Best Bet: ANAMOE (Race 8)
Value Bet: HYPOTHETICAL (Race 9)
Jackpot (race 6 – 9)
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
|
1 |
2 |
7 |
14 |
|
14 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
|
9 |
9 |
|
10 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 6
NATURE STRIP has won nine Group 1 races, including slamming some of the worlds best sprinters when winning at Royal Ascot over five furlongs three runs back. He then won a Group 2 event in his first start back in Australia, before being narrowly beaten by a length last time out in the Everest over six furlongs, but he was drawn wide that day and was caught three wide without cover, before hitting the front at the 300M mark, only to be run out of it late. He faces another wide draw twelve, but he is taken to bounce back to winning ways today.
He renews his rivalry with GIGA KICK who beat him by that one length in the above-mentioned race. The latter is, in fact, unbeaten in his five starts to date and was slow away last time out and then only saw daylight at the 230M mark, before finishing strongly. He is 0.5kgs better off with the former on today’s weights and is better drawn in gate seven, so strictly on paper, he should be able to confirm that last result. However, NATURE STRIP can be forgiven in one slightly under-par run and will be looking for revenge here.
BELLA NIPOTINA is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she has won two of her last three runs and finished second in the other, the latest victory coming in a Group 1 race over six furlongs where she put 4.8L between herself and the opposition. She raced up with the leaders before kicking clear at the 200M pole to win going away and from her handy draw four, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
PRIVATE EYE has won two of his last three outings and finished second in the other (which was in the Everest), the latest win over 1300m by 1.3L. He unleashed a powerful finish from the 300M mark that day and should have no issue with the step up in distance. From draw five, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
ALLIGATOR BLOOD is a three-time Group 1 winner who finished fifth in the Cox Plate last time out over ten furlongs, just over two lengths behind the winner. He stayed on well that day, and jumping from gate three, he should turn in another honest performance here.
MY OBERON had won two of his last three outings and finished third in the other in the UK before relocating to Australia, where he was victorious first time out in a Group 2 event over today’s journey by one and a half lengths. He was returning from a 15-week break that day and raced three wide without cover, before striking the front at the 200M mark to win going away. The gelding is drawn in gate seven and could chalk up a quick double.
Race 8
The day’s best bet, ANAMOE has won seven Group 1 races, including the Cox Plate last time out by just under half a length, despite racing four wide up with the pace. He struck the front at the 150M pole and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He gets a useful gate four and could give champion jockey James McDonald his second winner in the day’s Jackpot should the top choice in the opening leg win.
I’M THUNDERSTRUCK ran second in the Cox Plate after being held up at the 400M mark. He finished his race off well that day and is 1kg better off at today’s weights than the former, but faces a wideish draw eight. There should not be much between the pair when they reach the finishing post.
ZAAKI has cracked pole position and tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in fourth spot last time out in the Cox Plate, 1.3L off the winner. He was headed at the 150M mark, but still fought on courageously all the way down to the line. The gelding meets the top pick on the same weight terms today and might well have to settle for the same result.
Race 9
HYPOTHETICAL is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she completed her hat-trick when winning her last start over this sprint trip by 0.8L, notwithstanding over racing in the early stages and being three wide without cover. She hit the front at the 100M mark for a well-timed victory. She has pulled draw seven and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
TAUNTING has consistent formlines to his name and was slow away and hung in from the 100M mark last time out when ending up in second place over five furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner. He will have to overcome a wide draw 14, but given his racing style, 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.
PICARONES is another 4yr old filly in the race. She has won two of her last three runs, both over seven furlongs, the latest by one and a half lengths. She sat second in that contest, before finishing off her race well. She has an even wider gate sixteen to deal with, but in her case, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
