Best Bet: SINALOA (Race 8)
Value Bet: BOLD OFFA (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8).
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
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2 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
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5 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
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1 |
1 |
10 |
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Cost: R54.00
Race 5.
POWER BANK had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over six furlongs, albeit by just a short-head, but he raced three wide without cover that day, hitting the front as the field entered the home straight and kept going well to hold off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to record a courageous win. He takes on stronger here, but gets gate six and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.
INDIVIDUALIST is looking for his hat-trick after wins over 1300M and the latest over five furlongs by 1.3L when returning from a 17 week rest. The gelding is drawn one inside the top choice and should be right up there when they hit the line.
PRIVATE CHEETAH has cracked pole position and was somewhat disappointing when finishing eighth last time out over six furlongs, 12.3L adrift of the winner and was immediately move to another yard. He has his first run for his new trainer and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he will be hoping to bounce back to some of his better form and give a good account of himself here.
Race 6.
The day’s value bet, BOOROWA GIRL showed marked improvement to win her last start over six furlongs by two lengths, when producing a powerful finish from some way off the pace. She is drawn wide in gate ten, but on the plus side she will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice and could give the trainer/jockey combination of Paul Theobald and Jake Barrett the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.
HELL’S FURY has turned in two solid last performances, winning her maiden contest last time out over six furlongs by a head and has had a barrier trial since that outing. She came three wide approaching the home turn that day, but still made good late progress over the latter stages. She gets a kinder draw five and will also have the services of a 2kgs claiming apprentice.
SILVER SCISSORS jumped awkwardly and was hampered shorty thereafter when ending up in six place last time out over 1300M, just over five lengths back from the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She faces a wide gate nine, but given her style of racing, she 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.
Race 7.
BOLD OFFA is a speedy sort who went from gun to tape to win his latest outing over five furlongs by 2.8L. He is likely to adopt similar tactics here and should put his handy draw two to good use, hopefully to chalk up a quick double.
KNIGHT DRIVER is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys and was slow away, but stayed on well when finishing fifth last time out over five furlongs, 3.8L back from the winner, when returning from a 57 week absence. She on the other hand is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but 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.
MAKUBA has pulled pole position and has finished third in his last two starts, the latest when attempting to go from jump to wire before finishing third over 1100M, 2.2L off the winner. He gets 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should be included in all bets.
Race 8.
A 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s best bet, SINALOA is taken to lead the field home. She has only had the five runs to date, but her last three outings have yielded a third and two second place finished, the latest over 1300M, two lengths behind the winner, but she did come three wide into the home stretch that day. She returns from a 20 week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning them both to showcase her well-being. From gate five, she could prove hard to topple.
SEA PRINCESS finished well to end up in second spot last time out over 1500M, just a length and a half back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She will have to negotiate a wideish gate eight and has her first start for her new trainer, but if fully acclimatized to her new environment, she could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.
EMERIZ resumes from a lengthy 50 week spell, but did finish second in his only barrier trial. He is seldom far off the action, finishing fifth in his latest start over five furlongs, 1.3L back from the winner. The gelding gets a useful draw two and will have a set of blinkers fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.
