International Racing: Australia – Saturday 22 August 2020

Cost: R54.00

Race 3

MONTELENA is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has her hat-trick run here after winning her last two starts over a mile at this track comfortably. She steps up in distance, but the manner in which she has finished off her races would suggest that this will not be an issue and she is taken to be the best bet on today’s card. GUNNAGO got going too late when finishing fourth last time out over a mile at this venue and is sure to appreciate the extra ground on offer here. Although JUICING CARROTS finished one length in front of the latter in the last clash in the race mentioned above, he showed marked improvement that day and will need to confirm that effort here. On past performances, he may also not be as suited to the extra distance as the second choice. 

Race 6

Two 4yr old fillies and a 6yr old mare could dominate the finish to this race and secure the trifecta. ARAGAIN has her hat-trick run after winning her last outing over this c&d by nearly two lengths. She hit the front as they entered the home straight and kept going well to easily hold off the chasing pack. ACONITE has posted two solid runs over the c&d, the latest when one and a half lengths adrift of the winner. She looked a possible winner before being run out of it late. From her handy two draw, she could be the biggest danger to the top pick. SENTIMENTAL QUEEN steps up from a fifth place finish over seven furlongs last time out to the 1650M today. She was making steady late progress over the latter stages in that race and should enjoy going the extra trip.

Race 7

MASSIMO has consistent formlines to his name and was staying on strongly to win his last start over seven furlongs by a length. He has a wideish draw of gate eight, but he may well be looking for this greater test of stamina. LORDHELPMERUN showed good improvement to finish second last time out over the c&d despite being friendless in the betting markets. If he is able to reproduce that effort, he could threaten the former. WRINKLY followed up his penultimate run victory over the c&d with a third place finish over seven furlongs at this track. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and seems likely to attempt the same tactics here. His gate four will do him no harm. 

Race 8

MONEY MATTERS is a speedy sort who ended up second in his latest outing over this c&d by just a half length. He was returning from a 23 week break that day and if not in need of one more run, he could be the one to side with here. GUNS OF NAVARONE is seldom far off the action and finished third last time out over the c&d, just over a length behind the victor, despite hanging in the latter stages of the contest. He has draw nine to overcome, but should test the top selection. YEAH DARDY returns from a 20 week break and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial. He takes a big drop in trip from the mile of his last outing before the rest and is drawn the widest of them all, but he is likely to be doing his best work late. 

Race 9

APOLLO overraced in his last outing, but still managed to finish sixth over this c&d, 2.7L behind the winner. He was just a head back in his penultimate start over the c&d and although drawn in gate nine, he looks to be the value in the race. LUCKY LINDA LULU is a 7yr old mare taking on males, but she stayed on strongly to win her last start by 0.8L. She has a wide draw of fourteen to negotiate, but she should be picking off the frontrunner over the closing stages of the race. DENIM PACK showed good improvement when kicking on to finish third last time out over the c&d, one length off the victor. On that effort, he should be included in all bets. 

Taree

Best Bet: KORCHO (Race 7)

Value Bet: BUGALUGS (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00

Race 5

RONAN’S ROCK hit the front at the 350M mark and then kept going well to hold off all challengers to win by 1.7L last time out over this distance. He does have a wideish nine draw to deal with, but a repeat of that last effort should see him right up there when they hit the line. CHAMBERMAID is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position and was making good late progress when finishing fifth last time out over the mile. She has her peak run here and could threaten the top choice. HIGH COURT has finished third in his last two runs over this trip and was staying on when one length off the victor in his latest start. On that effort, he should be involved in the finish today. 

Race 6

BUGALUGS had completed his hat-trick before being forced wide in his last outing over six furlongs and ending up in sixth place. The form of that race has however been franked and the gelding will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today. From gate six, he is taken to be the value bet on today’s card. TYPHOON BONNY is a 7yr old mare taking on males. She did not have the clearest of runs when 4.3L back last time out over six furlongs and that run is best ignored. With better luck in running today, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. SALAD DODGER was making good late progress when finishing fifth in his last outing over 1100M and is almost sure to appreciate the extra ground on offer today. He should be included in all bets. 

Race 7

KORCHO goes for his hat-trick after drawing clear to win his last start over twelve furlongs. He jumped awkwardly that day, but recovered well to post a creditable victory. He drops back to ten furlongs, but this should not be an issue as he won over the trip in his penultimate outing. He has gate twelve to overcome, but still looks to be the best bet on the day’s program. HOME GROUND on the other hand will jump from pole position. He finished well to finish second last time out over 1900M, 1.3L behind the winner and could be the immediate threat to the top pick. HIGH OPINION stayed on when fourth last time out over eleven furlongs. He has the widest draw of them all, but he should be doing his best work late. 

Race 8

MISS FOX is a 4yr old filly taking on boys and returns from a 23 week break, but she won her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being. She attempts the rare feat of winning four races on the trot and did win over this c&d three runs back. She is faced with gate nine, but she should be right up there in the firing line. YULONG KNIGHT won his last outing over 800M by some one and a half lengths and should have little trouble dealing with the step up in trip here. He has a kinder five draw and should be involved in the finish here. THE DRAKE held on to win his last start over six furlongs by a neck. He does have a wide draw of twelve to beat, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. 

Bathurst

Best Bet: LIGHT CHARGE (Race 4)

Value Bet: HENDO’S MAGIC (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R90.00

Race 4

LIGHT CHARGE is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she made solid improvement to win her last start over 1300M in heavy going. She hit the front at the 200M mark and then held off all challengers to win by just over a length. Despite having the widest draw of them all, she is taken to be the best bet on today’s program. BID TO FAME has finished close up in his two runs since returning from a 23 week break, the latest when a half-length behind the winner over 1300M. The gelding has a far kinder draw of three and looks a big danger to the top choice. DAMIT is drawn one outside the latter and was disappointing when fading right out of contention last time out over 1550M. He drops back in distance here and if recapturing his form prior to that last effort, he should be considered a runner in this line-up.

Race 5

DETERGE jumped awkwardly and was then hampered shortly after the start in his last outing over six furlongs. He recovered well however to end up just over two lengths behind the winner. He does have the worst draw of them all, but with better luck in running today, he could be the one that they all have to beat. LIBERTY FIELDS is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she won her maiden race last time out over 1500M by over five lengths. That was only her fourth run to date and although taking on stronger here, she may well be up to the task on hand. CALBUCO is also a 4yr old filly who had her consistency rewarded by landing her maiden victory last time out, but in her case, over a mile. She has pulled pole position and should be involved in the finish today.  

Race 6

HENDO’S MAGIC had finished second in his two runs prior to ending up in fourth place, 3.9L behind the winner in his last start over 2100M. He overraced that day and understandably had nothing extra to offer over the closing stages of the race. He gets to jump from a handy three draw and seems likely to appreciate the drop in distance. HAMOGANY has his peak run today after a below par effort last time out over a mile. He seems a far better proposition over this type of trip and will have his cause aided by having 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. NARROW NECK NELSON showed plenty of determination when finishing fourth last time out over nine furlongs. He starts from gate five and if confirming that effort here, he should be a factor in this field. 

Race 7

DO NOT DISTURB is a 4yr old filly taking on boys. She failed in her hat-trick attempt last time out over seven furlongs and was immediately rested for 26 weeks. She returns here after putting in two encouraging barrier trials and whilst having a wideish draw of eight, she should be right up there in the dash down to the wire. WICKED WILLY returns from a 16 week rest, but did finish second in his only barrier trial. He won over 1280M in his outing prior to the break and should give the former plenty to think about, despite having an even worse draw at gate ten. ELENARA is a 5yr old mare who jumped awkwardly and then never quite got into the race before finishing ninth last time out over five furlongs. She did however finish third in her two runs over five furlongs before that outing and should not be overlook here, especially from her handy four draw. KOOTALOO is a 4yr old filly who has her peak run today after a 32 week absence. She finished fourth in her last start over 1100M, 2.6L behind the victor and should make her presence felt here.