Gumby's Gossip - Northam 18th August

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Wed 17 August, 2011

Small fields are the order of the day today, whilst the Northam track dries out after the recent heavy rains, the moveable rail is out 10 metres to protect potential danger areas around the home turn, but it does mean the chance to possibly back a few winners due to the smaller numbers contesting the races.

Race 1- Bailey’s Grosorb Maiden- 1100 metres

This is a pretty open race to start proceedings with a few horses in with good chances, however will opt for Elsa’s Girl to get the chocolates here. She has had two starts for two placing’s at this track and looks ready to open her account in this race. Will put her ahead of Paul’s Joy simply because of the track experience, plus the fitness gained from her two starts, as opposed to Paul’s Joy racing first up in this. Biscay Bonny ran a nice third at Pinjarra first up and represents a danger also in this race, as might Moonlight Miss, who ran well here two starts ago when third to Murphy’s Red Boy in what was a strong maiden race.

Numbers- 6-7-8-9

Suggested Bet- 6- Elsa’s Girl – Each Way


Race 2- Baileys 3.1.1 Maiden- 1100 metres

Pure Attraction gets her chance to break her maiden status here, she has been steadily improving this preparation, and has the claim for apprentice Ryan Hill giving her 4kgs over her main rivals. Two starts ago she ran a nice third to subsequent city winner Maschino, which is a nice pointer to a very good showing in this race. Bendit also has his foot on the till following three placings at his first six race starts and may prove to be the main danger here, with Rock Bar racing first up for trainer Robyn Lockwood today, and Not So Pretty the best of the rest for the novelties.

Numbers- 6-1-3-8

Suggested Bet- 6- Pure Attraction- Win


Race 3- Baileys GT Green Maiden- 1100 metres

It’s hard to tip anything but Ready Raider in this race, but the price is going to be very skinny. Three starts for three placings, two of them at Belmont, including his first up effort behind the promising Chester Road two weeks ago, plus the services of top jock Paul Harvey all point the way of Ready Raider breaking his maiden status here. Possibly the trifecta’s or quartet’s are the way to go in this, with Sequalo System looking the next best after a nice last start second at this track to Talk Up A Storm, with maybe Fighting the Blues and State City Boy also in contention for the novelites on the back of sound trial form.

Numbers- 1-5-3-4

Suggested Bet- Trifecta or Quartet- 1- Ready Raider to win with 5-3-4 in quinella’s, trifecta’s and quartet’s.


Race 4- Bailey’s Tristar Maiden- 1600 metres

This is quite an open race as most of the mile maiden races can be, but will punt for Zabeel Road in this, he has been a little one paced in his first two starts but looks to be crying out for further ground as most of the Zabeel horses do. William Pike has stayed on board after his first two starts, and the Daniel Morton trained galloper can be a good each way proposition here. Kabam Boy has run some promising races in his 8 start career and can be hard to knock over in this race, although stepping up a long way in distance, with Doubtable and Jet Plane the best of the rest.

Numbers- 7-1-2-3

Suggested Bet- 7- Zabeel Road- Each Way


Race 5- Bailey’s Quality Maiden- 1300 metres

The Joe Byrne trained Initial Concept put the writing on the wall for an early victory in her career with a very nice fifth in the race won by Checkpoint at Belmont Park on 27th July, that coming after two Belmont trial wins, so she really looks the testing material in this event, the biggest hurdle may be the outside barrier, but I will back Troy Turner to overcome that problem and for her to score here from Notaclue, who also put in a good first up race effort here two weeks ago when running fifth to Hay Street Hero. This Choisir gelding also came into that race on the back of good trial form. Silent Voice will strip fitter for his three Belmont starts and is down in class on those runs here, and Adalfe may add a bit of spice into the minor end of the prize.

Numbers- 10-6-1-2

Suggested Bet- 10- Initial Concept- Win


Race 6- Bailey’s Brilliance Maiden- 1300 metres

Kimono Bay has run some nice races in her career spaced over a couple of seasons, but based on her first up second to Hay Street Hero here two weeks ago will go close in this race. Jarrad Noske has hit a rich vein of form in the saddle over the last week and this Zedrich mare looms as a major player in this race. Lunar Image is first up after his last start in the TJ Smith Stakes at Ascot in the summer, so has to be respected in this race with the Pike factor also a plus for him. Prince Kodiak and possibly Hyden may sneak the minors, but might struggle to match the other two in the run to the line.

Numbers- 7-3-1-9

Suggested Bet- 7- Kimono Bay- Win


Race 7- Baileys 4.1.1 Handicap- 1400 metres

The topweight Mr Lonely gets a chance to add to his nice career record here by bringing up his second win in four starts. This horse raced well in Geraldton early last summer, then started first up when second in the race won by Get The Net at Belmont last week, that form is well and truly good enough to see him first past the post in a race like this. Probably a short price for most punters though, so looking with a view to the exotics, expect to see good efforts from Prima Vista, second up today after some promising runs at its first race campaign, Pounced and Acheatin Smile, who may add some value here.

Numbers- 1-6-2-3

Suggested Bet- Trifectas or quartets with 1- Mr Lonely- Win, 6-2-3 for the minors.


Race 8- Baileys Energy Turf Handicap- 1300 metres

Hay Street Hero opened his account here two weeks ago after a nice first up fourth at this track two weeks prior to that, and no reason to hop off him in this last event of the day, a nice one to get out on. He has a fair bit going form him here, third start up from a spell, a nice inside draw and the claim for Michael Gratham that will bring him down to 54kgs. Intrigued is a difficult runner to line up here, with a Northam win in May interspersed with three “noughts”, so its hard to know which horse will turn up today, but at his best would go very close here. Elijay on the back of some good Great Southern form in the summer months and the old boy Demands Attention may be the best of the rest in a good race to end the day.

Numbers- 5-3-2-1

Suggested Bet- 5- Hay Street Hero- Win

Best Bets-   

Race 7 No 7  Zabeel Road- Each Way
Race 5 No 10 Initial Concept