International Racing: Tuesday 23 June 2020 – Ballarat & Rockhampton

Winning Form bring you all of their best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Australia’s Ballarat and Rockhampton.

Ballarat Best Bets (Race 4-9)

Best Bet: QUEEN RYKER (Race 4) 
Value Bet: FIORENA (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9) – Cost: R250.00. 

Race 4
QUEEN RYKER is a 2yr old filly taking on older horses and returns from a 21-week break, but she has only had the one run when finishing fourth, just 1.9L back over five furlongs. She has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, but she would have learnt from her fist outing and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat here, jumping from her handy three gate. INDISCRETION is drawn one inside the former and is seldom too far off the action. She has her first run for her new trainer and if fully acclimatized in her new surroundings, she could threaten the top pick. FELINE ADVISORY was a little disappointing last time out over six furlongs, but a repeat of her penultimate effort when second over this c&d, would see her being involved in the finish today. STORMING PRINCESSE is a 7yr old mare who is a long-standing maiden, but she gets the blinkers re-fitted for today’s outing and may do better as a result.

Race 6
TIME FORD has cracked pole position and chalked up a narrow victory last time out over 1300M on the turf. He handles the synthetic surface and should be right up there when they hit the line. ABSOLUTELY PANDA’S is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she showed marked improvement when winning her maiden race last time out over six furlongs. She was friendless in the betting markets that day, but if she is able to reproduce that effort here, she would be a danger to the former. DUTCHESSE MOSHE is a 5yr old mare who has her first run since a 23-week rest and has not had a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust. She was however just 2.8L back in her last outing before the break and despite having to deal with a wide draw of 10, she should be considered in this line-up. BOLD MISSILE has his first outing for his new conditioner and will get 2kgs taking off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. If he has settled into his new environment, he could be a factor here.

Race 7
This looks to be an extremely open F&M handicap and some caution is advised. The narrow top choice goes to ALEDA who finished fifth last time out over this distance. She is drawn out at eleven, but she is likely to use her early gate speed to move across without burning up too much energy. IRUBI has her peak run today and showed good improvement when stepping up to this distance last time out. If she has continued down that same path, she should be respected. LA BELVA also has her peak run here and has pulled pole position. Her last effort over the seven furlongs was fair and she should be included in all bets. MIGHTY MOSHE steps up to the seven furlongs after two reasonable runs over six furlongs. She starts from a handy draw of two and should not be discounted in this field.

Race 8
FIORENA is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she was only beaten a half-length last time out over eleven furlongs on this surface. She was staying on well that day and could be the value bet on today’s program. PEACE BROTHER and GAUCHO renew their rivalry today. The former has put in two solid last performances over staying distances and did finish 0.7L in front of the latter in their last clash over ten furlongs. As he is 0.5kgs better off at today’s weights, he should be able to confirm that result. The pair are drawn two apart for each other, in favor of the second selection. SO SCHMICK is taken to split the above two. He showed good improvement last time out when finishing just under a length back when third over the eleven furlongs and if repeating that run, he could be right up there in the mix.

Race 9
CAPTAIN CRACKERJAK is a speedy sort who is sure to put his two draw to good use and could prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages of this contest. GOJAZZ is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she was hampered in her last start over six furlongs and did well to finish as close to the winner as she did. The drop in trip should be to her liking. MISS INCEPTION is a 5yr old mare who has her peak run here and will be hoping to improve on her last start when finishing seventh, 3.1L behind the victor over five furlongs. She jumps from draw five and should be right up there in the firing line. POLYXENA was slightly disappointing last time out over six furlongs, but his two efforts over this distance prior to that were encouraging. He gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time today and if these have the desired effect, he could be a contender for top honors. 

Rockhampton Best Bets (Race 4-10)

Best Bet: MASTER JAMIE (Race 7)
Value Bet: SHEEZASINGA (Race 4)
Jackpot (race 7 – 10) – Cost: R75.00

Race 4
Two 3yr old and a 4yr old filly may be able to dominate the finish to this race and complete the trifecta. The top pick goes to SHEEZASINGA who showed improvement when staying on well to finish third over 1100M last time out. She has a wide draw of nine to negotiate, but she looks to be the value bet on today’s program. SHE’S OUR RIPPA won her maiden race last time out over five furlongs. She takes on stronger here, but she has a handy four draw and may be up to the task on hand. RUN THE CUTTER on the other hand will have to deal with the widest draw of them all, but she is seldom far off the action and although finishing seventh last time out, she was only 2.4L behind the winner. SOLOMON is drawn one inside the latter and drops down slightly in distance. He was run out it late last time out and will almost certainly enjoy the drop in distance. 

Race 7
Only seven runners face the starter here, but MASTER JAMIE will be hoping to win his sixth consecutive race today. The last three victories have been recorded over six furlongs, but he won over this c&d four runs back, so the drop in trip should not be an issue. He returns from a 19-week rest, but he won his only barrier trial to prove his fitness and he looks very hard to topple here, jumping from pole position. RAIDEN missed out on his hat-trick last time out when third over six furlongs. He was only beaten by 1.3L and looks to be the immediate danger to the top pick. SPRING CREEK is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she was only collared late last time out over seven furlongs and seems likely to appreciate the drop in trip here. SHIGERU MAHOGANY showed good improvement last time out when second, just under a length behind the victor over six furlongs. He would nevertheless have to make considerably more progress if he is to trouble the top choice. 

Race 8
HEYINGTON has consistent formlines to his credit and finished third last time out over the c&d, only 1.1L behind the winner. He starts from a handy three gate and should be right up there when they hit the line. I CAN I WILL I AM has been just 0.8L back in his last two runs over this trip and should give another honest performance today. BARACHIEL won his last outing over seven furlongs when making good late progress, suggesting that the step up in distance will be to his liking. ABSOLUT ARTIE finished second last time out over 1560M, 2.3L behind the winner. He is drawn nine out of ten today which will not help his cause, but he should enjoy the drop in trip. 

Race 9
With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the way may have been cleared for FINUCANE MISSILE to complete his hat-trick here. He has reeled in two wins on the bounce since returning from a 27-week break and despite being drawn out wide at twelve, the trio of victories seems very much on the cards. QUIDNI has put up two solid efforts, the latest being over 1300M where he attracted plenty of betting support. He steps up in trip, but he should be involved in the finish today. NORTH AFRIKA has pulled pole position and also takes a step up in distance, but the blinkers get re-fitted for today’s run and if these help him concentrate all the way down to the wire, he should be included in all bets. BROMES goes the extra distance after finishing third last time out over 1300M, but he won over a mile three runs back, so the extra distance should not be an issue. His cause will be aided by having 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

Race 10
This is another race where the late scratchings may make the top selection, UNDERWOOD’S task a lot easier in posting her third career victory. She is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has shown gradual improvement in her last two outings, the latest when finishing third over this distance. Her two draw is a plus. ACT OF BRAVERY on the other hand has the widest draw of them all to negotiate. He refused to jump in his penultimate start but was then only beaten in the shadow of the post in his next start over 1100M when finishing well. He should be picking off the frontrunner in the dash down to the wire. SOJOURNIST is a 6yr old mare who is having her second run after a 21-week rest. If she is not in need of one more outing, she should be a factor in this contest. SHENRON won from gun to wire last time out over 1300m and is sure to adopt the same tactics here. He may prove difficult to overhaul in the latter stages.