Gumbys Gossip - Albany 24th November

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Thu 24 November, 2011

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Albany- 24th November

Back down to the Great Southern today with a seven event twilight card at Albany. Trainer Steve Wolfe may even go one better then the last meeting down here on November 13th when he trained four of the first five winners. Today he has very strong winning chances in six of the seven races and certainly looks the trainer to follow today. Some good races later in the day will add interest to a good programme of country racing.

Race 1- Austral Bricks Maiden- 1200metres

Stone Boy could get followers of the Wolfe stable off to a good start here. He has been knocking on the door at his last few starts and with the perfect draw on his home track can give you a very good sight for your money today. At his last start here he was only beaten a short head by the promising Huracan, and today is having his third start in this preparation, all pointers to a very strong showing in this race. The main danger may be Madame Renoir, who has done all her racing in much stronger city fields so may go well here in the more suitable class of race, she did have a trial run here on Nov 13 to familiarise herself with the track, but the horror barrier draw at the tough 1200metres puts me off tipping her as the outright winner of this race. Lunar Park is a fifteen start maiden and may very well make it sixteen today, but does have seven minor placings to his name and may run another forward race today. Another two who have run nice trials at this track lately are Rain Needed and Doubledown Dane, and could be well worth slotting into novelty bets in this opening race.

Numbers- 2-9-1-7

Suggested Bet- 2- Stone Boy- Win

Race 2- O'Keefes Paints/Taubmans Maiden- 1500metres

The Wolfe stable holds another strong hand in this race with three runners all with very good winning chances. I will opt for Solid Dan to break through here, he ran a nice race when third behind Girlcan at the last Albany meeting here on Nov 13, and with the 4kg claim for apprentice Natasha Faithfull, comes into this race nicely. The good draw in barrier two also means he should get a nice run in the race and should be right in the firing line when the whips are cracking at the end of this event. The Wolfe stable may actually get the trifecta in this event, as I see Black'N'Green and Dangerous Diamond as the main opposition here. Black'N'Green will no doubt appreciate the 1500metres here being by Blackfriars, and is drawn the pole so hopefully also gets a good run in the race, and Dangerous Diamond , who is also by Blackfriars won't have any problems going up to the 1500metre distance either. The improver may be McQueen Star, having her third race start today, so getting up to full fitness and no doubt improving with race experience, she could be the best of the non Wolfe runners here.

Numbers- 3-1-11-12

Suggested Bet- 3- Solid Dan- Win

Race 3- Corinthian Doors Handicap-1500metres

Only a small field engaged here but it's still very difficult to find the winner and you will probably get some sort of value whichever way you go in this race. I have gone for Megablitz, mainly on race fitness having had two starts in this campaign, so hopefully he is now ready to put his best foot forward in this. He hasn't been beaten that far in those two starts behind Masters Seal and Raucous Laughter at this track, and has the services of top hoop Jason Whiting today. Noble Steed has been racing in much stronger company in the city until last start when he returned to his home track and ran fourth to Timely Reign, however the 60kgs he will have to carry even with the claim for apprentice Aaron Rogers puts me off him a little. Striking Viking may well start favourite here, and will appreciate the rise in distance after a nice first up run behind Monsieur Blanc at the last Albany meeting, he does also have some second up form to his name, but again the weight he will have to carry may just tell in the end.

Numbers- 5-1-2-4

Suggested Bet- 5- Megablitz- Win

Race 4- All Weather Building Products Handicap- 1500metres

A pretty open affair here and a large field make it difficult to pinpoint the winner. I will stick with January Boys on his last start at the track and over this distance which resulted in this geldings second victory, his other win also at Albany. The last start win here at last weeks meeting followed some reasonable form previous to that at Pinjarra and Kalgoorlie, so he looms as the probable one to beat in this event. I wouldn't be taking too short a price though, it's quite a tough race, and he has only been in the money twice in eleven career starts, resulting in those victories. Morbogal has shown some good form in the South West since the new racing season began and looks primed to run a good race also if he can overcome a wide draw here, that will be the biggest obstacle to overcome for this horse. Desert Oak ran some very good races earlier in his career, but has tapered off drastically at his last few starts, however his track and distance form appeal here, hopefully a better performance is in the offing today, and Matron Geojack comes to Albany on the back of some reasonable provincial form at Northam and Bunbury and can make his presence felt here also.
Numbers- 5-3-10-6

Suggested Bet- 10- Desert Oak- Each Way at what should be nice odds

Race 5- Hansons Construction Materials Handicap- 1200metres

One of the better events of the day here, with some good form exposed. I found it difficult to separate Book Club and Huracan as the on top selection here, both recording good last start victories at this track. In the end I leaned towards Book Club, mainly on the race experience factor and the drop in the weights to 56.5kgs with the 2.0kg claim for Renee Forrest. It's an interesting scenario with the 31 start experienced 6year old taking on the promising 3year old newcomer who won at his first race start here last week. So it will be Book Club to just blouse out Huracan in what could be a quinella worth investing a few dollars on. Polly Ollie simply hasn't raced up to her early career form of late, although maybe a third here last week indicates she may be coming back into a little better form, and appreciating the somewhat weaker fields down in the Great Southern these days. Redford is probably next best, he has raced consistently without winning since relocating down this way to the Annette Crump stable.

Numbers- 1-8-4-5

Suggested Bet- 1- Book Club and 8-Hurracan- Quinella

Race 6- CSR Gyprock Country Challenge Heat- 1200metres

Another good field engaged here and will opt for another from the Wolfe stable in Raucous Laughter to continue on his winning ways today. This Ferocity gelding looks set for a very promising race career if his first seven starts are any indication, with three wins (all at this track) and two seconds from those starts. He dead heated with Book Club here then won outright at the November 13 meeting at this track, that coming after a nice fifth in town behind New Time, so the form looks good, the draw looks good in barrier four, and finally the form at his home track is superb, three wins and a second from five starts here, so he does look one of the better bets of the day in this. Mczulu has found a new lease of life since starting down here at Albany, winning at his last two starts, although he will have to overcome a difficult draw on the outside of this field today. Another Albany specialist is Soldiers Salute who boasts five placings in seven starts here and will appreciate this much more than his first start back at Bunbury two weeks ago, look for improvement from this horse today. Alabameramer has also been consistent down here and should be put into novelty bets in this race.

Numbers- 3-7-5-10

Suggested Bet- 3- Raucous Laughter- Win

Race 7- Active Plumbing/Camtrans Handicap- 1100metres

Another good event to end the days proceedings and another strong prospect from the Wolfe stable here in Blomkvist as the on top selection. Since coming to the West in the winter months this Danzero gelding has clocked up a win and two seconds at his three starts in this state and can go on with it here. He was only beaten a short neck last week when resuming and on all the exposed form he has shown looks to be a good bet to end the day. He has the advantageous draw in barrier five at the tough 1100metre start round the Albany circuit and can give Shaun McGruddy a winner to end the day, and finish what could be a red letter day for the Wolfe stable. I think the main danger could be Brother Louie and he may be at nice each way odds, he has run some good consistent races down here for Max Hockey and no reason why he can't do so again with pilot Jason Whiting on board. Regal Times won his maiden last start her also, and may run another forward race today, as may Hallowell Fever, another last start winner here in the Great Southern.

Numbers- 4-1-5-3

Suggested Bet- 4- Blomkvist- Win

Best Bets- Race 6 No 3 Raucous Laughter
Race 7 No 4 Blomkvist