International Racing: Friday 24 July 2020 – Australia

Race 5.
TIME FOR DON has only had the two runs to date, but showed the expected improvement to win at the second time of asking over this c&d. He showed plenty of speed that day and from draw five, he may be good enough to complete his double here. He will be aided by having 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. AREYA TUCHUZY is a 2yr old colt taking on older horses, but as with the top choice, he won his second outing over the c&d and clearly has some ability. He is however stuck out wide at gate eleven, which may hand the advantage to the former. ROSE SAUVAGE is a 2yr old filly taking on the boys and older horses. She returns from a 18 week break, but put in an encouraging barrier trial to prove her fitness. She did win her last start over 1100M before the rest, and should be involved in the finish today. FARMER’S FRIEND returns from a 22 week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. He was also a winner of his second start, this time over six furlongs. He has a wide draw of sixteen to negotiate, but he nevertheless should be respected here.

Race 6.
Two 3yr old and one 4yr filly could dominate the finish to this contest and complete the trifecta, but the top pick goes to ENTREAT who had her consistency rewarded by winning her maiden race last time out over the c&d. She put nearly three lengths between herself and her opposition that day, despite taking a bump at the 125M mark. She jumps from gate nine and may prove difficult to topple today. STRATACHEVA is seldom far off the winner and although fifth last time out over the c&d, she finished strongly to be just 1.4L behind the winner. She has to overcome a wide draw of thirteen, but her style of racing could see her picking off the frontrunners in the closing stages of the race. STELLAR BLAZE steps up in trip after two solid efforts over six furlongs, finishing a head back in her latest outing. She is not without a chance in this line-up.

Race 7.
ACHI BABA has shown marked improvement in his last two runs, the latest when fifth over seven furlongs, 2.1L behind the victor. He has a handy three draw and if he has continued down that same path, he looks to be the value in the race. SHAME WARNED has cracked pole position and was making good late progress when second last time out over 1700M. He could turn out to be the biggest danger to the top choice. CHARLIE’S LAW is seldom too far off the action and finished 3.6L behind the winner in his last outing over this distance. He jumps from gate five and should be right up there when they hit the line.

Race 8.
This appears to be an open looking race with plenty entrants in with realistic chances of claiming top spot. JAMAICAN DREAM has consistent form and battled to find a clear run before ending up in fourth place last time out over five furlongs. He has a wideish nine draw, but with better luck in running today, he should be right up there in the firing line. GOLDEN AVENGER drops back from having two runs over six furlongs and did win over this trip three runs back. The blinkers are removed for today’s outing and if this move has the desired effect, be could threaten the former. THE PHAROAH finished fourth last time out over five furlongs and will have 2kg removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. He jumps from gate seven and should give a good account of himself here. WALLACE STREET is drawn one inside the latter and followed up his penultimate victory over six furlongs with a third place finish over the same trip next time out. He should be included in all bets. 

Race 3.
MAN IN MOTION has his hat-trick attempt here after winning his last two starts over 870M going away from the field. The manner in which he has dealt with the opposition in those two victories would suggest that the trio of wins is very much on the cards and as such, the gelding is made the best bet on today’s card. BEWARE has pulled pole position and held on well to win his last outing over five furlongs. He looks to be the immediate danger to the top choice. MOUNTAIN COURAGE is seldom too far off the action and finished fourth last time out over five furlongs. He will have 2kg removed from his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and could complete the trifecta here.

Race 4.
With the late scratching of one of her main rivals, the door may have opened for GLOBAL CHOICE to chalk up her maiden win. She is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has finished second in her last two starts, the penultimate being over this c&d when she did not get the clearest of passages home. She has a handy four draw and with better luck in running today, she should give the males a good run for their money. REFLECTIVE drops back in trip from the 1300M of his last outing and did finish third over the c&d in his penultimate start. He gets 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and could threaten the top pick. PURE DEAL is a 2yr colt taking on older horses, but he has only had the two runs to date and showed the expected improvement when finishing fourth last time out over 1300M. He is drawn wide out at gate twelve, but is likely to use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

Race 5.
As with the previous race, the, in this case, four late scratching, are likely to influence the result of the competition, not only reducing the field size to nine runners, but also bringing those runners with poor draws closer to the rail. ANNABETH is one such entrant, who now come into gate six. She has consistent formlines to her name and finished second in her last outing over this trip, 1.7L behind the winner. She gets the blinkers re-fitted for today’s run and if these make her concentrate all the way down to the line, she looks to be the one to side with here. LADY MICAELA has pulled pole position and was only run out of it very late when finishing third last time out over seven furlongs. The drop in distance is likely be to her advantage. CAPITAL CITY on the other moves up in trip after her last two starts over 1100M. She stayed on well in her latest run and seems likely to enjoy going over the extra ground on offer today.

Race 6.
BOSS’S BOY followed up his penultimate victory over 1100M with a third place finish over the same distance at this venue, 1.2L off the winner last time out, despite taking a bump at the start. He has a wide draw of ten to negotiate, but nevertheless still looks to be the value in the race. KEEP ON LOVING YOU returns from a 16 week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust. He drops in distance from the 1300M of his last outing to what appears to be a more suitable six furlong journey, over which distance he won three runs back. He is drawn one inside the former. PHABENI was a little disappointing in his last start when fourth over five furlongs, but did end up second in his two runs prior to that over this distance and will have a 3kg claiming apprentice in the irons.

Race 7.
JUST WISHING is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she had her consistency rewarded with her maiden win by two and a half lengths last time out over 1700M. She claimed victory with a jump to wire effort and from her handy three draw, she may prove difficult to overhaul in the dash down to the wire. BUZZER BEATER stayed on well when finishing fourth last time out over a mile and on that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. He is draw wide out at gate thirteen, but he should be doing his best work late. DELECTOR is a 3yr old filly who won her maiden race last time out over seven furlongs. She takes on stronger today, but she should be a runner here if staying the extra distance. SANDY TOES is a 4yr old filly who showed good improvement to win her maiden race last time out over 1500M. She jumps from gate ten and should be consider for all bets.