Australian racing tips – Friday 24 February 2023 – Canterbury Park

Best Bet: DIAMOND DEALER (Race 7)
Value Bet: POLE POSITION (Race 5)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00

Race 5

POLE POSITION goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1100M and the latest over six furlongs by a half-length, both for his new trainer and when returning from a 25-week break. He raced three wide without cover that day, but hit the front at the 200M and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. From draw five, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

PUNGO followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a fifth-place finish next time out over a mile, just over three lengths back from the winner. He stayed on well that day and from draw seven, he should be doing his best work late. He does return from a 16-week rest, during which time he was gelded, but he has had the benefit of a barrier trial to showcase his well-being.

JAYANTHI is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys. She came three wide into the home straight but finished off her race strongly to win last time out over 1100M by a half-length, going away from the opposition. She gets a handy gate two and will have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

Race 6

WINEGLASS BAY is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over nine furlongs, beaten just a short-head, but he had nothing go his way that day. He was hampered at the start and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 250M mark and then his jockey dropped his crop at the 150M pole. He will have to negotiate draw ten, but he looks to be the one to side with here.

SILENT AGENDA raced just behind the leader before battling all the way down to the wire to end up in fifth place last time out over 1500M, two and a half lengths adrift of the victor. From his kinder gate three, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

AUSBRED RISING SUN has cracked pole position and has won two of his last three starts and finished second in the other, so clearly has some ability. His latest victory came over nine furlongs by two lengths, this after jumping awkwardly and being bumped shortly after the start, but he still managed to deliver a powerful finish. On that effort, he should be viewed as a big runner in this line-up.

Race 7

The day’s best bet, DIAMOND DEALER is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she missed out on her hat-trick after two wins over today’s sprint trip last time out when second over the same distance, just a half-length back from the winner, but she raced three wide without cover in that event and was only run out of it very late. The form of that race has been franked and despite a wide draw nine, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways to give champion jockey James McDonald the second and third legs of the day’s Jackpot.

MARS MISSION won his penultimate start over 1100M and then finished fifth next time out when stepping up to six furlongs, 1.2L behind the winner, but he raced wide without cover that day and was hampered at the 900M mark. The gelding has his first run after a 13-week absence but did win his only barrier trial. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, but on the plus side, he will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to her claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd.

DESTINATION came four wide into the home stretch when finishing seventh last time out over 1300M, 3.7L adrift of the victor, but he too will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice, gets a useful gate four and should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

KAZOU has only had the two runs to date, winning by 4.8L on debut over 1300M and then finishing third next time out over six furlongs, 1.3L behind the winner, when returning from a 15-week rest. She jumped awkwardly and was bumped shortly after the start that day, before overracing in the middle stages and then she had to be eased off the heels of other runners at the 600M pole before finally being held up between the 150M and 50M mark. She has a cosy draw three and could give trainer Chris Waller his second winner in the day’s Jackpot should the top pick win the second leg and also give jockey James McDonald his trio of victories.

JUNQUEIRA won her penultimate run over six furlongs and then finished second next time out over the same trip, just a head back from the winner. She came three wide into the home stretch on that occasion but made good late progress over the closing stages. From one gate outside the former, she should turn in another honest performance today.

SEVEN SISTERS also won her penultimate start, but in her case, over 1100M and then finished second next time out over the same trip, 1.3L behind the winner. She finished well in that event suggesting that the extra ground on offer today will be to her liking. She has pulled a wideish draw eight, but she gets the services of 2kg claiming apprentice Zac Lloyd to aid her cause.