Gumby's Gossip Northam 25th August

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Wed 24 August, 2011

Eight events are in order once again in the Avon Valley today, it does look like a day where we can find a few winners, however most will be quite short due to the smaller ten horse fields still being in place whilst the track is recovering from the recent heavy rains.

Race 1- Pegasus Liberty Maiden- 1100metres

Punters should be able to get off to a good start here with the Tony Noonan trained Angel By Me. This filly has had one start and ran a nice third at Belmont park at the relocated Northam meeting recently, that on the back of some very nice trial form which included a close third to the promising Lord Balthazar in one of those trials. She really does look the testing material in this race and should win. Bay City ran eighth in the same race last Monday week and may run into the minors with the race experience gained from that outing, Divine Sparkle, Turanza and Black Romeo look the best of the rest in the opening event.
Numbers- 8-2-10-7

Suggested Bet- 8- Angel By Me - Win

Race 2- Pegasus Coolmax Maiden- 2200metres

Crispiano gets another chance to bring up his maiden victory here for Mark Reed and Daniel Staeck, he was flying home at the finish of his last start to almost nail No Touching at Belmont, and the longer journey here shouldn't be of any worry. The wide barrier won't be of any consequence if he does get back in the field and expect him to be coming home strongly at the end of the 2200metre journey. Southern Drawl ran third in the same race at Belmont Park on August 13, and appears the logical danger here on the strength of that run, however is yet to be tested over this distance but his last two runs have been very promising. Flippen Fantastic did run a nice third over the 2200metres to Mac's Mint a couple of weeks ago and appears a good each way chance also.
Numbers- 2-7-5-10

Suggested Bet- 2- Crispiano- Win

Race 3- Pegasus Performax Maiden- 1400metres

Rubitawny ticks most of the boxes in this race, a good run when first up second at Belmont on August 15 following on from some very promising trial form, has the services of top hoop Paul Harvey and is nicely drawn in barrier four, all pointers to a very forward showing in this event. The dangers here appear to be the top two, Power Plus has been good in his last two starts in tougher assignments at Belmont, however is yet to break the duck after twelve starts, and Foxatori ran a nice first up fourth at his first start back for trainer Stan Bates, a pointer to a more promising campaign this time in. Benconi might be a good value each way bet in this race, this ex-Victorian has no real form to his name but did start in the WATC Derby over the Autumn carnival at Ascot.
Numbers- 9-1-2-5

Suggested Bet- 9- Rubitawny- Win

Race 4- Pegasus Studmaster Maiden- 1400metres

A much tougher maiden race here so would suggest to tread very warily if investing on this event. Emporio will be the tentative on top selection here, but really only on a speculative basis. He won a Belmont Park trial in his preparation for a return to racing on Aug 1, and there really isn't a lot of depth to this field. Master Robson will probably start favourite on the back of his last start fourth at the transferred Northam meeting last Monday behind Hollister and will prove to be a major player in this. Possibly Gelsinga and Papa's Girl may also be around the place but a very tough race to try and dissect here.

Numbers- 4-2-7-8

Suggested Bet- No Bet

Race 5- Pegasus Sweetmax Maiden- 1400metres

Notaclue ran a nice second here last week at his second start in a race, and will back him to go on with it in this event. Has had both his runs at this track which will auger well for his prospects here, has regular rider Campbell McCallum in the saddle and should be fit and ready to handle the 1400 metres of this race. Pay Dirt may prove to be the main danger on the back of a good first up run at Belmont, and together with Vacillare and Handel's Messiah will form the major player's in most punters quaddie legs. Handel's Messiah is coming back in distance from her last start, but does have a claim for promising apprentice Ryan Hill and could prove the value in the race.
Numbers- 1-8-7-5

Suggested Bet- 1- Notaclue- Win or 7-Handel's Messiah - Each Way

Race 6- Kentucky Equine Research Handicap- 1300metres

This is a race of seemingly few winning chances, so will go with Red Mercedes to bring up his second win in this event. He has been a model of consistency for trainer Vernon Brockman in his nine start career, and once again the claim for Ryan Hill brings him in well on weights compared to some of his major rivals in this. He is second up, but did run a place at his only other second up start last campaign, and is nicely placed to salute here. Fremantle will prove a little harder to beat than the AFL team with the same name has been lately, and he also has a terrific second up record with three places from four races, and is drawn the inside with Kyra Yuill on board this time. Hay Street Hero was slightly disappointing last week behind Demands Attention, but he still does demand some attention here on the back of his victory at this track on August 5.
Numbers- 3-4-5-2

Suggested Bet- 3- Red Mercedes- Win

Race 7- Milne Feeds Handicap- 1300metres

The best event of the day here with some good form exposed. Will go with South Boulder Boy on the strength of his last few runs though, to bring home the bacon here. Since returning to racing, he has a win and two seconds from four starts and now will be race hardened to run this out strongly. Joseph Azzopardi brings his weight down to a nice 54kgs which may just be the deciding factor. Don't Say Boo could prove to be the main danger here with the addition of the winkers to its racing gear. He did win a Pinjarra maiden over 1600metres when last in work and will probably go well fresh. Bearchat races well at this track and has been thereabouts lately and Kincora may be a smoky here also.

Numbers- 2-3-7-1

Suggested Bet- 2- South Boulder Boy- Win

Race 8- Pegasus Equibalance Handicap- 1100metres

Another race with just a few winning chances to finish the day here, but they all do look to have claims. We will start with Afortunato who will get the nod from me here mainly due to its very good first up record. Hasn't been sighted since May but has races extremely well fresh in the past, is nicely drawn for the 1100metre scamper and may give Troy Turner a winner to finish the day with. Fiery Fox could also prove hard to beat on his excellent form in the Great Southern at Mt Barker last preparation and if forward enough will also prove hard to beat in this event. Wonder Weed is seemingly well down in class on his last couple of starts and may also go close here. It does seem those three will fight the last event out with Ameila's Reason the best of the rest in this.
Numbers- 1-2-6-3

Suggested Bet- 1- Afortunato- Each Way

Best Bets- Race 1 No 8 Angel By Me
Race 2 No 2 Crispiano