Australian racing tips – Wednesday 14 August 2024 – Randwick-Kensington

Race 4

HEADWALL has an impressive record of seven runs for three wins, a second and three third place finishes, the latest, one of those thirds over 1000M, three and a half lengths behind the winner and was immediately rested for 37 weeks. He returns after having had the benefit of two barrier trials and whilst drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, on the plus side, he will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

CHIEF CONDUCTOR on the other hand has cracked pole position and was seldom far off the action before being a tad disappointing when finishing sixth last time out over 1100M, four lengths back from the winner, but that was in very heavy going, which was not to his liking. The gelding will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.

PARTY DOLL is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she showed marked improvement to win her last start over 1000M by one and a half lengths, this despite being slow away. She struck the front at the 300M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. From draw five, she should be included in all bets.

Race 5

THE REPLICANT has finished second in four of his last five starts, the latest over 1300M, just a head back from the winner. He sat second all the way round, only to be outrun in the shadow of the post. The gelding is sure to put his pole position to good use and will be looking to go one better here. He may prove hard to topple and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

SERENE NIC is a 5-year-old mare taking on males, but she had her consistency rewarded with a one-and-a-half-length victory last time out over 1600M. She kicked clear of the opposition at the 150M mark and held on courageously to record her fourth career victory. The mare faces a wide draw ten, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

ARISTONOUS had to be held up between the 500M and 250M mark before finishing fifth in his latest outing over 2000M, just over four lengths off the winner. He has his first run for his new trainer and returns here after a 19-week break without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he gets a handy draw four and will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. If fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here to be involved in the finish.

Race 6

The day’s value bet, DEMARCAY is recorded as finishing sixth in his last start over 1900M, but he was just 1.7L off the winner. He battled all the way down to the wire that day and gets cheekpieces fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from a useful gate three.

LUCONI has only had two runs to date, winning on debut over 1200M and then finishing second next time out when stepping up to 1500M, beaten just a short-head, but he did race three wide without cover and come five wide into the home straight in that event, before chasing hard over the closing stages. The gelding jumps from a wide draw eleven, but he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here.

COUNTY KILKENNY won over 1500M three runs back, finished second in his next two starts, the latest over 1800M, just a head behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was bumped at the start and came three wide into the home straight. The form of that race has been franked and from his cosy draw two, he should not be easily overlooked.

Race 7

This looks to be an open F&M Handicap 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. The tentative top pick is EQUIPAGE who has won two of her last four races and raced three wide throughout and came the widest of them all into the home straight to win her last start over 1350M by a half-length. The form of that race has been franked and although drawn wide in gate thirteen, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.

LONRIOLI was bumped at the start and came three wide into the home stretch, but was only run out of it late last time out over 1250M, ending up in third spot, just a neck off the victor. She has her peak run for her new trainer and returning from a lengthy 62-week spell, but from her kinder gate three, she could be the biggest danger to the top choice.

ALVINA’S LUCK has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1200M with a second-place finish next time out over 1250M, just a head back from the winner. She kept chasing hard that day and although drawn wideish in gate eight, she could complete the trifecta.