Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Monday, July 27th.
Monday's racing consists of three meetings around Australia. Luke Krahe has focused on the racing at Pakenham Synthetic and Cessnock and you can find his preview and best bets below.
Horse Racing Tips: Monday, July 27th
Pakenham Synthetic Race 1- (Market)
(6) Takatoka has been to the races three times and placed at all three of those starts. He debuted at Pakenham at the back-end of the summer, was held-up before the straight then chased hard along the rails into second without ever looking the winner. He was sent to the paddock and resumed at Seymour on the soft track, was forced wide on the turn after settling mid-field, he ran on well into second again against the tempo in a race where it was favourable to be up on the speed. There have been two winners come through that race, he then had three weeks off before his latest. At Moe a fortnight ago, he was having his first go on a heavy track, again only beaten just over a length and sticks here at the mile today. This looks no harder, maps beautifully and Beau Mertens goes back on, he was in the saddle at his debut. He was a scratching from yesterday where I though he was a good thing, first go on the synthetic looks the only hurdle.
Pakenham Synthetic Race 2 - (Market)
(5) Lord Wonder is a debutant for the Enver Jusufovic stable, the son of Shocking has been given plenty of time with 5 jump-outs dating back to late 2019. The latest was at Cranbourne over 1200m, he jumped well and sat wide, the other three in the trial were pushed along a fair way from home. Lord Wonder ambled up and when asked the question, quickened nicely to win by more than a length in the end. I loved the way he attacked the line, a replay of that jump-out can be found here. His breeding probably suggests he will want a bit further, he meets a moderate bunch here on debut and is worth an each-way bet at the likely double figure odds.
(5) Lord Wonder E/W
$8.50
Pakenham Synthetic Race 4 - (Market)
We tipped up (4) Loving Gracie off some solid jump-out work before her debut here at the track just over two weeks ago. She was a big drifter in the betting that day and finished mid-field beaten just under three lengths. She officially gets a stable change and is now listed as having the Busuttin/Young stables as home. She was slowly away at her debut and settled a mile back, she got to the middle of the track and ran on well, making good ground late. I love the jockey change with Jye McNeil taking over, draws closer in and with a better getaway, expect her to settle a lot closer.
Cessnock Race 3 - (Market)
At the time of writing, we currently have a Heavy8, but with the rain that is pounding the eastern states Sunday I expect (and hope), it will only be a down grade and we still have racing at Cessnock. (2) Star Raider is one of the more interesting runners of the meeting, the Kris Lees trained son of Star Witness is resuming off a long break, He bolted in to win his maiden before placing at his only two runs out of that grade. He was beaten as a $1.40 chance in a Class 2 at Tamworth before going to the paddock, this looks a similar assignment. He was a recent trial winner on the inner track at Newcastle, although he probably doesn’t have the speed to lead these over 900m, he should just get the cart into it and be too strong late. He gets in well with the 4kg claim and has been gelded in his time off, I don’t expect that you will get black figures about him?
