WINNO'S WINNERS: GOLD COAST, JANUARY 6, 2024

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, January 4, 2024

GOLD COAST RACES – SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2024

Happy New Year – 2024 – the first metro meeting for the new year and we are at the wonderful new Gold Coast track where the track is rated ‘slow’ and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

This is only the second time we have raced on the new turf track here. I expect that the track may play a little leaderish – so I have focussed on runners that should be handy – happy to be proven wrong as the day unfolds.

A shout out to all those on the Gold Coast who have been without power and endured the terrible weather since Boxing Day. Hopefully they have their power restored by the weekend and will continue to clean up the mess that the recent storms have caused.

Time to look at the program.

NB: As these selections were made prior to race-day, please check for any changes to track conditions and for any scratchings on the day.

Race 1

A BM78 over 2000 metres.

These long-distance races are always hard to assess.

I like the NSW visitor Youthful (16) down in the weights and drawn nicely to cause an upset here at around $17.

Trained by Brad Widdup and ridden by the South African jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven. He likes wet tracks. He was tested over 2400 metres last time out – he didn’t see the trip out at Randwick. Back in distance here and ridden close to the speed, look for a bold improvement.

Carbonetti (6) is trained by Chris Waller and Jimmy Orman will ride – these two have a superb strike rate when they combine. He is third up from a spell and looks ready to show some good form. I expect stepping up to the longer distance he will be competitive in this race.

Iowa (3) Is trained by Annabel Neasham – with Jamie Kah to ride. Could just set up in front and run them into the ground. Keep safe.

Contrition (10) is the best wet weather track runner in the field and should not be overlooked at a huge price.

Selections:

16 – Youthful
6 – Carbonetti
3 – Iowa
10 – Contrition
Rough chance – (12) Sir Lord & (7) Clyde

Race 2 AQUIS GOLD NUGGET

Two-year-old race for the boys – many of these will be looking to win the race to qualify for the feature event next weekend, the 2024 MAGIC MILLIONS. Only a small field of six here.

Spywire (2) is trained by Maher & Eustace. Was sent out as a short-priced favourite in the Wyong Magic Millions and was rundown late. Craig Williams has been booked to ride. I expect that he will have benefited from the run at Wyong and will be extremely hard to beat here.

Stuart Kendrick trained Defiant Boom (3) was excellent on debut and will be better for the run.

Beau Dazzler (1) is a last start winner of the Sears Racing team and must be considered.

Selections:

2 – Spywire
3 – Defiant Boom
1 – Beau Dazzler
4 – Balastier

Race 3 AQUIS GOLD PEARL

Two-year-old race for the girls. Nine runners here.

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy team have brought one north – Arabian Summer (1). Harry Coffey will ride. A last start winner in the Ballarat Millions. A three week freshen up – the only thing I can see beating her is the track conditions.

Tony Gollan Racing has a debutant racing here – Moulin Miss (8) who won a recent barrier trial. Angela Jones will retain the ride here. On the barrier trial win she will be right in this race.

Selections:

1 – Arabian Summer
8 – Moulin Miss
3 – Mishani Ego
6 – Mishani Crown

Race 4 MAGIC MILLIONS MAIDEN PLATE

This race is a maiden 1100 metres – the winner receives $147,450 – not bad prize money!

I like the Bjorn Baker trained Bonita Queen (7) who is first up here. Tim Clark will ride. She has had two solid barrier trials in preparation for this first up effort. She won the last barrier trial in good fashion. She has drawn barrier ten which is probably a little bit of a concern as she normally likes to run on the speed or lead.

Assemble (6) is trained by Chris Waller Racing and will be written by Jimmy Orman. She is second up here for this stable. It has solid form on wet tracks. The 1250 metre race at Canterbury was probably beyond her first up. Dropping back to a shorter distance, and drawn well, she appeals to me.

Barassi (1) is trained by Edmunds racing here on the track. Was smashed in the betting on debut in a Class 1 race at Doomben. On that occasion he led all the way and tired late. He would have benefited from that run and expect a bold showing here. He does have the added advantage of drawing barrier one and should be able to pop out and lead with Ryan Maloney in the saddle.

Payline (4) is trained by Munce Racing. He is third up this preparation with Robbie Dolan to ride again. In his two previous starts he ran second and will be competitive here.

Selections:

7 – Bonita Queen
6 – Assemble
1 – Barassi
4 – Payline
Rough chances – (12) Pure Paradise & (11) Lizzie’s Gem

Race 5

This race is over 1200 metres for the three-year-olds.

Gollan Racing has a last start winner here facing the starter – Certainlycan (9) with Tim Clark riding. Has drawn wide in barrier 17, but she normally bursts out of the gates and goes forward. She has the services of the best front riding jockey in Australia and should be difficult to run down.

Steven O’Dea & Matt Hoysted train Town Crier (8) with Cejay Graham to ride. Is third up here – had no luck last time out at Eagle Farm – look for a sharp improvement.

Betterletmedance (13) is trained by David Vandyke. Craig Williams is aboard from barrier 16. Was unlucky last start – hampered in the straight – protested the eventual winner – but never got the chocolates.

Jukebox in Siberia (16) and Bernice’s Spirit (17) are genuine rough chances that could show up and nice odds.

Selections:

9 – Certainlycan
8 – Town Crier
13 – Betterletmedance
16 – Jukebox In Siberia
Rough chance – (17) Bernice’s Spirit

Race 6

First leg of the Quaddie – this is another maiden race over 1400 metres – the winner here gets $142,400 in prizemoney.

Dimitrov (2) has the blinkers going on for the first time here. Trained by John O’Shea and Craig Williams will ride. Unlucky with the barrier draw getting barrier 15. Resumed on a heavy track at Warwick Farm and put in a solid effort. Has been refreshed since then and should be right in this race.

Wymark (11) is trained by Mitchell Freedman and Jamie Kah is up. Hard to win from barrier 20 – but this one just looks well placed in this race on his first up effort at Hawkesbury over 1300 metres – he draws a barrier I think he just wins this race.

Nicconium (6) is from the Annabel Neasham Racing yards – the blinkers go back on. Damien Thornton will ride third up. Maybe some improvement with the gear change.

Pasima (7) is from the Maher & Eustace stables. Has not raced for a month. The freshen up and his recent form must be respected – Ryan Maloney will ride.

Vanquished (10) is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. He loves to jump and run – he may get the perfect conditions to lead here, and he does have solid form on wet ground. Tim Clark will ride.

Selections:

2 – Dimitrov
11 – Wymark
6 – Nicconium
7 – Pasima
Rough chances – (10) Vanquished & (17) Sea Of Lights

Race 7 TAB WAVE

First leg of the Treble. A distance race over 1800 metres for the three and four-year-olds.

Tony Gollan trains Madame Odette (10) who was a last start winner over this distance. Ben Thompson retains the ride. She has drawn well and should be well placed in the running.

Zoe’s Promise (13) is trained by Kris Lees – was run down late over the mile at Gosford last time out. She has a habit of leading and being hard to get past. Tim Clark will ride her – she has drawn well in barrier 5 and should be handy throughout.

The Vowels (1) is trained on the track by Edmonds Racing. The blinkers go on this weekend for the first time. Jimmy Orman has been booked to ride the mare. She generally gets back in her races and will need some luck late to get reel in the leaders.

Sacred Mission (4) looks like she will get the distance. Has been solid in her recent starts for trainer David Vandyke. She will be ridden by Ryan Maloney, and she does like a wet track.

Selections:

10 – Madame Odette
13 – Zoe’s Promise
1 – The Vowels
4 – Sacred Mission
Rough chances – (5) Ain’t He Grand

Race 8 The Magic Millions Rising Star

Open field here over 1300 metres at Class 4 level.

Maid to Fit (4) is a Kelly Schweida runner with Jimmy Orman aboard. She has been racing consistently. She is proven on wet tracks as well. Drawn well and will be racing on the speed – she ticks a few boxes and has plenty of ability.

Tsarina Sophia (9) is trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou with Damien Thornton riding. She is fourth up here. Likes a wet track and has solid form over this distance. She is good each way odds.

Sunset Dreaming (15) is probably a topical tip after the last ten days of rubbish weather in QLD – we probably need plenty of sunshine to dry the place up! This filly is from the McEvoy team – Harry Coffey will ride. She unfortunately has drawn wide in barrier 16. Her last start win at Ballarat was impressive on a wet track. Before this win she raced in a Group 2 race at Caulfield and had performed well. Based on that effort alone she should be right in this race.

Mission Of Love (13) gets back in her races – that may not be advantageous if the track plays leaderish. She may still fill a place.

Fairway Star (2) is trained by Bjorn Baker and Joshua Parr will ride. She is a last start winner and should not be overlooked.

Chilly Filly (17) is trained by Kris Lees and Tim Clark is aboard. She won after a few issues at the start and in the running at Randwick over 1200 metres last time out. She has two career wins – both on soft tracks. She has a perfect draw in barrier 2 and should be handy throughout.

Selections:

4 – Maid To Fit
9 – Tsarina Sophia
17 – Chilly Filly
15 – Sunset Dreaming
Rough chance – (13) Mission Of Love & (2) Fairway Star

Race 9 Magic Millions Rising Star

Race over 1300 metres at Class 4 – this time for the boys.

Snowden Racing have two up and comers in the race. The King (16), a last start winner at Wyong, has been supported and is the pre post favourite with Mark Zahra in the saddle. He has drawn well and will race handy.

The stable mate is Lavish Empire (13) who ran a solid second last time out on a heavy track with a huge weight. Joshua Parr will ride him. He has drawn well in barrier 3 as well and looks well placed.

Tony Gollan Racing has Daytona (11) and Warby (8) engaged. Daytona (11) was doing his best work late in his last start at Eagle Farm over 1200 metres – the extra distance will suit and Damien Thornton will ride.

Warby (8) gets back in his races – however, has a solid finishing sprint. Robbie Dolan will ride. He will need some luck in the straight – but, if they are making ground and winning, he is a solid chance.

I like Sha Of Gomer (5) from the Chris Waller Racing team. Had no luck in the straight last time out and could not get clear at any stage and still managed to flash home late. Jimmy Orman retains the ride, and this runner is amazing each way value at $15. He has drawn poorly in barrier 20 – just may need some luck.

Deep Respect (18) is on the quick back up after racing last weekend in the race won by Cifrado. I think that race form will be solid moving forward. Kelly Schweida would not back him up unless he has done well. He has drawn good in barrier 5 and Harry Coffey has been booked to ride. This one could be a massive knockout chance to win at good odds - $12.

Selections:

5 – Sha Of Gomer
11 – Daytona
18 – Deep Respect
13 – Lavish Empire
Rough chance – (16) The King & (8) Warby

All roads lead to the Gold Coast next weekend for the 2024 MAGIC MILLIONS – see you all there!
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Jockeys Challenge

Looks like an open battle with Jimmy Orman, Craig Williams, Tim Clark, and Harry Coffey all having a solid books of rides. Jimmy Orman to get the chocolates – maybe a sly saver on Harry Coffey.

Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

1,2,3 / 1,8 / 1,6,7 / 8,9,13,16 - cost is $72 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 2 to 5)

2 / 1 / 6,7 / 8,9 - cost is $4 to $1.

Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,6,7,10,11 / 1,4,10,13 / 4,9,15,17 / 5,11,13,16,18 - cost is $400 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 6 to 9)

2,6,11 / 10,13 / 4,9,17 /5,11,18 - cost is $54 to $1

Treble (races 7 to 9)

1,4,10,13 / 4,9,15,17 / 5,11,13,16,18 - cost is $80 to $1.

WINNO V FLEMO

The battle continues with WINNO and FLEMO. Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings where I will post our selections and any late mail!

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