Saturday 23rd August 2025
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!!
Midfield finishes for three of our blackbookers yesterday, but the bonus came if you hung on till the wee small hours for the Coolmore Nunthorpe at York in the UK, where top Aussie sprinter Asfoora won, sitting just off the pace and powering home by nearly two lengths at a tasty $12!!
OK, back to reality, and we have four from NZ with 13 from Aussie, and, unusually for us, a lot of favs that look hard to beat, with, of course, our usual selection of big odds chances…
Four for TGIF, including an Aussie raider in England, more big odds on offer, but definitely worth a Yank…
NZ today…
Double Take
Te Rapa R4
2:33pm
Ex-HKer who got up for us at Ruakaka three weeks ago after a series of average runs, has won on heavy but steps up to the 2400m for the first time today. Very open betting race, EW at $8.50 if he can go on with it…
BET: 3 units ew
Mali Ston, Gospodin
Te Rapa R7
4:20pm
MS resumes after a six moth break, had been going OK without winning and does have a handy first-up record (4:1-2-0) heavy record (7:1-2-1) and track record ((8:2-1-2). Trialled twice to warm up for this, gets the Nabber up top and looks a decent EW punt at $10.
Gospodin is a real mudder, decent T&Ds and back to his fav distance. If he manages to find a nice spot he can feature in this at $61…
BET: MS 4 units ew, G 3 units ew, exotics
Out Of Sight
Te Rapa R8
5:02pm
Noted winning in June to break maidens after not even placing in her previous 14 runs, then came out and ran two very ordinary races, so a touch difficult to assess on that, EW interest bet at $51, just in case…
BET: 2 units ew
Aussie today…
Oak Hill
Moonee Valley R7
6:45pm
We just love Oak Hill, not a huge animal but has the heart of a lion. Impressive this T&D 14 days ago, not normally keen on backmarker over this distance at the Valley, but he flew home from near last on the bend to win by 1.5 lengths, truly beautiful to watch, and while this is a slightly bigger field, and as long as he has average luck, we won’t be betting against him as $2.80 fav with M Zahra onboard… Bet of the Day.
Baraqiel is resuming from a nine month break, another talented runner, and has warmed up with two trials wins at Flem. Only missed the frame once in ten runs and looks sure to go well as $3.80 second fav.
BET: OK 10 unit win, 10 units quinella these two, or even exacta
Kristilli
Moonee Valley R9
7:45pm
Resuming from months in the paddock and with little first up form she’ll probably need this as a $35 shot…
BET: 4 units ew
Exit Fee
Randwick R2
2:15pm
Noted and went in the book in June when getting trapped and bursting home for a close second and earning a next-time tag. Blimey, didn’t he do it again two weeks later! Ending up running a seventh and another next-time tag, and here he is. Can not afford to get hung up in traffic at this T&D, so Zac Lloyd is gonna need to get him up on pace and strike from there. If he does that, good luck beating him… $4.40 fav.
BET: 5 units ew
Saltcoats
Randwick R5
4:00pm
Saltcoats was back up to a more suitable distance 10 days ago on the Kenso, and once he hit the front, it was goodnight nurse as he purred away to an easy win at $2.60. Another Z Lloyd ride, very hard to beat in this as $1.90 fav.
Sky Lab is two runs in, needs to lift to figure as $23 outsider…
BET: SC 10 unit win, SL 2 units ew, exotics
Autumn Glow
Randwick R7
5:15pm
Is she the new Winx? We’re not prepared to back against her, outstanding mare resuming with a couple of decent trials under her belt, can’t see how she doesn’t win as $1.55 fav. Also Best Bet…
BET: 10 unit win
Gringotts
Randwick R8
5:50pm
Kiwi resuming, and has a big task beating Via Sistina. Excellent T&Ds and worth the EW punt at $3.80.
BET: 4 units ew
Foreign Press
Eagle Farm R2
2:33pm
Two wins from two this prep, she’s going well and looks hard to stop even though she steps up to the 1200m for the first time, $2.20 fav.
BET: 10 unit win
Tara Jasmine
Eagle Farm R4
3:33pm
Bit hit and miss but she powered home last time for third, so keep safe EW at $51… watch late!
BET: 3 units ew
Hayai Mesu
Morphettville R7
6:22pm
Another who can pop on occasion, but the one win from 38 suggest a small EW bet at $126…
BET: 2 units ew
Turbeau
Cairns R3
4:24pm
Two seconds have him knocking on the door for this, needs the firmer tracks and has won here, Wiggins has good record onboard, $2.70 fav.
BET: 8 unit win
Boldinho
Darwin R5
7:00pm
Won here when resuming then ran a close fifth. Looks like a race in three, all about the $3.50 mark…
BET: 6 unit win
Saloon Bar
Belmont R7
7:50pm
Resumes from a fifteen week lay-off, had been consistent without winning and has had one trial for this, might need the run, $7 on offer…
BET: 3 units ew
Desert Nymph
Belmont R8
8:20pm
Faded late over the 1300m in her last run, back to her preferred 1200m will help today (7:2-2-2). Other stats also top notch, so forgive that last run and keep safe at $15.
BET: 4 units ew
