Australian racing tips – Thursday, 23 January 2025 – Tamworth

Race 5

A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but ANARITA is taken to lead the field home. She jumped awkwardly, but stayed on well when finishing fifth last time out over 1200M, two lengths behind the winner. That was at a stronger center and whilst drawn wide in gate ten, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

STARSARISE is seldom far off the action and was returning from a 23 week break when finishing third last time out over 1000M, just over one length back from the winner, but she overraced in the middle stages in that event. The filly has a handy draw four and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice. She should turn in another honest performance here.

BRILLIANT KNIGHT makes his debut after finishing fourth in his first barrier trial and winning his latest. If not too green, he could make a winning start to his career and any betting support for him should naturally be respected.

Race 6

REMATCH has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a third place finish next time out when stepping up to 1900M, just a neck back from the winner, but he faulted at the 100M mark that day, so he can be considered an unlucky loser. He returns from a 31 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the latest. From gate six, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

SONIC TYCOON missed out on his hat-trick after two victories over 1600M when finishing eighth last time out over the same journey, 3.3L behind the winner, but he raced three wide without cover in that event. The gelding faces a wide gate nine, but he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here and could be the biggest threat to the top pick.

JESSANDI is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys, but she followed up her penultimate run victory over 1600M with a second place finish next time out over 1800M, just over one and a half lengths back from the winner. She reared at the start on that occasion, but recovered quickly to pick up the lead, only to be run out of it late. She gets a kinder draw five and should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

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 top choice goes to ARLIEBEL who is a 6yr old mare bumping mares, but she put her disappointing penultimate start over 1200M behind her when finishing fourth next time out over 1400M, 0.8L back from the winner, this despite overracing three wide and hanging out approaching the home turn. She did, however, battle all the way down to the wire that day and the form of that race has been franked. The mare should put her pole position to good use and give jockey Aaron Bullock a quick double in the day’s Jackpot should the top pick win the previous race.

STARSARISE jumped awkwardly, but stayed on nicely to end up in fourth spot last time out over 1200M, 3.2L off the winner. He has pulled gate seven, will be having his peak run after returning from a 22 week rest and should be right up there when they hit the line.

BILL PEYTO finished second in two of his last three outings, the latest over 1400M, 1.2L back from the victor, where he made good late progress over the closing stages. The gelding will have to negotiate a wider draw ten, but he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, AUTOFOCUS is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she has cracked pole position and has consistent formlines to her credit, finishing third last time out over 1000M, just a length behind the winner. She was returning from a 31 week spell that day and raced three wide without cover, but still managed to chase hard all the way down to the wire. The filly will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

WITHSTAND went from jump to wire when putting three lengths between himself and the opposition to win his last start over 1200M. He gets a useful gate three and is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

SANZENO showed plenty of toe when finishing second last time out over 1200M, just over a half length back from the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He has his first run after a 19 week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust and he will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas and could prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages.