Australian racing tips – Thursday, 27 March 2025 – Gosford

Race 4

Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s best bet, LADY ZODIAC is taken to lead the field home. She followed up her penultimate run victory over 1100M with a third place finish next time out over 1100M, just under a half length back from the winner, when having her first run for her new trainer and returning from a 21 week break. She chased hard all the way down to the wire that day and from gate six, she could prove hard to topple.

WRITTEN SCANDAL also won her penultimate start, but in her case over 1100M and then ended up in sixth place next time out over 1200M, 3.2L behind the winner. She is drawn one inside the top pick and will be having her peak run after returning from a 29 week rest. With 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

LYLES won his maiden race by two and a half lengths last time out over 1200M, at the third time of asking, despite jumping awkwardly. He recovered quickly to take up the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a shorter 19 week rest and although drawn wide in gate nine, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 5

KENMARE BAY has finished second in his last two outings, the latest over 1600M, just a neck back from the winner. He made good late progress over the closing stages that day and should have no issue with the extra ground on offer here. The gelding has draw seven, will be having his peak run after returning from a 16 week absence and gets the service of a 2kg claiming apprentice. He could provide the trainer/jockey combination of John O’Shea and Tom Sherry with their second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top choice win the opening leg.

FERNAO won his penultimate start over 2100M and then finished second next time out over 2400M, four and a half lengths off the victor, but he did jump awkwardly in that contest, before staying on well over the latter stages. The gelding jumps from a handy draw two and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

PRIME IMPACT overraced wide throughout when finishing tenth last time out over 1800M, 7.3L adrift of the winner, so that effort should be ignored. The gelding has pulled gate five and will be looking to chalk up his fifth career victory.

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. OAKFIELD BADGER has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when second over 1000M, beaten just a short-head, when returning from an 11 week rest, but it should be noted that he came four wide into the home straight that day. From his useful gate three, he looks to be the one to side with in this line-up. Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home, but CAPITAL DANCER may well prove to be the better. She was bumped at the start, but struck the front at the top of the home straight before holding off all the late challengers in the run down to the wire. She was returning from a 29 week spell that day and from gate six, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the former.

SNEAKY SOFIA won her penultimate start over 1100M and then finished seventh in her latest outing over 1100M, 7.2L behind the winner, but she was reported to have faltered at the 300M pole. The form of that race has however been franked and she will be having her peak run after a 16 week rest. in addition, she will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, BELLE DETELLE is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory by 0.8L last time out over 1600M, this despite overracing in the middle stages. She has also had the benefit of a barrier trial and although drawn wideish in gate eight, she should turn in another honest performance here.

ALCABEEL showed solid improvement when finishing second last time out over 1500M, beaten just a short-head. He produced a powerful finish to just fail to grab the winner in the shadow of the post and if he can repeat that performance, he should be a big runner here. The gelding is sure to put his pole position to good use.

STAR LEGACY has finished third in his last three starts, the latest over 1800M, 3.7L off the winner, but he was bumped at the 250M mark in that event, so he had his excuse and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding is drawn one outside the latter and will have the services of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice.