Summary of best bets:
Best Bet: Race 1 No.3 Harmonic Dancer (Down in grade after a solid effort out wide last start)
Suggested bet: Race 5 No.3 Le Ferrari (Ideally set up on speed with how this track is expected to play)
Suggested bet: Race 7 No.6 Cash (Talented type resuming, recent trial was impressive)
Next best: Race 9 No.4 Cielao (Gets race map favours, winning form franked from last start victory)
Turf Talk:
- Saturday Metro racing goes out to Gawler for the first time in 12 months
- Expecting clear conditions race day and expect the meeting starts on a Good 4, with a small potential of an upgrade due to warm weather.
- The rail will be in the True position but we still usually see runners come away from the rails in the straight, lanes 5/6/7/8 generally produce majority of winners
- Giving a slight advantage to on speed types in these conditions but runners can make up ground if tempo suits
Key Stats:
- Daryl Dodson continues to be in strong form returning a POT of +44.8% in his last 100 runners, he rarely races here at Gawler but from 7 career runners at this track, he has produced 3 winners at a huge POT of +143.6%. The team come to this meeting with 2 chances.
- Alysha Warren is only relatively new to the state riding ranks but she has quickly found a good association with Gawler, from 28 rides here she has ridden 6 winners at a healthy POT of +68.9%
Race by race overview
Race 1:
This looks a suitable race for (3) Harmonic Dancer who drops in grade after a competitive run in strong form race The Rebel Raider Series Final, he drops in grade and maps for a better run than he got last start, should be the one to beat.
(1) Mongolian Mission resumes having been to the races once when winning at Wangaratta, he maps to be in a strong position in run and gets his chance if the track is playing as expected.
(4) Si Senora looks likely to be better suited dropping in grade from the level he contested when first-up, can be an improver here today.
(5) Damelli had excuses last start when never looking in the hunt in a stronger race, looks better suited in this grade.
Selections:
(3) Harmonic Dancer
(1) Mongolian Mission
(4) Si Senora
(5) Damelli
Suggested Bet: Harmonic Dancer (Win)
Race 2:
This race looks likely to be run at a fast tempo in the early stages, that could set up (7) Vintage Star to find himself in a strong position in run and he looks suited rising to the 1200m trip after last start. He may be the horse that gets run of the race.
(2) Zebella has been a tough follow for punters in recent races, she is generally met with strong support but has yet to break through this prep. Expecting another prominent on speed run from her which may suit.
(5) Overstrike was a good winner here at Gawler first up and perhaps wasn’t suited in soft conditions last time. Can improve here in better conditions and will be in a strong position in run.
(9) Zarkana looks to rise in grade having been a first-up winner at this track and distance recently, barrier 1 should put her in a good position in run.
Selections:
(7) Vintage Star
(2) Zebella
(5) Overstrike
(9) Zarkana
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 3:
(2) Party Crasher was well supported in a stronger race last week at Ballarat but had little luck and didn’t get an ideal run. He returns to SA and is dropping in grade here, maps well so should have no excuses in a race of this level with an ideal set up.
(4) Fox Gem was strong to the line in a series final race last start, he looks suited at the 2100m trip off the back of that run.
(5) Grinzinger Bishop has been consistent in his last couple of starts finishing third in both, he is on the quick back up dropping from the 2400m trip so should have no issues over the 2100m.
(8) Sandpiper was slick when winning from the front at Balaklava last start, this is a step up in grade but he can race on speed and give it a shake at odds if tempo suits.
Selections:
(2) Party Crasher
(4) Fox Gem
(5) Grinzinger Bishop
(8) Sandpiper
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 4:
(12) Oak Park Maddison has been hitting the line well in recent times but is yet to breakthrough. Conditions here may help her find the improvement. She gets a handy apprentice claim which sets up well, and rising in trip with a favourable race map sets her up well.
(3) Smother makes his debut for a new stable today, his Victorian form was solid enough to suggest he is capable of winning a race of this level.
(8) Flaming Eyes finished second over this track and distance last start, she has been consistent but may rely on luck from a wide barrier.
Selections:
(12) Oak Park Maddison
(3) Smother
(8) Flaming Eyes
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 5:
(3) Le Ferrari’s recent runs have been in stronger grade races in Victoria, suited down in level today and gets an ideal set up for the expected track conditions to be up on speed.
(7) I Catchem Fox was a strong winner last time out, taking another step up in grade but mapping well again.
(6) Snoopy Now was well supported to win the Listed John Letts Cup on Melbourne Cup day before falling in the run, he has class and can bounce back.
(5) Komachi was an impressive winner last time out in a strong race, this appears no harder and he has won at this track and distance.
Selections:
(3) Le Ferrari
(7) I Catchem Fox
(6) Snoopy Now
(5) Komachi
Suggested Bet: Win (3) Le Ferrari
Race 6:
(2) Palm Of Jumeirah was an impressive winner two starts ago but clearly didn’t handle the wet conditions last start. She can bounce back here on a drier track and dropping in grade.
(6) Costless may get run of the race from barrier 2 and likely leads. Needs to step up but may pinch it if given a soft run.
(7) Naralinga found himself out of position last start but was still solid in a stronger race and may be better suited back at 1200m.
(3) Shadow Eagle drops slightly in grade and returns to a track where he has performed well.
Selections:
(2) Palm Of Jumeirah
(6) Costless
(7) Naralinga
(3) Shadow Eagle
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 7:
Michael Hickmott’s lightly raced runner (6) Cash resumes for his third preparation. He has shown talent early in his career including a debut win at Moonee Valley, and a recent trial suggested he is ready to go.
(2) Dancing Storm has won two straight and now steps up in grade but may need an even track pattern.
(3) Ginger Sinner is flying with two wins in a row and has been consistent at 1200m.
(4) Vexatious Dancer was well supported last start when rising in grade and has good form at the trip.
Selections:
(6) Cash
(2) Dancing Storm
(3) Ginger Sinner
(4) Vexatious Dancer
Suggested Bet: Win (6) Cash
Race 8:
This race looks likely to have a moderate tempo which can give (3) Flaming Navy a chance to cross from a wide barrier. If he gets to the lead softly he looks well placed with a light weight.
(6) Collated was an impressive winner at this track and distance recently and can bounce back here after not handling wet ground.
(1) Longer Route disappointed last start but his previous form suggests he can improve sharply down in grade.
(7) Isuspectjeu looks suited rising in trip off a fast finishing effort last start.
Selections:
(3) Flaming Navy
(6) Collated
(1) Longer Route
(7) Isuspectjeu
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 9:
(4) Cielao looks to have her ideal set up here. She has produced her worst runs on wet tracks and will relish getting back onto a dry surface. She can race on speed and control the race. Her last start win over Extinguish now reads very well.
(3) Sir Randolph thrives third-up with an impressive record and maps to get a soft run.
(13) Mrs Penny Cracker steps up in grade but carries a light weight and appears suited rising to 1500m.
(14) Make Me A Star was a good winner at this track/distance set up to break her maiden recently, she defeated a well backed runner who has subsequently come out and won easily during the week to frank the form, she could surprise with the right run.
Selections:
(4) Cielao
(3) Sir Randolph
(13) Mrs Penny Cracker
(14) Make Me A Star
Suggested Bet: Win (4) Cielao
