Australian racing tips – Sunday 12 February 2023 – Tuncurry

Best Bet: REGGIE’S BOY (Race 8)
Value Bet: AGIRLSBESTFRIEND (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00  

Race 5

DANCEDES is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she won by a head at the first time of asking, this after winning both of her barrier trials leading up to her debut and could be just about anything. The form of that race has been franked and from gate eight, she could be good enough to complete a quick double.

DE LOVELY LAD has consistent formlines to his name finishing third in his two runs prior to ending up in second place last time out over six furlongs, just over a half-length behind the winner. He showed plenty of toe that day and from a wide draw ten, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

SCARZEL is the stable companion to the top choice and had solid form before disappointing in his latest outing over six furlongs, finishing tenth, 7.7L adrift of the victor, but he overraced three wide that day and was immediately rested for 28 weeks. He returns here after having finished fourth in both of his barrier trials and from a handy draw four, he makes a solid backup for the yard.

Race 6

A 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but LADY GOODFELLOW is taken to lead the field home. She followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a third place finish next time out over 1700M, 1.8L back from the winner, but she raced wide throughout that day, striking the front at the top of the home straight, only to be run out of it late. She faces a wide draw thirteen, but she is a speedy sort who should be able to work her way across without using up too much gas.

SHADES OF FRISCO is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over 1500M, just one and a half lengths back from the winner. She tried to go from jump to wire that day and from her useful draw four, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today and could prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages.

KILLZY is another who is seldom far off the winner. Although recorded as finishing eighth in his last outing over 1500M, he was just under three and a half lengths back from the victor, but it should be noted that he overraced in the early stages in that contest and was baulked for a run at the 350M pole. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate sixteen, but he 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

AGIRLSBESTFRIEND is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she missed out on her hat-trick when finishing fourth last time out over 1500M, just over a length behind the winner, but she did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, only seeing daylight at the 330M mark, before finishing off her race well. She will have to deal with a wide gate ten, but she should be doing her best work late and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

SIR RAVANELLI has won two of his last three starts the latest victory coming over 1100M by one length. The gelding struck the front at the 200M pole that day and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. He has not fared that much better with his wide gate fifteen, but he should be right up there when they hit the line.

SWAMP NOTION is a 4yr old filly who put her disappointing penultimate effort firmly behind her when winning her last start over six furlongs by 1.2L and she has won a subsequent barrier trial to boost her confidence. She jumps from a wideish gate eight, but she should be included in all bets.

Race 8

The day’s best bet, REGGIE’S BOY has consistent formlines to his credit and had nothing go his way when finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, just under two lengths behind the winner. He was bumped at the start, raced three wide without cover and came three wide into the home stretch. In addition, his jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight, so, under the circumstances, that effort was encouraging. He jumps from draw five and could prove hard to topple.

A 4yr old and a 3yr old filly could chase him home with the slight preference going to ELARSKI who won over 1250M three runs back, finished fourth in her penultimate start over 1300M and then third last time out over 1500M, 2.8L behind the winner. She was making good late progress in that event and from her wideish gate eight, she good turn out to be the biggest threat to the top pick.

VELVET HAZE won her penultimate outing over 1250M and then disappointed when ending up in seventh spot last time out over 1350M, 16.8L adrift of the winner, but she did have excuses that day. She jumped awkwardly and had to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the six-furlong peg, before coming three wide into the home straight. She is drawn one inside the latter and should be involved in the finish.