Australian racing tips – Thursday 14 March 2024 – Wyong

Best Bet: SIDE SHOW (Race 7)
Value Bet: OPAL FIELDS (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R90.00

Race 5

There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether either of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either, or both, should be respected. Of the raced runners, two 3-year-old fillies could fight out the finish and complete the exacta, but MISSY NO NAY may prove to be the better. She finished second on debut over five furlongs, just one length behind the winner, but nothing went her way that day. She was bumped at the start, came four wide into the home straight before being severely checked shortly thereafter and finally, her jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight. Her connections lodged an objection against the original runner-up because of that interference, which was upheld, and she was promoted to second spot. She has since moved stables and rested for 20 weeks, returning here after having had two barrier trials, finishing second in both. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here, notwithstanding a wide draw nine.

RAGGA RAGGA showed plenty of toe when finishing sixth first time out over 1100M, 6.3L behind the winner, but she was slow to recover after that event and was also reported to have been coughing. She was put away for 19 weeks and returns here after having had three barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. From her kinder draw two, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

CASSIEL makes his debut, but he has had four barrier trials, winning three of them and finishing second in the other. The colt is drawn one outside the latter and if not too green, he should make his presence felt.

Race 6

SPANISH FOX has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when second over seven furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner. He raced just behind the frontrunner and looked a possible winner early in the home straight, only to be grabbed just short of the line. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw thirteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

ALL TOO ROSEY is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and raced three wide without cover before staying on well over the closing stages to end up in fourth place last time out over 1500M, just over a half-length back from the winner. She jumps from gate five and should be right up there when they hit the line.

HIGH DANDY has only had two runs to date, finishing eighth on debut over six furlongs and then fourth next time out when stepping up to today’s journey, 2.2L off the winner, but he lost three lengths at the start of that contest, before finishing off his race powerfully. The colt was returning from a 36-week spell that day and from one gate outside the latter, he should be included in all bets. There is an unraced runner in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether his connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for him should be respected.

Race 7

SIDE SHOW has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a second-place finish next time out over the same trip, just a length back from the winner. The gelding finished well in that event and whilst drawn wide in gate thirteen, he should be doing his best work late and is made the best bet on the day’s card.

Although OAKFIELD REDGUM is recorded as finishing fifth in her last start over 1300M, she was just over a length and a half behind the victor. She is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she jumped awkwardly in that last outing, bumping another runner and then had to be held up between the 250M and 150M mark and her jockey put up 1kgs overweight, so she had her excuses. The mare gets a kinder draw six and will be having her peak run after returning from an 18-week spell and could be the biggest danger to the top pick.

GARDENZIO had his consistency rewarded with a 2.0L victory last time out over a mile. He went from jump to wire that day and from his wide draw fifteen and having 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today to be involved in the finish.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, OPAL FIELDS is a 3-year-old filly taking on boys. She followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a second-place finish next time out over the same sprint distance, just one length back from the winner, but she lost a length at the start that day and had to weave her way through traffic down the home stretch, so that effort was encouraging. She has pulled gate seven and will be having her peak run after returning from a 21-week rest and could prove hard to topple.

UNSTOPABULL overraced throughout towards the rear of the field without ever really threatening when ending up in eight spot last time out over 1100M, three and a half lengths back from the winner. The gelding has gate five and will be hoping to bounce back to some of his better form today.
DREAMING OF VEGAS goes for his hat-trick after two victories over five furlongs, the latest by a length after racing three wide without cover, striking the front at the 200M mark and then holding off the chasing pack in the dash down to the line. He returns here after returning from a 34-week spell without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he gets a useful draw two and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.