Gumbys Gossip - Bunbury 9th December

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Thu 8 December, 2011

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Bunbury- 9th December

Its Friday twilight racing today at Bunbury with a late finishing time, which hopefully gets the locals down to the track after a week at work, and the punters investing a few dollars on the card at the local pubs and clubs as they wind down. A few tough maiden races early on, followed by the last three races which boast pretty good fields and hopefully some good value for punters if they can find a winner or two.

Race 1- Poags Utah Point Maiden- 1100metres

A nice tough maiden to start proceedings today with not a lot of form exposed here. Will opt for a relative newcomer in Just De Lovely though, on the strength of a good first up fourth at her first race start at Pinjarra on Nov 16. She ran home nicely behind the placegetters that day and has the advantage of the inside draw today at her home track. She also trialled well before that first race start to give an indication she does have some ability. The main danger may be Foo Flyer who has had a previous racing preparation, where she ran a couple of nice races at Ascot, one of those beaten only a few lengths by King Saul. She has drawn alongside Just De Lovely in barrier two today and judged on her victory in a twelve horse trial field is ready for her return to the track. To round out the novelty selections maybe look at Poppies For Spring who ran an improved race at her last start for trainer Sharon Taylor, and the newcomer Let's Havachat, who has shown some good trial form in the lead up to his race debut, is drawn a bit wide though which will make it a tough assignment today.
Numbers- 8-7-9-5

Suggested Bet- 8- Just De Lovely- Each Way

Race 2- Poags Bunbury Maiden- 1690metres

Another tough event here with a maximum field and most of these runners having their first run over the 1690 metre distance. Will go with the exposed form behind Rock City, he has been about the place his last few starts without quite winning, but certainly gets his chance today for comeback jockey Glenn Smith. Although drawn very wide its probably not as much of a concern as at other starting points at the track and will back him to step up and get the money today at his sixth race start. Indamani has raced very well since returning to the track and looms as the main opposition here, a good fourth here last week to Statements followed a first up second on Nov 20, another one knocking at the door to break his maiden status. Foxatori is always about the place, also drawn wide here but after fifteen starts its very hard to tip him to win a race, but certainly a must for quartet punters again, and Grandstand is a similar proposition, always seems to be ready to go close but cant get over the line first, another one for the novelties. One that may improve at good odds could be Major Handell for local trainer Graham Yuill, a reasonable debut followed some good trial form and if handles the step up to 1600metres may be worth a small each way investment here.
Numbers- 4-5-1-2

Suggested Bet- 4- Rock City Each Way

Race 3- Poags Fremantle Maiden- 1200metres

Another maiden race with minimal form exposed but we just might be able to get on Glacial Energy here with a little confidence. The Chris Gangemi gelding has only had one race start for a sixth as favourite and beaten by Westriver Kevydonn last April at Pinjarra, and we all know he has gone onto much bigger and better things since that race. The other pointer is a trial win back in August over Rubitawny, another that has come on in leaps and bounds over the winter months, so on that form line and in the absence of anything else in the race with great form we will tip him on an each way basis here. Jarrod Noske will have to overcome a very poor draw in barrier thirteen, but if he can get across from there Glacial Energy just might be the one to beat today. Toro Express ran a fifth in a Northam maiden at his only race start back in July and might be a good chance here also, and did win a trial a month ago at Bunbury in preparation for his return to racing, he is nicely drawn and could be another good ride for Glenn Smith. Son Of A Bletch has been around the place lately and could be set to improve on his record of no placings from ten starts today, and Interest Rate Hike is another that may improve here, the field really hasn't a lot of depth at all, so going on a couple of reasonable efforts lately, should come into calculations.

Numbers- 4-10-2-14

Suggested Bet- 4- Glacial Energy- Each Way

Race 4- Poags Zero Harm Maiden- 1200metres

Once again this isn't an easy race at all from a punting point of view. A few untried horses up against a few that have had numerous chances to break the ice but are yet to do so. Will opt for Flirtman today, at what might be nice each way odds simply as I find it hard to tip horses that can't seem to break through in these maiden races. Flirtman ran a reasonable race at his only start at Northam back in April, and then was spelled. He did trail well last week at Lark Hill and has a lovely draw in barrier five today, so I will put him on top here this afternoon. Brocco Debanko may prove to be another top chance today, a couple of nice runs just behind the placegetters at his two race starts indicate he may be a maiden winner shortly, and he is bound to improve with more racing. Then we get to the horses with the consistent form who are finding it hard to get the "W" next to their name, of which Satellite City is one. He has run some nice races lately without winning and should be in the firing line again today, certainly a must for novelty punters here, as is possibly the case with Lunar Ice, a twenty nine start maiden finding it difficult to find the line first, but always about the place in these sorts of races. Rakuroo is another who has run a couple of nice races to commence his career and may go on with it, another one for the trifectas and quartet punters here.
Numbers- 7-1-10-2

Suggested Bet- 7- Flirtman- Each Way

Race 5- Poags Stevedoring Handicap- 1200metres

This is a good race with some good form exposed. Love You Like That is racing in a rich vein of form at present and will take some tossing here. This gelding has won his last two starts for trainer Sharon Miller both over the 1200metre distance and seems to have improved markedly lately. He has a nice draw with regular hoop Takahide Ikenushi on board and there's no reason why he can't make it a hat trick of wins here today. Army Miss disappointed slightly in a tougher race at Pinjarra last week but may pay to forgive that run and go on her previous two starts which included a win at Ascot back in October. An interesting runner is Atelier who is having his first start in this state but has a terrific record first up, being placed three of four times. He hasn't started since March back in NSW but did trial well here on Nov 29, and is trained at Bunbury, so a big watch on this Redoutes Choice gelding today. Best of the rest is probably Outlier, who continues to run consistent races in similar type of company, and if Private Business can run up to his best form he also represents a danger here, he just mixes his form too much to declare as a selection in this race.
Numbers- 5-1-3-2

Suggested Bet- 5- Love You Like That- Win

Race 6- Poags Bulk Logistics Handicap- 1410metres

I will go with the horse with probably the best form in Amarna to claim victory today. He has had eight starts and been placed four of those with a victory here on Melbourne Cup day to his credit. He has held his form pretty well since so looks the one to beat here, certainly a must include for quaddie punters. Glenn Smith gets another chance to build on what might be a good day by guiding this Akhenation gelding home ahead of possibly Louisiana Lady, who won her maiden well here a couple of weeks ago, that on the back of some good previous form also, so she represents the biggest danger in this. Call Me Ned has run some reasonable races lately at Albany, especially its last start second down there to Hallowell Fever so will no doubt be around the place, and Sparta Belle may improve today at her third race start.

Numbers- 1-3-2-10

Suggested Bet- 1- Amarna- Win

Race 7- Poags Port Logistics Handicap- 1690metres

The best event of the day here pitting a good up and coming horse in Friarday against a pretty good country field. I will tip Friarday to come out on top, the stewards report on his last start is as long as a Stephen King novel, the bottom line being trainer Peter Giadresco thought he had not handled the step up to 2200metres, hence the drop back to the 1690metres today. His previous three starts were all terrific performances culminating in a 3 length win here on Nov 10 at this distance, so he must go well again today you would expect. Like Wildfire has been racing in slightly better company of late, and been producing reasonable efforts in those, she hasn't regained the heights of her early campaigns but still is a good chance in every race of this type that she does contest, and today is no exception. Another horse holding good form is Flirtista, he is a last start winner at this track over the 1690m and has solid claims again today. Best of the rest is probably Kranji Dude, who certainly mixes his form, but on his day would be in this with a chance as well.
Numbers- 6-1-5-7

Suggested Bet- 6- Friarday- Win

Race 8- Poags Port Hedland Handicap- 1200metres

Last event of the day and we can hopefully get a winner in Levi's Boy. We will completely ignore the duck egg at Ascot last start and go on his very good country form in similar fields to this previous to that. He is drawn to get a great run in transit today and may just get to the line first for regular jockey Marco Chui. He seems to race close to the lead so should be in an ideal position to strike when the whips are cracking at the end of the race. I think Zaratino will provide the stiffest opposition today, he did race in some good form last summer when last in work, including a first up third that preparation. Another with some form to his credit is Sundanceboy, he has been placed at his last two starts both at Bunbury and will be around the place again today, you would expect. The other to keep an eye on at probable each way odds is the Bunbury specialist Jomatesi, who flew home last week here to just be beaten a short head, he seems to have re found some of his old form down here on that run, and will be good each way value today.

Numbers- 5-3-11-2

Suggested Bet- 5- Levi's Boy- Win

Best Bet- Race 7 No 6 Friarday
Each Way- Race 3 No 4 Glacial Energy