Best Bet: STARLINK (Race 6)
Value Bet: HAMPTON COVE (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 6 – 9)
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
2 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
9 |
1 |
7 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 6
STARLINK is a four year old filly taking on the boys, but she goes for her hat-trick after victories over seven furlongs and the latest over 1300M by a half length. She was slow away that day and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, but once clear, she finished strongly over the closing stages. She jumps from gate six and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and is made the best bet on the day’s card.
STARANE is seldom too far off the action, but was a tad disappoint when finishing seventh last time out over 1300M, 4.7L back from the winner, but he pulled too hard when trying to go from jump to wire that day and understandably had noting to come over the latter stages. The gelding is drawn one inside the top choice and could emerge as his biggest danger.
FEIRME PRINCE has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when second over 1300M, just a half length behind the winner. He raced three wide in that event and had to weave his way through traffic in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 100M mark, before finishing off his race well. He is drawn wide in gate twelve, but he should be doing her best work late.
Race 7
Two four year old and a three year old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but PLISKOVA is taken to lead the field home. She has only had the three runs to date, finishing second in the first two and then winning her last start over five furlongs, albeit by just a head and was immediately rested for 42 weeks. She returns here after winning her only barrier trial and the fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them.
MINNEWATER has cracked pole position and finished third on debut over five furlongs and then showed the expected improvement to win next time out over 1100M by one and a half lengths, this despite jumping awkwardly and hanging out on the home turn. She does return here from a shorter 17 week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she may well be good enough to complete the double.
LIFE’S A PARTY won first time out over five furlongs and then finished a 1.7L fifth next time out over 1100M, when returning from a 23 week spell. She raced just behind the leaders in that event and was only run out of it late. She gets draw seven and should not be easily overlooked in this line-up.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, HAMPTON COVE showed marked improvement to finish fifth last time out over six furlongs, 1.2L back from the victor. He raced up with the leaders that day and was only found wanting in the latter stages. From his handy draw two and with the drop in trip likely to suit him better, he could prove hard to topple.
KORA MAGIC is a four year old filly taking on males, but she had solid form prior to disappointing last time out over 1100M, ending up in eleventh spot, 7,2L off the winner, but it should be noted that she hung out on the home turn on that occasion. She is drawn wide in gate ten, but on the plus side, she will get 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
CASTLEBAR ROAD has consistent formlines to his name finishing seventh last time out, but just 1.7L behind the winner. He showed plenty of toe that day and was only run out of it over the final 50M. The gelding faces a wide draw fourteen, but he will have a greater 3kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice and he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 9
ASSIDUITY won his last outing over 1300M by putting 4.3L between himself and the opposition. He went from gun to tape that day, kicking clear at the top of the home stretch and the result was never in doubt from that point. He will have to negotiate a wide gate eighteen, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.
EAST HARLEM on the other hand has pulled pole position and has posted two seconds and a third place finish in his last three outings, the latest, one of those seconds over 1100M, beaten just a short-head. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and was only snared over the closing 50M and should be right up there when they hit the line.
VIS I DO has his hat-trick run after two wins over seven furlongs, the latest by 2.3L. The gelding finished powerfully to win going away that day and from a useful draw four, he should be included in all bets.