Australian racing tips – Wednesday 2 August 2023 – Kensington

Best Bet: HOWGOODAREYOU (Race 5)
Value Bet: DAKOTA VROOM (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R54.00

Race 4

BAT OUT OF HELL has consistent form lines to his name, finishing third last time out over seven furlongs, 1.2L behind the winner, despite being bumped at the start and having to be held up between the 400M and 100M mark. The gelding has pulled a widish draw eight, but with champion jockey James McDonald in the irons, he looks to be the one to side with here.

THE REPLICANT followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a seventh place finish next time out over 1500M, 3.3L back from the winner, by the was crowded at the start and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding is drawn one inside the top choice and should be right up there when they hit the line.

FULLER has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1900M, just under a length and a half behind the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his handy draw three, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today.

Race 5

HOWGOODAREYOU has only had the two runs to date, winning by a head on debut over 1300M and then finishing second next time out when stepping up to 1500M, tasting defeat by the same head margin, but she did jump awkwardly on that occasion, bumping another runner. She recovered well to take the lead and was only run out of it late. The form of that race has been franked and from pole position, she is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

PRINCIPESSA has consistent formlines to her credit and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1300M with a fifth-place finish next time out over six furlongs, two and a half lengths back from the winner, notwithstanding shifting inwards brushing the running rail at the 1000M pole, before making good late progress over the closing stages. She on the other hand is drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, but she should be doing her best work late and could be the biggest danger to the top pick.

HELLAVADANCER had her consistency rewarded with a half-length victory last time out over 1300M. She struck the front at the 150M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. From her useful draw four, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 6

The day’s value bet, DAKOTA VROOM is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won her penultimate start over 1100M and then finished eighth next time out over six furlongs, 5.8L adrift of the victor, but it should be noted that she had to be held up at the top of the home straight until the 200M mark, so she had her excuse. She will have to deal with a wide draw ten, but with better luck in running and with her having her peak run after returning from a 20-week break, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

CUSTODIAN is drawn one outside the former and was returning from a 12-week rest and jumped awkwardly bumping another runner, but stayed on well when ending up in sixth place last time out over 1100M, just under three and a half lengths behind the winner and on that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here.

CAPITAL ASSET has won two of his last three starts, the latest over 1300M by two and a half lengths and was immediately rested for 18 weeks. He returns here after having had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the latest. From his kinder draw three he should turn in another honest run today.

Race 7

ATLANTIC OCEAN finished seventh last time out over six furlongs, just over five lengths adrift of the winner when returning from an 18 week absence, but he was slow away in that event finding himself towards the back of the field, forcing him to come four wide into the home straight, but he did finish off his race well. The gelding faces a wide gate ten, but he could provide jockey James McDonald with the opening and closing legs of the day’s Jackpot.

SECRET REVOLUTION‘s last three runs have yielded fourth, third and second-place finishes, the latest over five furlongs, two lengths back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that event, bumping another runner and then had to be held up in the home stretch, only seeing daylight at the 150M mark, before finishing well from that point. He will have to overcome a wide draw fifteen, but he will be hoping to go one better today to chalk up his third career victory.

STROMBOLI on the other hand has cracked pole position and won over six furlongs three runs back, finished fourth in his penultimate start over 1300M and then sixth in his latest outing over 1100M, just over six lengths off the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day and his jockey was charge with careless riding. The gelding has his first run since a 30-week break but did finish second in his only barrier trial and will get 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause.