Australian racing tips – Thursday 9 May 2024 – Grafton

Best Bet: GLOWLIGHT (Race 5)
Value Bet: LADY WARDELL (Race 4)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R90.00

Race 4

LADY WARDELL is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she overraced in the early and middle stages and understandably had little to offer over the closing stages when ending up in sixth place last time out over 1100M, just under three lengths behind the winner. She has her peak run after returning from a 21-week break and from gate five, she is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

CENOTES had solid form prior to finishing a tad disappointing fifth last time out over seven furlongs, just under eight lengths adrift of the victor, but he was hampered at the start that day, so he had his excuse. The gelding has finished third in a subsequent barrier trial and from his handy draw two, he will be hoping to bounce back to his better form.

FUN ENUFF goes for his hat-trick after two victories over seven furlongs, albeit the latest by just a short-head. He raced three wide without cover in that event, but battled all the way down to the wire and whilst facing a wideish draw eight, on the plus side he will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

Race 5

The day’s best bet, GLOWLIGHT is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she has cracked pole position and finished fourth last time out over five furlongs, just under a length back from the winner, but it should be noted that she overraced in the early and middle stages in that event and had to be held up approaching the home turn, so can be considered an unlucky loser. She returns from an 18-week rest and has her first run for her new trainer, but has finished fourth in her only barrier trial. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she could give jockey Jake Bayliss the first two winners in the day’s Jackpot.

SUNODA has finished third in his last two outings, the latest over five furlongs, just over four lengths off the winner, but he was hampered at the start, before delivering a powerful finish over the closing stages, this despite hanging out down the home stretch. The gelding has pulled gate seven, and on that last effort, he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here.

DURUSEHVAR is another 4-year-old filly in the race and has also finished third in her last two starts, the latest over five furlongs, 4.3L adrift of the winner, when returning from a 20-week rest. She did, however, race three wide throughout on that occasion and from one gate inside the latter, she should be involved in the finish.

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. STOINKA went from jump to wire when showing marked improvement to win his last start over 1300M by 1,8L and has finished fourth in a subsequent barrier trial. He will have to negotiate a wide draw fifteen, but he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and could prove hard to reel in over the latter stages.

FRAPPES overraced upfront in the early and middle stages and was only nabbed in the shadow of the post when finishing second last time out over seven furlongs, beating a short-head. He will have to deal with a wide gate thirteen, but will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

I AM A HIT is seldom far off the action and was slow away, but stayed on well when finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, 1.8L back from the winner. He on the other hand has a useful draw three and should be included in all bets.

Race 7

ELLE MAGIC is a 3-year-old filly taking on boys, but she was hampered at the start and then held up at the top of the home straight when finishing fifth last time out over ten furlongs, just under five lengths behind the winner and that was at a stronger centre. She has a wideish draw eight, but still looks to be the one to side with here.

BORN CONQUEROR went from gun to tape to win his latest outing over a mile by a length and a half. That was his maiden victory, and he is drawn wide in gate eleven, but he could prove hard to run down over the latter stages.

CROWN’M has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when making good late progress to end up in third spot last time out over a mile, 1.8L behind the winner. The gelding gets a cosy draw two and will have the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice.