Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Warwick Farm on 4 January 2023.
Best Bet: VILLADEN (Race 4)
Value Bet: THE MILKYBAR KID (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
8 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
3 | 8 | 12 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
VILLADEN overraced in the early stages but hit the front at the 250M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to win his last start over this c&d by 1.2L. He has pulled gate seven and retains the services of champion jockey James McDonald and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
REAL PEACE has cracked pole position and has consistent formlines to his name and although recorded as finishing eighth last time out over 1900M, he was just 2.2L back from the winner. The gelding did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight on that occasion, having to be held up at the 50M mark. With better luck in running today, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
ENDORPHINS is a 5yr mare taking on the boys, but she raced wide throughout and came from some way back when ending up in fourth place last time out over 1825M, two and a half lengths off the victor and the form of that race has been franked. She has a wideish draw eight, but she should be doing her best work late and should be involved in the finish.
Race 5
The day’s value bet, THE MILKYBAR KID missed out on his hat-trick when finishing third last time out over 2200M, seven lengths adrift of the victor, but he was reported to have not acted in the heavy going that day. He was immediately rested for 23 weeks and returns here after having had the two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. The gelding will have to overcome a wide gate nine, but he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.
ROSOVO had finished second on three occasions and third once in his four outings prior to ending up in seventh spot last time out over 1900M, 2.2L off the winner, but he did jump awkwardly that day and then only saw daylight at the 200M pole, before finishing off his race well. He has pulled gate six and will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
BALTIC COAST is seldom far off the action, finishing sixth in his latest start over this c&d, just under two lengths behind the winner, but he raced wide without cover that day and was reported to be lame in his near-fore, so that effort is best ignored. He is drawn one outside the latter and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.
Race 6
IRON WILL has only had the two runs to date, winning both of them over five furlongs, the latest by 1.3L, when returning from an 18-week break and the form of that race has been franked. He showed plenty of toe in that contest and from draw two, the hat-trick is very much on the cards.
INCENTIVE has won two of his last three runs and finished second in the other, the latest victory last time out over five furlongs where he put three lengths between himself and the opposition. He had good early speed that day and from a wide draw ten, he is likely to try and get to the front as quicky as possible without expending too much energy.
ZANZIBAR GEM is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she kicked clear of the field at the 200M mark when winning her last start over five furlongs by 2.7L and has finished third in a subsequent barrier trial. She was returning from an 84-week spell that day and 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. From her kinder draw three, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
ROCKRIBBED is a three-time winner from nine starts and finished third in his latest outing over six furlongs, two lengths off the winner when returning from a 33-week break. He overraced in the middle stages that day, but stayed on well in the run up to the wire. He faces a wide draw twelve out of thirteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much gas.
HUON has won two of his last four starts and followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a second-place finish next time out at the same track, just over a length behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding had to be held up until the 250M pole in that contest, so that effort was encouraging. He jumps from a handy draw two and should be right up there when they hit the line.
CADETSHIP jumped awkwardly and raced three wide into the home straight and then hung out over the last 150M, but nevertheless won his maiden race last time out over six furlongs by 0.7L, when returning from a 33-week absence. He takes on stronger here, but gets a useful gate three and may well be up to the task at hand.
