Australian racing tips – Tuesday 1 October 2024 – Newcastle

Race 5

PLEASURE ARTIST is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had two runs to date, finishing fourth on debut over 1200M and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out when stepping up to 1400, albeit by just a head. She came the widest of them all into the home straight that day but battled all the way down to the wire and the form of that race has been franked. The filly will have to negotiate a wide draw twelve, but she should be doing her best work late.

SIDE SHOW raced up with the pace and stayed on well to finish fifth last time out over 1300M, 4.3L behind the winner. He faces an even wider draw fifteen, but on the plus side, he will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. In addition, he gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.

MASTER RILEY followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a fourth-place finish next time out over 1400M, 4.8L back from the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his wideish draw seven, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and could prove difficult to reel in over the latter stages.

Race 6

BE REAL is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1800M with a second-place finish next time out 2000M, beaten just a head. She had to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 700M mark, so she had her excuse. The filly returns after a 16-week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and from gate five, she will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

MAGICON won over 1600M three runs back, finished second in his penultimate start over 1800M and then third in his latest outing over 2000M, four lengths off the winner, but he came three wide into the home straight that day, before staying on well over the closing stages. The gelding has his first run since a 16-week rest, but has finished fourth in his only barrier trial and from gate seven, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

AMICUS CURIAE won over 1400M and 1600M four and three runs back, finished ninth in his penultimate start over 1350 and then sixth last time out over 1400M, just under six lengths adrift of the victor, but he raced three wide without cover in that event and was hampered at the 700M pole. The gelding has a handy gate three, gets the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice and should be included in all bets.

Race 7

The day’s best bet, MISS COUVER was returning from a 23-week break and was slow away when finishing sixth last time out over 1100M, 5.3L behind the winner, but she has finished third in a subsequent barrier trial. She is already an eight-time winner, and she will be hoping to bounce back to her better form here.

TITANIUM MISS is seldom far off the action and tried to go from gun to tape before finishing fifth last time out over 1200M, just over one length back from the winner. She has pulled a useful gate four and could prove to be the biggest danger to the top pick.

TAVOLO lost a length at the start, but kicked clear of the field at the 100M mark to win her latest outing over 1200M by one and a half lengths going away. She was returning from a 24-week spell on that occasion and despite a wideish draw eight, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

YOSHINOBU has only had two runs, finishing seventh first time out over 1100M and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out over 1200M, even if by just a head, but it should be noted that he was bumped at the start. Nevertheless, he struck the front at the 200M mark and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The colt was returning from a 27-week absence that day and from his cosy draw three, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

SPANISH FOX goes for his hat-trick after two victories over 1300M, the latest by 1.8L. He went from jump to wire for that victory and from a wide gate eleven and with a 2kg claiming in the irons, he is likely to attempt to do the same here.

FRENCH MARINE has consistent formlines to his name, finishing third last time out over 1200M, just over a length and a half back from the winner. The gelding has pulled gate seven and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should turn in another honest performance here.