Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday's racing coming your way from Kembla Grange on 20 July 2023.
Best Bet: DANCING ALONE (Race 5)
Value Bet: STARS AND BARS (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
10 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
2 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| 5 | 3 | 2 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
DANCING ALONE is a three year old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the two runs to date, winning them both over five furlongs, the latest by 0.8L. She returns from a 23 week break, but has won both of her barrier trials to showcase her well-being. She jumps from draw seven and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card and complete the hat-trick.
BOOMSONG was returning from a 24 week rest and a change of trainer when winning his last start over five furlongs by just under a half length. He overraced in the early stages and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 900M mark, but stayed on well over the latter stages. The gelding gets a wider gate nine, but he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
SATIN AND SILK is a two year old filly taking on older horses, but she had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory last time out over five furlongs, albeit by just a neck. She jumped awkwardly and overraced in the early stages and then hung out over the closing stages, so she did have her excuses. She has pulled draw six and whilst taking on stronger here, she should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
ASVA 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 1500M, just a head back from the winner, but it should be noted that he jumped awkwardly and race wide without cover on that occasion, but still managed to strike the front at the 150M mark, only to be collared in the shadow of the post. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate twelve, but he should turn in another honest performance today.
Two three year old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to QUEEN ASTRID, who, on the other hand, has cracked pole position. She won her penultimate outing over 1500M and then finished second next time out over a mile, just a length back from the winner. She raced three wide into the home turn in that event, but did make good late progress over the latter stages and should be right up there when they hit the line.
DOUBLE SCOOP stayed on well to win her maiden race last time out over 1300M by a head. She gets a handy draw four and although taking on stronger here, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
STARS AND BARS is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing fifth last time out over five furlongs, he was just 1.8L back from the winner. He raced towards the rear of the field in that event and was forced to come the widest of them all into the home straight, but still finished off his race strongly, suggesting that he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here. The gelding has a wideish draw eight, but will have ex-SA jockey Brandon Lerena in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
RAPID OUTLAW is a three year old filly taking on males and is drawn one outside the top pick, but she jumped awkwardly bumping another runner at the start last time out when ending up in nineth place over six furlongs, just under three lengths adrift of the victor, when having her first run for her new trainer, but the form of that last race has been franked.
TINKA’S LAD won his penultimate start over six furlongs and then showed plenty of toe when finishing second next time out over seven furlongs, beaten just a short-head and on that effort, he should appreciate the drop back in trip. He faces a wide draw fifteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 8
DEEP VOYAGE had his consistency rewarded with a one length victory to secure his maiden race last time out over nine furlongs. He went from jump to wire that day and despite shifting out at the 150M mark, he held on for a courageous victory. The gelding has gate five and will be hoping to record a quick double.
FLEET COMMANDER won his penultimate start over 1900M and was bumped at the start and hung in approaching the home turn, as well as in the home straight when finishing second in his next outing over 2100M, 6.3L adrift of the winner. The colt has a useful draw two and should be viewed as a big runner in this line-up.
EL BRAVO had all sorts of issues but nevertheless showed solid improvement to finish fifth last time out over ten furlongs, just under a length behind the winner. He was slow away, overraced in the middle stages, had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 1300M pole and then came the widest of them all into the home stretch, but still managed to battle all the way down to the wire. The gelding will have to deal with a wide draw eleven, but he should be doing his best work late.
