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Albany Thursday 1/2/18
West Australian Racing
Gray
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RACE 1 IRON JACK MAIDEN 1:22 PM (1512M)
This looks the right race for FRANKLY SCARLETT to finally break through. Has had his share of chances and has been a little costly to follow, but he really should be winning this. Two runs this prep have been solid and he looks set to land in the slot from a low draw in this small field. FRANKLY SCARLETT on top. VITAL BOOM is another that has burned the punters on more than one occasion, but this is one of the more winnable assignments he has encountered. Comes back to maiden grade after a competitive Class 2 performance at Mt Barker and he must rate among the top two winning chances. MYARENAimproved at Mt Barker last time and if she holds form she'll be fighting out the finish again, while TEMPLAR'S CROSS is looking for this distance at this stage of his prep.Tips: 2-1-7-3
Suggested: 2. FRANKLY SCARLETT win.
2. FRANKLY SCARLETT
1. VITAL BOOM
7. MYARENA
3. TEMPLAR'S CROSS
RACE 2 XXXX GOLD HANDICAP 1:57 PM (1512M)
Small but competitive Ratings 58+ contest and we're pretty keen on free-wheeling front runner OUR BUDDY BOY, especially with quality senior rider Glenn Smith back in the saddle. Smith has been aboard the six-year-old seven times for three wins and we're confident OUR BUDDY BOY won't encounter the same early pressure that brought him undone last start, when made to fight for the lead by Desired View. If he's allowed to dictate terms it's going to be mighty hard to get over the top of him late. JESTER ROCK racked up back-to-back Albany wins before a very competitive performance in good company at Pinjarra last start, where he was unlucky not to finish a couple of lengths closer to boom galloper Missile Launch. Back on his home deck and JESTER ROCK is an obvious winning chance. Stablemate CHASING CHAOS is the class horse having two metro wins and over $200,000 in prizemoney in the bank, and he's more than capable of giving this a nudge. Can lead but will more than likely stalk OUR BUDDY BOY in running and he rarely rolls over, so we expect to see him fighting out the finish again, while the third of the Steve Wolfe runners COUNTERCAT put in his best effort for a while last start and could easily win this at his best, especially down on the 54kg limit.Tips: 3-2-1-8
Suggested: 3. OUR BUDDY BOY win.
3. OUR BUDDY BOY
2. JESTER ROCK
1. CHASING CHAOS
8. COUNTERCAT
RACE 3 GET THE TABTOUCH MAIDEN 2:37 PM (1240M)
Tricky 1240-metre maiden this one and without a huge amount of confidence we opted for the race experienced, fit and in-form DESERT THORN on top. Led at a very strong tempo when a $2.70 chance at Mt Barker last time and was well out of his comfort zone, so no surprise to see him fold up late. New rider Lucy Warwick will no doubt ride him a little more patiently from a nice low draw and Team Giadresco have been enjoying their time as regulars in the Great Southern this season. DESERT THORN looks the safest play. First-starter LEVONAS was huge after blowing the start at his first trial and followed up with a good enough trial win here on January 7. The pressure of raceday will obviously test out this fellow, but he appears to have a bit of raw ability and is worth including in the mix. SPORTHOUSE DREAM was sent out at big odds at her Mt Barker debut, however, she put in a big effort to race three-wide without cover the entire and still finish second. Very encouraging result there and the Scandal Lass formlines read well, while another first-starter VIC THE VILLAIN has shown enough at trials to warrant respect on debut.Tips: 1-2-7-3
Suggested: 1. DESERT THORN win (1) & place (3).
1. DESERT THORN
2. LEVONAS
7. SPORTHOUSE DREAM
3. VIC THE VILLAIN
RACE 4 AQUA ICE HANDICAP 3:15 PM (1240M)
Interesting Class 5 Handicap here and we're predicting a spike from talented mare UPTOWN FUNK at her second start for the Jon Jachmann stable. A multiple city winner when previously prepared by Justine Erkelens, this five-year-old has slid a long way down in the Handicapper Ratings and finds herself in the Great Southern as a lowly 63-rater. Caught the eye when powering through the line first up on January 13 and with that run under her belt, and the step up in distance, she looks set to give this a shake. Expect to see her a bit closer in the run than last time and if UPTOWN FUNK is within striking distance swinging for home, then she's going to take some holding out. FRIAR'S GIFT is the obvious horse to beat and likely favourite, having raced very well against strong opposition all campaign. Drawn to get the run of the race also, and has come to Albany and won with 59.5kg (giving subsequent city winner War Jeune a whooping) in the past. CAPTIVATED POINT has a bit of class about him and returned to winning form at Mt Barker last time. This appears a bit stronger and he did want to over-race with the blinkers on, but his best is pretty good and it wouldn't surprise to see him win either, while CHENGDU is racing as well as ever and must be considered. Managed to place after being three-deep punching at Bunbury last time and all his previous form is rock-solid.Tips: 3-1-2-4
Suggested: 3. UPTOWN FUNK win.
3. UPTOWN FUNK
1. FRIAR'S GIFT
2. CAPTIVATED POINT
4. CHENGDU
RACE 5 MMM FARM - FRESH BARN LAID EGGS HANDICAP 3:45 PM (1240M)
Another good contest here and we found it very difficult to split our top-three selections, eventually sticking with last-start Mt Barker winner JESTER FERRARI. Thought that performance was full of merit, as she was last early and had to burn fuel to improve her position mid-race, and when she was there to be beaten she managed to find that bit extra and hold on by a long head. Drawn to get the gun run in transit, so JESTER FERRARI should have plenty of fuel in the tank to launch late. COUNT KALA has more than his share of ability and was a little unlucky in the same race at Mt Barker, when getting involved in a bumping duel before going down by a neck. Glenn Smith going on is a tick and that was his first start since November 19, so that last run should bring his race-conditioning forward. MONGOLIAN WARLORD also comes through the same Mt Barker event and was also a bit stiff, running into major traffic issues pretty much the entire straight. Looks ready to peak third up, while EVERASREADY ran out of his skin behind JESTER FERRARI last start and the Peter Western stable is enjoying a major revival in the Great Southern this season.Tips: 6-1-4-7
Suggested: 6. JESTER FERRARI win (1) & place (3).
6. JESTER FERRARI
1. COUNT KALA
4. MONGOLIAN WARLORD
7. EVERASREADY
RACE 6 BP ROADHOUSE WILLIAMS HANDICAP 4:15 PM (1100M)
The competitive racing rolls on in the 'Open Sprint' with this being the last local lead-up to the $100,000 TABtouch-Fitzpatrick Plate (1230m) in Albany on Ladies' Day, Sunday February 11. This looks a good option for HOSTWIN PEGASUS, coming back to the Great Southern after a couple of luckless runs from high draws in town. Looks well placed back in this grade, especially over his pet distance of 1100 metres and although he'll drift back from another high draw, he should get the galloping room he requires, especially with the cutaway rail in play. On-pacer NATURALISTE is holding peak form and was only collared late in this grade on January 13. Should be able to park up on top of the speed and the way he's racing, he's going to give this a big shake. Bunbury mare BIG CAROLINE is thriving on these hit-and-run missions and will no doubt be strong through the line again. The low draw means she may drift back in traffic on the inside though, which is not the place to be when the movable rail's out in Albany, while competitive on-pacer MARCHAND wasn't far away in Ratings 66+ company in town last time, but does struggle to win these days. Has the services of in-form apprentice Brodie Kirby though and he's been booting home winners for fun in recent times.Tips: 6-5-4-2
Suggested: 6. HOSTWIN PEGASUS each way.
6. HOSTWIN PEGASUS
5. NATURALISTE
4. BIG CAROLINE
2. MARCHAND
RACE 7 KEVIN SHEEDY - ARC CALCUTTA FEB 10 HANDICAP 4:45 PM (1512M)
This looks a nice assignment for VINO BENETEAU, and we're expecting him to roll forward and give his supporters another good run for their money. Was dominant when leading throughout in a similar assignment two back, before leading and finishing fourth behind subsequent Ascot winner Mulga last start on January 13. Gives himself every chance by being capable of rolling forward and staying out of trouble, and VINO BENETEAU is going to take some catching. SAINT STEPHEN is more than capable of winning this at his best, but he can be a little unreliable when the money is on. This does look a suitable option though and his last run in midweek Ascot company was better than it reads on paper. ITS NOT TRADING is racing well for his new stable and comes through the same race as VINO BENETEAU when runner-up to Mulga. Not sure where he's going to land in running from the high draw, but with positive tactics he can be right in the firing line swinging for home, while we wouldn't be surprised to see sharp improvement from VONO at this stage of her campaign. Include her in all your exotic bets.Tips: 2-6-4-8
Suggested: 2. VINO BENETEAU win (1) & place (3).
2. VINO BENETEAU
6. SAINT STEPHEN
4. ITS NOT TRADING
8. VONO
RACE 8 TABTOUCH LADIES DAY FEB 11 HANDICAP 5:15 PM (1940M)
Really tricky middle-distance event to finish off and we eventually decided to roll with GAUGED. Has been in career-best form all campaign, with strong results around the likes of Our Buddy Boy, Prince Friar, Babble and Lord Kronos, and all that form stacks up pretty well against this line up. The Steve Wolfe-trained five-year-old made up a stack of ground to place last start and was originally a mile-plus galloper, so he should be ready to step up to the 1940 metres at this stage of his campaign. GAUGED looks a solid each-way play. SASSENACH was brave in defeat last start when covering ground in the three-wide line and getting rolled late by the in-form Prentice. Does race best when allowed to roll, so with similar positive tactics, he should be fighting out the finish again. GOLD INVADER should've finished much closer last start when being held up and losing momentum at a crucial stage. Wouldn't surprise us to see him go close to winning this, while STRIKING STAR was ordinary at Bunbury last Friday, but his best would see him winning and he has raced very well when visiting Albany in the past.Tips: 5-1-3-4
Suggested: 5. GAUGED each way.
5. GAUGED
1. SASSENACH
3. GOLD INVADER
4. STRIKING STAR .
Thunderstruck likes this post.
Craig Morrison selects:
CR1: VITAL BOOM – Frankly Scarlett – Myarena – Templar’s Cross (1 – 2 – 7 – 3)
CR2: OUR BUDDY BOY – Jester Rock – Blustery – Chasing Chaos (3 – 2 – 5 – 1)
CR3: SPORTHOUSE DREAM – Crafty Maddie – Desert Thorn – Deheune (7 – 5 – 1 – 6)
CR4: FRIAR’S GIFT – Captivated Point – Uptown Funk – Chengdu (1 – 2 – 3 – 4)
CR5: MONGOLIAN WARLORD – Count Kala – Jester Ferrari – Everasready (4 – 1 – 6 – 7)
CR6: NATURALISTE – Big Caroline – Hostwin Pegasus – Long Knife (5 – 4 – 6 – 1)
CR7: SAINT STEPHEN – Vino Beneteau – It’s Not Trading – Powercraft (6 – 2 – 4 – 1)
CR8: STRIKING STAR – Gauged – Toned – Sassenach (4 – 5 – 2 – 3)
.
Cam Newbold selects:
Race 1: Myarena, Vital Boom, Frankly Scarlett, Repentancy
Race 2: Jester Rock, Fulzip, Our Buddy Boy, Chasing Chaos
Race 3: Sportshouse Dream, Crafty Maddie, Vic The Villain, Levonas
Race 4: Uptown Funk, Captivated Point, Friar’s Gift, Dream Merger
Race 5: Count Kala, Jester Ferrari, Queen Tori, Everasready
Race 6: Naturaliste, Hostwin Pegasus, Marchand, Long Knife
Race 7: Saint Stephen, Its Not Trading, Vino Beneteau, Powercraft
Race 8: Sassenach, Ashalily, Toned, Gauged.
However perusing the finishes now with the advantage of being televised it's not much easier.
Fancy betting on a photo and you never even saw the race. Clown me.
yep, one of them here! On tv looked like the winner easy. Was fuming when declared a dead heat!