Gumby's Gossip - Bunbury 30th November

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Tue 29 November, 2011

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Bunbury 30th November

Eight events on the Bunbury menu today with some very open races, so best bets are at a premium this afternoon. However races five and six today bring together some very promising horses, and it should be the highlight of the afternoon watching these two races.

Race 1- Active Plumbing Maiden- 1000metres

A tough maiden race to commence the card today with quite a few of the fancied runners drawing a bit wide. Will opt for Heldorado here, this Helenus gelding is one of the major players who is drawn a little wide but will come in a few numbers with the probable scratching of the emergencies. He ran a couple of nice races early on in this campaign and last start was injured when running down the track here on Nov 1st, so will obviously pay to forget that run. Ryan Hill claims 1.5kgs to bring him back to 56kgs today and he may be a bit of an each way bet in this. Cygnet Bay raced in much stronger company in his first race campaign, and having won a trial last week looks ready to improve this time in, is nicely drawn for the Parnham stable and rates strongly in this. Twists of Fate has also raced well since returning to the track and should be at his peak third run back today so must be respected here, and next best is probably Brocco Debanko, who ran a good first up fourth to Mannar Mia here on Nov 10, but is drawn very wide at the tough 1000metre Bunbury start, so will have to overcome that obstacle. One to keep an eye on might be Rukus who has looked good in trials, winning by 4 lengths here a couple of weeks ago, but again a wide draw and race inexperience tells me to just watch here with a view to future starts.
Numbers- 1-6-11-5
Suggested Bet- 1- Heldorado- Each Way

Race 2- Tradelink Plumbing Supplies Maiden- 1400metres

Another very open race here but will give Secret Ceremony another chance to break her maiden status today. She began poorly at her last start at Pinjarra and got too far back to be a winning chance so if we forgive her for that run and go on her previous promising form she comes into this race with a good each way chance. Top hoop William Pike hops back aboard today and the 1400 metres journey here does seem to suit this mare so we will tip her on top today. An interesting first up runner is Cielo Rosso from the Grant Williams stable, has only been produced twice in trials running only moderate races on face value, but this nicely bred Hurricane Sky gelding could be one that goes well at his first race start. Foxatori is always about the place but has found it hard to win at his fourteen race starts but on his last start second to Voluminous on Nov 10, must come into calculations here. Indamani also ran a much improved race first up here just over a week ago, he seems to be much improved this time in and represents a good chance also, with Statements another with his foot on the till, although drawn on the outside of the field won't help at all in this race.
Numbers- 10-7-1-3

Suggested Bet- 10- Secret Ceremony- Each Way

Race 3- Australind Pre-Mix/S & J Excavations Maiden- 1400metres

Wicked Game gets his chance to break through here at his third race start for the Trevor Andrews stable, having run some good races behind promising horses Bustabill and Bayfield, and can give Marco Chui a welcome winner today. He raced handily last start at this track on Nov 20 when running Bayfield to a short head and on that run will be a strong winning chance today. Rock City may provide the strongest opposition here having been the bridesmaid at his last two starts both at this track and distance, the outside barrier a little against him though in this. An interesting runner is the newcomer Snowcrab (not sure how they got that name, but I do like it), this Racers Edge gelding has shown a lot of promise at two trials this month at Belmont and the Simon Miller stable is flying at the moment, so a watch on him today with possibly Sad Eyes and Prince Charming good novelty chances in a pretty good maiden race here.
Numbers- 5-1-7-11

Suggested Bet- 5- Wicked Game- Each Way

Race 4- Solahart South West Maiden- 2000metres

These distance maiden races can be fraught with danger and probably no exception today but we have narrowed it down to four main chances. Grandstand will be the on top selection on the strength of his previous two runs when running on to finish second, both in mile races here at Bunbury, he certainly looks as if he will appreciate the extra 400 metres today and gets his chance to break through for a victory at his ninth start in a race. He is nicely drawn in a large field so hopefully gets a nice run into the first turn and settles close enough to be able to run on, and over the top of these for Jason Whiting. I went for Winter Pagaent as the main danger, based on her last two starts up at Northam when running on well also, she may settle back in the field and run on also here, with Star Beau and Ambers Kingdom the next best, both are struggling to break their maiden status, both having had fourteen previous starts, so its not easy to suggest with any confidence that things will change today, maybe the better draw in barrier three puts Star Beau marginally ahead for the novelties.
Numbers- 3-11-2-1

Suggested Bet- 3- Grandstand- Each Way

Race 5- Combined Metal Industries Handicap- 1200metres

A terrific race here with some real promising types engaged, one of the better country three year old races you would expect to see at a provincial circuit. Murphy's Red Boy was brilliant at his first race start at Northam on July 7th, and on the strength of that went to Belmont a week later and started favorite in a city class field. He had absolutely no luck in that race as per the detailed stewards report that day, and was subsequently sent for a spell. He did trial last week behind Kim Coin at Belmont in preparation for his racing return and on the strength of that Northam win will tip him here. However Bustabill will take a lot of beating after what he has shown in his three race starts for local trainer Michael Lane, the wide barrier may be a disadvantage and thats what possibly sways me to Murphys Red Boy in the end. Then we also have Warning Sky, who also showed enormous promise over his three starts in the winter, including a Belmont Park win in August, another who will have to overcome a difficult draw though. Scorn Saxon is unbeaten in trials and her first race start down the Pinjarra straight five and must also be respected in this event, with Rose Of Pegasus having some claims in a really good race. Wouldn't be a surprise to see some of these going on to bigger and better things over the coming months.
Numbers- 2-1-9-10

Suggested Bet- 2- Murphy's Red Boy- Win

Race 6- WA Country Builders Handicap- 1200metres

Another race here with a few promising horses engaged. If we can forgive Carry the Nation for his first up effort and go back to his form last summer, he will be hard to beat in this. This Blackfriars gelding impressed in his first race campaign with wins at Bunbury and Albany before a terrific run when second to Summer Swallow in the Bunbury Breeders classic on Stakes day back in March. On those efforts he will prove very hard to beat here, he was carted wide at that first up start at Belmont on Nov 9th, so with a nice inside draw today, that shouldn't happen again and I will have him as the on top selection. Al Shamardal has also been working up to a win this campaign, and wasn't beaten too far second up by Flying Heritage at Pinjarra two weeks ago, he should be fit and ready to put his best hoof forward today. Others with chances must be Dante's Princess who has raced in stronger city fields over the Belmont season, the 3kgs claim for apprentice Aaron Rodgers may be offset by the poor draw at the 1200metre start here though, with another consistent performer in Flying Warrior and the lightly raced Miss Dandy coming into calculations in another good race.

Numbers- 1-2-4-8
Suggested Bet- 1- Carry The Nation- Win

Race 7- Satterley's Dalyellup Beach Estate Handicap- 1675metres

This is quite a tough race in which to try and pinpoint the winner being a class one race, so the winning ratio of a lot of these runners isn't the best. However I will go for Sky Destiny to bring up her second win for the Parnham stable today. This Oratorio mare has virtually been on a tour of the states racecourses recently, breaking her maiden status at Geraldton two starts ago, that following close up placings at the Toodyay picnic meeting and Northam. She returned to Bunbury last start when third over this distance to Kim Ability at the Sunday meeting on Nov 20 and is primed to run another forward race today, with top jockey Patrick Carbery on board once again. Plenty of other chances though with Boy Mambo coming off a nice fourth to Carlton Street last week at Pinjarra amongst them, his ratio of one win in 25 starts and 445 days since his only race win does put me off a little though, but certainly a good chance for novelty punters in this. Reale Fury is another one very hard to follow, he always seems to want a little longer in his races, maybe the 1600metres is his go, so keep a watch on this horse today, but I certainly wouldn't be investing heavily on him from a punting point of view, and Ontrust has shown some promise, back to his sort of class today, he may be one for the minors here.

Numbers- 11-1-2-5
Suggested Bet- 11- Sky Destiny- Each Way

Race 8- Halifax Crane Hire Handicap- 1400metres

A maximum field to close the meeting here, but will tip an ex Victorian horse who seemed unlucky at his first up run in the West a couple of weeks ago at Northam. Tonto's Fire is the horse, he is mentioned in the Stewards report as being held up for a run that day, and in the end did come home well to finish fourth in Musterings race at that meeting. Given expected further improvement from that run, and a good second up record, as well as a cushy barrier draw today, will go for Tonto to bring up his maiden WA victory here. There are a couple of nice consistent horses engaged that will take tossing though, with Auric possibly the main danger. He is approaching peak fitness now, after some good runs at Ascot in midweek class at his last two outings, and if he can overcome the poor draw in the big field, must come right into calculations here. Similarly Amarna has shown some promise at his home track of Bunbury since racing resumed this season, including a maiden victory on Melbourne Cup day, followed up by a close up third here at the last meeting, so represents a good chance today. Best of the rest for novelty punters may be Dream Theatre, who seems to have been up for a long time but continues to race well for the McAuliffe stable.

Numbers- 12-5-4-1
Suggested Bet- 12- Tonto's Fire- Win

Best Bet- Race 5 No 2 Murphy's Red Boy
Each Way- Race 2 No 10 Secret Ceremony