The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, August 24. The highlight is the Group 1 Winx Stakes (Race 7) at Randwick. The other four Group races at Randwick are also covered, along with selected races at the Gold Coast, Morphettville and Moonee Valley.
More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bet of the day
Randwick Race 5, No. 3 Libertini
Gold Coast
Race 6, No.2 Langhro – 3.5 stars
Moonee Valley
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: SHOT OF IRISH
Race 2: MORE THAN EVER
Race 3: KOOWEERUP
Race 4: FRAGONARD
Race 5: SPIRIT OF VALOR
Race 6: VINLAND
Race 7: HIGHTAIL
Race 8: TERBIUM
Race 9: TAVIRUN
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 5 #3 Assertive Approach – LAY BET – bet against this horse with Betfair
Race 1, No.6 Connery – EACH-WAY – 3.5 stars
Race 7, No.4 Independent Road – EACH-WAY – 3 stars
Race 4: Back Fabric (4.20) to win.
Race 5: Back Spirit Of Valor (4.00) to win.
Morphettville
Race 1, No.5 Hafaawa – 4.5 stars
Race 4, No.8 Sunmate – EACH-WAY – 4 stars
Randwick
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: GALAXY FORCE
Race 2: TRAVANCORE
Race 3: LUCICELLO
Race 4: SCHOLARLY
Race 5: LIBERTINI
Race 6: CASCADIAN
Race 7: 1. AVILIUS, 2. Verry Elleegant, 3. Best Of Days, 4. Le Romain
Race 8: KIAMICHI
Race 9: ROHERYN
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 5 #3 Libertini – BEST BET
Race 7: #8 Unforgotten
Race 8 #15 Tell Me – VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 6 Cascadian
Race 8 No. 4 Mizzy
Race 9 No. 11 Roheryn
Race 6, No.7 Deprive – BEST BET – 5 stars
Race 7:
1. Avilius
2. Samadoubt
3. Best of Days
4. Verry Elleegant
5. Happy Clapper
Best Bet: Avilius ($3.40)
Best Value: Samadoubt ($31)
Exotic: Box Exacta 1,3,4,6,10
Race 7:
1. Best Of Days
2. Avilius
3. Verry Elleegant
Suggested Bet(s): Back Best Of Days each way (18.00, 3.90).
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 3:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #3 True Detective
Race 5:
Betting Confidence: Low
Back – #5 Let It Pour; #4 Villami; #1 Tenley
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: Low
Back – #5 Delectation Girl
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #1 Avilius; #3 Le Romain; #6 Samadoubt
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: Low
Back – #9 Meryl; #4 Mizzy; #1 Alassio; #2 Kiamichi
Race 3: True Detective, saving on Lucicello
Race 5: Libertini
Race 6: Trope
Race 7: Avilius
Race 8: Meryl
Race 3:
TRUE DETECTIVE (3) was very good fresh before simply set an impossible task behind Misteed. Suspect he will be even better on top of the ground and gives the impression he will relish the step up in trip. JMac takes over and he should prove very hard to beat. Stablemate LUCICELLO (2) was very good behind a smart one in Dawn Passage last start and while she will be giving them all a start, she should be very strong late. SUPERIUM (5) returned in great order last start and with further improvement expected, he has to be included, along with ATHIRI (1).
Race 5:
LIBERTINI (3) bumped into Bivouac on debut before dominant in two starts prior to a break. Didn’t beat anything at Scone, but it’s hard to ignore how well she has trialled in the lead up. Drawn to get a lovely run on-speed and should prove very hard to beat with Berry aboard. The Godolphin pair FLIT (2) and TENLEY (1) are more than up to sprinting well fresh, though suspect we won’t see the best of them until they get out to a mile. Still can’t ignore their class. LET IT POUR (5) was very good fresh and appears the next in line.
Race 6:
TROPE (12) came a long way in a short period of time last preparation and went out off a new career peak behind Military Zone. Has trialled like a bomb and while likely to be giving them all a start, he should be very strong late. DEPRIVE (7) also went out off a new career peak when winning the June Stakes. Is unbeaten at this track (4/4) and King rides him so well (2/2). Another that will get back, but just watch for him late. BON AMIS (3) won well at Rosehill last start and like the fact he has been kept fresh (28 days). Should press forward from the draw and be in this for a long way. DREAMFORCE (1) the next in line.
Race 7:
AVILIUS (1) was virtually faultless last preparation with his only defeat coming in the Australian Cup. Went out off a new career peak and while we’ve never seen him short of a mile, suspect he is being trained differently this time in with the Cox Plate the main target. Has trialled very well and should prove hard to beat. HAPPY CLAPPER (2) may be past his best, but it’s still hard to ignore his record at this C&D. Can trial better, but I won’t be discounting the old boy just yet. VERRY ELLEEGANT (10) has never beaten anything of note, but Waller has plenty of confidence in her making the grade, while her stablemate UNFORGOTTEN (8) appears the next in line.
Race 8:
MERYL (9) went to the paddock in very good form and remains a big watch fresh for Lee Curtis having missed the Autumn. Two trials in the lead up have been rock solid and she has trialled very well in the lead up. Down in the weights and shapes as one of the hardest to beat. KIAMICHI (2) faces a stiff task taking on the older horses, but has the talent to overcome it. MIZZY (4) was very good last preparation and has to be kept safe fresh in her return, while DYSLEXIC (3) also holds solid claims with JMac booked.
Race 3:
2. Lucicello (3 stars)
6. Avon River (3 stars)
1. Athiri (3 stars)
5. Superium (3 stars)
Race 5:
3. Libertini (3 stars)
2. Flit (3 stars)
1. Tenley (3 stars)
4. Villami (2 stars)
Race 6:
7. Deprive (3 stars)
1. Dreamforce (3 stars)
6. Cascadian (3 stars)
3. Bon Amis (3 stars)
Race 7:
10. Verry Elleegant (3 stars)
1. Avilius (3 stars)
2. Happy Clapper (3 stars)
7. Invincible Gem (2 stars)
Race 8:
2. Kiamichi (5 stars)
1. Alassio (4 stars)
9. Meryl (2 stars)
13. Agent Pippa (2 stars)
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 3:
7 and 8 to lead 9 and 3. LUCICELLO obviously accepted for the Silver Shadow later on as well but there looks perhaps more tempo in this slightly longer race. Ridden cold in her last three, she has created a strong impression that a stakes win is a mere matter of time. TRUE DETECTIVE and MANDELA are colts on the up as well and are likely to be ahead of her in running. ATHIRI the clear topweight and surely fitter for the run that saw only three-quarters of a length off LUCICELLO at the finish. She hasn’t started longer than $6.50 here and absolutely shouldn’t here.
Selections: 2. Lucicello, 3. True Detective, 1. Athiri, 4. Mandela
Race 5:
A ripper contest this one. Speed not exactly red-hot though. I have 4 and 10 leading out. LIBERTINI came on the scene later in the autumn but made a big impression with a couple of easy wins. Her debut 2nd to Bivouac reads pretty well also and recent trials and a gallop between races all suggests she is gunning for a G1 this prep. I must admit, I am thoroughly taken with her and expectant she can measure up to anything. LET IT POUR simply can’t be a maiden for much longer, unless of course she keeps running into good horses like Dawn Passage and LIBERTINI here. She sets up well and is in the finish again. TENLEY shouldn’t be forgotten about totally.
Selections: 3. Libertini, 5. Let It Pour, 1. Tenley
Race 6:
Plenty of speed in this one. 1, 3, 10 and 11 are the main ones I think, with BON AMIS possibly left a bit wide or trailing in behind. Again (like Adana earlier) a key runner draws the rail. DEPRIVE has come through his classes impressively, yet another Godolphin galloper on the rise. His August 6 trial was a mere ‘jog-round’ and in this winning run of four he has been here at Randwick throughout. TROPE sets up a fair way back but there is some real quality about this new 4YO. Expect him rushing at the line. BON AMIS needs some luck and is away from Rosehill (where he has five wins).
Selections: 7. Deprive, 12. Trope, 1. Dreamforce, 3. Bon Amis
Race 7:
SAMADOUBT the obvious leader in the first G1 of the new season. 3, 7 and 2 might find themselves next in line in a race in which many resume and will be looking for longer. HAPPY CLAPPER is not getting any younger but along with Hartnell could strengthen the case that turning 9YO doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Some will deride his trials coming into this (and yes, he had trialled better going into last prep) but I’m prepared to back him in on raceday. His last three fresh runs in Sydney have produced two wins and a 2nd to Winx earlier this year. AVILIUS has begun both Australian campaigns with a win (albeit over 1600m).
Selections: 2. Happy Clapper, 1. Avilius, 3. Le Romain, 4. Best Of Days
Race 8:
Solid speed from 2, 8, 9, 11 and 13. I’m liking MIZZY a fair bit here. Fresh at 1100m and sitting not too far off genuine speed appears a great set-up for her. Two recent trials have seen her place behind Sunlight and Alizee so you couldn’t really criticize how she’s coming in. You could most certainly criticize the fact she has won but once from 13 starts (and the fact that Maiden win was anything but straight-forward). I have faith she proves herself at the highest level this campaign though, and if she’s to do that she either wins or goes very close here. MERYL got better as last prep continued but she has trialled pleasingly also.
Selections: 4. Mizzy, 9. Meryl, 12. Into The Abyss, 2. Kiamichi
Race 3:
1. True Detective (5 stars)
2. Lucicello (4 stars)
3. Superium (4 stars)
Race 5:
1. Libertini (5 stars)
2. Flit (4 stars)
3. Tenley (4 stars)
Race 6:
1. Trope (5 stars)
2. Deprive (4 stars)
3. Bon Amis (4 stars)
Race 7:
1. Avilius (5 stars)
2. Happy Clapper (4 stars)
3. Verry Elleegant (4 stars)
Race 8:
1. Meryl (5 stars)
2. Kiamichi (4 stars)
3. Mizzy (4 stars)
Race 3:
TRUE DETECTIVE (3) Third up from a break. Fought on gamely when winning three runs back at Rosehill but facing a stronger grade today. Worth an investment. LUCICELLO (2) Bold effort to win two runs back at Rosehill but facing a stronger grade today. Has a nice turn of foot. Can’t knock. SUPERIUM (5) Second up from a spell. Fought on well to win two runs back at Wellington but facing a stronger grade. Deserves consideration. ATHIRI (1) Having second run back from a spell. Rocketed home into 3rd three runs back at this venue but facing a stronger grade today. Well placed and has solid claims.
Race 5:
LIBERTINI (3) First up after a break. Was all too good winning last run at Scone and has a positive gate. Going good enough to win this and a clear top pick. FLIT (2) Finished on top two runs back at Flemington and has a nice turn of foot. Open to improvement and has a show in this field. TENLEY (1) Has top form at the 3 wins from 4 attempts and has a great burst of speed late. Jockey James Mcdonald and trainer James Cummings are a promising combination. Worth strong consideration. LET IT POUR (5) Having second run back from a spell. Stormed home when 2nd last run at Rosehill but racing in stronger company today. Watch market moves.
Race 6:
DEPRIVE (7) Really dug deep when winning last time here and has a great burst of speed late. Should be right in the finish. CASCADIAN (6) Resuming after a break of just over 1 year. Fought on well to win three runs back at Maisons Laffitte and now racing for a new trainer James Cummings. Expect to go close. TROPE (12) Managed to run 2nd last time at Hawkesbury and has a nice turn of foot. Better claims. BON AMIS (3) Got the prize when winning last run at Rosehill but up against stronger competition here. Each way appeal.
Race 7:
AVILIUS (1) Races well first up and clearly the class horse of the race. Rates on top. VERRY ELLEEGANT (10) Stepping up to open age company now but definitely has the ability. Winning chance. HAPPY CLAPPER (2) Warhorse returning for another campaign. Races well over this track and trip, each way. UNFORGOTTEN (8) Likely looking for further but will finishing off strong. Not out of this.
Race 8:
MIZZY (4) Fresh today after a break. Ran 6th last start at this course and rising in class. One of the main dangers. KIAMICHI (2) Has early speed and positions nicely. Overrun late when 3rd two runs back here but racing fresh after a break. One of the major hopes. SOOTHING (5) Second up. Nice show when placing 3rd three runs back at Caulfield and strong performer at this trip. Each way prospects. NOTATION (8) Left nothing to chance when winning two runs back at the track and can find a nice position from the draw. Will be positive in the run early. Can threaten if right today.