Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday's racing coming your way from Randwick-Kensington on 25 April 2024.
Best Bet: WEMBANYAMA (Race 8)
Value Bet: ZOUATICA (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
3 | 3 | 4 |
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| 5 |
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| 7 |
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Cost: R90.00
Race 5
DEFINING has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over the same c&d, just a half-length back from the winner, but she came four wide into the home straight that day, before making good late progress over the closing stages. She has her peak run for her new trainer since returning from a lengthy 51-week spell and from draw five, she should appreciate the extra ground on offer here.
CABACA finished well from some way back to end up in seventh place last time out over a mile, just under three and a half lengths behind the winner. She gets a handy draw two and should be right up there when they hit the line.
MOUNTAIN GUEST has cracked pole position and although recorded as finishing sixth last time out over 1500M, she was just two lengths back from the winner and it should be noted that she was disappointed for a run at the 300M mark in that event and had to be held up until the 50M pole. She will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and with better luck in running, she should be included in all bets.
Race 6
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. JEDIBEEL won over 1100M three runs back, finished sixth in his penultimate start over the same sprint trip and then sixth again in his latest outing over 1100M, 3.2L behind the winner, but he did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, only seeing daylight at the 250M mark, before finishing off his race well. The gelding returns from a 24-week break, but has had two barrier trials, winning the latest. He is sure to put his pole position to good use and could be the one that they all have to beat.
HEURISTIC has won two of his last three runs and has finished second in the other, the latest over six furlongs by a neck. He returns from a lengthy 48-week spell during which time he was gelded and has had four barrier trials, finishing third in the first two and fourth in the last two. He faces a wide draw nine, but the engagement of champion jockey James McDonald catches the eye.
VEGAS RAIDER jumped awkwardly and was then bumped at 150M pole when ending up in fifth place last time out over 1100M, just under six lengths off the winner and was immediately rested for 18 weeks. He returns here after winning both of his barrier trials and from his useful gate two, he should be considered a big runner in this line-up.
Race 7
The day’s value bet, ZOUATICA had his consistency rewarded with a one-length victory last time out over a mile, this despite jumping awkwardly bumping another runner. He recovered quickly to take up the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to record a courageous victory. He has a cosy draw four and will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and could prove hard to reel in over the latter stages.
CITY OF LIGHTS is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has won two of her last three starts, the latest over nine furlongs by 1.3L. She struck the front at the 300M mark and then held off all challengers in the run down to the line. She faces a wide draw eleven, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
PERFECT PLAY finished third in his last start over twelve furlongs in the UK and has his first outing in Australia for his new trainer. He also returns from a 32-week spell but has had two barrier trials, winning the latest. If fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here jumping from gate nine.
Race 8
WEMBANYAMA has only had three runs to date and followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over 1300M, 0.7L back from the winner, but he hung out approaching the home straight in that event and then came the widest of them all into the home stretch. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 40-week absence and from his useful gate three, he is made the best bet on the day’s card.
MAGNATEAR raced just behind the leaders and was only run out of it late when ending up in fourth spot last time out over seven furlongs, 4.7L adrift of the victor and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate twelve, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.
DRACO’S FIRE by contrast has pulled pole position and won his penultimate outing over 1500M and then shifted out over the closing 150M when finishing second last time out over a mile, 1.8L behind the winner. The gelding gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause and should be involved in the finish.
The fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them.
