Australian racing tips – Sunday 8 September 2024 – Mudgee

Race 4

AWAYGOESTHEBUNNY was having his first run for his new trainer when finishing eighth last time out over 1300M, 3.7L behind the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day and then came four wide into the home straight. That was also at a stronger centre and from his handy draw two and with 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he looks to be the one to side with here.

FEIRME PRINCE had his consistency rewarded with a one-length victory last time out over 1400M, this despite being slow away and hanging out approaching the home turn. He delivered a powerful finish from some way back to win going away and the form of that race was franked. From gate six, he should turn in another honest performance here.

NO SECOND THOUGHTS is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but her last four runs have yielded two seconds, followed by two third-place finishes, the latest over 1400M, three lengths back from the winner, but she overraced just behind the leader in that event, before staying on well over the closing stages. She gets a useful draw four and will have 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

Race 5

TOUCH OF NAVY missed out on his hat-trick after victories over 1280M and 1400M when finishing third last time out over 1600M, one and a half lengths off the winner, but he did race three wide without cover on that occasion. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate ten, but he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

THE HUNGARIAN was slow away and never really got into the race when ending up in fifth place last time out over 1400M, 2.8L adrift of the victor, but he will be having his peak run here after returning from a 34-week break and from draw seven, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

AIMPOINT won over 1600M three runs back, finished twelfth in his penultimate start over 1900M and then third in his latest outing over 2000M, just under a half-length behind the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day, but overraced in the early and middle stages and from his wideish draw eight, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

Race 6

ROCK HARD LOVE has only had three runs to date, finishing third on debut over 1200M and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out over 1100M. He then finished fourth last time out over 1300M, two lengths off the winner, but that was at a stronger centre. The gelding returns from a 20-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and third in the latest. He has a cosy draw two and will have the services of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice and is made the best bet on the day’s card.

NEWS BOUND is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she won on debut by putting 5.3L between herself and the opposition, notwithstanding hanging out in the home straight. She kicked clear of the field at the 200M pole, and the race was over as a contest from that point. The filly returns from a longer 32-week break, but has finished third in her only barrier trial and whilst she will have to negotiate a wide draw fourteen, she nevertheless could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

SANZENO had solid form prior to finishing tenth last time out over 1100M, five and a half lengths adrift of the victor, but he raced wide throughout that day, so he had his excuse. The gelding has pulled gate seven and should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

Two 5-year-old and a 6-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s value bet, SAMMIBALLERINA is taken to lead the field home. She has cracked pole position and was crowded at the start and raced four wide without cover when finishing twelfth in her latest outing over 1100M, seven and a half lengths behind the winner. That was at a stronger centre, and she was returning from a 37-week spell. The mare will be hoping to return to winning ways here.

REBEL DREAMER was having her first run for her new trainer and returning from a 50-week spell when finishing fifth last time out over 1000M, 6.8L back from the winner, but she raced three wide without cover in that event. 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 and from draw two, she should keep the top choice honest.

MS REEVES has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1100M, 2.3L behind the winner. She chased hard that day and from gate five and with her having 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be included in all bets.