Pinjarra Preview, 12th January

We head to the country to give Ascot a well earned rest. This will also be a shorter and more concise preview (thank god the crowd screams). Roughies galore, forgive me.

Race 1 - No Idea

None of these two year olds have wowed me enough at the trials to tip against Rubic Rose. Little bit worried from barrier six that one or two of these might have the toe to keep it out wider, but on exposed form should be winning again.

Selections

Rubic Rose
Eye Of The Day
Angel Jupiter
Arion Lass

Suggested Bet: No bet.

 

Race 2 - Wellllll……

The Big Show has panels on these. The worry is clearly the scratching a week ago with soundness issues. No concerns with him carrying the weight, especially with heavyweight superstar Mitch Pateman engaged.

American Joy will stalk him and look for a weakness while Collaborate and Eliza’s Dream could mount light weight cases. Press The Petal is in career best form but not drawn to get the soft run required. Not Again Ken…. Please no.

Selections

The Big Show
American Joy
Press The Petal
Collaborate

Suggested Bet: No bet.

 

Race 3 - Death And Taxes

Excise Free looks the best bet on this card by the length of the Flemington straight. Opened up $3.50 with Tabtouch by somebody who clearly had a few mates on the outside he suggested to hop on early. Well done lads.

The Finest was a huge effort on debut in Saturday three year old company (the same bloke put up $81 early. The boys will be happy) while the likes of Nemiroff and Smart Fox have that invaluable straight race experience.

Essential Spice is the potential blowout, it is smart. Anything above even money for Excise Free is a good bet. Won’t leave the outside rail.

Selections

Excise Free
Essential Spice
The Finest
Nemiroff

Suggested Bet: 100 wins Excise Free (2).

 

Race 4 - First Up, Straight Up

We head down the straight for the second of three very bendless events. Market Ruler is the horse everybody will be climbing over to back at the shorts, but I am happy declaring it a $5 chance. Would not take evens with stolen money.

Seeker is a horse we’ve all had some tough times with, but has predictably in retrospect. 3 from 4 first up and 2 from 4 down the straight. Has been tuned up with a soft trial at Bunbury and it is no coincidence the Luciani yard has found a straight 1000m race to kick off his campaign.

Candlelight Star had ugly things done to it by William Pike last time out and doesn’t appeal to me as a straight horse. Speeding Comet and Sharpbob are Pinjarra 1000m horses and to see either win at $15 & $26 respectively would not surprise.

Stick to the straight specialists. Oldest rule in the book. $8.50 Seeker with a saver Sharpbob $26 (probably more on the day).

Selections

Seeker
Sharpbob
Speeding Comet
Patapus

Suggested Bet: 50 wins and 50 places Seeker (5).

 

Race 5 - Next Stop, Stirling

This is a race which would give you a soft headache, which would quickly develop into a full grown migraine the more you looked.

Shackleton looks the obvious winner on paper. I’m still a little weary from Shaun opting to pull the whip on Shackelton a week ago when he had 3 horses in front of him. I’d love to see some guile and ride for a gap before asking your horse to jump other animals. But that’s just me.

My worry is how a horse handles the straight. I can’t take the $2.60 about him when it’s his debut down the famed Pinjarra chute. I’m going to cast my very bias eye down the bottom of the page and suggest a little play on the James Grieve trained Stirling Estate.

Placed at 9 of 14 down the straight with a first up card which doesn’t quite do him justice. Is no world beater, but has drawn the perfect gate to hold the outside rail which is worth lengths at our favourite country track. You could make a case for the majority of the rest of the field, but I won’t bother. Royalic is one to save on at $18.

Stirling Estate at near $30 each way. Giddyup.

Selections

Stirling Estate
Shackleton
Royalic
My Demi

Suggested Bet: 20 wins and 50 places Stirling Estate (16).

 

Race 6 - Let There Be Bend

Finally a race with a corner.

I’d narrowed this down to three main chances before odds were released and I’ve been dictated on selection by those numbers.

One Short and Truly Belong have the right runs and form on the board to play a massive part here. Neither are world beaters, but are both drawn to run the race required to win a very mediocre 66+ event. At $4-5 a pop I lack interest.

My third main man, the old fella Danefin ticks 8 out of 10 boxes. His three runs this campaign have all been huge, with two of them being barrier orientated in regards to taking a sit. From barrier 1, he should be able to hold a spot in the first 5 in an event which doesn’t appear to have a heap of speed. If able to repeat his effort on a leader bias day behind Avidus, he will take a stack of beating late.

$14 each way for a horse who ‘they’ love to back. Give me some.

Selections

Danefin
Truly Belong
One Short
Bella’s Idol

Suggested Bet: 40 wins and 40 places Danefin (13).

 

Race 7 - Speed Three

Wrinkly, My Greek Boy and Corporate Larrikin all in the one field. They won’t go slowly.

Initially I felt this would be a race to suit Wrinkly down to the ground, but I can’t see Tayla Stone having any thoughts of handing up on the Larrikin from 1. Makes it tough. Vital Silver is the horse in form but faces a massive class rise and most certainly will not be able to lead and dominate this event as he has been doing. Still, could be far too classy if the whispers are to be believed. I’m not in a mood to believe whispers or back $3 pops up in grade.

Zuccheros is my man. Forget all runs below 1400m. They are complete warm ups. This a horse who excels at the ripe old age of 9 at the 1400m journey. I would usually be extremely sceptical about backing a young apprentice on a sit and sprinter, but watching Jade McNaught recently at country venues, I have not seen an apprentice make bigger strides. She is riding with really good vigour. Winning this event with fellow sit and sprinters Red Army and Western Temple may be a stretch, but at nearly $9 a place I think she’s worth a spec. Probably close to $50 on the exchange on the day.

Selections

Zuccheros
Red Army
Western Temple
Vital Silver

Suggested Bet: 10 wins and 40 places Zuccheros (9).

 

Race 8 - It’s A Risk a

Witty race name. Feel choiceless but to tip Sariska here. A fortnight ago I had her on top when Lucy didn’t find a run in a very congested straight. The Geraldton maestro Troy Turner takes the mount and should settle midfield at her favourite track. Not a huge amount of depth to this field, but a reasonable amount of top end speed should allow her to finish over the top of these.

Paddy’s Shadow and Sally’s Realm are two talented animals who will appreciate this grade and the top end speed provided. Think Paddy’s Shadow will find itself 3 or 4 back the pegs, while Sally’s Realm will be in the 3 wide moving line, which I suggest will be the place to be. Eyes on Peppijack resuming.

$6 each way Sariska. That’ll do me.

Selections

Sariska
Sally’s Realm
Distant Trilogy
Fine Scent

Suggested Bet: 30 wins and 30 places Sariska (15).