Form Analysis: Redcliffe Dec 21

RACE ONE

MOTU AMETHYST (1) has been a model of consistency in recent weeks, hitting the board at her past five in succession. Doing some early work before receiving cover at the 2040m last time, she has all the options and favours from the gate to capitalise.

BACK TO BETOOTA (8) was resuming from a spell for the new stable last start when striking trouble in the run and facing an embargo was banished to the trials. With some smart hit outs at the trials and a return to The Triangle, he can throw down the challenge second up.

TOR DELAGO (2) held the pocket trail last start and with the cosy trip in behind the speed found the space when needed to arrive. He has the early speed to be in the mix.

MISTER CAUTIOUS (9) returns from a spell off the back of a tidy trial when not asked for a great deal. Placed at his only appearance on this deck, he can chime in off the tough gate.

SELECTIONS: MOTU AMETHYST (1), BACK TO BETOOTA (8), TOR DELAGO (2), MISTER CAUTIOUS (9)
SUGGESTED BET: MOTU AMETHYST (1) to win

RACE TWO

SOULWRITER (2) claimed victory here five starts back when darting over from this same alley to take them all the way. Placed at her past three in succession, she faces the step up to the 2040m trip but from the gate can get across and gets her chance for a breakthrough.

MAJOR TRALEE (9) made the most of a good alley last start where he was able to burrow through to deny the early challengers and then dictate to hold off the closing challengers with a 4m margin. Runner-up two back at The Creek, he can overcome the gate to issue a challenge.

CIRCLE LINE (3) has been in nice touch of late, placing at his past five in succession despite having tough draws and being forced to work in his races. He might need to grind it out again here.

MYSTICAL JAZZ (6) overcame gate 5 last start when working home wide off the track to arrive for a 1m victory. Not too far away two back over the AP mile, she can be joining in.

SELECTIONS: SOULWRITER (2), MAJOR TRALEE (9), CIRCLE LINE (3), MYSTICAL JAZZ (6)
SUGGESTED BET: SOULWRITER (2) to win

RACE THREE

A ballot division of the Christmas Cup can see LILAC FLASH (6) bounce back into winning form. Just a step below the big FFA players, he backs up from Saturday night when 4^th behind BLACKSADANCE and his record here at the Peninsula is slick with 5 wins from 8 attempts. He can defy the gate.

BITCOIN (9) has faced some tough gates in recent outings, yet his efforts have been full of merit. Gate 10 was his undoing behind TARGARYEN last start and two back he was too far back as CAPTAIN NEMO dictated in front. He can challenge strongly in this.

MAJORDOIT (8) was forced to sit parked on Saturday night and despite the tough trip was still giving in the stretch when 8m astern of the winner. He can be joining in against this line up.

KANYE CRUSADER (3) had been crying out for a decent gate and two starts back when landing gate 3 took full advantage to lead throughout. He can fire out here to stake his claim.

SELECTIONS: LILAC FLASH (6), BITCOIN (9), MAJORDOIT (8), KANYE CRUSADER (3)
SUGGESTED BET: LILAC FLASH (6) to win

RACE FOUR

WINDY HILL WALLY (9) was chasing down a hat-trick of victories last start when faced with the outside front line alley. Making strong metres in the closing stages to grab the silver, a good tempo will help his chances of descending on them.

LA SAFRON (5) tackled a qualifier last start at headquarters where from gate 5 he was snagged off the arm and from deep in the pack against the poles never got into the contest. Just a half-neck away via the passing lane here two back, this is the type of race he can issue a challenge.

FAVREAU (2) settled three back on the poles last time out and was trying to make a closing raid but came up 8m short. With early hustle, he can look to take control from this gate.

MIDNIGHT SOMEWHERE (4) had the pocket trail last start and using the passing lane went within a half-neck of claiming the prize. He can be closing out but the 2040 is the query.

SELECTIONS: WINDY HILL WALLY (9), LA SAFRON (5), FAVREAU (2), MIDNIGHT SOMEWHERE (4)
SUGGESTED BET: WINDY HILL WALLY (9) to win

RACE FIVE

A super edition of the Redcliffe Christmas Cup has been assembled where a case could be made for many of the field. SUMOMENTSOMEWHERE (3) is a four-time winner on The Triangle that was strong to the line when resuming from a freshen last start for 2^nd to SOEXTRA. Tucking in handy to the action, he can arrive.

MANILA PLAYBOY (8) faces a big ask tackling this race first up from a spell but has been tightened at the trials with a pair of hit outs over the AP mile. Last seen in the 4YO Champs where he was 11m from SUMOMENTSOMEWHERE, he was luckless when striking trouble two back behind LADIES IN RED. With an excellent Redcliffe record, he can challenge.

SPEED DATING (1) has only had the one prior start on this deck, which was before she really charged through the grades. A beaten fav last start, she has all the favours from the ace to stalk the speed and has the early hustle to decide if or who to release to.

ANOTHER STATEMENT (4) settled in the pocket trail last start and with the perfect trip was able to dart through on the passing lane to score. Early position will be vital to his podium hopes.

SELECTIONS: SUMOMENTSOMEWHERE (3), MANILA PLAYBOY (8), SPEED DATING (1), ANOTHER STATEMENT (4)
SUGGESTED BET: SUMOMENTSOMEWHERE (3) to win

RACE SIX

AWAYOVERNIGHT (9) was able to do it from the front last start when sent forward from gate 4 and eventually pressing onto the front to see it out. A winner in three of six here and runner-up a further two times, he will need to be chasing this time, but the right tempo can see him arrive.

BERTILS FIREFOX (7) was runner-up to CHASIN DREAMZ here three starts back but served an ODM embargo after causing a false start. Faced with wide gates his past two, he is now back in the draw and set to follow a good beginner, can stalk the speed ready to issue a closing challenge.

HEAR THE CALL (1) was a first up winner three starts back when grafting out a tough win from gate 5. Beaten in red figures in both starts since, he secures the gate to take his chance.

MY ULTIMATE HESTON (8) started from the second line last week and was making late metres when 5m astern of the winner to hold 3^rd. He can be closing late again here.

SELECTIONS: AWAYOVERNIGHT (9), BERTILS FIREFOX (7), HEAR THE CALL (1), MY ULTIMATE HESTON (8)
SUGGESTED BET:  Exotics 1-7-8-9

 

RACE SEVEN
 

A tricky Trotters Christmas Cup where RIGONDEAUX (4) might have found his form at the right time. Closing best to take a 2m margin over the AP mobile mile two back, he held on for the bronze in Saturday’s Christmas Cup at HQ behind INDEFENSIBLE. With a safe getaway, he is up to the task.

HELLO JOLENE JOLENE (3) has been a frustrating follow in recent months, making errors and being put out of play in her races with gait breaks. A smart effort despite an error to grab 3^rd two starts back, she was clean last start and only a neck off victory. Manners are her biggest challenge.

KAR MANOR (7) was out of play last time when an error ended all his chances. Runner-up to RIGINDEAUX two starts back, if he can get the start sorted and handle The Triangle, he can chime in.

STRESS FACTOR (5) has failed to hit the board in 3 previous attempts here and his past two starts have been below his best. If able to return an effort like his run three back when 2^nd, he can feature.

SELECTIONS: RIGONDEAUX (4), HELLO JOLENE JOLENE (3), KAR MANOR (7), STRESS FACTOR (5)
SUGGESTED BET: RIGONDEAUX (4) to win

RACE EIGHT

JUKEBOX JET (8) has been without a victory in over 18 months, but his recent form suggests that the drought breaker is imminent. Strong to the line last start to be just a neck away from subsequent winner DARBY BRIGHTS, he can be tucked in behind ready to launch.

EASTBRO TEX (1) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last start when leading them into the stretch, seemingly with the race in the bag, only to be collared on the line. Placed in 6 of 9 on this deck, he has the gate to set the tempo and will be gripping on again.

WEASEL (2) was not too far away last start behind AWAYOVERNIGHT after settling in the running line. Grabbing 3^rd when 6m from LORD DENZEL two back, he is right in the mix here.

EAGLES RESPONSE (5) eased from gate 6 last start to settle near the rear and was strong to the line in the latter stages when just a neck from the winner. In this line up, she can swoop late.

SELECTIONS: JUKEBOX JET (8), EASTBRO TEX (1), WEASEL (2), EAGLES RESPONSE (5)
SUGGESTED BET: JUKEBOX JET (8) to win

RACE NINE

THE TAX CULLECTOR (4) has been out of the money in two runs back from a spell, but they have been in strong 2YO contests where the gate and tempo have been against him. Chasing home as CHEER LEADER put it out of reach last start, he should appreciate this opposition.

MISTER DOMINGO (7) was runner-up to the talented BORELLA when returning from a spell two starts back and second up the run was full of merit when doing plenty of work in the run for the silver as ALTA MAGACIAN arrived off a cosy trip. With second line options, he can throw it down.

YOGI (1) resumed from a spell here last week and was well supported from gate 3 where he pressed on to the front and as able to see it out with a 2m margin to spare. Fitter for that run, he has the gate to challenge.

EXCITING TIMES (5) was staring down a quartet of wins to remain undefeated last time out when she held 3^rd behind the smart CHEER LEADER. The wide gate dents her chances here.

SELECTIONS: THE TAX CULLECTOR (4), MISTER DOMINGO (7), YOGI (1), EXCITING TIMES (5)
SUGGESTED BET: THE TAX CULLECTOR (4) to win

RACE TEN

Despite just the small field, this shapes as a great Redcliffe Guineas where WE ALWAYS HAVE FAITH (2) comes up with some early options to drop in behind the speed, press forward for the front, or stay in the running line. Too smart in front two starts back over the AP 2138m, he can capitalise.

AWAYWEGO (6) tackled the Members Cup last start and from gate 6 eased across into the running line but could not go on with it. Chasing a hat-trick of wins leading into that contest, he nailed FUTURE ASSURED in the stretch two starts back and although the gate stings, tempo will be his friend.

MISTY CREEK (4) was making some nice metres in the closing stages of the Members Cup last start to grab the bronze behind CONGO LINE. Collared in the last strides by AWAYWEGO two starts back, he has a super record on this track.

SELECTIONS: WE ALWAYS HAVE FAITH (2), AWAYWEGO (6), MISTY CREEK (4)
SUGGESTED BET: WE ALWAYS HAVE FAITH (2) to win

RACE ELEVEN

OLLIE ONE SHOT (4) has finished as the runner-up in two of his three career starts and looks to have equal parts ability and wayward tendencies. Beaten a head last start after setting in front and getting keen, he finds another chance to open the account.

TIN AMBER MINE (5) steps up against the older horses again off the back of a tidy 2^nd to the smart looking KHULAN KID in a 2YO maiden last start. Snagged to the rear two back, he can find position to issue a challenge.

BLACK GEMSTONE (1) settled in the 1x1 trail last start when working home soundly to finish just out of the money behind AGENT STARLING. Form the gate, she gets a chance to finish on the podium.

JAKKI MUN (7) is a 2YO Changeover gelding on debut for Darren Weeks that ranks as a half to the multiple winners Suzukee and Suki Dayo. With a tidy preparatory trial, he will be probing for gaps.

SELECTIONS: OLLIE ONE SHOT (4), TIN AMBER MINE (5), BLACK GEMSTONE (1), JAKKI MUN (7)
SUGGESTED BET: OLLIE ONE SHOT (4) to win