Australian racing tips – Wednesday 28 December 2022 – Gosford

Best Bet: HELL I AM (Race 5)
Value Bet: NOTHINSWEETABOUTME (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R90.00  

Race 4

FIELDING has won three of his last five starts, the latest over 1100M by 0.8L. He came three wide into the home straight that day, hitting the front at the 150M mark and then holding off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He has his peak run since returning from a 19-week break and although facing a wideish gate seven, on the plus side he will get 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

PER INAWAY is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position and has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when fifth over six furlongs, just over one and a half lengths adrift of the victor. She had to be held up in the home straight in that contest and will be having her peak run after returning from a slightly longer 20-week rest. With better luck in running, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

WATEGOS followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a fifth-place finish next time out over 1100M, 2.3L back from the winner, but he was hampered shortly after the start that day and came four wide into the home stretch, before staying on well. From a handy draw four, he should be included in all bets.

Race 5

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet, HELL I AM to chalk up his fifth career victory. He completed his hat-trick when winning his last outing over six furlongs by just over one and a half lengths when returning from a 14-week absence. He came three wide into the home straight on that occasion and then held on well, despite hanging out on the home turn. He gets gate six and the quartet is very much on the cards.

SHALAILED is the stable companion to the top choice and has consistent formlines to his name. He raced just behind the leaders when finishing second in the race mentioned above and as the pair meet on the same weight terms today, the colt may have to settle for the same result. He jumps from a wideish draw eight, but nevertheless, he makes a solid back-up for the yard.

RUSSIAN CONQUEST is a 3yr old filly taking on males. She finished seventh last time out over a mile, 8.7L off the winner, but that was in very heavy going and she never acted on the surface at all and was immediately rested for 11 weeks. She returns here after winning her only barrier trial and whilst draw the widest of them all in gate eleven, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

Race 6

The day’s value bet, NOTHINSWEETABOUTME won over nine furlongs three runs back and then finished sixth in her penultimate run when trying ten furlongs, but ended up third last time out when dropping down to the seven-furlong journey, just a half-length behind the winner, when returning from a 23-week spell. She did jump awkwardly that day, but made good late progress over the closing stages. She has pulled a wide gate eleven, but she should be doing her best work late.

LEKVARTE was slow away, finding herself towards the back of the field, but delivered a powerful finish to win her last outing over seven furlongs by just under a half-length. She returns from a 31-week absence and faces a wide gate fourteen, but given her style of racing, 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.

ELLA TE AMA put three and a half lengths between herself and the opposition when winning her latest outing over a mile, notwithstanding being bumped at the start and hanging in down the home stretch. She jumps from gate nine, but she should not be lightly dismissed.

Race 7

This looks to be a tricky race to end the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. Two 4yr old fillies and a 3yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but ALICIA ROMA gets the nod for top spot. She is seldom far off the action, finishing third in her latest start over five furlongs, 3.8L behind the winner, despite overracing in the early stages and being hampered at the 200M pole. She has her first run since a 25-week break but has had the two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest to showcase her well-being. From draw five, she could be the one to side with here.

ANAVINCI showed plenty of toe to win by one and a half lengths when making her debut over five furlongs, notwithstanding jumping awkwardly. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she may be good enough to chalk up a quick double. She does face a wide gate sixteen, but she is a speedy sort who should be able to work her way across without using up too much gas.

FLYING ANNIE won her penultimate start over six furlongs and then finished third next time out over six furlongs, 2.7L behind the winner, but she hung in all the way down the home straight on that occasion. She returns from a 24-week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest and from a kinder draw seven, she should be considered a big runner in this line-up.