Winning Form shares all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing, coming your way from Gunnedah on 25 May 2025.
Best Bet: OAKFIELD MERCURY (Race 5)
Value Bet: OAKFIELD DUKE (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 1 | 8 | 10 |
13 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 |
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Cost: R54.00
Race 5
OAKFIELD MERCURY won by 0.8L on debut over this c&d despite coming four wide into the home straight and his jockey dropping the reins in the closing stages. The colt would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected and from a handy draw four, he could be the one that they all have to beat and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
A 3yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could chase him home, but OFF THE SCALE may well prove to be the better. She had finished third in her two runs prior to ending up a disappointing fifteenth last time out over 1600M, nine lengths behind the winner, but she had to be held up on the home turn and was then never quite in the clear of traffic from that point onwards, so that effort is best ignored.
She will have to negotiate a wide draw nine, but she will have ex-SA jockey Donovan Dillon in the irons, so she will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle. WILLINGA KARISMA in turn has finished second in her last two outings, the latest over 1400M, just a lengths back from the winner, but she did overrace in the early and middle stages that day, before striking the front at the entrance to the home stretch, only to be run out of it late. The mare gets a kinder draw two and will be hoping to go one better here.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, OAKFIELD DUKE came the widest of them all into the home straight, but finished strongly from some way back to end up in fifth place in his latest outing over 1350M, just under three and a half lengths back from the winner. The gelding has a useful draw two and could provide the trainer/jockey combination of Kris Kees and Aaron Bullock with the first two winner of the day’s Jackpot.
OUTISHKA is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she stayed on well despite shifting outwards in the home straight when finishing fifth last time out over 1000M, four lengths adrift of the victor. That was at a stronger center and with 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and jumping from gate five, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
TWO YA GOT won over 1100M three runs back, finished second in his penultimate start over 1200M and then twelfth in his latest outing back over 1100M, 5.7L behind the winner, but that was at a stronger center. The gelding is drawn the widest in gate fifteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 7
FIORSUM FRED has won two of his last four starts, the latest over 1600M by 0.8L, notwithstanding being bumped at the 300M mark. He finished best of all that day and although drawn wide in gate twelve, he should be finishing off his race strongly in an attempt to chalk up his fifth career win.
OAKFIELD PRINCE has won two of his last three outings, the latest victory coming over 1500M, albeit by just a short-head. He chased hard that day to get up in the shadow of the post and although drawn just one inside the top pick, he should be doing her best work late.
OSMAN jumped awkwardly bumping another runner and then came three wide into the home stretch when ending up on tenth spot last time out over 1400M, eight and a half lengths off the winner, but that was at a stronger center. The gelding has pulled gate six and gets the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice.
Race 8
A 3yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but ATENTA is taken to lead the field home. She sat just behind the speed before kicking clear at the 150M mark to win by one and a half lengths first time out over 1280M. She would have learnt from that run and whilst taking on stronger here, she gets a cozy draw two and with Donovan Dillon in the irons, she may well be up to the task at hand.
SAMMIBALLERINA was returning from a 29 week break when finishing eighth last time out over 1200M, just under six and a half lengths behind the winner. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and from one gate outside the former, she should turn in an improved effort here.
EIGHTY EIGHT STARS won over 1250M three runs back, finished sixth in his penultimate start over 1200M and then fourth in his latest outing over 1000M, 2.2L behind the winner. He on the other hand will have to deal with a wide draw seventeen, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without too much effort.
