Australian racing tips – Monday 13 February 2023 – Dubbo

Best Bet: LISTEN TO THE BAND (Race 6) 
Value Bet: SHARP SHOCK (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R90.00  

Race 4

A 4yr filly and two mares look to dominate the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but COOPELLA is taken to lead the field home. She had solid form to her name prior to finishing eighth last time out over a mile, six and a half lengths behind the winner and was immediately rested for 17 weeks. She returns here after having finished second in her only barrier trial and whilst draw the widest of them all in gate ten, she looks to be the one to side with here.

TELLS TAILS had her consistency rewarded with a 2.7L victory last time out over 1100M. She struck the front at the 200M mark that day to win going away. From her kinder gate four and with having 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

TRANSPLANT is the stable companion to the top choice. She put her disappointing penultimate run over seven furlongs in very heavy going behind her when finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, five lengths back from the victor, when returning from a 22-week rest and a change of trainer, but she was hampered at the 1000M pole on that occasion, so should have finished closer to the winner than she is officially recorded. She will have to deal with a wideish gate eight, but she makes a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 5

There are eight unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether any of the connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners LITTLE DITTY may well prove to be the best, although it should be noted that the top three picks in the race are all drawn wide. He finished second on debut over five furlongs, just over one and a half lengths behind the winner after showing plenty of toe. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could be the one that they all have to beat, notwithstanding his fourteen draw, to give trainer Brett Robb the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.

SNOWDROP is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over five furlongs, just under two lengths back from the winner. She jumped awkwardly that day and then hung out down the home straight that day and although stuck out wide in gate thirteen, she will be having her peak run after returning from a 57-week spell. 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.

THEREMIN finished ninth first time out over six furlongs, 11.3L adrift of the winner and was rested for 27 weeks. He returns after having had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. The gelding gets draw eighteen and has his first run for his new trainer. If fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of herself here.

Race 6

LISTEN TO THE BAND has won three out of his last four runs, and goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1100M and the latest over five furlongs by one and a half lengths and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He showed plenty of speed that day, so the gelding should be able to work his way across from gate eight without using up too much gas and he is made the best bet on the day’s card.

BOOM BOOM BASIL followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with an eighth place finish next time out over 1100M, just under nine lengths adrift of the victor, when returning from a 35-week absence, but that was at a stronger centre and he had excuses that day. The gelding jumped awkwardly and was hampered on the home turn and came the widest of them all into the home stretch. In addition, his jockey put up 1kgs overweight. He will have to overcome a wide draw eleven, but nevertheless, he could still be the biggest danger to the top choice.

MR HUSSILL won over seven furlongs three runs back, finished second in his penultimate outing over the same journey and then seventh last time out over 1300 M, 5.8L behind the winner, but that was in very heavy going. He has his first run after a 36-week absence without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he has a useful draw four and should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, SHARP SHOCK has consistent formlines to his name and was slow away and hampered over the closing stages when finishing second last time out over 900M, beaten just a short-head. The objection lodged by his connections against the winner for that interference was however overruled and the result stood. The gelding was returning from a 16-week rest that day and from draw five, he could prove hard to topple.

KEEP ON GOING is another with consistent formlines to his credit, but was just a tad disappointing when ending up in seventh place last time out over 1100M, 6.3L back from the winner, but he did race three wide without cover in that event, before staying on well over the latter stages. He jumps from a cosy gate two and will be having his peak run after returning from a 13-week rest.

HARDLY THE END is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she has her hat-trick run after wins over 1100M and the latest over five furlongs when putting 4.8L between herself and the opposition. She went from jump to wire that day and from her wide draw thirteen, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today.