We got an upgrade to a Good 3 after race 1 last week and many reports say the track was extremely hard. Not ideal. Surely there will be a stack of water put on this week to stop similar happening. Rail goes to 8m so no big change from last week. Did like last weeks meeting and found a few winners, not so keen on this meeting.
UPDATE– 10ml put on the track overnight so expecting this to have the juice in it for a bit longer today. As we have been told it’s a very thirsty track. Also this has been knocked about by scratchings and not many bets for me on the day.
*Preview will be updated after 9am Saturday*
RACE 1: *
This is actually embarrassing to the state, what a horrible open handicap. Of the 9 runners, 7 finished in the second half of the field in their previous runs.
It’s amazing that one of these are going to have to win. Leave me right out of this.
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RACE 2: *
Nearly land on KARAJA by default here but she has a couple of things against her. She was good last start winning a similar race but she jumps 4kg and draws poorly, they are big enough queries for me to stay out.
The Syd form of INTREPIDACIOUS (SCRATCHED) looks better than the locals but I do have a question the last 50m on the big track over this trip. Will need a very patient ride and don’t feel they can afford to go early.
* KARAJA on top by default but happy to not bet.
On Top: 8-INTREPIDACIOUS (SCRATCHED)
Next Best: 1-KARAJA
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RACE 3: * *
A race where you can make a case for most of the field and a lot of different formlines to get your head around.
MANAYA (races in race 4 I think) goes on top, she is the class runner and the booking of Murray in the Ramornie and the tactics to go back to last and swing the widest were not good. Better gate, drop in grade as well as a better surface (Grafton was worse than a 5) and she can improve sharply.
CHURNING (Probably runs in race 9) won last start beating the quinella from the last race last Saturday, the form is very good and she gets in with the feather weight, just needs a good ride from the awkward gate.
On Top: Buggers me, the two i thought would win have gone elsewhere! Smart stables so that might be a steer and I might be wrong.
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RACE 4: * * *
And we thought the 1800m Open handicap was bad and full of horses out of form…….. Same, same but different here. Just make it 1400m.
11 runners, only 2 have finished in the placings from their last two runs… WOW
MANAYA is good on her day, the booking of Murray in the Ramornie and the tactics to go back to last and swing the widest were not good. Better gate, drop in grade as well as a better surface (Grafton was worse than a 5) and she can improve sharply.
No speed here at all and BEL BURGESS should be the leader. He was brave after being up on a hot tempo last start and good again before that. Looks really well suited here and can be very hard to catch.
*Could back both depending on prices.
On Top: 5-MANAYA $3 ++ 6-BEL BURGESS $7.50
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RACE 5: * *
BORAZON has raced and won in better company than this. He got a long way back in his fresh run but ran the best 600-400 split and best L200m split. Sit three pairs back and doesn’t spend a penny. I’d have liked Fradd on as he knows the horse well.
SLOW HANDS (SCRATCHED) won last start and this track/trip is ideal but gets a horrible gate. Needs everything to go right but he will be strong late and can win.
KINGS FULL (SCRATCHED) the other live hope but again probably has to go a long way back from the gate. Was asked to make a long sustained run last start and will be fitter for it.
SEAT OF POWER is a winner and showed good potential before winning a poor Toowoomba race by 10L. He sits right behind the leaders and looks very hard to beat.
*Very little between these four and just a slight lean to BORAZON and SEAT OF POWER because of the gates.
On Top: 1-SEAT OF POWER ++ 6-BORAZON $5.50
(Can’t possibly take the $1.50 Seat Of Power though, seems way too short)
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RACE 6: * * *
Extra QTIS races and it might be good planning but some of it might just be chasing the bonus money before it runs out and there’s a little question on how they back up in 7 days.
SAVING is a well bred late maturing colt who is starting to put it all together. He won two back in good style before going to 1900m and brave in defeat. The big EF track will suit, draws a gate to get a soft run in the first 5-6 settling and Fradd is a great booking.
PLUMARO, RED CHASE and RED STINA all on the back up and all ran well last week. PLUMARO is the ‘weight’ horse who meets them better off after the claim. RED STINA looked the best late but that race was set up to do that while RED CHASE surprised me with how well he went over that trip but again this is another step out in trip.
On Top: 4-SAVING $4
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RACE 7: * *
Hard to get a guide on GALTERO but making him one of the hardest to beat because his best would simply win it. The form in Syd was poor but through the line last start was good and 1500m at Ef should be what he’s after.
MINA HARKER (opened $15 looked a bet but shorter now) was good at first run for the Hansen stable. Sure to be better for that run but may just need one more? She had raced well in some decent Hway handicaps before that and will appreciate the EF track, she took the whole straight to hit top gear at Ippy and from a good gate she can win without surprising.
No doubt they wanted to go to the 1800m race with SLOW HANDS but gates mean they probably run here. Should be decent speed here and that’s what he’ll need over the 1500m. Can get a good run in transit, probably midfield and there is upside left in him.
On Top: 12-MINA HARKER $12 (SCRATCHED)
Hardest To Beat: 16-SLOW HANDS
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RACE 8: * * *
A race full of chances and should be highly competitive.
SO SPIRITED (opened $23 was wrong price!) was good last prep and did look well placed up here. Not a lot went right all prep last time but the efforts were full of merit. From a good gate can sit midfield and off the hot tempo can be the strongest late, just needs a good steer. Recent trial very good.
FREDDIE FOX TROT will find this a nice drop in grade and has been racing in better grade all prep. Reckon he finds a nice spot in front of midfield but lets the speed go here so he finishes off.
On Top: 3-FREDDIE FOX TROT ++ 8-SO SPIRITED value runner $16
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RACE 9: * *
What a race to finish on. Capacity field and a stack of chances.
Our www.boomracing.com.au filly BOOMTOWN LASS has done a fantastic job and her win last start was breath taking. She is up against it here though with the wide gate, speed drawn under her and a sharp jump in weight.
Have time for HOLD THE LINE and Fradd is a very good booking. Gate 10 isn’t the end of the world for her as she can land around midfield and likely get cover. She will loom for sure but if there is a query it’s just the last 50m on this track, she is a better 1100m horse in my opinion but is a good filly.
CHURNING comes back in trip but gets blinkers on. Been in very good form and the two horses she beat last start then run the quinella in the 3yr old last week, very good formlines.
MALAHIDE (SCRATCHED)is above avg and was just placed poorly at the 1600m on a heavy track last start, forget she went around. Four weeks between runs to freshen up, good gate and she could be the one running over them late.
*Landed on BOOMTOWN LASS by default
On Top: 3-BOOMTOWN LASS
Hardest To beat: 7-CHURNING, 11-HOLD THE LINE
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GIBBOS BEST:
Race 6 No.4-SAVING $4
Best e/w
Race 8 No.8-SO SPIRITED $16 + $4.80
*Not really a best and haven’t done the Townsville form, just run the eye over the main race. Just wanted to mention MISHANI VAIDRA in the Townsville Cup. I was amazed to see $12 and $3.80 bet through the week. Into around $9 so some of the value gone but she is a genuine Listed/G3 type mare in my opinion and should go close.
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‘THE PROPHETS’ BEST:
Bris Race 3 No.9- TARDIS
Bris Race 7 No.14- RED DOULTON
