Best Bet: ESTADIO MESTALLA (Race 10)
Value Bet: NEW MANDATE (Race 9)
Jackpot (race 7 – 10)
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
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2 |
1 |
8 |
12 |
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1 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
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7 |
4 |
4 |
|
Cost: R54.00
Race 7
KOTE has consistent formlines to his name, having finished second twice prior to ending up fifth last time out over six furlongs, just over three lengths behind the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day and his jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight. He has a wideish gate eight, but he should put in another honest performance today.
THE FORTUNE TELLER showed solid improvement to win his last start over a mile, albeit by just a head, but he had to be steadied off the heels of another runner shortly after the start, so that effort was encouraging. The colt hit the front at the 350M mark and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He is drawn wide in gate twelve, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
HAWAII FIVE OH has finished second in his last two starts, the latest over seven furlongs, just a head back from the winner, when having his first run for his new trainer. He jumped awkwardly and came four wide into the home straight in that contest, but stayed on well over the closing stages. He on the other hand has a handy draw four and should be included in all bets.
Race 8
PRINCESS GRACE has cracked pole position and has finished third in her last two outings, the latest in a Group 2 event over six furlongs, three and a half lengths off the winner, but that was her first run in Australia since re-locating from the USA. She was slow away on that occasion and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 300M mark, before finishing off her race well.
NEVER TALK jumped awkwardly, finding herself towards the rear of the field and was held up in the home stretch until the 300M pole, before making good late progress over the latter stages to end up in second spot last time out in the same race mentioned above, two and a half lengths behind the winner. She does meet the former on 1kg better terms at today’s weights, but she faces a wide draw thirteen and the former could have greater scope for improvement. Nonetheless, there should not be much separating the pair when they hit the line.
TYCOON EVIE is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over six furlongs, just a head back from the winner, when returning from a 17-week rest. It should, however, be noted that she had to be severely checked at the 50M mark that day and was promoted into second place after a successful objection was lodged against the original second-place finisher. She is also drawn wide, one outside the latter, but with better luck in running, she should be involved in the finish.
Race 9
The day’s value bet, NEW MANDATE is a four-time winner from fourteen starts and was returning from a 15-week break when finishing ninth last time out in a Group 3 race over 1500M, four and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but he raced three wide throughout that day, so he had his excuses. He has finished third in a subsequent barrier trial and whilst drawn wide in gate ten, he could give the powerful Chris Waller stable a quick double in the day’s Jackpot.
FLOATING ARTIST had to be held up between the 400M and 200M mark when finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, 0.7L back from the victor, when returning from a 73-week spell. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them and although drawn wide in gate thirteen, he should be viewed as a big runner here.
JUST FOLK stayed on well when finishing fourth in his latest outing over a mile, just over three lengths off the winner. The gelding has pulled a wide draw nine, but he will be having his peak run after returning from a 16-week break.
Race 10
ESTADIO MESTALLA followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a second place finish next time out over 1500M, just a half-length back from the winner, but he had nothing go his way that day, jumping awkwardly and getting bumped shortly after the start, before coming four wide into the home straight. The form of that race has been franked though. He returns from a 15-week rest, but he has had the benefit of two barrier trials and from a useful gate three, he could be the third winner in the Jackpot for the Chris Waller yard and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
SPANGLER put 4.8L between himself and the opposition when winning his last start over seven furlongs, despite having to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 250M pole. He produced a powerful finish that day and from his wide draw eleven, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.
WICKLOW is the stable companion to the top choice and battled all the way down to the wire when finishing fourth in his latest outing over seven furlongs, just under two and a half length back from the winner. He was returning from a 20-week spell and has had a subsequent barrier trial. The gelding makes a solid backup for the yard and could complete a red-letter day for the Waller stable.
