Winning Form brings us their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing from Wyong.
Best Bet: EXTERMINATE (Race 5)
Value Bet: RIFLES (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
4 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
9 | 9 | 2 | 4 |
5 | 11 | 9 | |
2 | |||
1 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
EXTERMINATE dislodged his jockey when jumping awkwardly last time out, but had finished second in his two runs prior to that incident, the penultimate over six furlongs when ending up just under a half-length behind the winner. He was returning from a lengthy 42-week absence that day and the form of that race has been franked. He finished strongly in that outing suggesting that the extra ground on offer today will be to his liking. He will have to negotiate gate eight, but he should be doing his best work late and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
DULCERO is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she made solid improvement to finish second in her latest outing over 1500M, two lengths back from the winner. She came four-wide into the home straight that day but stayed on well despite racing green over the latter stages of the contest. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, but she should still give the males a good run for their money.
COMPANY LINE has shown improvement in his last two runs and tried to go from jump to wire when finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, just over three lengths adrift of the victor. On that effort, the drop in trip should be to his liking. He has a far kinder draw three and has his peak run after returning from an 11-week rest.
Race 6
This looks to be an extremely open F&M Handicap and some caution is advised. OAKFIELD ARROW has only had the five runs to date, posting one first, one second and one third-place finish, before ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1300M, but only just over a half-length behind the winner. She had to be steadied and then shifted out sharply at the 900M mark that day which would have harmed her chances that day, but she has a handy draw two and with better luck in running today, she could be the one to side with in this line-up.
HARD FAITH has consistent formlines to her name and looked a winner at the 250M pole when attempting to go from gun to tape last time out, before being run out of it very late to finish second over six furlongs, a half-length off the winner. She has cracked pole position and could prove difficult to reel in if allowed too much start.
SMART SUCCESS showed good improvement when finishing third in her latest outing over 1300m, 1.2L behind the winner when returning from almost a year’s absence. She came the widest into the straight that day and the form of that race has held up well with three runners from that contest subsequently winning. From draw five, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
EXPLOSIVE TRUTH had finished second in his two runs prior to winning his penultimate start over 1250M and then went back to finishing second last time out over six furlongs, just under a half-length behind the winner. He stayed on well that day, so from his wide draw ten today, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then will start picking off the frontrunners over the closing stages of the contest.
TIM’S PRINCIPAL showed marked improvement to win his last outing over seven furlongs by 0.8L, despite being friendless in the betting markets. He gets to jump from a cosy draw two and retains the services of the same 3kg claiming apprentice. If he is able to confirm that last effort, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top choice.
THAILAND has shown solid improvement in his last two outings since returning from a 20-week rest, the latest when third over six furlongs, a length and a half behind the winner. He finished off his race strongly that day and should make good use of his pole position.
Race 8
RIFLES made good improvement to win by one and a half lengths last time out over five furlongs considering that he only saw daylight at the 250M pole that day, but then finished strongly to mow down the opposition over the latter stages. He has a wideish draw eight, but if displaying the same turn of foot here, he looks to be the one that they all have to beat. As such, he is made the value bet on the program.
NO LAUGHING MATTER is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she finished fourth in her last start over 1300M, just over two and a half lengths back from the winner. She returns here after a 16-week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing second in the latest to showcase her well-being. The form of her last start has been franked and from gate five, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
Although READY TO ROAM is recorded as finishing fourth in his last outing over six furlongs, he was just a length and a half adrift of the winner. He came from some way off the leaders that day, which he may have to do again today, given his gate nine. Nevertheless, he should not be lightly dismissed.
