Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Kensington on 3 January 2023.
Best Bet: WHANGAEHU (Race 4)
Value Bet: YOSHINO (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
2 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | 5 | 7 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
WHANGAEHU followed up his penultimate run victory over 1900M with a third-place finish next time out over the same c&d, one-and-a-half lengths back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his handy draw three, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
OCEANIC FLASH has solid staying form to his name, finishing seventh last time out over ten furlongs, 6.2L behind the winner, but he was running on well that day and should appreciate the step up in distance. His wideish gate eight should not pose too much of an issue and he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
MADE BY KHAN won his penultimate start over ten furlongs and then ended up in ninth place last time out over twelve furlongs, just under thirteen lengths adrift of the victor, but he raced five wide approaching the home turn that day, costing herself valuable ground. He jumps from gate two and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.
Race 5
ELLA TE AMA made good late progress when finishing second last time out fiver a mile, 1.8L back from the winner. She has a useful draw three and will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice. She looks to be the one to side with here.
PINK BAROQUE won her penultimate run over seven furlongs and then finished third in her latest outing over 1300M, 3.2L off the victor, but she did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight on that occasion, only seeing daylight at the 200M mark. She jumps from gate seven and should be right up there when they hit the line.
SHOWTIME LADY put her disappointing penultimate run over a mile behind her with a one-length victory next time out over the same journey. She went from gun to tape that day and from her cosy draw four and with having the services of a 3kgs claiming apprentice, she is likely to attempt to skip clear of the field early and then hope to have enough in reserve to hold off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, YOSHINO has consistent formlines to his name, winning his penultimate run over 1300M and then finishing second in his next start over 1500N, two lengths behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was bumped approaching the home turn when hanging inwards and then came four wide into the straight. The gelding faces a wide draw twelve, but on the plus side, he will get 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
TRUE CRIME use frontrunning tactics and battled all the way down to the wire to win his last start over six furlongs, albeit by just a head. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but will have his peak run after returning from a 21-week break. The gelding will also have 2kgs removed from this allocated weight for the services of his claiming apprentice and he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
STROKE OF LUCK has only had the three runs to date, posting a win and two-thirds, the latest, one of those third over a mile, just over two lengths back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly in that contest and had to be held up at the 200M pole, but finished off his race well. He returns from a 17-week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and whilst having to deal with a wide draw ten, he should be included in all bets.
Race 7
NARITO had nothing go his way when finishing third last time out over 1100M, two lengths behind the winner. He overraced early, was hampered at the 400M mark and his jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight, so that effort under the circumstances, was encouraging. He is drawn in gate six and could provide the powerful Chris Waller yard with both the opening and closing legs of the day’s Jackpot.
DUCHY OF SAVOY is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won her penultimate start over 1100M before disappointing to finish eighth next time out over six furlongs, 13.2L adrift of the victor. That was however in very heavy going and she did jump awkwardly, so that effort is best ignored. She resumes after a 16-week break, but did finish second in her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being and from a handy gate two, she should give the boys a good run for their money.
LATENIGHTTOUGHGUY is the stable companion to the top choice and also won his penultimate outing, but in his case, over five furlongs and then ended up in third spot last time out over 1100M, just under a length back from the winner, but he was bumped at the 300M mark that day and then hampered at the 200M pole. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and notwithstanding a wide draw of fourteen, he will be hoping to make amends today and he makes a solid backup for the yard.
