Tips for Kalgoorlie Cup Day with Greg Hooper

Greg Hooper | Country Racing | Sat 17 September, 2011

RACE 1 - TIS RECRUITMENT MAIDEN

No. 4 BELLS VICTORY. Hopefully we can kick off the day with a winner with BELL'S VICTORY. He drops back to maiden company here after putting in a very big effort last start in a ratings race. He settled near the tail, attempted to circle the field before the bend and battled on well to run a close up third. Peter Knuckey goes on which is a big plus and I think he represents a good value bet. The likely favourite will be FIRST HIT and he has undeniable winning claims. He probably should have won last week but I'd be wary of taking skinny odds. THINKING THUNDER'S form is solid for this type of race and he has drawn to get the gun run. MS DUBAWI comes into the race with claims off the back of her first up effort at Northam.
Numbers - 4, 14, 5, 10

Suggested Bet - Bells Victory eachway

RACE 2 - COATES HIRE MAIDEN

No. 2 OUTLIER. Scored a commanding victory in slightly easier company when sitting midfield and gunning down Master Force in the straight last Sunday. The rest of the field were a further 3 and 1/4 lengths away. Due to the fact this is a marginal class rise he will carry the same weight as last start, however this is hardly a stronger race. He will be hard to hold out again in this small field. ZEDREAM is in a purple patch of form and back backs up from a victory on Wednesday. He is the main danger and should also be working home late. CARIBBEAN CRUISE hit the line well on Wednesday behind Soviet Banker and will appreciate the drop in class. PETIT MAISON is a hard horse to catch and but it won't be any surprise to see it in the finish here.
Numbers - 2, 5, 6, 4

Suggested Bet - none

RACE 3 - REED RESOURCES SPRINT

No. 1 SONNY BISCAY. Plenty of $12 was bet about this talented five-year-old in pre-post markets and although there will be hefty deductions for a couple of scratching I'm betting anyone who snaffled those prices will be on good terms with themselves. His effort in the Hannan's was first class and with the better run I think he would have run a clear second. Although he has to rise 6kg this is a massive drop in grade and I think he will burn over and should either lead or sit outside the leader without any troubles. From there I think he will take a stack of beating. INFINITE STAR got the job done here on Wednesday, he drops in distance but clearly has claims. RIVERSIDE DRIVE seems to go around at tight odds each week but I'd like to see him win a race before I jump back into him again.
Numbers - 1, 4, 10, 3

Suggested Bet - Sonny Biscay eachway

RACE 4 - GOLDFIELDS CRANE HIRE HANDICAP

No. 1 REVY JAY. Has his hoof firmly planted on the till and will get another opportunity to cash out in this event. Should have broken through for a victory on Wednesday however he was unable to run down Infinite Star who enjoyed a much cosier run down the side of the track and this proved the difference. William Pike takes the mount again and with the aid of a good draw will be very hard to beat. The main danger appears to be AMELIA'S STORM. Although he finds it hard to win his effort in the Boulder Cup was an eye catching one and this is a big drop in class. NOVEMBER RED should be thereabouts again and has drawn to get the run of the race. Old MIDNIGHT TRAIN is an ever consistent Kalgoorlie galloper and will be thereabouts at the finish.
Numbers - 1, 2, 7, 4

Suggested Bet - none

RACE 5 - APEX GROUP HANDICAP

No. 14 - METALLICA. This mare looked all over the winner at Northam last time out before veering sharply at 100m mark and throwing the race away. The blinkers have been removed for this assignment in an attempt to improve the mares racing manners. If this does the trick she should be hard to beat. INTERNATIONALIST gets a chance to return to the winners circle in this event. She is drawn to get the run of the race behind the likely leader IMABUTU who was disappointing last time out but prior force was very consistent. She will lead again and should be prominent at the finish. ZEEDA BOY looked at bit unlucky last time out and form prior was solid which included a victory over the 1200m trip. He will be at big odds and on a value basis I'm happy to have something small on him eachway.
Numbers - 14, 13, 5, 7

Suggested Bet - Zeeda Boy each way at the long odds

RACE 6 - CASTROL HANDICAP

No. 2 ROCK PRINCE. This is a really good competitive race and this is reflected in pre-post markets. ROCK PRINCE is just about ready now, he is a serial placegetter but the extra distance suits and he has drawn to get the absolute gun run. I think he'll be very hard to hold out. MIDNIGHT TOUCH is ready to win and $10 was bet pre-post and he is now into $8.50, I still think that is over the odds. He covered plenty of ground last start and ran well. Of the rest DREAM THEATRE is shooting for three straight and has definite claims. This is a better race than he won last start though. RHYTHM MAN, ORIENT STAR and MISS FLERTY GIRTY could all play a part without surprising.
Numbers - 2, 5, 4, 14

Suggested Bet - Play with Rock Prince & Midnight Touch

RACE 7 - XXXX GOLD - KALGOORLIE CUP

No. 3 KINCAPLE. This looks a fairly thin Kalgoorlie Cup and it should be dominated by the favoured runners. No doubt everyone will have their own opinions. I'm sticking with the favourite, KINCAPLE. His form since being in the state has been impeccable and he could quite easily have won five from five. I wouldn't be surprised to see him ridden more positively over the 2300m as we did see him lead and win over 2000m three starts back. He has a touch a class and I just think will be too good. The obvious danger is BATTLE EMBLEM who appears to be peaking at the right time. He will give the favourite a run for his money there is no doubt about that. The intriguing runner is MOVIE MOGUL who makes his WA debut for Mark Bairstow. He has shown the ability in the east and can race handy from his good gate. I'm not sure he's up to the class of the gallopers like KINCAPLE and BATTLE EMBLEM but I'm sure he won't disgrace himself. DOUBLE BARREL is suited up to the 2300m and I think he will improve sharply on last week's effort in the Boulder Cup
Numbers - 3, 2, 5, 10

Suggested Bet - Kincaple win

RACE 8 - SITA AUSTRALIA HANDICAP

No 17 - HAVANA CITY. Was a last start winner at Northam defeating Milton's Gift who franked that form here on Wednesday with a barnstorming victory. Provided Jarrod Noske can find clear running for this mare she is going to be hard to beat in this event. The main dangers appear to be HUSSON COMMAND for the Brad and Neville Parnham combination. The horse has performed well in metropolitan company this preparation and will appreciate the drop in grade. RAUCOUS LAUGHTER ran a nice race here on Sunday behind Epirb and has drawn to get good run in transit. HEARTS AFLUTTER has been running some consistent races in similar company here and should be included for multiples.
Numbers - 17, 8, 4, 10

Suggested Bet - Havana City each way if odds permit