Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Wyong on 18 January 2023.
Best Bet: DIRTY MERCHANT (Race 6)
Value Bet: JAYANTHI (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
1 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
4 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
9 | 2 |
| 1 |
6 |
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10 |
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Cost: R90.00
Race 4
Nine out of a field of fourteen are unraced runners, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether any of the connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners MR KENNEDY may well prove to be the best. His last two runs after returning from a 156-week spell have been solid and he showed plenty of toe before shifting out over the closing to finish second over this c&d last time, 0.8L behind the winner. He has a wideish gate eight, but the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.
VILLA TINO finished second on debut over five furlongs and then jumped awkwardly and was hampered at the 800M mark to end up in fifth place in his next start when stepping up to six furlongs, 2.7L behind the winner. The colt returns from a 20-week rest but did finish second in his only barrier trial. He gets draw five and the drop-in trip should be to his liking.
ROYAL EMPRESS is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys and has her first run, but she has had the two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and fourth in the latest. Although drawn wideish in gate ten, she should not be easily overlooked.
Race 5
The day’s value bet, JAYANTHI had finished second in her two runs prior to ending up in fourth place last time out over 1300M, six lengths adrift of the winner, but she was reported to be lame in her off-fore that day and was immediately rested for 25 weeks. She has had the two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest and whilst drawn wide in gate nine, she will be hoping to bounce back to her better form here.
JUSTINA raced just behind the leaders and then sped away from the opposition to win her debut over five furlongs by a half-length. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She is drawn one inside the top choice and returns from an 18-week break but has had the two barrier trials, finished fourth in the first and winning the latest. She would have also come on further with that run under her belt.
SEVEN SISTERS is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she stayed on well when finishing fifth last time out over 1100M, 5.7L off the victor. She has her first run after a longer 27-week absence, but she has had the four barrier trials to showcase her well-being and from her handy draw three, she should be included in all bets.
Race 6
DIRTY MERCHANT has won two of his last three runs and finished second in the other, the latest victory coming over 1300M by two and a half lengths, when returning from a 27-week rest. He went from jump to wire that day and from a wide draw nine, he is likely to adopt similar tactics today. The gelding will be looking to chalk up his third career victory and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
JOURNALISM is drawn one outside the top pick and had finished third in his two runs prior to ending up in eighth spot last time out over seven furlongs, just under eighteen lengths adrift of the victor, but that was in very heavy going, so that effort is best ignored. The gelding resumes from a 27-week rest, but he has had the benefit of three barrier trials, winning the latest and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
PIRAEUS goes for his hat-trick after two victories over six furlongs, albeit the latest by just a short-head. He jumped awkwardly on that occasion but finished off his race strongly and from a kinder draw six, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
THE UNICORN put her disappointing penultimate run behind her when finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, 2.2L behind the victor. She had nothing go her way that day, jumping awkwardly and taking a heavy bump shortly after the start, before not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight. She jumps from gate six and with better luck in running today, she looks to be the one to side with here.
PINK BAROQUE had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory last time out over seven furlongs, albeit by just a neck and has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial. She was friendless in the betting markets that day, but struck the front at the 200M mark and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. She has cracked pole position and could prove good enough to record a quick double.
DEFINITELY MAYBE had to be held up approaching the home turn before finishing powerfully to win her last outing over 1300M by a short-head in the shadow of the post. She is drawn one outside the latter and should be considered a big runner in this line-up.
