International Racing: Wednesday 16 September 2020 – Australia

DIVINE QUEST is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys. She followed up her penultimate run victory over a mile at this track with a second-place finish next time out over the same c&d, a half-length behind the winner. She finished well that day suggesting that the extra ground will be to her liking. The form of that race has been franked and from gate seven, she is taken to be the best bet on today’s program. CONVICTED MAN also won his penultimate start, in his case over seven furlongs, and then went on to finish third in his next outing over the same distance. He made good late progress in that run and from a kinder gate four, he could be the immediate danger to the top selection. RACY AVA is a 6yr old mare who has pulled pole position and who has her peak run here after returning from a 21-week break. She steps up in trip after ending up fourth last time out over seven furlongs. If equally effective over the extra journey, she should be involved in the finish.     

CASINO WAR is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she showed marked improvement in finishing second in her latest run over five furlongs when returning from an 18-week rest. She was forced to race wide that day which makes the effort that much more encouraging and she is sure to put her pole position to good use. UNCANNY TIMING led all the way to win his maiden race last time out over 1100M by one length. He takes on stronger here, but has a handy gate three and may prove good enough to complete his double here. SMILE FOR ME is a 4yr old filly who drops in trip after finishing second in her last outing over seven furlongs. She is drawn one outside the latter and will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

ANNIHILATOR has posted two solid recent runs, finishing second in the latest over six furlongs, just over one length behind the winner, despite hanging over the closing stages of the contest. He jumps from draw five and could be the one that they all have to beat. STEVIE’S WONDER stayed on well to end up in second place in his last outing over seven furlongs, 1.3L behind the victor. He has an even better draw in gate three and should be respected in this line-up. NEAT ACTION like to race up with the pace and was only run out of it late last time out over seven furlongs. He will appreciate the drop in distance and should be included in all bets starting from draw six. 

AMERISSA is a 6yr old mare taking on boys, but she clearly found the mile far too short last time out. She had finished second in her two runs prior to that over eleven furlongs and now that she returns to a more suitable distance, she could prove to be the value bet at today’s meeting, despite having to deal with draw ten. BOLLINGER BOY moves up in trip after finishing fourth last time out over a mile. He did not get the clearest of passages that day but still finishes strongly over the latter stages. He has his peak run here and has a kinder gate five. OMBUDSMAN finished fifth in his latest start over eleven furlongs, 4.4L behind the winner, and will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. From a handy draw two, he should not be lightly dismissed here.  

This looks to be a tricky first leg of the Jackpot and some caution is suggested. The tentative first choice goes to WILD SHEILA who is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys. She has consistent staying formlines to her name and was hampered at the start before recovering well to finish second over the twelve-furlong journey last time out, just a length behind the winner. She jumps from gate six and should put in another honest performance here. FRENZIED won a neck last time out at this track when stepping up in distance to 2100M. He led almost the entire trip and then showed plenty of determination to hold off the chasing pack to be a neck clear at the line. He will have to negotiate the widest draw of them all at gate eleven, but he should be involved in the finish here. PRINCE OF ARRAGON finished strongly to end up in second place last time out over 2100M, just a neck back from the victor. He has a kinder draw five and should be right up there in the mix. MAGIC OVER THE BAY is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing fifth in his last outing over ten furlongs, he was less than a length behind the winner. He was returning from a 20-week rest that day and he is sure to put his pole position to good use.

PLAQUETTE is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she won by a length over this distance last time out when returning from a 20-week absence. She will have to negotiate a wideish draw nine, but she should be doing her best work late. AL MAH HAHA on the other hand has cracked pole position. He returns from a 23-week break but did post an encouraging barrier trial to prove his well-being. He has finished second in his last three starts over seven furlongs and if not finding this trip too sharp, he should prove a real threat to the top pick. MISS FOX is another 4yr old filly. She has won four on the bounce, the latest over five furlongs when returning from a 24-week break. She did win her penultimate outing over this trip, so the step up in distance should not be an issue. In addition, she will get 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice. She needs to overcome draw eight but should be included in all bets.  

JOVIALITY has her hat-trick attempt here after winning her last outing over this c&d by just under two and a half lengths. She hit the front at the 150M mark and then drew clear of the balance of the field. She has gate nine to beat, but the manner in which she finished off her race that day would indicate that she seems certain to appreciate the extra ground on offer today and as such, she is taken to be the best bet for the meeting. INSTANT ATTRACTION overraced early and in the middle stages of her last start over six furlongs and then understandably had nothing to offer over the closing stages of the contest. She jumps from gate four and if settling better here, she could emerge as the biggest threat to the top selection. NIGHT WITCHES has her second run after a 19-week rest and takes a further drop in distance after finishing third last time out over seven furlongs. She has drawn wideout at gate eleven but is likely to be dropped out of the race early and start picking off the frontrunners in the drive down to the wire. 

ROYAL MARINE has his hat-trick run after winning his last outing over 1300M by 3.3L. He struck the front at the 250M mark that day and was never sighted after that. He has a wideish gate eight, but the trio of victories is very much on the cards. AMERICAN WHISKEY has only had the two runs to date, but finished second on debut over 1100M and then won next time out over seven furlongs by 1.3L. The colt returns from a 12-week break but did put in a fair barrier trial. He is drawn one inside the former and clearly has some ability. As such, he should be respected in this line-up. GREEN MOUNTAIN showed marked improvement to win his last start over six furlongs by one length, despite being hampered when entering the straight. He jumps from draw five and should be a factor here.