Australian Racing: Zouatica set to step up at Bathurst

There are eight meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday, including at Bathurst, where an eight-race card is full of intriguing contests.

They also race at Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour, Devonport, Halidon, Northam, Seymour and Sunshine Coast.

Race 8 Bathurst

Zouatica @ 5.00

Race 5 Seymour

Ultimate Kiss @ 8.00

Race 6 Northam

Lord Shiva @ 1.80

Zouatica backed for Bathurst success

The most valuable contest on the Bathurst card is the final race of the day, a 1300m Benchmark 85 handicap set to take place on a good 4 track.

Compelling Truth has been in great form in recent months registering victories in five of his last six starts. Those starts include a run of four consecutive victories that culminate in an impressive victory over 1000m on a good 4 track at Grafton in July.

A respectable fifth at Rosehill followed with the five-year-old returning to winning ways in a 1200m event at Doomben at the end of last month.

Mack Griffith’s sprinter has a good barrier here, however, he is unproven over this distance and preference is for ZOUATICA.

Trained by Barbara, Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones, the pick made the perfect start to 2024 when winning in impressive fashion in the 1425m Moruya Cup at Moruya in January.

The five-year-old was freshened following that effort and, while he failed to shine back at Moruya in early March, he took a step forward when runner-up at Goulburn next time.

A triumph over 1600m at Gosford and a good third in a metro Benchmark 78 handicap over 1800m when racing on the Randwick track at Kensington followed.

While the 5.00 selection’s last five wins have come on wet tracks, the son of Zoustar handles a sound surface.

The selection ended his last prep with a down the field finish in the 2000m Listed Lucas Road Sealing 2024 Wagga Wagga Gold Cup handicap over 2000m at Wagga in early May.

Nick Heywood’s mount boasts a good first up record of two wins and a second from three starts and he is taken to resume with a win.

Kiss to salute at Seymour

A soft 5 track is expected at Seymour, with the fifth race on the card a 1600m Benchmark 64 handicap.

Henry Dwyer’s Governor King broke his maiden on a soft 6 track at Ballarat in May and went on to place third in a Restricted 64 handicap at Swan Hill the following month.

The four-year-old doubled his tally in impressive fashion when putting seven-and-a-half-lengths between himself and his rivals in a 1746 Benchmark 64 handicap at Sale in July.

The gelding raced on a heavy 10 track that day and can be forgiven a seventh of eight when crossing the border for a metro event at Morphettville when last in action on 10th August.

While open to improvement on just his seventh career start, ULTIMATE KISS is the pick here, having won twice already this prep including at this venue.

That course success saw the 8.00 gelding come home three lengths clear of his rivals when contesting a 1200m Restricted 62 handicap at the start of July.

A triumph at Bendigo followed prior to registering two consecutive placed efforts including over 1412m in an Echuca Benchmark 70 handicap.

The son of Redente raced four wide when finishing last of 14 in a 1500m Benchmark 70 handicap held on a good 3 track at Sandown earlier this month.

The softer going expected here is in his favour and, with an inside barrier, he looks capable of providing apprentice Luke Cartwright with a winner.

Lord Shiva to dominate at Northam

The sixth race at Northam is an interesting Class 1 handicap set to take place over 1000m.

Adam Durrant’s LORD SHIVA broke his maiden over 1200m on a good 4 track at Bunbury in January and was spelled following two unplaced efforts at Ascot later that month.

The four-year-old trialled well ahead of his return to action, including when successful by three lengths in a 930m contest at Lark Hill.

The 1.80 gelding delivered a big effort first up this prep when beaten just under one-and-a-half-lengths in a 1000m Class 1 handicap at Belmont earlier this month.

The son of Playing God gets a drop down from metro level racing here and boasts a good barrier three from the rail.

Zephen Johnston-Porter takes three kilograms off the gelding’s back and the pair look up to registering a win together here.