International Racing: Cairns, Taree & Bathurst – Tuesday 27 July 2020

Cost: R120.00

Race 5

This looks a tricky event to open the Jackpot with plenty of runners having realistic chances for top honors. URBAN MYTH and OCTOBER STORM renew their rivalry here and a form reversal is on the cards. The latter did finish 1.3L in front of the former in their last clash over five furlongs at this venue, but is 3kgs worse off at today’s weights thanks to the top choice having a claiming apprentice in the irons. In addition, the former has cracked pole position, whereas the second selection will have a wide draw of twelve to overcome. The race does not end there however as PURPLE GREY is seldom too far off the action and did finish third last time out over six furlongs, just 1.4L behind the winner. She is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but from gate five, she is sure to give the males a good run for their money. TECHNICIAN won his last start over this c&d despite being friendless in the betting markets. He has however drawn out wide at gate fourteen, but he should be picking off the frontrunners in the closing stages of the race. 

Race 6

DEIGO BAY followed up his penultimate victory over the c&d with a head defeat next time out over the same track and distance. He was only collared late that day and from gate five, he looks to be the one to side with here. BOLD TYPE steps up in trip after finishing sixth last time out over five furlongs, only 1.6L back. He took a bump at the 250M mark that day and should have finished closer to the winner as a result. LORD ARCHER has pulled pole position and was staying on well when making marked improvement in his last outing over the c&d. If he is able to confirm that effort here, he should be involved in the finish. Although BULLION WOLF finished fifth in his last start over six furlongs, he was only 0.8L behind the victor. He jumps from a handy gate two and will have this cause aided by having 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

Race 7

BRILLIANT MIND put two and a half lengths between himself and the opposition when winning his last outing from jump to wire. He showed plenty of determination in holding off all challengers that day and if displaying the same courage here, he may prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages. RUBY RED SOCKS is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she goes for her hat-trick here after finishing strongly to win her last outing over this c&d. She is drawn in gate four and looks to be the immediate danger to the top choice. VAN GAAL is a 4yr old mare who was a little disappointing in her last run over six furlongs, this after winning her penultimate start over the same c&d. She was however hampered early in that race and now steps up in trip today. She may well be looking for this greater test of stamina.  

Race 8

TRIUMPH STAR raced wide before finishing fifth last time out over the c&d, 2.4L off the winner. He gets gate seven here and given better luck in running in today’s contest, he looks to be the value in the race. ROCCO has solid staying form to his credit and finished well to end up in fourth place last time out over ten furlongs. He is sure to put his pole position to good use. ROCK SPUR is stepping up in trip after showing good improvement in his last outing when second over 1500M, only 0.3L behind the winner. He should be a big runner here if handling the extra ground on offer here and should be included in all bets.

Best Bet: JAJA CHABOOGIE (Race 4)

Value Bet: MEN IN TIGHTS (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R90.00

Race 4

JAJA CHABOOGIE is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the two runs to date and did win over this c&d at the second time of asking. She clearly has some ability and from gate seven, she should give the males a good run for their money. STONECOLD FLEX showed good improvement when finishing second last time out over 1300M. He likes to race up with the speed in his races and is sure to enjoys the drop back in distance. BOOM QUEEN is a 4yr old filly who has cracked pole position. She steps up to the six furlongs today after being somewhat disappointing last time out over the shorter five furlongs. She was staying on that day suggesting that the extra distance will be to her liking.   

Race 5

Two late scratchings has thrown the race wide open and two fillies and a mare could take advantage of that fact and lead the way home to complete the trifecta. ILLECEBROUS has her hat-trick run here after winning her last outing over 1100M going away from her opposition and did win her penultimate outing over 1206M in heavy going. The late scratchings have improved her draw to eleven and she should be right up there when they hit the line. Although TYPHOON BONNY finished seventh in her last start over six furlongs, she was just 2.3L behind the victor. She was staying on well that day and should be involved in the finish here. WITHOUT CONVICTION steps up in trip after finishing fourth last time out over five furlongs, just 0.6L back. She finished strongly in that run and on that effort, she should appreciate the extra ground on offer today.

Race 6

This appears to be a tricky race and some caution is advised. LILLY PILLY is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory last time out over this c&d. She won from start to finish that day and whilst taking on stronger here, she may well be good enough to complete her double. STAR RAIDER returns from a lengthy 43 week break during which time he was gelded. He has had the benefit of four barrier trials, winning the latest and should be a major contender in this line-up, starting from a handy gate four. FAIR DINKUM is drawn one outside the latter and showed marked improvement last time out when finishing a neck back from the winner, despite having to race wide. If he has continued along that same path, he should be included in all bets. CHIEF HAVOC goes for his hat-trick here after winning his last two outings over similar distances. He is however drawn the widest of them all, which won’t make his task easy, but nevertheless he should be respected in this line-up.

Race 7

As with race five, the three late scratchings may have opened the race up further as a contest. There are however a number of runners in the race that come out of the same formline and there could be a both a confirmation and a reversal of the finishing positions from that contest. MEN IN TIGHTS finished second last time out in the race mentioned above which was over this c&d. He was 1.7L in front of DASHING SAVANNA that day and although he is 1kg worse off at today’s weights, he may still have the latter’s measure, particularly as he jumps from gate seven, as opposed to the fourteen of DASHING SAVANNA. The third choice in the race, CONDOVER HALL also comes out of that same race, where he finished 0.4L in front of the latter, but he is 2.5kgs worse off at the weights here. He jumps from gate eleven and may well have to settle for the tables to be turned on him today. 

Cost: R54.00

Race 4

WESTERN PARADE has shown good improvement in his last two runs, winning his penultimate outing over a mile and finishing second in his latest start over 1500M, just 1.5L behind the winner. He jumps from a handy gate three and could be the one that they all have to beat. DIRTY DIGBY is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she finished strongly to win her last outing over 1300M suggesting that the step up in distance will be to her liking. She is drawn one inside the former and could represent the biggest danger to the top pick. STATO on the other hand will have to overcome draw nine, but he battled on gamely when finishing second last time out over 1300M, only 0.8L back. He should be doing his best work late.

Race 5

Two mares and a filly look as if they can dominate the finish to this race and capture the trifecta. LA LA LOOPSY has recorded two solid last outings, staying on well to finish third last time out over five furlongs, 1.3L behind the victor. She is drawn four and should be right up there in the mix. HAPPIEST showed good improvement to put over four and a half lengths between herself and the balance of the field when winning last time out over 1100M. She was friendless in the betting market that day, but if she is able to repeat that effort today, she should be involved in the finish here, starting from her mid-field seven draw. SOLID FOUNDATION has cracked pole position and also showed solid improvement last time out to post a third place finish over five furlongs. She should have no issue going the extra ground and should be included in all bets.

Race 6

As with the previous race, fillies could lead the field home and in this, case post the winning exacta. RARE GEM improved to finish second when stepping up to seven furlongs last time out, just a neck behind the winner. She will jump from a favorable five draw and is taken as the top choice in the race. Although KAZUMI is recorded as finishing sixth in her last outing over six furlongs, she was just three lengths behind the winner and did win over the seven furlongs three runs back. She was forced to race wide in her last start and should have finished closer to the winner as a result. She has a wide draw of twelve to negotiate, but with a bit of luck in running, she could threaten the top choice. DETERGE was slightly hampered in the latter stages of his last run over 1100M and did well to end up one and a half length behind the winner. He is drawn in gate nine and should not be easily discarded.

Race 7

THE SLEDGEHAMMER has his hat-trick attempt here after winning his last outings over a mile. He was hanging badly in the latter stages of his last victory, which makes the win that much more encouraging. He starts from gate six and is suggested as the value bet on today’s card. ENDURING NIGHT is a 3yr old filly taking on males. She drops in distance after finishing third in her latest outing over 1900M, but did win over a mile three runs back, so this is not seen as an issue. She will no doubt put her pole position to good use and ensure that the boys know that they have been in a race. PERALTA takes another step up in distance after finishing fourth last time out over a mile. He has gate nine, but should be a big runner in this contest if taking to the extra distance that is on offer today.