Australian racing tips – Thursday 29 August 2024 – Newcastle

Race 5

SNOW IN MAY is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position and won by 1.3L on debut over 1200M, this despite jumping awkwardly and being held up approaching the home turn. She struck the front at the 200M mark that day and went on to record a comfortable victory. The filly returns from a 17-week rest, but has finished third in both of her barrier trials and would have learnt from that race experience. With the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat and is taken to be the best bet on that day’s card.

MOGUL MONARCH was returning from a 15-week rest and went from jump to wire to win his maiden race last time out over 1100M by two lengths, this at the third time of asking. He takes on stronger here and is drawn wide in gate eleven, but he is likely to attempt similar front-running tactics today and could prove to be the biggest threat to the top pick.

EMPRESS OF JAPAN is another 3-year-old filly in the race. She won over 1100M first time out and was then hampered at the 800M mark and raced green throughout when finishing fifteenth next time out over 1200M, just under nine lengths adrift of the victor and was immediately rested for 19 weeks. She returns here after having had the benefit of two barrier trials and from a handy draw three, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 6

There are nine 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, EXCEEDAQA may well prove to be the best. She is a 3-year-old filly taking on males, but she has not been too far off the action in her first three runs, finishing second last time out over 1000M, two and a half lengths back from the winner, when returning from a 23-week break. She chased hard from some way back that day and from her wideish draw eight, she should be doing her best work late.

BLACKLIST was bumped at the start, but recovered quickly to take up the lead and then stayed on well over the closing stages to finish fourth last time out over 1600M, three lengths back from the winner. He has his first run after returning from a 21-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, winning the latest. The gelding faces a wide draw seventeen out of eighteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

SPIRIT OF WEALTH is another 3-year-old filly in the race. She makes her debut after having had three barrier trials, finishing second in the first and winning the next two. She will have to negotiate a wide gate eleven, but if not too green, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, ZOE SHARK has finished second in her last two starts and tried to go from gun to tape when just a head behind the victor last time out over 1000M, when returning from a 21-week break. She has a useful draw four and will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

WRITE THIS WAY won over 1100M three runs back, finished fourth in his penultimate start over 1200M and then was a tad disappointing when ending up in tenth spot in his latest outing over 1100M, 6.7L behind the winner, but she did come four wide into the home straight in that event and was reported to have been lame in her off-fore, so that effort is best ignored. She resumes after a 23-week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. From an even better gate two, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.

KIRRAGIRL also won three runs back, but in her case over 1200M, then disappointed in her next two starts, the latest when ninth over 1300M, 21.7L back from the winner, but that was in very heavy going on which she did not act and she returned lame in her off-hind, so a line should be drawn through that run. She was also returning from a 19-week spell that day and from one gate outside the latter, she could complete the trifecta.

Race 8

LAST COMMAND followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a sixth-place finish next time out over 1400M, 7.2L back from the winner, but he was slow away that day and hung in from the 100M pole, as well as his jockey putting up 0.5kgs overweight. He has a wide nine gate to deal with and returns from a 21-week break, during which time he was gelded, but he will be hoping to regain some of his better form today.

CARPACCIO finished third in his last two runs and kicked clear of the opposition at the 250M mark in his last start over 1200M, only to be snared late to finish two lengths off the winner. The form of that race has been franked and he will be having his peak run after returning from a 23-week rest. From his kinder draw two, he should keep the top pick honest.

FRENCH MARINE showed solid improvement to win his last start over 1200M by 0.8L and if he can confirm that form, he should be a big runner here. The gelding will have 3kg removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and is sure to put his pole position to good use.