3 minute read

We head north to Gawler this Saturday with a proper off-season meeting on the cards.

An incredibly tricky meeting at Gawler, with open fields and most races presenting as incredibly even from ratings.

The race I'm keenest to bet into on the day is Race 5, a fairly nondescript Bm72 but one that may provide some value if a couple of horses can run up to their best.

Jaamint looks one of them. He pulled up lame when not far away two back in a high rating race behind Aiguilette at $7.50 and simply wasn't suited dropping back to 1200m last week when beaten for speed.

Now he comes here on the quick backup, out to 1500m (a distance he's three from four at) and looks well placed to improve. A peak rating of 92 with Timeform less than a month ago reads well, beating the race favourite Cashin' Chex fair and square, and whilst there is a small weight swing, he's nearly 3x the favourite's price.

Tongsai Boss is the other one in the race that makes some appeal. He'd been struggling for form, although an improved run at Mildura after a freshen up did suggest he might be back on track, and his run behind Aiguilette was very good, putting him a stone's throw away from his best career ratings.

He should get a nice blending run midfield from the gate and ideally Holder attempts to keep young Ben Price on Cashin' Chex held in as long as possible, even more ideally while Jaamint is off and gone.

The other race I can make a case for one at a price is Race 8, with topweight Midnight Storm perhaps a better chance than his double figure price would suggest.

Just fair first up, he improved nicely last start in a good race behind Sacred Palace, posting a figure that makes him hard to beat, even at the weights. He won third up last time in and his one go here at Gawler was his equal peak rating. If he can produce somewhere near that again, he'll take beating.

SAY FROM SA:

Play of the day: Race 5 #2 Jaamint @ $13 & #3 Tongsai Boss @ $9

Also backing: Race 8 #1 Midnight Storm @ $10/3.25