WA racing this Saturday will make a rare appearance at Bunbury where it is Bunbury 3YO Classic Day. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (16:09) Gommes Shoes Maiden 1200m
3 Hillbert (Bet Now: $9.50) looks the safe way to go in the opener. Team Pearce trained four year old who resumed at Northam a couple of weeks back where he sat on speed and looked to give a decent enough kick but just tired late when third to Gifted Warrior. Should come right on from that, maps well and appears hard to beat.
16 New Age (Bet Now: $4.60) is a daughter of Street Sense on debut for the Durrant team. This girl has trialled four times overall but just once this prep, which came at Lark Hill on September 26 when running fourth, beaten four lengths, but looked to go about her business nicely. Pike staying on a good lead.
9 Infernal Star (Bet Now: $5.50) is the really interesting runner here. This bloke is a six year old having his first start for Vaughn Sigley so he’s clearly had his issues but must have shown the stable something to persevere. Looked very sharp in winning a Lark Hill trial, spacing his rivals and running quick time for the morning. Definite market watch.
Race 2. (16:50) Bank Of Queensland Handicap (72+) 2000m
1 Danehills Daughter (Bet Now: $2.80) has been one of the form stayers of WA racing in recent months and that should hold her in good stead here. She last ran in the Kalgoorlie Cup where she did her usual thing of getting back in the run before peeling out, getting the split and charging to the line late when second to Shinta Mani. Surely that’s good enough form for this.
9 Sonnen (Bet Now: $4.50) had been bursting to win a race for some time and it finally came his way when racing over 2100m at Belmont a fortnight back where he sat off the pace before Parnham gave him clear and he eventually wore down the tough nut Verdello Blue. Now he has a win on the board, he could potentially go on with it.
6 Someday One Day (Bet Now: $3.80) will appreciate the drop back in trip. He ran over 2300m in the Kalgoorlie Cup last time and like Danehills Daughter, just had to do too much work from the back, but this gelding did appear to have his chance and was tired late, so back to 2000m and back in grade should see him go close.
Race 3. (17:33) Western Meat Packers Handicap (1MW) 1400m
9 Action (Bet Now: $3.10) looks one of the best bets right across Australia. Very promising galloper for Team Williams who gave them a galloping lesson when debuting over 1300m at Belmont at the midweeks, sitting midfield before picking his way through the field and putting them away with ease. Has the upside/brilliance to my eye to take care of them.
4 Reveille (Bet Now: $4.50) was confidently backed when resuming over 1300m a fortnight back and on face value, she was fairly plain behind Cash On Call, but there was a clear excuse for the mare as she pulled up lame. The trial leading in and her form last prep were too good to ignore after one excusable effort.
7 On Trend (Bet Now: $18.00) comes through the same race that Reveille contested and he too was a total forgive given he was three wide no cover for the entire and dropped out after that hard run. Draws much better here, in fact to stalk the speed, and he did win his lone start at Bunbury, which is no disadvantage. Could be silly odds here.
Race 4. (18:08) South West Isuzu Handicap (1MW) 1675m
9 Kia Ora Star (Bet Now: $3.20) looks really well set up here to go close. Debuted with a strong win over 1200m at Belmont. Three weeks off, then ran over 1400m where he ran a gutsy second to the talented Prize Catch. Three weeks off, up to the mile here and there does appear to be good speed engaged. Ticks a lot of boxes for mine.
1 First Affair (Bet Now: $8.00) is a horse that is racing really well at the moment for the Adam Durrant team. He looked a little unlucky when racing over the Belmont mile a fortnight back where he was in the box seat and looked to travel well but just got slightly held up when wanting to get clear and I think if he did get the run at the right time, he would have gone close. Claim helps, hard fit and in form.
3 Toppa Dawozza (Bet Now: $15.00) is a stayer wanting a bit further but I didn’t mind his first up effort two weeks ago over 1300m at Belmont when fourth to Cash On Call. He had the suck run behind the speed and looked to go about it nicely but he just didn’t have the turn of foot to match it with them late. Wants further, but if they silly in front, he could be last man standing.
Race 5. (18?45) Stelsco Hire Handicap (1MW) 1200m
15 Vital Dancer (Bet Now: $4.20) will be hard to beat in whatever he runs in, keeping in mind he is also an emergency for the 3YO Classic. Kicked off his career with two runs in the Autumn and left an impression each time. Trialled last week at Lark Hill and broke the clock in winning by a space. He’s ready to go.
14 The Shoe (Bet Now: $6.50) is a talented son of Patronize that is first up for the Stephen Miller yard. This bloke ran twice during the Winter at Belmont, resuming with a third to Art Series before running fourth over 1400m. Tipped out and looked to trial really well to my eye behind the above average Cosmic Storm. Just has to overcome the sticky gate.
11 Forceful (Bet Now: $6.50) had really good market support when resuming over 1000m at Belmont last Wednesday but the Team Williams runner let the punters down as he struggled to pick up from off the pace when finishing fifth to Father Knick, who does go around in the 3YO Classic as a live threat, so that form looks okay and Pike does stick which is a good lead.
Race 6. (19:20) Hannagan Bassett Financial Services Handicap (78+) 1400m
Looks a race in two, but just siding with 11 Very Tempting (Bet Now: $9.00). Smart mare for Team Williams that resumes here after an outstanding Autumn, where she won the Oaks with dominance before backing up a week later and running a mighty second to Gatting in the Derby. Trials have been good enough and she does have a tidy first up record.
10 Final Salute (Bet Now: $2.90) is three weeks between runs for the Adam Durrant yard since resuming over 1300m at Belmont where he had the 1/1 sit throughout and despite taking a while to get there, he did and ran through the line with purpose, suggesting that the step up next start will be ideal and Pike chooses it over Very Tempting.
7 Settlers Creek (Bet Now: $23.00) bounced back to some kind of form a fortnight back over 1400m at Belmont. He sat back in a slowly run affair and this is a horse that needs tempo in front. Race shape was against him but he stuck on well behind Pinzu, who was luckless and poorly ridden last week, so the form should hold up okay here.
Race 7. (19:55) Tabtouch Bunbury 3YO Classic 1000m
9 Father Knick (Bet Now: $6.50) to continue the picket fence. He had a three week break prior to racing over 1000m at Belmont last Wednesday where he sat midfield in the run before bursting into the clear, showing an electric turn of foot and just holding on. Should improve big time off that and Pike takes over.
3 Epic Grey (Bet Now: $6.50) is an above average gelding for the Lindsey Smith who strung together a few impressive efforts during the middle part of the Winter, mainly over the short course at Belmont. Six weeks between, but given this is a $100k contest, he’ll be forward enough to go close.
11 Rubia Miss (Bet Now: $13.00) is the x factor for mine. Simon Miller traiend filly who hasn’t raced since mid June over 1300m at Belmont where she placed behind the talented Art Series. Really liked the way she trialled over 1000m at Belmont last Monday, run in good time, so she’s had a decent grounding to sprint well fresh.
Race 8. (20:30) Qube Ports & Bulk Handicap (72+) 1200m
Had she drawn a gate, I’d declare 11 Royal Star (Bet Now: $1.70). Still, she’s on top. Very good mare for Team Williams that is first up here after an Oaks campaign where she ran second to Very Tempting in the feature. Been given two solid 950m trials at Lark Hill to tune up and she does sprint well fresh.
6 Diablerie (Bet Now: $5.50) is the sprinter that is fit and in form for Bruce Watkins. He is three weeks between runs since racing over 1300m at Belmont where he had the charmed run behind the speed and presented as the winner but just couldn’t quite finish it off and ran second to Final Salute. Draws well and has the fitness edge.
3 Dendee (Bet Now: $23.00) is the big watch here. Very talented mare for Dan Morton who is a bomb when produced fresh. Had one run last prep, where she did nothing in the Beaufine but that race did have serious depth to it. Tipped out and looked to trial well at Belmont last Monday. Definite yard/market watch.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Six Number 11 Very Tempting
NEXT BEST: Race Three Number 9 Action
VALUE: Race One Number 3 Hillbert
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 11, 14, 15
Leg Two: 10, 11
Leg Three: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12
Leg Four: 1, 2, 3, 6, 11
$50 Investment= 27.77% of the dividend if successful
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