Australian racing tips – Tuesday, 18 February 2025 – Newcastle

Race 3

OLLIE’S SECRET struck the front at the 125M mark and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to win by 2.2L last time out over 1200M, this despite shifting out over the closing stages.

The form of that race has been franked and although drawn wide in gate eleven, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. Two 5yr old mares could chase him home, with the slight preference going to DIVINE VICKY who showed solid improvement to finish fourth last time out over 1100M, just under a length behind the winner.

She finished well that day from some way back, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. The mare has her peak run after returning from a 26 week break and whilst drawn wideish in gate eight, she will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

ANNOUNCING had to be held up at the 100M mark when ending up in eighth place in her latest outing over 1200M, just under four and a half lengths back from the winner. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but she will also have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice and is likely to be doing her best work late.

Race 4

The day’s value bet, DON’TCHA THINK is seldom far off the action and came three wide into the home straight before staying on well over the latter stages to end up in fourth spot last time out over 1400M, two lengths off the victor. He jumps from gate seven and will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

OAKFIELD PRINCE has cracked pole position and had to be severely checked off the heels of another runner at the 400M mark when finishing fourth last time out over 1600M, four lengths behind the winner, so that effort is best ignored.

The gelding should be right up there when they hit the line. LEASE had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over 1200M, albeit by just a short-head. He went from jump to wire that day and from his handy draw two, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

Race 5

ZOUNAKA is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won over 1000M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1200M and then second again in her latest outing when stepping up to 1300M, just a head behind the winner, but she did come three wide into the home stretch in that event, before chasing hard all the way down to the line. The filly is drawn the widest in gate thirteen, but on the plus side, she will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and will be hoping to go one better today.

CITY GOLD BANNER has only had two runs to date, winning on debut over 1400M and then finishing seventh in his next outing over 1500M, 12.2L adrift of the winner, but he had nothing go his way that day. The colt was bumped at the start, overraced three wide without cover in the early stages, before being forced to come four wide into the home straight. He will have to negotiate a wide gate nine but gets the services of Keagan Latham and he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.

MY PHAR LADY put his disappointing penultimate start over 2000M behind him when winning his maiden race next time out over 1300M by a head. He was slow away on that occasion and then came four wide into the home straight, but he did finish off his race powerfully and whilst taking on stronger here and starting from a wide draw eleven, he should nevertheless still be involved in the finish.

Race 6

This looks to be a tricky race to end off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. However, a 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could dominate the finish and secure the exacta, but RUBI’S SERVE may prove to be the better.

She won over 1300M three runs back, finished sixth in her penultimate start over 1400M and then second in her latest outing over the same c&d, just under a half length behind the winner, this after battling all the way down to the wire. From her handy draw three, she looks like the one to side with in this line-up.

JAEX finished fourth in her latest start over 1400M, just under three lengths back from the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. She starts from a wideish gate eight, but still, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

ZOUSAIN BOLT had solid form prior to finishing a tad disappointing fifth last time out over 1500M, 9.3L adrift of the victor, when trying to go from gun to tape. The drop in trip should be to his liking and he may prove to be hard to reel in over the closing stages. The gelding faces a wide gate eleven, but she will have 3kgs removed from her back for the services of his claiming apprentice.