, the latest over six furlongs by one and a half lengths. She raced just behind the frontrunners that day, before striking the front at the 200M mark and then holding off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. She jumps from gate six and will be looking to chalk up her fourth career victory here.
AIMPOINT had solid form before disappointing last time out over 1500M, finishing sixteen lengths adrift of the victor, but he did jump awkwardly, raced four wide without cover and that was also at a stronger centre. The form of that race has however been franked and from his useful draw three, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
SCOPICS won his penultimate start over six furlongs and then finished fourteenth next time out over the same sprint trip, just under five and a half lengths behind the winner, but he did race four wide throughout in that contest. The gelding jumps from draw five and has his peak run after returning from a 22-week break and seems likely to appreciate the extra ground on offer today.
Race 8
DEMITASSE has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second last time out over 1250M, 4.8L off the winner, but he jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner that day and then came three wide into the home stretch, before battling all the way down to the wire. The form of that race has been franked and that was also at a stronger center. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw thirteen, but nevertheless is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
MYSTERY LAD won his penultimate start over five furlongs and then raced three wide throughout to end up in sixth spot next time out over the same c&d, 5.7L behind the winner. The gelding will have to deal with a wide draw twelve, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
DIVINE SINNER had to weave his way through traffic down the home straight when finishing third last time out over five furlongs, six and a half lengths back from the winner. He jumps from gate six and gets a set of blinkers re-fitted for today’s race. If this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.
