Australian racing tips – Thursday 21 March 2024 – Newcastle

Best Bet: MONTE KATE (Race 6)
Value Bet: SENSORY (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R90.00

Race 5

OUTISHKA is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys and followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a tenth-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, five lengths back from the winner. She raced up with the pace that day, but weakened over the closing stages, suggesting that the drop in distance here would be to her liking. She faces a wideish draw eight, but on the plus side, she will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

PROCRASTINATOR on the other hand has cracked pole position and put his disappointing penultimate start over five furlongs behind him when finishing third next time out over the same distance, 1.2L back from the winner. He showed plenty of toe in that event and is another who is likely to enjoy the drop in trip.

OMAR has finished second in his last three outings, all over five furlongs, the latest just a length behind the winner, when returning from a 14-week break. The gelding gets a handy draw four and will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

Race 6

Three 3-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s best bet, MONTE KATE is taken to lead the field home. She won over five furlongs three runs back, finished third in her penultimate start over 1300M and then third again in her latest outing over 1300M, 1.7L behind the winner, but she had nothing go her way that day. She was bumped at the start, had to be held up in the home straight and her jockey put up 1kg overweight. In addition, she was hampered at the 150M mark, but the resultant objection lodged against the second horse for that interference was overruled and the original result was left to stand. She has her first run for her new trainer and has pulled a useful gate three. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she could be hard to topple.

LEFT FIELD has posted two solid last runs, the latest when third last time out over seven furlongs, just a neck back from the winner, but she did overrace in the early stages and had to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 1200M mark, before coming five wide into the home straight and being bumped at the 150M pole, so she had her excuses. The filly returns from a 19-week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and although drawn wideish in gate eight, she will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

SCHOLL DEEP has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when third over 1300M, just a head off the winner. She struck the front at the 100M mark, only to be snared in the shadow of the post. The filly is sure to put her pole position to good use.

Race 7

There are three unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether any of the connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners, UNIQUE AMBITION may well prove to be the best. She is a 3-year-old filly taking on males who jumped awkwardly, raced wide throughout and into the home straight, before staying on well over the latter stages. She has her first run after a 24-week spell but did win her only barrier trial.

PRIMO has only had two runs to date, finishing fourth on debut over six furlongs and then fourth again next time out over seven furlongs, 1.8L off the winner, notwithstanding having had to be held up at the top of the home straight. He returns here after a 24-week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust and will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but he may emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

NEW FOREST had finished second twice prior to being a tad disappointing last time out when finishing sixth over six furlongs, 4.2L adrift of the victor. He was returning from a 14-week rest that day and sat just behind the leaders before battling all the way down to the wire. The gelding jumps from gate seven and should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, SENSORY is a 3-year-old filly taking on boys, but she won her penultimate start over 1500M and then finished fourth next time out over the same c&d, 1.2L behind the winner, but it should be noted that she jumped awkwardly in that event and then bumped another runner at the 600M mark, before having to switch to obtain a clear run at the 250M pole. She has pulled draw five and with better luck in running, she could provide jockey Tommy Berry with his second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the bets bet win the second leg.

PIERCING ARROW won first time out over six furlongs and then finished seventh next time out when stepping up to 1300M, just over four lengths off the winner, when returning from a 40-week spell, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The colt tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his wideish draw eight, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

TAMAROA has consistent formlines to his name and was slow away and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight when ending up in fifth spot last time out over six furlongs, just 1.3L behind the winner. The gelding jumps from draw seven and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd and should be involved in the finish.