Gumby's Gossip - Queens Birthday 28th October

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Thu 27 October, 2011

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Northam 28TH October

A rare Friday meeting up in the Avon Valley today no doubt brought about by the public holiday, which is a good opportunity to improve betting turnover on the meeting, and a reasonably even seven event card with a few promising provincial types going around today.

Race 1- www.northamraceclub.com Maiden- 1000metres

A tough race to open proceedings as most of these runners are unraced. Will go for the beautifully bred colt Born To Excel to do just that here. By Exceed and Excel out of Born Priceless this Dan Morton trained galloper has run two nice trials in preparation for his first race start and looks set for a very promising future. Nicely drawn in barrier six with the services of top hoop William Pike are all pointers to a forward showing here. Simply Awesome has the race experience on his side and may prove to be the main danger in this, he did run a nice fourth at Ascot in the Autumn and may improve in his second campaign at the track. Really Sleek won a Belmont trial on Oct17th over the 1000metres but is drawn the outside gate here but may still be a good chance for the minor money, with possibly Five Fields the next best on the back of two pretty good trials in the last month as well.
Numbers- 2-1-5-7

Suggested Bet- 2- Born To Excel- Win

Race 2- Celebrate Your Win With Mumm Maiden- 1100metres

A tough maiden race here with a few winning chances. Grass Muncher has shown some pretty good consistent form culminating in seconds at Ascot and Pinjarra at the end of his last campaign, and showed he will be ready for a return to racing with a 1000metre trial win at Belmont a couple of weeks ago when ridden by race jockey Chloe Chatfield. He is nicely drawn in barrier five for his return and has run two of his placings at this track, all pointers to a good showing in this race. Mannar Mia ran a nice second at his first start in a race up here on October 12th and despite a poor draw may go on with it here. Phase Three has been trialling well for the Trevor Andrews stable so is worth considering, and Tsunami Warning has some decent racing experience on his side also.

Numbers- 1-7-5-11

Suggested Bet- 1- Grass Muncher- Each Way

Race 3- Gannons Racing Colours Maiden- 1400metres

Verdello Blue has been knocking on the door for a long time now, and will never get a better chance than this to break his maiden status. He boasts a record of four seconds at this track, has the ideal draw in barrier four, and the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice in Mitchell Pateman which brings him in well on weights with the rest of his opposition. He is a fourteen start maiden and that rings alarm bells but if you have been following him over the winter months he just may pay you back today. I quite like De Spare as the main danger here, he has been racing well at a variety of tracks and looks an early winner, and is also drawn nicely at the 1400metre start. Bells Victory has also run a few good races in his eleven start career, and will appreciate the drop in class from his last start at Belmont on Sept28. For quartet punters possibly Wheels Of Fire could be around the place for the minor money.

Numbers- 1-3-2-4

Suggested Bet- 1- Verdello Blue- Win

Race 4- Northam Toyota- A Good Deal Closer Maiden- 1600metres

Ragnarok looks the winner here on the back of his form over his first four race starts, having never finished further back than fourth. He also had his last start over the mile distance and isn't stepping up to it like most of the others in this event. Another with a claiming apprentice on board in Ben Paterson who brings the weight down to 54.5kgs, he simply looks ready to break through against a relatively weak field here. Leoluck has been impressive at his first two race starts and may prove to be the main danger here. Awkwardly drawn wide on the track is a concern, but the long run to the first turn from the 1600metre barrier may prove to be a blessing for his chances. Mad About Harry has also been placed at her two starts at the Northam track and may add to that record here, with probably Matron Geojack the other main contender in this event.

Numbers- 2-9-14-6

Suggested Bet-2- Ragnarok- Win

Race 5- Avon Valley Gazette Handicap- 1600metres

A small field here and these races can sometimes produce upsets, but on form it looks a race between Mayan Sky and Doubtable, who have both been in a bit of form lately. Mayan Sky got lost last week and came home to finish second to Testa Altezza at Bunbury, so indications are that the smaller field may suit this Hurricane Sky gelding. Previous to that he ran some good races in town finishing just out of the placings and once again, there isn't a lot of depth in this lot. William Pike hops back on board for the Durrant stable and I will tip him to finally break through again in this race. Doubtable has also raced well of late, especially at this track in more suitable fields and will prove hard to beat. His last two starts have been in much stiffer company than he will meet today, so it really looms as a good quinella coupled up with Mayan Sky. Let's Surprise'em did just that last start here two weeks ago when winning at generous each way prices and can be a danger if he runs up to that form again, and possibly Backstreet Jazz may be a roughie for a place if he can recapture his form of last preparation, but will need to improve a lot on his first up run at Pinjarra.

Numbers- 2-1-5-4

Suggested Bet- 2- Mayan Sky- 1- Doutable- Quinella

Race 6- www.avonvalleywa.com.au Handicap- 1100metres

Sweet Achiever showed a lot of promise last preparation and can certainly win this race first up for the Morton stable judged on his previous efforts when last in work. He also has won first up previously, and won a trial two weeks ago when ridden by his race jockey William Pike. The weight may be the only negative factor, being asked to carry 58kgs on what may be a rain affected track after the deluge of rain we have had this week, but I still think he has a lot of class on most of his rivals in this event. I also like Estralla who is holding her form very well this time in, and should be at her peak right now. Has a great record at this track, nicely drawn and looks a real chance in this race also. The minor money may come down to a battle between Mustering, who won his maiden up here earlier in the season, and Major Dream who has shown some promise in his few starts for Roland Piercey.

Numbers- 3-5-4-2

Suggested Bet- 3- Sweet Achiever- Win

Race 7- Radio West 864AM Northam Handicap- 1300metres

I think we can get away with the last winner on the card here in Henry The Pharoah, an absolute Northam specialist, who has never run further back than second in five starts up here. He was in just average form at Belmont before relocating here on October 1st when he won at the nice odds of $12, and followed that up with a second last start here two weeks later behind Acheatin Smile. Peter Black stays on board this Akhenaton gelding and I can see no reason why the impressive record here can't be further enhanced after this race. The obvious next best is Digital Blackout who has run some nice races behind some top gallopers at Ascot over the summer months, and if he is ready to race first up will give you a great sighter for your money. Rock Bar won his maiden here a few weeks ago after a few tries, and will appreciate this race far more than his last start when racing in much stronger company at Belmont Park. Possibly a watch on a new starter to this state in Glencampbell Boy, a last start winner at Sale before transferring to this state and the Mark Reed stable also in a good event to finish the day in the Avon Valley.

Numbers- 1-5-4-3

Suggested Bet- 1- Henry The Pharoah- Win

Best Bets- Race 4 No 2 Ragnarok
Race 6 No 3 Sweet Achiever