Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday's racing coming your way from Hawkesbury on 30 May 2024.
Best Bet: NEW FOREST (Race 5)
Value Bet: STRUFF (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 1 | 4 | 6 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
NEW FOREST had finished third in his two runs prior to winning his maiden race last time out over 1600M by 1.8L. He struck the front at the top of the home straight that day and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He takes on stronger here, but from gate five, he may well be up to the task at hand and is made the best bet on the day’s card.
MICKEY’S MEDAL has cracked pole position and had to be held up in the home straight when ending up in seventh place last time out over 1600M, three lengths back from the winner, so he had his excuse. The gelding gets a set of blinkers re-fitted for today’s run and if this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.
GOOD ONCE followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a second-place finish next time out over the same journey, just a length back from the winner, but he jumped awkwardly that day and then raced three wide throughout. In addition, he was reported to have lost a near-hind shoe in running. He jumps from draw seven and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
LULUMON is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she won over 1200M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1300M and then third in her latest outing over the same sprint trip, just over a half-length behind the winner, but she overraced in the early stages in that event and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 350M mark, before finishing off her race well. The form of that race has also been franked and from her handy draw three, she looks to be the one to side with here.
VERBIL has only had two runs to date, winning over 1200M on debut and then finishing fourth next time out over 1300M, just under four lengths off the winner, but he raced three wide without cover on that occasion and came four wide into the home stretch, before chasing hard all the way down to the wire. He would have come on further with that run under his belt and from gate five, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
BEAUTY RISING is another 3-year-old filly in the race and is the stable companion of the latter. She showed solid improvement to finish second in her latest outing over 1300M, beaten just a short-head, this despite being severely hampered at the start and having to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 100M mark and then coming three wide into the home straight. She has her peak run after returning from a 22-week break and has pulled a wideish gate seven, but on the plus side, she will have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and makes a solid back-up for the yard.
Race 7
BE REAL is a 3-year-old filly taking on males, but she followed up her penultimate run victory over 1600M with a third-place finish next time out over the same journey, just under a half-length back from the winner. She finished well from some way back that day and from her wideish draw eight, she should be doing her best work late.
GULF OF MEXICO finished sixth over 1800M, three lengths back from the winner in his fist run in Australia, after relocating from Ireland. He had to be held up between the 350M and 200M marl in that event and the form of the race has been franked. The gelding would have come on further after that outing and from his useful gate four, he could chalk up his second career victory.
ZERKHAN won over 1400M three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over 1600M and then sixth in his latest outing over 1800M, eight and a half lengths adrift of the victor, but that was in very heavy going and at a stronger centre. The colt faces a wide gate nine, but will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle and should be included in all bets.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, STRUFF is a 4-year-old filly taking on boys, but she won over 1300M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1200M and was then hampered shortly after the start as well as having to be checked off the heels of another runner at the 800M pole when finishing a disappointing eighth last time out over1200M, 6.3L behind the winner, so that effort is best ignored. She was immediately rested for 25 weeks and returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. The filly jumps from gate six and could prove hard to topple.
SOUTH OF INDIA has only had three runs to date, finishing sixth on debut over 1000M and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out over 900M and following that up with a 0.8L victory last time out over 1000M. He showed plenty of toe that day and whilst returning from a 17-week rest, he has had the benefit of a barrier trial. The gelding will have to deal with a wide draw eleven, but will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
LAYIN’ FOUR is another 4-year-old filly in the race. She has consistent formlines to her name, finishing second last time out over 1200M, just a length behind the winner, notwithstanding being hampered at the 200M pole and has finished second in a subsequent barrier trial. The form of that last race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning and from gate five, she should turn in another honest performance here.
