The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, December 19. The focus is on the feature races at Ascot and Doomben. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bets
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Ascot Race 5: No. 2 Truly Great
Ascot Race 7: No. 3 Chantrea
Doomben Race 8: No. 11 Isotope
Ascot
Race 5:
TRULY GREAT (2) Showed promise when winning last start at this course and looks well placed in this grade. Tracking very well this campaign. This looks ideal. TRAP FOR FOOLS (1) On a short turnaround. Ran away with a win last time at this track and gets a reduction in weight. Has genuine claims in this race. PADDY’S SHADOW (8) Good run when placing 2nd last start at this course but rises in weight today. Possesses very good closing speed. Winning hope. PLATOON (4) Surprising run when 6th here. Should improve and going down in grade. Shows good closing speed. Modest chance for multis.
Race 7:
CHANTREA (3) Brave effort to win two runs back at Belmont and second up from a break. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Looks the winner on initial assessment. SERENITY BAY (8) Having second run back from a spell. Really dug deep when winning three runs back at Belmont and has a great burst of speed late. Should go close. DANCE MUSIC (1) Showed promise when winning three runs back at Northam and drops back to a suitable class. Deserves consideration. SPECIAL CHOICE (9) Got the upper hand late when winning two runs back around here. Has each way claims.
Race 5: Truly Great to win, Trifecta: 2/1,4,5,8/1,4,5,8
Race 7: Chantrea to win, Trifecta: 3/1,4,8,9/1,4,8,9
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 5:
Was tempted to make a case for TRAP FOR FOOLS, but just feel as though whatever happens TRULY GREAT will find a way to win. Announced himself as the real deal with a devastating G1 Kingston Town Classic victory, upsetting outstanding stablemate Inspirational Girl in the process. Pike hasn’t ridden Truly Great for a while, but providing he stays with striking distance of Trap For Fools, Truly Great should get it done. Brad Rawiller’s front-running ride on Trap For Fools in last week’s Towton Cup was simply too good. The champion hoop will be looking to replicate that steer. PLATOON was excellent late in the Kingston Town. TAXAGANO endured a torrid run in the same race and did a big job to box on as well as he did.
Selections: 2. Truly Great (top tip), 1. Trap For Fools, 4. Platoon, 3. Taxagano
Race 7:
The third leg of the traditional fillies-and-mares Series is another competitive affair, but with an uninterrupted passage in transit CHANTREA should come out on top. Tasted defeat for the first time when resuming in the Jungle Dawn Classic, but lost no admirers with a slashing third in a bunched finish. Suited up to the mile, Chantrea just needs galloping room late. DANCE MUSIC is the class runner and is well in under the set weights and penalties. Drawn to get the right run, she’s no pushover. NAUGHTY BY NATURE was very stiff when encountering traffic in the Jungle Dawn Classic and should relish stepping back out to 1600m. SPECIAL CHOICE appears the top seed from the cerise and white.
Selections: 3. Chantrea (top tip), 1. Dance Music, 10. Naughty By Nature, 9. Special Choice
Doomben
Race 8: Isotope
Race 8:
ISOTOPE (11) Third up today. Had a comfortable win last time at this course. Going good enough to win this and a clear top pick. AWAY GAME (9) Fresh today. Showed promise when winning two runs back at Randwick but bit of extra work to do with more weight today. Could take beating. ROGUE ROCKER (8) Ran away with a win two runs back at Ballina but racing in stronger company. Watch betting. SAFEWORK (2) Having second run back from a spell. Game effort to win three runs back at this course but rising in grade. Can have an impact.
Race 9:
OUTBACK BARBIE (4) Ran on strongly when 3rd last start at this course and will be trying to topple them late. Has to be included. RED CHASE (6) Got the prize when winning two runs back at this venue. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Has run into the money 4 from 5 attempts this campaign. Should be right in the finish. EMERALD KINGDOM (9) Really dug deep when winning three runs back at this track and can find a nice position from the draw. Shows good early pace. Respect against this field. NICCANOVA (2) Sent around at $4.2 and finished 3.8l behind the winner at Sunshine Coast last time on a good track but gets a nice run behind the speed. Winless this campaign from 10 starts. Underrated.
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 8:
First of our features today is the Gold Edition for the 3yo’s which perhaps shapes up as a clash between the local filly Isotope & the reigning Magic Millions champion Away Game who will be looking to offset that awkward gate early on. I’m nothing but loyal so it’s ISOTOPE for me who should be unbeaten this prep, blew the start first up before dominant bordering on arrogant making amends here last time. There is no doubt AWAY GAME has the stronger form already on the board & she will take a ton of beating. Heap of other chances to run the placings but I’m confident winner comes from 9 & 11.
Selections: 11. Isotope (top tip), 9. Away Game, 2. Safework, 8. Rogue Rocker
Race 9:
Cracking sprint race to wind up the day with pace from 5, 9 & 12 predominantly however there could well be others. Desleigh Forster has RED CHASE flying this prep just as he was at the back end of his previous when winning 4 straight. It took The Harrovian to knock him off last start & we know how well that horse is going having won 10 straight. Good allley, positive early should prove hard to beat on a DRY track. Nice gate for OUTBACK BARBIE who ran so well first up in the George Moore when 3 deep no cover throughout. Include nos.5, 11, 12, 14 & 15 in your wide exotics.
Selections: 6. Red Chase (Best of the Day), 4. Outback Barbie, 11. Soxagon, 3. Tambo’s Mate
Race 8: Isotope
Race 9: Red Chase
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 9: Niccanova