Midweek tips with Hoops - 9th November

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 9 November, 2011

RACE 1 -15 YEARS OF PERTH GLORY HANDICAP 1500m

No. 11 FIRST FLIGHT. This is a good start to the day with a number of chances. I'm going for the lightly raced Flying Pegasus gelding, FIRST FLIGHT. His barrier trial leading up to his first up effort at Bunbury was exceptional and his performance on race day was very good. He missed the kick slightly, settled back and wide in running, but finished powerfully to get into a minor placing. The form out of that raced has been franked to a degree with True Gold running a fast finishing second on Saturday. I think this galloper is screaming out for a step up in distance and if Kyra Yuill can get him to jump and settle midfield with cover I think he will be very hard to hold out. HARTLEY'S HANGOVER has always promised a bit and he finally delivered at his most recent outing, pulling clear late for what was a dominant win. William Pike sticks and if he can get a nice run from his wide gate he'll be hard to beat. KEEPERS COURT could not have been more impressive in his first up win at Northam. He settled in the one by one and destroyed his rivals. I did like his last effort before he was tipped out for a spell so it was no real surprise. The small step up in trip should really suit. TWO FISH HEADS trialled very nicely going into his debut and where he performed well. Hard to see him being able to turn the tables on HARTLEY'S HANGOVER though. JAVELIN JACK lacks a knockout blow but he is consistent and will go forward, he'll be in the mix for the minor placings. Not really sure what to do with BLACK UMA. He was very impressive at the trials and started a short priced favourite on debut but after slightly missing the kick and settling last he never got warm. A really good competitive race to start the proceedings, hopefully we can get one home at each way prices.
Numbers 11, 3, 5, 6

Suggested Bet - First Flight each way

RACE 2 - PERTH GLORY V SYDNEY FC - NOV 12 HANDICAP 1100m

No. 9 SAY STARS. I'm going to believe what I saw with SAY STARS' debut and put her on top. It was a massive effort, she tramped three wide over a hot speed and emerged from the ruck to wear down the tearaway leader. She has drawn wide again but Marco Chui is an aggressive rider and if he can get her one off the fence then I think she will take some beating. The interesting runner is the debutante from the Grant William camp, CLASSIC EMBLEM. His trials have been very good and he should get a lovely run from his gate. He should be in the finish. The regally bred BORN TO EXCEL got the job done at Northam on debut. This is a better quality event but he should run well. Not sure what to do with WESTERN FEVER, she disappointed first up from a spell but she been given a 9 week break. If she could find her two-year-old form she would probably be too good for these. MR MAGIC and ALBERTANI are definitely in the mix as well. A good competitive race!
Numbers 9, 7, 4, 2

Suggested Bet - Say Stars each way

RACE 3 - CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIA HANDICAP 1100m

No. 3 COOL CORONA. On paper this appears to be a fairly average event. I'm going for COOL CORONA but not with any great confidence. She's racing well, will sit in the first few and give a kick. She looks the one to beat. Huge watch THYME FOR BUSINESS who makes his debut for the MB Reed stable. He won his debut after settling in the box seat in running. From barrier 1 he should box seat again. If there is any decent money for him then he should be respected at the very least. MUSTERING was solid first up at Northam and a repeat performance sees him in the finish. SWEET ACHIEVER was heavily backed first up but led and gave nothing. He can improve sharply without surprising. That is probably where this race finishes.
Numbers 3, 5, 8, 4

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 4 - JOHN WILSON JNR. MEMORIAL 1000m

No. 8 LISETTA. Wow! There is some serious speed in this with CARRY THE NATION, IMA CITNPRETTY, LISETTA and LITTLE LARRIKIN all gallopers who like to free wheel along up front. Still, I'm going for one of them and that is LISETTA. From barrier 1 she should find the front, run along and over the short course she will always be hard to get over. I'll have her on top but not with much confidence. EARL OF VASSE resumes from a spell and he is one galloper who should sit back and flash home. He goes very well fresh and his recent trial was a beauty. The half horse/half greyhound, IMA CITNPRETTY, was backed for a stack at her recent outing and she almost got the money. It will be interesting to see if she can cross LISETTA, if she doesn't then I don't think she can win. CARRY THE NATION is a smart galloper. His first couple of wins were impressive and he almost got the money in the Breeders Classic, skipping clear and getting caught late. Over the 1000m they might just tuck him in off the speed and give him the last crack at these leaders. AL SHAMARDAL is nice type who resumes from a long spell for a new stable. His trial was good and he could be the blowout. Get the stopwatch ready!
Numbers 8, 2, 3, 1

Suggested Bet- None recommended

RACE 5 - ozbet.com.au HANDICAP 1200m

No. 11 MORNING MIST. I'm pretty confident we can trim this first leg of the quaddie to a few chances and if MORNING MIST sees some daylight in the straight, then really it can be narrowed to the one chance. She is a very smart mare who resumes from a year long lay-off and for her new trainer, Grant Williams. Obviously she's had problems but from what we have seen in her limited career starts is that she is a very talented mare. Her recent trial win was first class and if William Pike can get off the fence then I think she just wins. MCSCAR is ticking over nicely. He'll enjoy the drop in grade and the step up to 1200m. He should get the perfect run from his gate and if the favourite does find some trouble he looks the next pick. ZIP CODE is tough on speed sprinter. He goes well fresh and he should finish in the top four. With any luck I think this favourite will win.
Numbers 11, 2, 4, 10

Suggested Bet - Morning Mist win

RACE 6 - tabtouch.mobi HANDICAP 1820m

No. 4 DANCIN ON THE WIND. I was very keen on DANCIN ON THE WIND on Melbourne Cup Day and he didn't let us down. He drew a gate, settled in the box seat and put pay to his opponents in a few strides at the top of the straight to power clear for an emphatic win. There looks to be good speed in the race with KNIGHT FURY and SEIZE CONTROL both likely to go forward and run along. From barrier 2 he should get an almost identical run as last week and I think he is a galloper with a touch of class who will handle these. There looks to be plenty of chances for the minor placings. COME FLIRT WITH ME is racing in career best form and his last start effort was very good. KNIGHT FURY finally broke through at his recent outing but it was far from convincing. He should finish around the top four. SUPERNOVA, SEARING HEIGHTS, THE WIDDER, ATHENA'S ME MUM and HACKETT'S HEART all solid chances for the minor placings.
Numbers 4, 3, 1, 2

Suggested Bet - Dancin On The Wind each way if odds permit

RACE 7 - WWW.CONSTRUCTIVEMEDIA.COM.AU HANDICAP 1400m

No. 13 GELSINGA. This is a pretty tricky race with a numerous winning chances. I'm going for the Simon Miller trained mare, GELSINGA. She won a very weak maiden at Northam back in August but she did do a lot wrong in running and parked wide but was still too good. She was pushed out in a recent trial but off the naked eye it was much more impressive than her trial performance before her maiden win. If she jumps well from her good draw I think she can settle right over the speed and prove the one to beat. The three-year-old filly BEAR RIO takes on the older horses but she has yet to run a bad race and is in this race up to her eyeballs. Her recent effort off a freshen up was good. VARIETY FAIR is a mare who should win her fair share of races. She ran some nice races at the end of her last preparation and she did finish off nicely in a recent trial. KIM ABILITY resumes from a six week let up. He didn't get the best of luck at his most recent outing behind Kenbon and if he is around the mark fitness there is no reason he won't be in the mix. The interesting runner is GLENCAMPBELL BOY. There was a good tip around for him in his first up run in the state but he only laboured to the line. If he found some of his form from Victoria he'd be a big show.
Numbers 13, 11, 14, 6

Suggested Bet - Gelsinga each way

RACE 8 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP 1600m

No. 1 DON'T SAY BOO. A capacity line up to face the starter in the last but I don't think there are many realistic winning chances. I think DON'T SAY BOO is racing well enough to pinch this event. He went enormous last week, parking three and four wide the trip but continuing to battle on gamely in the straight to only be caught by a couple of swoopers. This race doesn't appear to have a great deal of speed and I think he should be able to sit in the first couple and from there The Fish should be able to control the speed. He doesn't have a great turn of foot so I expect him to start rolling from the 600m and he will prove very hard to beat. Now that the second emergency VIKING has gained a start he has to be considered. He's a talented horse but still has a lot to learn. I think he might go around at a much more realistic quote today though so he could be worth a dabble. REALE FURY is a very tough galloper to catch. He has undeniable ability and can peel off mean late sectionals. He will probably be ridden cold from his wide draw and be allowed to flood home. He can definitely win the race. NEW TIME should settle much closer than last week. He did defeat DON'T SAY BOO on his merits two starts back. DREAM THEATRE is limited but is a solid top four chance. The interesting runner is BIZET who steps up a mile for the first time. I couldn't possibly have him to win but he should beat most of these on talent alone.
Numbers 1, 18, 6, 3

Suggested Bet - Don't Say Boo each way