Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Kembla Grange on 3 January 2023.
Best Bet: ZARAGOZA (Race 4)
Value Bet: UNDERGROUND MUSIC (Race 6
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
2 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
11 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | 6 | 8 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
ZARAGOZA has only had two runs to date, finishing fourth on debut over 1100M and then third next time out over the same sprint trip, just under a length behind the winner, but he hung out approaching the home turn and came the widest into the home straight, before finishing off his race strongly. On that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here and despite a wide gate nine, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. The gelding will get the services of non- claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause.
REIBY PRINCESS is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she has also only had the two runs, finishing eighth first time out over 1100M and then fifth next time out in the same race as the former and mentioned above, just under two lengths back from the winner. She was however hampered at the 200M mark and is better drawn in gate three. She is also 0.5kgs better off at today’s weight terms, so that should bring them closer together, but the former is still preferred to make greater improvement.
PROCEED had solid form prior to being a tad disappointing when finishing seventh last time out after stepping up to seven furlongs, 7.2L adrift of the victor and was immediately rested for 24 weeks. He returns here after finishing fourth in his only barrier trial and from draw seven, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 5
KATSUMOTO raced just behind the leaders and then accelerated smartly at the 350M to win by 0.8L on debut over six furlongs. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate twelve, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Two 3-year-old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to GO ISLA GO who had her consistency rewarded with a 0.8L victory last time out over six furlongs. She showed plenty of toe that day and although stuck out wide in gate nine, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
The same consistency comment can be made about DIAMOND LUCY who won her last start over 1300M by 0.8L, despite faulting at the 300M mark. She recovered quickly to record a well-timed victory and from her kinder gate five, she should be included in all bets. The filly does return from a 14-week rest, but did win her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, UNDERGROUND MUSIC has finished fourth in her last four starts, the latest over six furlongs, 2.2L behind the winner. She was slow away that day, but made good late progress over the latter stages. She will have to negotiate a wide gate nine, but she should be doing her best work late.
SHE’S UNUSUAL won over seven furlongs on debut and then finished second over the same journey 1.8L back from the winner when returning from an 11-week rest and having her first run for her new trainer. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and from gate six, she could complete the exacta.
DUBAI EMPRESS has only had two runs, finishing seventh on debut over 1100M and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out over 1300M, albeit by just a head. She delivered a powerful finish in that event, suggesting that the extra distance would be to her liking. The filly gets a wideish draw eight, but she should not be lightly discarded.
Race 7
GELATIN was returning from a 16-week rest and came three wide into the home stretch, but finished well to win his last start over 1300M by a short-head. The colt has cracked pole position and could give trainer Michael Freedman his second winner in the day’s Jackpot should the top pick win the second leg.
TIPITINA is drawn wideish in gate eight and missed out on his hat-trick after victories over seven furlongs and a mile, when finishing second last time out over nine furlongs, four lengths behind the winner, but he did come the widest of them all into the home straight. The gelding returns after a 95-week spell, but the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence and have engaged top jockey, Tommy Berry to ride, would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.
LYSANDER has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when trying to go from jump to wire before ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1300M, one and a half lengths off the winner. He is stuck out wide in gate thirteen, but he does have his peak run for his new trainer, after returning from an 18-week absence.
