Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Gunnedah on 28 May 2023.
Best Bet: AKASAWA (Race 7)
Value Bet: SHEN GUI (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
6 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
4 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
10 | 3 |
| 6 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
SHEN GUI won over 1300M three runs back and has finished fourth in his next two starts over six furlongs, the latest when 2.7L behind the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day, before making good late progress over the closing stages. The gelding has a wideish gate eight, but he is nevertheless taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
SPARKS had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over six furlongs, albeit by just a short-head. He went from gun to tape that day and then bravely held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the line. He has a handy draw three and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
MISHANI VANDAL followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a fourth-place finish next time out over seven furlongs, three and a half lengths back from the winner, but he hung in from the 250M mark which would not have helped his cause. He will have to overcome a wideish gate eleven, but he should be doing his best work late.
Race 6
SCHILLER BAY finished strongly to win his last start over five furlongs by just over a length going away. He jumps from draw seven and will be hoping to chalk up his sixth career win today.
TORO TORO won his penultimate start over 900M and then finished a disappointing tenth next time out over five furlongs, eight and a half lengths adrift of the victor, but he was slow away that day and was reported to have made an abnormal respiratory noise, so that effort is best ignored. He returns here after a 26-week break but did finish second in his only barrier trial to prove his well-being and whilst the gelding is stuck out wide in gate twelve, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
MOETTA is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys, but she also won her penultimate outing, in her case over 1100M and then finished a head second next time out when stepping up to seven furlongs. She raced just behind the leaders before striking the front at the 150M pole, only to be snared in the shadow of the post. She will have to deal with a wide draw fourteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 7
The day’s best bet, AKASAWA is a seven-time winner from twelve starts and has won two of his last four starts, the latest over 1700M by just under a length and a half. He raced three wide that day, but struck the front at the 200M mark and the result was never in doubt from that point. The gelding has pulled a handy draw four and could give jockey Aaron Bullock his second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top pick win the opening leg.
FLOATING had solid form prior to disappointing last time out when finishing eleventh over 1700M, 6.7L adrift of the winner, but he was reported to be lame that day, so a line should be drawn through that effort. His trainer is obviously happy with his charge and from gate six, he could prove to be the biggest threat to the top choice.
BALTIC COAST was slow away and had to be held up on the home turn, but finished well to win his last start over a mile by a length and he has won a subsequent barrier trial. The form of that race has been franked and although drawn wide in gate nine, he should still be involved in the finish.
Race 8
LITTLE BEGINNINGS overraced early, but stayed on well to finish sixth last time out over 1300M, three and a half lengths back from the winner and gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time as a result. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from draw six.
COMPETITION finished strongly from some way back to end up in fourth place last time out over 1300M, just under three and a half lengths off the winner, when returning from a 14-week rest and a change of trainer. He will have to overcome a wide draw eleven, 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.
CIREBON is a 3yr old filly taking on males and is the stable companion to the top choice. She tried to go from jump to wire when finishing second in her latest outing over seven furlongs, just under a length behind the winner and from her wide draw nine, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today. She does have her peak run after returning from a 20-week break and makes a solid back-up for the yard.
