Gumbys Gossip - Pinjarra 16th November

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Wed 16 November, 2011

A huge week of racing in this state kicks off with nine events today at one of our premier provincial tracks in Pinjarra Park, with a couple of good races later in the day, and four races in a row down the straight five 1000metre course, which are sure to test the punters as they always seem to do.

Race 1- Alcoa-Supporting Community Maiden- 1600metres

Boxo'Chocolats will probably never get a better chance to break her maiden status than in this race, she looks ideally placed on the back of second placings at her last four starts, two of them over this trip, one at this track and a nice pull in the weights for apprentice Renee Forrest, all pointers to a very good showing in this event. The main danger appears to be System Six who has also been racing well over these distances in the past few weeks, with a last start fourth over the 1690m at Bunbury on Melbourne Cup day a good pointer to a forward showing here. The other seemingly main chances you are taking on trust a little, with Prophet Of War stepping up to the mile at only his fourth race start, and Galiletto at only his second race start, although on both their early exposed form they look to have some ability. Rich In Stars may also be about the place for trainer Sharon Miller who also saddles up System Six, but Boxo'Chocolats does seem to have the strongest prospects in the opener of the day.

Numbers- 10-11-3-5

Suggested Bet- 10- Boxo'Chocolats- Win

Race 2- Peel Bus Hire and Charter Maiden-1200metres

Prominent owner Bob Peters may start what could be a big week here with his two runners looking to have very strong chances. Peters has four runners in the Railway Stakes on Saturday at Ascot, and could quinella this race with Secret Ceremony and Great Success. Will go with Secret Ceremony on the strength of the experience gained from four race starts, hopefully she has improved her manners from her last start when scratched at the barriers, but if so, she will go well for jockey Kyra Yuill in this race. Peters other runner Great Success has shown ability in trials and looks primed for a good first up race performance here, is nicely drawn and has William Pike on board, will be a strong chance you would suspect. The novelties may be fought out between Twilight Obsession, still a maiden after eleven starts, but has run four minor placings so far, and has the inside draw here, and Transit Reef has run just behind the placegetters as his last few starts and may be around the place also.

Numbers- 8-6-1-9

Suggested Bet- 8- Secret Ceremony- Win

Race 3- Lane Ford Maiden- 1200metres

Possibly one of the better bets of the day in this race in Metalman for trainer Gino Poletti. This State City gelding has been running in much stronger races at Belmont over the winter season, and returns to racing well placed to win his maiden it seems. He has first up form with seconds in both previous campaigns, has a beautiful draw at the 1200metre start in barrier six, and the services of in form Shaun O'Donnell in the saddle, so looks to be an extremely strong chance in this race. Distinctive Dane has been a bridesmaid a few times in her career but has run nicely since resuming racing, finishing third both times and could prove a danger here, although the wide barrier in fifteen will harm her chances unfortunately. Hot Metal has shown a fair bit of ability at his first two race starts and with that experience under his belt, looks able to run a forward race in this, and one that may improve and be at nice odds is Poppies For Spring, maybe also an omen tip after Remembrance day last Friday.

Numbers- 1-9-7-12

Suggested Bet- 1- Metalman- Win

Race 4- BEM Contract Management Maiden- 1000metres

A big field and an open maiden race here it seems with most of these horses relatively new to the track, so it's not an easy race to dissect. If Nova Park can overcome a poor barrier draw he may be the one in the firing line here on his first up second to Born To Excel at Northam on Oct28. This Bletchley Park gelding had a couple of trials prior to that first race start so should be at full fitness by now. His main rivals are a plenty though with Startorio running a nice third at Northam before unplaced in stronger company at Ascot last start, so should go a lot better in a more suitable event here. Octalert ran some very impressive trials for the Shane Edwards yard and will be no doubt improved on her first up start in the Winter, and may be one to keep an eye out for here, with also the Luciani trained Temples another that looks to have ability. All in all a tough race here.
Numbers- 1-9-14-7

Suggested Bet- 14 Octalert- Small each way investment

Race 5- Boddington Earthmoving Maiden-1000metres

A similar race to the previous event here with not a lot of race form exposed, in fact almost none. However Torta Di Fangio did run second down the straight five furlongs here at the last Pinjarra meeting so that looks the form line to take for this race. Probably not ideally drawn in a race where most of the horses tend to come to the outside but will tip him to win on the strength of that last start effort, and could continue a good day for trainer Sharon Miller who saddles up a few fancies throughout the day. Scorn Saxon has been burning in trials and looks to be well above average, having won both her trials so certainly keep a watch on this Saxon filly today. Travinator also comes into the race on the back of some impressive lead up trial form which is really all we have to go on for most of these starters here, so he should perform well at his debut. One that may improve today is the most experienced runner in the field in Miselle Blitz, who looks a lot better placed in this race than against Shining Knight and Ron's Call at her last two starts, she may improve immeasurably in this race.

Numbers- 9-13-7-8

Suggested Bet- 9- Torta Di Fango- Win

Race 6- The "Stork" Matthews Handicap- 1000metres

Another race down the Pinjarra straight but much more exposed form to go on here. Haboob has been placed at all three starts at this track/distance and looms as the one to beat here with a nice pull in the weights for Renee Forrest bringing the weight down to 55kgs. She has shown terrifically consistent form this campaign in some well spaced runs and will tip her to improve on her good record here in this event. Easi Cummins also is one for one down the straight five, so must be respected. His last run at Ascot behind Little Larrikin brings him right into this race, and he also boasts some nice consistent form this campaign, but maybe the extra 3kgs he has to carry and the inside rather than outside draw at the 1000metres tips the scales in favour of Haboob. Movies By Burswood improved out of sight last start here and if running up to that form will prove to be a danger in this, and another last start winner at the 1000metres in Miss Dandy comes into the race strongly if she runs up to that effort as well. A good race here with some strong Pinjarra form exposed.

Numbers- 2-1-11-10
Suggested Bet- 2- Haboob- Win

Race 7- Carlton United Handicap- 1000metres

The fourth race in a row over the sprint journey here and this looms as an open affair with Flying Heritage the on top selection in this. This Heritage gelding has shown some promise in his thirteen start career generally racing in stronger city fields, and boasts an impressive first up record, in fact hasn't been unplaced in three starts back from a spell, so no need to worry about that being a factor here. He did run behind some impressive types in his last campaign over the winter season and beat Sweet Serenity in a trial as a warm up to his racing return last week. Fleming Son looks the main danger here, another with an impressive first up strike rate, he is also coming off racing in far stronger fields over the Winter, so look for a good first up effort from him also. Andraczke will possibly be one to throw in quartets and quaddies on the strength of seven placings from nine career starts, another starting first up in this race, with Dark Tryst also one to keep a watch on. He hasn't started for nearly a year so got to take on trust but did impress at his only two race starts at Ascot late last year boasting a victory over The Tenby Friar to boot.

Numbers- 2-1-5-8
Suggested Bet- 2-Flying Heritage- Win

Race 8- J G Matthews Memorial Handicap- 2003metres

This is a pretty good field for a country distance race and will opt for Hussation here for the Morton/Pike combination. He has come back to racing in wonderfully consistent form and is now working up to a suitable distance for him to notch another victory, at what might be good each way odds in this race. This Hussonet gelding has only won once from fifteen starts so tread warily on that front, but I just feel he is racing better this time in, and will enjoy the rise to 2003metres, pointers to a very forward showing here. Mystic Hour is another who will appreciate the rise in distance on her first two starts back from a spell and should be ready to produce her best here, she did win over 2200metres last summer, and has some pretty good city form to her credit. Develish Intent is in the same boat, wont be worried by the rise in distance, a winner over the 2000metres previously, and ready to improve on his last two Ascot efforts, which did follow a first up win at that track in October. Another that may improve is Reale Fury, unproven over this journey but generally runs on in his races, he has been a disappointing horse to follow generally, but if you have burnt money on him in the past as I have, maybe one last chance here today.
Numbers- 7-1-2-11

Suggested Bet- 7- Hussation- Each Way

Race 9- Chaff City Handicap- 1500metres

A good race to finish the days proceedings at Pinjarra Park with some well performed horses engaged. Prince Ted came with a slashing run to just get up last start here on Oct 16 and allowing for the extra 100metres of this race may be the one to beat once again. Margaret Street was just beaten by Prince Ted in that Pinjarra race and meets him slightly better on weights here, but maybe the 1500metres might just suit Prince Ted so will stick with him in a very tight affair. Like Wildfire has raced pretty well in this campaign, not quite up to her form of a year or so ago, but still quite consistent and looks to be another major player in this, although barrier fifteen puts me off a little bit, with possibly Snooza one that may run an improved race here at good each way odds. Bizet and Amberstroem have also run good races in this sort of company before, so plenty of chances in a good race here.
Numbers- 4-10-1-12

Suggested Bet- 4- Prince Ted- Each Way

Best Bets- Race 1 No 10 Boxo'Chocolats
Race 3 No 1 Metalman