Australian racing tips – Saturday 25 February 2023 – Randwick

Best Bet: ANAMOE (Race 8)
Value Bet: SONORA (Race 10)

Jackpot (race 7 – 10)

Cost: R54.00

Race 7

IN SECRET has won two of her last three runs and finished second in the other. She goes for her hat-trick today after two victories over six furlongs, albeit the latest by just a head in a Group 2 event. She was returning from a 15-week break that day and jumped awkwardly and only saw daylight at the 250M mark before finishing off her race strongly. From her handy draw four, she looks to be the one to side with here.

ZOUGOTCHA completed her hat-trick when winning her last start in a Group 1 contest over a mile by a length. She too jumped awkwardly but sat up in third place before striking the front at the 220M mark to win going away. She does return from a 21-week break but has finished third in both of her barrier trials to showcase her well-being and although drawn wide in gate eleven, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

SUNSHINE IN PARIS renews her rivalry with the top pick after having finished second in the race mentioned above, that head back from the victor. She came four wide into the home straight that day but made good late progress over the closing stages. She also gets a useful drawn three and as the pair meet on the same weight terms today, there should not be too much separating the pair when they reach the winning post.

Race 8

The day’s best bet, ANAMOE put the record straight after a slightly disappointing run in his penultimate outing over ten furlongs in the Group 1 Champions Stakes when winning his last start over seven furlongs in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes by 0.8L. He was returning from a 14-week rest that day and jumped awkwardly and came three wide into the home stretch, but wore down the opposition over the latter stages. He jumps from a useful draw three and could give trainer James Cunningham the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.

Two 4yr old fillies from the powerful Chris Waller stable could chase him home, with the slight preference going to HINGED who finished second to the top choice in the race referred to above. She was also returning from a 14 week absence that day and tried to go from jump to wire, only to be run out of it late. She is drawn one outside the former and as the pair meet on the same weight terms today, she should test the top pick once again.

FANGIRL finished well after being slow away to end up in third place in the same race as the top two selections, 1.2L back from the victor, when returning from a slightly longer 15-week spell. She has cracked pole position and makes a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 9

THINK ABOUT IT is a five-time winner from just the six starts to date and completed his hat-trick when winning his last outing over 1300M by a half-length, this after jumping awkwardly, but then producing a powerful finish. The gelding has a cosy gate two and the quartet is very much on the cards.

QUANTICO on the other hand goes for his hat-trick after victories over a mile and the latest over six furlongs by a head. He was bumped shortly after the start that day and then hung in all the way down the home straight, so can be considered an unlucky loser. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate ten, but he should be doing his best work late.

GRAVINA is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over six furlongs, just a neck back from the winner, when returning from a 13-week rest. It should however be noted that he was bumped at the 100M mark, but that the resultant objection against the second-placed horse was overruled and the original result stood. From draw six, he should be included in all bets.

Race 10

SONORA is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position and has her hat-trick run after wins over 1300M and the latest over 1300M by 1.8L. She jumped awkwardly on that occasion but managed to sit up in second spot before kicking clear of the field at the 300M pole and then holding off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. She will get 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause and is made the value bet on the day’s card.

KALINO missed out on his hat-trick when jumping awkwardly and then bumping the running rail at the 900M mark before not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 250M pole to end up in third place last time out over six furlongs, just over two lengths behind the winner. The gelding gets draw three and should keep the former honest.

CAVALIER CHARLES had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over seven furlongs, albeit by just a head, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He is drawn one inside the latter and should turn in another decent performance today.