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Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for January 18.
Australian thoroughbred Tab meetings are today held at Wyong, Pakenham, Ipswich, Stony Creek and Narrogin.
WYONG: RACE 5 @ 3:40 PM
COSTA SMERALDA (7) gave backers a bold sight when resuming here last start, only to fade late and finish fourth. Will have taken great benefit from the hit out and should prove mighty tough for her rivals to reel in this time. STAR DIESEL (5) returned in great order at Hawkesbury when digging deep to score by the barest of margins. Couldn't back it up last time when tackling a tougher task but was her own worst enemy, racing keenly throughout. Can turn things around third up and is a winning chance. EXTERNUS (3) showed great early toe when resuming at Gosford and kept finding late to hold off his challengers. Expect him to have improved with that run under his belt. Should be giving himself every chance again. DIAMOND LUCY (6) is ready to make her return after enjoying a successful time of it last time in. Appears to have come on during the break off the back of two handy trial performances. In the mix.
SELECTIONS: Costa Smeralda the one to beat.
As a FREE Racing and Sports offer, below is the Wyong Computer Card.
PAKENHAM: RACE 5 @ 7:45 PM
BRIER (1) has had two starts to date and run second in both, either side of a spell. Resumed at Yarra Valley and was beaten narrowly in a small field. Did start $1.20 there off a good Sale debut and expect he can go one better here. MAGIC DEFENSE (11) was good on debut at Mornington, finishing fourth of seven and not beaten far. Should improve off that and gets leading jockey on. RUBOLOGY (5) started favourite on debut at Wangaratta and ran well for second. Open to improvement and should be thereabouts. SUBSIX (6) resumes. Two runs last time in were sound, especially the first-up effort at Geelong. A repeat of that run would go a long way to winning this. SNICK (8) can run well fresh.
SELECTIONS: Brier to break through.
IPSWICH: RACE 4 @ 3:40 PM
ENVIABLE (7) found more like his best winning the CL3 at Gatton over a mile. Draws handy and Dolan goes on. He's in a top metro barn and can go on with it. ORIGINAL GLAZE (5) has been a touch plainer her last two but impressed all three prior and this looks winnable coming back in grade. Raced an equal favourite last time and will get every chance positioning forward from an inside gate. KERMANTIC (3) is good enough and can show more lifting to his preferred distance fourth-up. Keep very safe. ALERT AND READY (8) rates well off the 58 win at Kilcoy. Is on a quick back-up and is in light this grade with the 3kg claim atop. Can't be ruled out.
SELECTIONS: Going with Enviable.
STONY CREEK: RACE 5 @ 4:00 PM
GRAEWAZI (1) is getting together a handy record having raced just four times for two wins and two placings. Has plenty of weight to contend with which has been offset by the claim. Has more upside than many of these and should go close. ABADDON (2) wasn't that far away at the finish when resuming on home track at Mornington. Strips fitter and looks the toughest to beat. RUSSIAN SUMMER (4) returns after a break. Has been placed fresh previously and is worth keeping in mind here. MORE TO SEE (8) didn't run on as expected at Mornington last time. Strips fitter again and is worthy of some thought.
SELECTIONS: Back Graewazi to win.
NARROGIN: RACE 6 @ 5:00 PM
HIGHBOY (9) disappointed on the slow track at Mt Barker but missed a whisker here prior over this distance in a 52. Peaks now and keeps the handy 2kg claim. He can bounce back. FLOAT OUR BOAT (4) was narrowly beaten here in the same race as the favourite and then found the grade and longer trip at Ascot too much of a stretch. This suits a lot better and he has the early toe to clear the wide barrier. A chance if things go his way. RUNFORROB (10) also draws awkwardly but his effort here two back would see him competitive. SOUND THE CHARGE (2) won his Maiden here comfortably and can build on that.
SELECTIONS: Backing Highboy each way.
