Australian racing tips – Wednesday 25 September 2024 – Warwick Farm

Race 4

ROCK EMPIRE has had just five starts, recording two wins and a second place, the latest victory coming last time out over 1400M by 0,8L. He jumped awkwardly that day, becoming unbalanced, but recovered quickly to race just behind the leader, before striking the front at the 120m mark to win going away.

He gets gate five and will be having his peak run after a 44 week break and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

UNITED KINGDOM has turned in two solid last runs for his new trainer and returning from a 25 week rest, the latest when third over 1400M, just over three lengths behind the winner, but he was bumped at the start that day and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 800M mark, before coming three wide into the home straight, so he had his excuses.

He is drawn one outside the top pick and could be his biggest danger.

SWEYSIVE has finished second in his last two starts, the latest over 1580M where he was grabbed in the shadow of the post to finish second, beaten just a short-head. The gelding has a handy draw three and will be looking to go one better here.

Race 5

PIPPIE BEACH missed out on her hat-trick after two victories over 1300M when finishing fourth last time out over the same journey, three lengths behind the winner. She was returning from a 17 week rest that day and made good late progress over the closing stages from some way back. She jumps from a wide gate nine, but she should be doing her best work late.

WATCH MY GIRL has won two of her last three outings, and was returning from a 12 week rest when finishing well to run down the leaders to claim a head victory last time out over 1300M. The filly is drawn one outside the former, but she should be right up there when they hit the line.

POPPIN’ CHAMPAGNE has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1400M with a third place finish next time out over the same distance, 0.7L back from the winner. She battled all the way down to the wire in that event and from her kinder draw two, and with her having her peak run after a 20 week absence, she should be included in all bets.

Race 6

The day’s value bet, HEMAN has cracked pole position and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest, although recorded as ending up in tenth spot over 1400M, was just three and a half lengths behind the victor and that was after being bumped at the 400m mark and then again at the 300M pole.

The gelding returns from a 23 week spell, but has finished third in his only barrier trial. With better luck in running, he could prove hard to topple.

NORTHERN EYES has won his last four outings, the latest over 1400M, albeit by just a short-head. He kicked clear of the opposition at the 200M mark on that occasion and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The gelding jumps from gate seven in an attempt to chalk up a rare five timer.

RAVELLO finished third in his latest outing over 1800M, just a length back from the winner and was moved to another stable and rested for 17 weeks.

He returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing fourth in both and has his first run for his new trainer. If fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here and from one gate outside the latter, the engaging of champion jockey James McDonald catches the eye.

Race 7

EXTREMELY HARDYS showed plenty of toe when putting six lengths between herself and the balance of the field to win on debut over 1200M. 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. Whilst draw the widest of them all in gate fifteen, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy to give Chris Waller a second winner in the day’s Jackpot, should the top pick win the second leg.

CAVALLO RAMPANTE won over 1000M three runs back, finished third in her penultimate start over 1100M and then fourth in her latest outing over the same sprint trip, three lengths behind the winner, but she came three wide into the home stretch, before chasing hard all the way down to the line. The mare faces a wide draw eleven, but on the plus side, she will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

NOSTALGIA is the stable companion of the top choice and overraced throughout and came three wide into the home straight when finishing fifth last time out over 1250M, just over four lengths adrift of the victor. The form of that race has however stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning and she was resuming from a 59 week spell. The fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them and she makes a solid back-up for the powerful Chris Waller yard.