Greg Hooper's Form Analysis - Northam 7th July

Greg Hooper | Country Racing | Thu 7 July, 2011

It is with much sadness that I write this preview after the sudden passing of Geoff Whittle. His dedication to the industry was unprecedented and he made an incredible contribution to provincial and country racing in this state. My deepest sympathies go to all of Geoff's family and friends.

RACE 1 - MY ATACANTA - SECOND YEAR AT STUD MAIDEN

No. 6 PRIVATE BUSINESS. We start the day with the two-year-old maiden and as is always the case with these races the winner looks fairly well concealed as there are a host of first starters. Going for the well bred gelding trained by Ross & Clint Price, Private Business. He's out of the top producing mare, Most Secret, making him a half to Group 1 winner Covertly and So Secret. His barrier trial was solid and I expect him to be dug out of the gates early settling down in the first four. He should be more than competitive on debut. Murphy's Red Boy trialled well at Lark Hill over the 950m on 28 March and he has been tuned up for his debut with a very soft 450m jumpout in which he went to the line under double wraps, he looks to have ability. Glen of Antrim narrowly beat home Private Business in his trial win, it was a nice effort. Of the raced brigade suspect that Miselle Blitz is the best chance. She resumes from a spell without a trial but last time in she showed plenty of speed in her races but just knocked up late. Nice and fresh she should jump and run and give them something to catch. The first starters Lordaarbi, Queen Of Quincy and Revolution all had to be pushed out in their respective trials.
Numbers 6, 5, 7, 2

RACE 2 - MY ATACANTA - WIN A FREE SERVICE MAIDEN

No. 3 CASSIDY COWBOY. Another fairly tricky event to find winner with the majority of the "form" originating from the trials. Cassidy Cowboy makes his race track for David Harrison and he looks a likely type. He was last seen at the trials on 14 March where he led all the way and beat the talented Solsay comfortably. I'd expect him to hop straight to the front in this and give them all something to run down. Couture Chik's only race track effort was very good. She parked three wide no cover in a city midweek race and beat all Vexillum. Hard to take too much from her trial as Lisetta streeted them by 9 lengths but she certainly wasn't pushed around by William Pike. Interestingly William had ridden both Pure Attraction and Snuff Gruffles at their recent trial's so maybe a lead there for punters. Tigers Inthe Woods should improve, he went way too quick upfront last week and knocked up late. Pure Attraction showed some potential last time in, getting back in her races and closing off nicely.
Numbers 6, 3, 2, 7

RACE 3 - REDWOOD PARK MAIDEN

No. 8 NOT SO PRETTY. Another event with a heap of trial form to line up. Not So Pretty was very impressive at the trials, she led all the way and came clear 5 and ¾ length win in good time. With the claim for Ben Patterson she looks very well in with only 52.5kg. She should jump and run and give them all something to catch. If she can get some cheap sectionals upfront then she should be very hard to beat. Murdoch Miracle trialled very well and he was well commissioned on debut at Albany but finished down the track, he had plenty of excuses thou and if there is support for him then he must be included. Winalago resumes from a long layoff but she showed a lot of ability in her last campaign and her recent trial was very soft.
Numbers 8, 6, 7, 5

RACE 4 - SITE LOGIC MAIDEN

No. 12 PETTICOAT LANE. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of form to work with in this race and I do think if Petticoat Lane can find the form she showed in her first two runs this campaign she should be able to account for these. Those two efforts were very good, flooding home first up and being beaten a head second up. Last time out she was heavily backed to break through but didn't appear to handle the wet track. Happy to forgive her for that effort and from her good draw she looks very hard to beat. Clear second pick is I'm No Eagle. His first up effort was solid, sitting over the speed and battling on well and Paul Harvey jumps aboard for this assignment. Scenic Park has had a stack of chances, she'll probably run into a placing again.
Numbers 12, 3, 10, 13

RACE 5 - DAMIEN WYER RACING & BLOODSTOCK MAIDEN

No. 10 PRINCESS FINALE. Another race with limited form to work with and the scratching of my original top selection makes things trickier. I ended up just coming back the obvious and selecting Princess Finale. She has put the writing on the wall at her two starts back from a spell, being beaten a head first up by Festival Star and running second, albeit a distant second, to Dante's Last at her recent outing. Shaun O'Donnell will have to overcome her tricky barrier but she should have enough toe to settle outside the leader, from there she will be very hard to beat. Crispiano ran a solid race at his recent outing at Northam in which he battled on well the entire straight, he looks the obvious danger in a very thin race.
Numbers 10, 4, 6, 9

RACE 6 - MY ATACANTA STALLION HANDICAP

No. 2 KIMBERLEY COWBOY. This looks clearly the best race of the day with a few nice types engaged. Kimberley Cowboy is a talented three-year-old and if he reproduces what he did on 16 June at this track and distance they will find it near on impossible to beat him. On that occasion he led from go to whoa and came clear for a comfortable 2 length win over the talented filly, Ladysea. Hopefully he has taken no harm from his barrier mishap last week in which he reared badly when the gates opened and was declared a non runner. At his best he has terrific claims. Rubitrove has won just the solitary race from twenty one starts but has been placed on ten occasions. She'll get back and find the line again. Both of Regal Macaroon's efforts this preparation have been good. First up she drew wide, settled close enough to last and was doing her best work late and last time out she finished off well behind South Boulder Boy. Paul Harvey hops on and third up she should just be about ready. The big improver will be Cappuccino Time. He was ridden cold first up after drawing the outside gate and William Pike goes on for this assignment. Good race.
Numbers 2, 4, 5, 1

RACE 7 - SIMPLY ADORABLE HANDICAP

No. 1 HIBERNIAN. A number of these have just about hit their mark, not so though Hibernian who is a four-year-old who has plenty of upside. The only question with him is the drop back to a mile as he has been racing over the staying trips of 2000m or more at his last four starts. With Michael Grantham's claim he looks very well in and he clearly has the form on the board to win this race. He should have a bit too much dash for this field of mainly veterans. Dimitrius is suited back to provincial grade and over the mile. It was his first run for a month last time out so he would have derived benefit fitness wise from the effort. Dash Of Brains was found to have cardiac arrhythmia after his last start failure, previous to that he had beaten Triple Ken over the mile at Belmont Park.
Numbers 1, 6, 2, 5

RACE 8 - MACALISTER FAMILY HANDICAP

No. 3 OUTLIER. A very average finish to the day with the majority of the field coming into the race with little or no form. Outlier has never been a favourite of mine but he gets his chance to post his third career win. His four runs this preparation have all been fair in much better grade of races and he has been far from disgraced on each occasion. From barrier 4 he should be able to settle in the first four or five in running and dominate the race. I wouldn't be lining up for the shorts though! Haboob appears to have lost form but at her best she would be more than competitive in this, I'll throw her in my numbers hoping she will appreciate the drop back to the provincials.
Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6
Good luck with all your investments.

GREG HOOPER

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