Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for August 09.
Australian thoroughbred TAB meetings are today held at Tuncurry, Canberra, Geelong , Ipswich and Mount Gambier.
TUNCURRY: RACE 2 @ 12:35 PM
UNCUT GEM (10) returned in good order with a fast finishing third over 1250m at Kempsey on July 30. Handles all conditions and should get the right tempo with the 2kg claim. Fitter now and expected to go close. WELCOME BACK (11) drops in trip after backing up quickly when a plugging fifth over 1400m at Coffs Harbour on August 2. This looks easier from the inside gate with Grima's 3kg claim. Rates highly. QUIET APPROACH (3) had been racing well prior to drifting back and failing to get into the contest when seventh over 1250m at Taree on July 23. Better than latest and can turn it around today. ROCK ARE STEINER (4) fitter after two runs back and improvement expected after finishing fifth over 1250m at Taree on July 23. Can run into the minor money.
SELECTIONS: Uncut Gem to win.
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CANBERRA ACTON: RACE 1 @ 12:56 PM
Sydney-trained SIR MAURICE (2) wins this at best and will have benefitted from the first-up placing at Queanbeyan. His provincial form reads well and he can go on with it now. Gary Portelli trained a double here at the last meeting and this fellow can add to the record. Stablemate BUBBLE TEA (7) found the $1.45 favourite Weeping Woman 8L too good here on debut but covered the others. She's sure to have come on and can sit handier today. SOOBY ROSE (5) resumed at the Sapphire Coast in solid order. Krogh is a positive jockey switch replacing the 3kg apprentice. She a hope with the extra fitness. VELLA ICON (6) missed a whisker here three back but her efforts at the track since have been less convincing. Draws well and no surprise to see her back in the finish. FLASHY ICON (1) resumes and showed enough on debut to keep safe.
SELECTIONS: Sir Maurice appeals most.
GEELONG: RACE 9 @ 4:20 PM
BOGA LEGEND (4) rates highly off his last start at Caulfield in a 3yo handicap when third, beaten a neck over 2000m. That form should hold up nicely back to a 0-64 and he maps to stalk the speed from the inside gate. Hard to beat. SETTAT (6) should be ready to fire third up and can improve. Drawn awkwardly but has some upside and is in the mix. BOLSHOI PRINCESS (14) is also third up coming off a solid third placing at Bendigo. Maps for a good run on speed and should give a sight. CLEITUS (5) is racing very well and with any luck getting across from the wide gate will go close.
SELECTIONS: Boga Legend to win.
IPSWICH: RACE 6 @ 2:34 PM
SHOT OF WHISKEY (1) seeks the hat-trick off a heavily-bet CL2 win at the Sunshine Coast. He should be better again and will use an inside barrier. He rates to go on with the job. THE LUCKY ALIEN (3) was plain at Dalby but the form here each side of that would see him right in it. The extra metres are a niggle but he will run along from the rails gate and Orman sticking aboard is a lead. The blinkers come off BAUHINIA ROCK (2) and expect him to go a lot better. He's won a Doomben trial since last seen and Maloney is a key jockey switch. NEW JOY (6) resumes from a soft draw and has a couple of pieces of form that would give her a chance.
SELECTIONS: Sticking with Shot Of Whiskey.
MT GAMBIER: RACE 3 @ 2:15 PM
HEIDI HEIDI HO (4) resumes for the Doudle camp and looks to have come back in great order on the back of a nice Morphettville trial. Was thrown in the deep end at her last start when tackling the LR HC Nitschke Stakes. Faces nothing of the sort this time and gets in well at the weights with Taylor Johnstone claiming 2kgs. Leading player. NANKEEN (1) returns. Was last seen shedding her maiden tag with authority at Naracoorte in February. Tougher this time but he's a likely improver. Smaller cases can be made for resuming mare ZALINI (8) and GOPHER FRANK (2).
SELECTIONS: Siding with Heidi Heidi Ho to get the verdict.