Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Kembla Grange on 12 October 2023.
Best Bet: FURIOUS (Race 8)
Value Bet: BEST INTENT (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
5 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
10 | 7 | 1 |
|
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
JOYRIDER tried to go from jump to wire when showing good improvement to finish second last time out over six furlongs, 1.3L behind the winner. He returns from a 23-week break but did win his only barrier trial to prove his well-being. From his handy draw two, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today.
PHAROAH MAGIC disappointed when finishing thirteenth last time out over six furlongs, 5.3L back from the winner, but he did hang out approaching the home turn, coming three wide into the straight. He was immediately rested for 39 weeks and returns here after having had two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing second in the latest. The gelding has a wideish draw eight, but he should be right up there when they hit the line.
STRUFF is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and despite jumping awkwardly, she recovered quickly to take up the lead, only to be run out of it close to home, ending up in third place last time out over 1300M, 1.8L off the victor. She faces a wide draw eleven, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, BEST INTENT has won two of her last five starts and finished second in the other three, the latest victory coming over five furlongs when putting 3.3L between herself and the opposition. She raced three wide without cover in that event and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She has a useful gate four and will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.
IVIDNESS has posted two solid last runs and although recorded as finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, she was just under two and a half lengths off the winner. She did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, only seeing daylight at the 200M mark, before finishing off her race well. She will have to negotiate a wideish gate seven, but she will be having her peak run after returning from a 17-week rest and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause.
ALOT A LIP has only had the two runs to date, finishing third on debut over five furlongs and then showing the expected improvement to win by two lengths next time out over 1100M. She showed plenty of toe that day and from her kinder draw three, she could prove hard to reel in over the closing stages.
Race 7
RITZYTWENTIES followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with an eighth-place finish next time out when stepping up to seven furlongs, 6.7L adrift of the winner. He tried to go from gun to tape in that contest but had to be eased at the 200M pole. The gelding returns from a 19-week absence, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. He will have to deal with a wide gate ten, but the drop in distance should be to his liking.
HEADSTOCK won over six furlongs three runs back and then finished third in his next two starts, both over the same sprint trip, the latest when 1,2L behind the winner. It should however be noted that he was slow away in that event, overraced in the middle stages and then came the widest of them all into the home stretch, so he had his excuses. The gelding will have to negotiate gate seven, but he should be right up there when they hit the line.
SWAGGER won his penultimate start over seven furlongs and was then beaten a short-head next time out over six furlongs. He finished strongly and was slightly hampered in the closing stages, but the resultant objection lodged against the winner was overruled and the original result stood. He has a cosy draw three and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice, so should be included in all bets.
Race 8
FURIOUS has only had two runs to date, finishing second first time out over six furlongs, beaten just a neck and then showing the expected improvement to win by 0.8L next time out over 1300M. He struck the front at the 150M mark that day and then held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. The form of that race has stood up well with no less than four runners out of that event subsequently winning. Whilst drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, he gets Zac Lloyd in the irons and is made the best bet on the day’s card.
FAMOUS PEDRILLE stayed on well when finishing third last time out over seven furlongs, just over four lengths behind the winner. He has a kinder draw five and will be having his peak run after returning from an 18-week break. In addition, he will have 2kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice and could be the biggest threat to the top pick.
CLEAR CHOICE has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when battling all the way down to the wire over a mile, to end up in third place, just over a length and a half back from the winner. He resumes after a 21-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, finishing fourth in the latest. From his cozs draw three, he should be involved in the finish.
