Australian racing tips – Thursday 22 June 2023 – Gosford

Best Bet: DIVAZINO (Race 6)
Value Bet: NEVER NEVER LAND (Race 5)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R90.00

Race 5

NEVER NEVER LAND has posted two solid last runs, winning his maiden race last time out over six furlongs, albeit by just a short-head and the form of that race has been franked. He raced three wide without cover that day, but hit the front at the 200M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He is drawn wideish in gate eight, but he should be doing his best work late and is made the value bet on the day’s card.

A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could chase him home with the slight preference going to MISCHIEVOUS MOLLY who has consistent form lines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1500M with a second-place finish next time out over the same trip, just a short-head back from the winner. She gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, she should be a big runner here, jumping from her handy draw three.

MISS SHALAA had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory last time out over seven furlongs by one and a half lengths. She was returning from a 25-week break that day and came three wide into the home straight, but still managed to finish off her race strongly to win going away. She is drawn one inside the latter and should be included in all bets.

Race 6

Three 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s best bet, DIVAZINO is taken to lead the field home. She has only had the two runs to date, finishing fifth on debut over 1300M and then showing the expected improvement to end up in second place next time out when stepping up to 1500M, one and a half lengths back from the winner. She still raced green that day, but finished powerfully, suggesting that she will appreciate the extra ground on offer today and from her handy draw four, she may prove hard to topple.

DORASKAYA is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over nine furlongs, 2.3L back from the winner, but she had to be eased in the early stages that day and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, so she had her excuses. The form of that race has been franked and although drawn wide in gate ten, she will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle. She renews her rivalry with

LAKE ROAD who finished sixth in the race mentioned above, two-and-a-half lengths back from the winner. She did over race in the early stages of that contest but still managed to make good late progress over the closing stages. She has a kinder draw three, but as the pair meet on the same weight terms here, she could finish closer to the latter, but may ultimately have to settle for the same result.

Race 7

BURNETT is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won first time out over six furlongs and then, although recorded as finishing sixth last time out over the same sprint trip, she was just under two lengths off the winner and has finished fourth in a subsequent barrier trial. She tried to go from jump to wire that day and from her useful draw three, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today.

CHIPPER’S last three runs have yielded a fourth, a third and a second-place finish last time out over five furlongs, just a half-length behind the victor, when returning from a 19-week rest. He was forced to race three wide without cover in that event, but still stayed on well over the latter stages. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide gate nine, but he will be hoping to go one better today.

CHAIN OF GOLD is drawn one inside the latter and followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a fourth-place finish next time out over five furlongs, one and a half lengths back from the winner. He was returning from a longer 22-week spell that day and should not be easily overlooked in this line-up.

Race 8

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative first pick is TIME TO BOOGIE who won his penultimate run over five furlongs and then finished second next time out over the same c&d, 0.8L behind the winner. He showed plenty of toe that day and was only reeled in very late. The gelding returns from a 19-week rest, but has had the two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and winning the latest. He has pulled draw six and could be the one to side with here.

AMNESTY is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she goes for her hat-trick after victories over 1100M and the latest over five furlongs by a short-head. She raced up with the leaders and then finished the best over the closing stages. From gate four, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

DURNSTEIN has consistent formlines to his credit, finishing third in his latest outing over six furlongs, just a head behind the winner, this after jumping awkwardly, but then delivering a powerful finish to get up in the shadow of the post. He has his peak run after returning from a 15-week absence and from draw seven, he should be included in all bets.