The following is a selection of Australian racing tips for Saturday, December 23. Ascot, Gawker, Gold Coast, Moonee Valley, Sha Tin (Hong Kong) and Warwick Farm are covered. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bets of the weekend
Moonee Valley Race 5: No.2 Imperial Aviator
Warwick Farm Race 8: No.5 Milwaukee, No.7 Pipeline
Ascot
Race 1: 2. Reykjavik
Race 2: 2. Touch Of Silver
Race 3: 7. Blackline
Race 4: 1. Celebrity Dream
Race 5: 1. Russian River
Race 6: 6. Trap For Fools – BEST BET – 4 stars
Race 7: 14. Top Of The Class
Race 8: 7. Scalpel
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: High
Back – #1 Pounamu; #2 Material Man
Lay – #6 Trap For Fools
Race 6:
MATERIAL MAN just missed as favourite last start in the Magic Millions Kingston T and rise in distance suits, one of the picks of the day. POUNAMU surprised punters to win at long odds last start in the Magic Millions Kingston T and has won eight times at Ascot before, place chance. COSMIC STORM goes well at Ascot and won four of nine as a favourite, place claims. TRAP FOR FOOLS looking to make it six in a row after another win at Ascot last start, place only.
Selections: 1 Pounamu, 2 Material Man, 6 Trap For Fools, 7 Cosmic Storm
Race 6:
Mouth-watering clash between star trio POUNAMU, TRAP FOR FOOLS and MATERIAL MAN, and Pounamu comes up on top. Elevated to Group 1 winner with amazing Kingston Town Classic victory and has the weapons to burst the bubble of Trap for Fools. Likely to be within striking distance swinging for home, Pounamu should be too strong late. Cult hero Trap for Fools backs up after claiming Wednesday’s ATA Stakes and is chasing a seventh straight win. Will lead and take some catching, while Material Man is coming off a mighty Kingston Town effort and can win also. Zarantz next best.
Selections 1 Pounamu, 6 Trap For Fools, 2 Material Man, 3 Zarantz
Race 6:
MATERIAL MAN unwanted by the market but right up there last start in the Magic Millions Kingston T and is a strong finisher, rates a long way in front. POUNAMU was a winner last start at long odds in the Magic Millions Kingston T and in strong form with two wins from three attempts this campaign, place claims. COSMIC STORM has won four times at Ascot before and won four of nine as a favourite, not the worst. TRAP FOR FOOLS winner of five in a row after last start win at Ascot and has multiple wins at the track, place hope.
Gawler
Race 1: 6. Futago
Race 2: 7. Despacito
Race 3: 3. Just A Bigger Dash
Race 4: 2. Exalted Lightning – BEST BET
Race 5: 8. Grumpy Guru
Race 6: 5. Chapel City
Race 7: 3. Gogo Grace
Race 8: 9. All Bar Two
Gold Coast
Race 1: 1. All Too Huiying – BEST BET
Race 2: 12. Graceville
Race 3: 1. Mishani Phantom
Race 4: 6. Sunlight
Race 5: Criquette
Race 6: 2. Winter Bride
Race 7: 5. Sheza Lily
Race 8: 6. Kirini
Race 9: 8. Oink
Race 10: 14. Plucky Girl
Moonee Valley
Race 1: 6. Heavenly Descent
Race 2: 1. Kardashing
Race 3: 12. Macattack
Race 4: 8. Fontein lad
Race 5: 2. Imperial Aviator – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Race 6: 5. Kievann
Race 7: 8. Aeecee Tong De
Race 8: 14. Wise Hero – BEST BET – 4 stars
Race 9: 5. Amadeus
Quaddie: 1, 4, 5, 14, 16 / 1, 2, 8, 12 / 1, 6, 7, 12, 14 / 1, 5, 9
Race 1: MILES OF KRISHAN
Race 2: HELIX PARK
Race 3: KRUSTY
Race 4: CRAFTY DEVIL
Race 5: IMPERIAL AVIATOR
Race 6: KIEVANN
Race 7: BEL SONIC
Race 8: NASDEX
Race 9: BEL BURGESS
Race 5 Tips:
1. Imperial Aviator
2. Oncidium Ruler
3. Space Job! (Dandy Gent)
Race 5 suggested bet(s): Back Imperial Aviator (2.35) to win
Race 6 suggested bets:
Just Hifalutin (5.50) to win and save on Atlantic City (13.00)
Race 5:
ONCIDIUM RULER has won at Flemington and placed twice this prep, tough to beat. BLING DYNASTY has very strong form at Moonee Valley and four from five wins have been in the dry, place best. SURVIVED strong in winning last start at Mount Gambier and five of 11 wins have come from dry ground, not the worst. DANDY GENT 2 of three wins have come from dry ground, place hope.
Selections: 1 Oncidium Ruler, 3 Survived, 4 Daddy Gent, 5 Bling Dynasty
Race 6:
This is an open affair. JUST HIFALUTIN 2 wins from four attempts this campaign and last start winner at Moonee Valley, hard to go past. KING RIVER 3 from four wins have been in the dry and gets a nice run behind a genuine tempo, don’t treat lightly. DATA POINT finished midfield last start at Sandown on a heavy track when fresh and generally strong second-up placing at Sandown last second-up attempt, in with a chance. ESSENCE OF TERROR on a seven day back-up and rates highly with Chris Symons retaining the ride, the real danger in the race.
Selections: 6 King River, 11 Data Point, 13 Essence of Terror, 14 Just Hifalutin
Race 5:
SPEED: 3 leads 2, 4, 5 with 1, 7 off those? ONCIDIUM RULER has a tremendous record in races at 2000m and beyond. He hardly had the ideal run in the Pakenham Cup and was good. He only goes up half a kilo here. DANDY GENT crossed the line with him at Pakenham and the betting said he would improve there! IMPERIAL AVIATOR’s two runs this prep since being gelded have been super. He gave the placegetters plenty of weight last time. BLING DYNASTY is in light and has a case, as does likely leader SURVIVED.
Selections: 1 Oncidium Ruler, 2 Imperial Aviator, 4 Daddy Gent, 5 Bling Dynasty
Race 6:
Not sure speed map given all four emergencies can be handy. 5, 7, 9 from 4 & 3 otherwise. Many hopes. ATLANTIC CITY is going well but seven weeks off? KING’S COMMAND is a good fresh horse and likes MV. KIEVANN gave a great sight last time and has a three-kilo swing on the talented JUST HIFALUTIN, who draws out. ESSENCE OF TERROR looks so ready to win at 1200m, but draws a little awkwardly also. ROMAN FIZZ is a hope here fresh. DATA POINT is good enough but back to 1200m today? LORD BARRINGTON is a chance also.
Selections 13 Essence of terror, 5 Kievann, 14 Just Hifalutin, 3 King’s Command
Race 5:
ONCIDIUM RULER 4 from five wins have been in the dry, leading hope. BLING DYNASTY has won twice at Moonee Valley before and four from five wins have been in the dry, not the worst. SURVIVED gave nothing else a chance to win last start at Mount Gambier on a soft track and five from 11 wins have been in the dry, place hope. DANDY GENT 2 from three wins have been in the dry, needs the breaks.
Race 6:
Not much between these. JUST HIFALUTIN last start winner at Moonee Valley and in strong form with two wins from four attempts this campaign, has solid claims. KING RIVER 3 from four wins have been in the dry and capable of finising strongly, cannot be ruled out. DATA POINT generally strong second-up placing at Sandown last second-up attempt and ran seven lengths back from the winner last start at Sandown on a heavy track when fresh, not without each-way claims. ESSENCE OF TERROR on a seven day back-up and known to be strong late, each-way claims.
Sha Tin (Hong Kong)
Race 2, No. 2 Eighty Eighty – 4.5 stars
Race 6, No. 5 Hot King Prawn – 4.5 stars
Race 7, No. 10 Infinity Endeavour – 4 stars
Race 8, No. 10 Roman Impero – 3 stars
Race 9, No. 14 Victory Boys – 4 stars
Quaddie: 1, 7, 10, 13 / 1, 4, 6, 10 / 2, 4, 8, 12, 14 / 2, 3, 9, 8
Warwick Farm
Race 1: 6. Lagarde – BEST BET – each-way – 4 stars
Race 2: 1. Sparky Lad
Race 3: 4. Cellarman – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Race 4: 3. Volpe – BEST BET – 4 stars
Race 5: 5. Mornington
Race 6: 1. Test The World – BEST BET – 4 stars
Race 7: 8. Morton’s Fork
Race 8: 7. Pipeline – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Race 9: 7. Miss Ballantine – BEST BET – each-way – 4 stars
Quaddie: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 / 1, 4, 5, 8 / 7, 11, 12 / 2, 3, 6, 7
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
BEST – Race 8, No.5, MILWAUKEE
VALUE – Race 9, No.9, DIAPASON
Race 8:
Back Pipeline (3.10) to win
Race 8:
Hard to split the top two selections. PIPELINE has placed in two attempts this campaign and faded to finish on the winners’ heels last start at Rosehill, among the main chances. MILWAUKEE should find the lead easily having drawn well, in the mix. COOLRING 5 of seven wins have come from dry ground and should look to roll forward, in with a chance. MAN OF CHOICE finished two lengths off the winner last start at Rosehill when first up and drops 3kg from last run, capable of getting into the money.
Race 8:
Forgiving of BETTER NOT BLUE and MILWAUKEE, both horses raced close to the slower inside section at Rosehill last start. Thought Better Not Blue did enough considering, his form last prep inspires confidence, look for her flying late. Milwaukee will lead from gate one and give a sight, 1400m is his pet distance. Can’t fault the efforts of PIPELINE this campaign – he was so gallant in defeat last start. Small query at 1400m. COOLRING stayed on well off a wide run last start behind Uptown Lad (won again since), he just can’t draw a barrier! MAGICAL STANCE had a tough run first-up, improvement wouldn’t shock. MAN OF CHOICE ran well first-up off long break and drops in weight.
Selections 2 Better Not Blue, 5 Milwaukee 7 Pipeline
Race 8:
Looks a toss up between the top two selections. PIPELINE has placed in two attempts this campaign and faded to finish on the winners’ heels last start at Rosehill, marginal top pick. MILWAUKEE expected to settle on speed and two of four wins have come from dry ground, must be considered. COOLRING 5 of seven wins have come from dry ground and should look to roll forward, in with a chance. MAN OF CHOICE ran fifth last start at Rosehill when resuming and down in weight, place hope.
Selections: 4 Man of Choice, 5 Milwaukee, 7 Pipeline