Australian racing tips – Thursday 16 February 2023 – Goulburn

Race 5

A 3yr old filly and two 5yr old mares could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s best bet, NAMID is taken to lead the pack home. She raced just behind the leaders and then kicked clear at the top of the home straight before holding off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire when winning on debut over five furlongs, albeit by just a head. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat. She faces a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, she will get 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

LONDON GAL is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over five furlongs, 2.8L back from the winner, but she jumped awkwardly and her jockey lost his irons for a few strides, but she stayed on well over the closing stages. She is drawn even wider in gate eleven, but she should be doing her best work late.

EVANORA has consistent formlines to her name, finishing third last time out over six furlongs, one and a half lengths back from the winner. She struck the front at the 200M mark, but was run out of it over the latter stages. She gets a handy draw four and will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

Race 6

The day’s value bet, AUNT ROBERTA is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she was considered good enough to race in Group 3 company last time out over ten furlongs where she finished twelfth, just under nine and a half lengths behind the winner. She was however held up on the home turn so should have finished closer to the winner than she is officially recorded. She returns from a 17 week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

FIERCE LEGEND showed marked improvement when trying to go from jump to wire to end up in second place last time out over seven furlongs, just a half length back from the victor, when returning from a 13 week rest. He faces a wide draw twelve, so he is likely to attempt similar tactics today. DOMINGO is the stable companion to the top choice who had consistent formlines to his name before dislodging his jockey at the 600M mark last time out. The gelding has his first run after an 18 week break, but has had the two barrier trials to prove his fitness and makes a solid back-up for the yard, despite a wideish gate seven.

Race 7

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. REOFFENDER put his disappointing penultimate run over a mile behind him when finishing fourth next time out over six furlongs, three and a half length off the winner, when returning from a 17 week absence, but that was at a stronger center and he had to be held up at the entrance to the home straight. He will have to negotiate a wide draw nine, but he could be the one to side with here. A 6yr old and a 5yr old mare could chase him home with the slight preference going to

EBERLEE who reared at the start and then had to be eased at the 800M pole, before having to weave her way down the home stretch, to finish fourth last time out over six furlongs, three and a half lengths back from the winner. She is drawn one inside the top choice and gets the services of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice.

OUR BAEZ made good late progress to finish third in her latest outing over 1300M, just under three lengths behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She jumps from a useful gate four and should be included in all bets.

Race 8

ARTS OBJECT is a 3yr old filly taking on males and had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory last time out over seven furlongs by 1.3L, notwithstanding being slow away and overracing. She delivered a powerful finish to win going away and whilst taking on stronger here, she may well be up to the task at hand, even though she will have to deal with a wide gate nine.

LIGHTS ON THE HILL made good late progress from some way back to end up in fourth spot last time out over a mile, just under two lengths off the winner. The gelding is drawn one inside the top pick, but given his style of racing, 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.

ZABELLSARERINGING followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a third place finish next time out over the same c&d, just under a length back from the winner. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and did finish off his race well. The gelding will have to deal with a wide draw ten, but he will be hoping to make amends today.