The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, December 5. The focus is on the feature races at Ascot, which includes the Group 1 Kingstown Classic (Race 8). The feature races at Doomben and Pakenham are also covered. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Doomben Race 8: No. 8 Jonker
Doomben Race 9: No. 7 Isotope
Ascot Race 5: No. 1 Chantrea and No. 10 Tycoon Storm
Ascot Race 6: No. 5 Western Empire
Ascot Race 7: No. 10 Celebrity Queen
Ascot
Race 8: 1 – Watch Me Dance (9.50), 2 – Inspirational Girl (2.60), 3. Too Close The Sun (9.00)
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 5:
Expecting to see TYCOON STORM and Brad Parnham make amends. With clear running in the straight they would’ve saluted in the Jungle Mist Classic two weeks back. Big chance of getting hemmed away again from gate one, but she’ll relish the rise to 1400m and just needs galloping room late. Can CHANTREA extend her unbeaten streak? The high-quality mare faces her toughest assignment first up at this level from an awkward alley. SERENITY BAY was terrific first up in the Carbine Club Stakes. NAUGHTY BY NATURE is coming off a driving heavy-track win and has to rate among the major players, despite being 1600m back to 1400m.
Selections: 10. Tycoon Storm (Best of the Day), 1. Chantrea, 6. Serenity Bay, 7. Naughty By Nature
Race 6:
Can’t wait for this mouth-watering clash between boom 3YOs WESTERN EMPIRE and CHANTORQUE, but siding with the cerise and white to come out on top. Western Empire was massive in defeat in the Fairetha before a flashing fourth in the WA Guineas effort from near last on straightening. He begins well enough to make the most of this draw and if Pike can stay within striking distance, Western Empire’s big engine should propel him to victory. Simply cannot fault Chantorque and you know she’ll get every opportunity on top of the speed. High-class fillies SNICKERDOODLEDANDY and MYSTICAL VIEW will land in the back half and be launching late.
Selections: 5. Western Empire (top tip), 3. Chantorque, 4. Snickerdoodledandy, 10. Mystical View
Race 7:
A week after being narrowly denied in the Group 1 Winterbottom, CELEBRITY QUEEN looks set to pick up a consolation prize. It was some performance in the $1 million sprint, coming from near last to fall a neck short, and suggests she’s ready for 1400m. Pike hops on for the first time this prep. VALOUR ROAD was runner up in this race last year and has to be a major player. He was bolting in the Winterbottom last week, but never really saw daylight in the straight. Stablemate FLIRTINI was back to her best in the Winterbottom and just needs to hold that peak to feature again. KEMENTARI looks well placed and just needs an ounce of luck from the high draw.
Selections: 10. Celebrity Queen (top tip), 4. Valour Road, 9. Flirtini, 1. Kementari
Race 8:
It’ll need to be perfectly executed, but the barrier draw has provided TOO CLOSE THE SUN an opportunity to deny superstar mare INSPIRATIONAL GIRL another Group 1 triumph. No match for her late surge in the Railway Stakes, natural on-pacer Too Close the Sun is suited up to 1800m and should have a decent head start on his main rival. Ridden aggressively, Too Close the Sun may pinch it on the turn and cling on. Inspirational Girl could be the next big thing in Australian racing, coming off a turbo-charged Railway Stakes. She maps rearwards from this high draw, so will need another extraordinary Pike steer and we’ll see just how good this girl is. Lightly weighted WATCH ME DANCE and DOM TO SHOOT get lovely maps from their respective draws and this weight-for-age Classic is most definitely a race for 3YOs. TRULY GREAT and CUP NIGHT are capable of making an impact.
Selections: 4. Too Close The Sun (top tip), 12. Inspirational Girl, 16. Watch Me Dance, 15. Dom To Shoot
Race 5: 1. Chantrea
Race 5:
TYCOON STORM (10) Left nothing to chance when winning two runs back at this track and hard to fault at this trip. Racing consistently since returning from a break. One of the better chances. CHANTREA (1) Fresh after a break. Fought on gamely when winning last time at Belmont but hoping that the added weight won’t hurt. Will be competitive. SERENITY BAY (6) Game effort to win three runs back at Belmont and will be trying to topple them late. Has the ability to figure. LONSDALE LADY (2) Second up. Won narrowly three runs back at Belmont. Quite a few boxes are ticked and looks value at generous odds.
Race 6:
WESTERN EMPIRE (5) Hit the line well when 2nd two runs back around here and back in an easier grade. Possesses good finishing speed. Looks a strong winning hope. CHANTORQUE (3) Got the prize when winning last start around here and shows good early pace. Very tidy this campaign winning 3 from as many attempts. Should be very competitive and is a genuine threat. SNICKERDOODLEDANDY (4) Really dug deep when winning two runs back at this venue. Can go through the gears. Looks promising in this race. KISSONALLFORCHEEKS (8) Bold effort to win three runs back at this course. Consider an each way bet.
Race 7:
CELEBRITY QUEEN (10) Won narrowly two runs back around here and shows very good closing speed. Top selection. KEMENTARI (1) Nice show when finishing 3rd two runs back here and goes down in class. Should get a lovely cart into it from just behind the leaders. Worth strong consideration. FLIRTINI (9) Ran past a few when 5th last run here and possesses good finishing speed. Expect to go close. VALOUR ROAD (4) On a short turnaround. Really dug deep when winning three runs back at the track and will appreciate the drop in class. Looks a good chance of finishing in the money.
Race 8:
INSPIRATIONAL GIRL (12) Landed the spoils when winning last run at the track but rises in weight. Shows very good closing speed. Deserves a win. DOM TO SHOOT (15) Managed to place 3rd last run here and should get going late. Been in the money 5 from 6 attempts this campaign. Won’t be far away. TOO CLOSE THE SUN (4) Won by a big margin two runs back around here but up in weight today. Suited in this race and can place today. KAY CEE (13) Showed promise when winning two runs back around here. Always seems to find the line well. Worth entertaining from a place and exotics perspective.
Race 5: Chantrea, saving on Tycoon Storm
Race 6: Western Empire
Race 7: Celebrity Queen
Race 8: Inspirational Girl
Unibet – From The Traders’ Desk:
Race 8 #16 Watch Me Dance (9.00)
Doomben
Race 8:
JONKER (8) Blitzed its rivals when winning last start at this course and second up from a break. Will be pushing for a forward position early. Don’t overlook. HARD EMPIRE (4) Handy enough when winning two runs back at this course and shows very good closing speed. Major hope. THE ODYSSEY (5) Scored a victory three runs back at this course and likely to be well placed early. Looks a good chance of finishing in the money. USMANOV (12) Flashed home late into 2nd last start at Ipswich and carrying less weight this time. Could work into the placings.
Race 9:
ISOTOPE (7) Having second run back from a break. Flashed home late into 2nd last run at this course and suited by the weight drop. Stand out selection. PAREDO (9) Game effort to win last start at this track and back from a let up. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Flawless this preparation with 2 wins from 2 runs. Could go well. DUSTY TYCOON (2) Really dug deep when winning last run here and likely to be well placed early. Has claims. GOTTA KISS (1) Showed a good turn of foot when 2nd two runs back at Eagle Farm and second up from a break. Should be swooping on the field late. Good chance of threatening these.
Race 8: Jonker
Race 9: Isotope
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 8:
The Group 3 George Moore is the day’s feature, the little bulldog The Odyssey should lead however I’d expect Jonker to be right up there again as he was in the Keith Noud, nos.1, 9, 11 & 12 also capable. I’m with HARD EMPIRE who ran very well behind JONKER when unable to really get much of a go at them in the straight yet still clocked the second fastest final 400m! Should the same JONKER turn up then he’ll take a ton of beating, if we take him on his only run for the Gollan stable (& not previous baggage) then he’s clearly the one to beat. Just about every other runner a place hope at least!
Selections: 4. Hard Empire (value bet), 8. Jonker, 1. Deep Image, 2. Scallopini
Race 9:
We wind up with the Mode at Listed level for the fillies, expect Dusty Tycoon right up there from the jump having drawn so well, nos.4 & 13 amongst others have pace also. Parked just off those should be ISOTOPE who was so good first up after messing up the start. She still looked a winning hope inside the 200m however the effort told late & she went down less than a length after missing it by 3! Since trialled well & can make amends. DUSTY will give a sight now she’s broken through that 1200m barrier. Bad gates for GOTTA KISS, STAROSA & FLEET DOVE who are all capable of winning…with luck!
Selections: 7. Isotope (Best of the Day), 2. Dusty Tycoon, 1. Gotta Kiss, 5. Fleet Dove
Race 3: 4. Plitvice
Unibet – From The Traders’ Desk:
Race 8 #8 Jonker (2.70) – BEST BET
Race 9 #1 – Gotta Kiss (8.50) – VALUE BET
Pakenham
Race 7:
ATTORNEY (4) Got the cash when winning three runs back at Rosehill and looks well graded. Well placed and has solid claims. KNIGHTS ORDER (7) Fought on gamely when winning two runs back at Randwick and suited by the weight drop. Won’t be far away during the run. Capable of getting into the money. PRINCESS JENNI (2) Really dug deep when winning last time at Bendigo but bit of extra work to do with more weight today. Should race just behind the speed. Can make a claim. CREEDENCE (5) Ended up 3.5l from the winner at Flemington last run on a good surface and carrying more weight than last time. Gets a nice run behind the speed. No shock to see a win
Race 7: Attorney
Race 7: 8. Scarlet Dream and 4. Attorney
Race 7:
5. Creedence, 3. Haky, 1. Brimham Rocks, 4. Attorney
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 7:
SPEED: 6, 7 look leaders with 1, 3, 5, capable of being handy. BRIMHAM ROCKS is going super but has to contend with 62kg here. PRINCESS JENNI is now five weeks between runs since winning a Bendigo Cup, at her first go at 2400m. She has 61kg. HAKY chased her at Bendigo then had no hope in a sit/sprint last time. ATTORNEY ran on well in the Sandown Classic and has a relative weights advantage. SCARLET DREAM was race-fastest home in that Sandown Classic, which was run at a ridiculous tempo. CREEDENCE was solid in the Queen Elizabeth. KNIGHTS ORDER gets weight relief.
Selections: 8. Scarlet Dream (top tip), 4. Attorney, 1. Brimham Rocks, 2. Princess Jenni
Race 4: 6. Astraeus
Race 7: 1. Brimham Rocks
Quaddie: 1,2,5/1,2,7/5,8,12/2,10,13,15
Race 7:
5. Creedence, 4. Attorney, 8. Scarlet Dream, 2. Princess Jenni
Race 7:
8. Scarlet Dream, 5. Creedence, 2. Princess Jenni, 1. Brimham Rocks
Race 2 #1 Tony Nicconi (26.00) – VALUE BET
Race 5:
Tavidance (2.50) (win), Night’s Watch (12.00) (win)
Race 7:
Our Big Mike (34.00) (win), Northwest Passage (34.00) (win)
Race 9 #11 Score (7.00) – BEST BET