Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Hawkesbury on Wednesday 21 February.
Best Bet: THE HAWKESBURY (Race 7)
Value Bet: BY NINE (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
11 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
10 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
12 | 2 |
| 9 |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| 13 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether either of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either, or both, should be respected. Of the raced runners, three 3-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to the race and complete the trifecta, but REDBREAST may prove to be the best of the trio. She showed plenty of toe and had to be eased at the 200M mark when finishing third on debut over six furlongs, just under three lengths behind the winner. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat, jumping from a handy draw two.
LITTLE JEANIE has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when second over seven furlongs, beaten just a short-head. She finished strongly but shifted out from the 250M mark, so can be considered an unlucky loser. The filly returns from a 12-week rest, but has had a barrier trial and has her first run for top trainer Chris Waller. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here, despite facing a wide draw twelve.
RIP OFF has consistent formlines to her name and jumped awkwardly and came four wide into the home straight when finishing third last time out over six furlongs, two lengths back from the winner. She has pulled gate seven and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, BY NINE showed solid improvement on his penultimate run to win his last start over a mile, albeit by just a short-head. He raced just behind the leaders that day and had to be checked at the 300M mark, before delivering a powerful finish when clear, to claim his victory in the shadow of the post. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but he will be hoping to chalk up a quick double here.
Although WHATADILEMMA is recorded as finishing sixth in his latest outing over nine furlongs, he was only a length back from the winner and he did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, only seeing daylight at the 200M mark, before finishing off his race well. The gelding has a wide draw nine, but on the plus side he will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
OWEN COUNTY came four wide into the home stretch but struck the front at the 150M mark to win by two lengths, going away from the opposition. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, but he should be doing his best work late.
Race 7
THE HAWKESBURY has only had two runs to date, winning by three and a half lengths first time out and then finishing third next time out over 1300M, just a half-length off the winner, when returning from a 12-week rest. She came three wide into the home stretch in that event but stayed on well over the closing stages. The filly would have come on further with that run under her belt and from gate six, she is made the best bet on the day’s card.
STARMAE has posted two solid last runs and went from jump to wire when winning her maiden race by 2.3L last time out over 1300M. From her wide draw eleven, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today with Zac Lloyd in the saddle, she could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.
GENDARMERIE had consistent form prior to being a tad disappointing when finishing sixth last time out over seven furlongs, just over five lengths adrift of the victor. She tried to go from gun to tape in that contest and should appreciate the drop in distance. The filly has a useful draw four and will be having her peak run after returning from a 23-week break and should be involved in the finish.
Race 8
This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. KING’S DUTY made good late progress from some way back to finish fifth last time out over six furlongs, just under three lengths behind the winner. He faces a wide draw eleven, but he 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.
CAPITAL HEART jumped awkwardly, but struck the front at the 200M pole, only to be run out of it late to end up in second place last time out over seven furlongs, three lengths back from the winner. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate seventeen, but he will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and will get a set of blinkers re-fitted for the day’s run. If this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.
FLYING IMPALA had his consistency rewarded with a jump-to-wire victory by 2.3L last time out over seven furlongs. The gelding will have to deal with a wide draw thirteen but will have ex-SA jockey Brandon Lerena in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle and should be included in all bets.
