Hoops Tips for Wednesday 21st December

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 21 December, 2011

RACE 1 -PERTH GLORY V CENTRAL COAST FRI NIGHT HANDICAP 1600m

No. 2 WICKED GAME. I'm going to cheat in the opener and make it a bracket selection between WICKED GAME and CARNIOLAN. Both are promising gallopers who will appreciate the mile. For the sake of tipping purposes only I'll put WICKED GAME on top. They should completely dominate the race. ROHAN looks a big loping type who should enjoy getting out to a trip. Not really much to say about the rest.
Numbers - 2, 1, 3, 9

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 2 - MERRY MERRY PERTH GLORY HANDICAP 1200m

No. 3 DUAL CITY. The Pontiff gets back on top of DUAL CITY and I think that should be enough to see her very hard to beat in this three-year-old sprint. She was a model of consistency last preparation starting on four occasions, winning once and placing on the other occasions. Her first up effort over 1000m was solid, she settled in the second half and was doing her best work late. The step up to 1200m suits and she was a dominant second up winner over this trip last campaign. Provided she jumps well I think she can camp on the speed and dominate the race. HARTLEY'S HANGOVER returns from a freshen up after choking down at his last start. He has claims at his best. BEAR RIO was no chance at his most recent outing the way the track was playing that day. He's in the mix. ELSA'S GIRL resumes from a spell and she showed enough in her first preparation to suggest she has some ability and her recent trial win was good.
Numbers 3, 1, 5, 11

Suggested Bet - Dual City win

RACE 3 - PERTH RACING ON FACEBOOK HANDICAP 1400m

No. 4 RESETGOLD. This is a good quality midweek mares' race with a couple of up and coming types clashing. I've got a really big opinion of RESETGOLD and happy to be on her again in this event. She has impressed in all her four runs to date and her last start win was enormous. She settled last, overcame difficulties in the run but was still good enough to get over her rivals and come clear late for what was a relatively easy win. The wide gate suits as she should be able to drop straight out the back, keep out wide and have unimpeded crack at them in the straight. Clear second pick is DURRAHMOORE who is also making her way through the grades nicely. Her two wins this campaign have been pretty easy work. She'll be the one that RESETGOLD will need to reel in. Of the rest DARK HUMOUR should get all the favours from the inside draw and IT'S A GIRL THING is still a maiden but can a fill a hole for the novelties.
Numbers 4, 2, 1, 8

Suggested Bet - Resetgold win and bank Resetgold/Durrahmmoore upfront in all novelties

RACE 4 - PERTH CUP TICKETS AT FOXTIX.COM.AU HANDICAP 1600m

No. 3 THE UNDERWORLD. This race could sit comfortably on any Saturday program, plenty of talented types are engaged. If THE UNDERWORLD brings his ‘a-game' he'll beat these, simple as that. I thought his first up effort, against the bias of the day was terrific but he then raced flat at his next outing when he was given windburn by Maschino. Back to midweek company suits, as does the mile. He should be hard to beat. MAC IT IS has very good claims. All his runs this preparation have been good and although beaten as odd on favourite at his last start he was no chance after settling at the tail in a slowly run race. He also laying in badly the entire straight and I note a couple of gear changes have been made in an endeavour to eradicate that issue. ULTIMATE FIGHTER is some query at the trip but he has been luckless at his last couple of starts and connections have decided to go for the best and put P Harvey on. From barrier 2 he should get all the favours. LIKE WILDFIRE is a consistent mare who is always a chance in this type of race. We found RANCHER'S GOLD last week at nice odds, this is certainly a much better race but he does have some claims. LOVABRUCHILL and NOVARESE should are also in the mix. A really good race.
Numbers 3, 2, 1, 8

Suggested Bet- The Underworld win and Mac It Is save

RACE 5 - PERTHRACING.COM.AU HANDICAP 1200m

No. 7 CATLANTIC. From barrier 2 CATLANTIC should get a lovely drop on the leaders and prove the one to beat. He was dominant in his first up win and last start ran well in Saturday grade. Back to this companye he looks the one to beat. FELINED gets her chance, she's run placings at her last four starts including a very good second to the talented, Resetgold. UNION CITY raced flat in his first up performance, he's a better horse than that and has to be a chance at this level. Not really sure what to do with UMA PARK. He resumes from a spell and has had the benefit of a trial where he was beaten 4 lengths but wasn't asked for too much. He is a galloper who has shown previously that he can switch up his form. If he were to turn up and bring his best this field would be battling to get near him.
Numbers 7, 8, 9, 1

Suggested Bet - Catlantic each way if odds permit

RACE 6 - FOLLOW PERTH RACING ON TWITTER HANDICAP 1400m

No. 9 KIMBERLEY COWBOY. After running two very good seconds at his first couple of runs back from a spell KIMBERLEY COWBOY looks ideally placed to go one better in this event. He drew the outside gate at his recent outing, flew out to find the front but was nailed right on the line by Disco Bling who came from the clouds late. The form out of the race looks strong with both Bombora and Disco Bling running well on Saturday. The step up to 1400m should suit as he'll be able to control the speed and he his only career win to date was third up over 1400m last campaign when he defeated Ladysea convincingly. I think he'll be very hard to beat. KARBA was a narrow winner last week, however, he was forced to sit three wide with no cover for the duration. From barrier 2 he should get a lovely run and be around the mark. MILTON'S GIFT is the blowout chance if they go to quick upfront. He's one dimensional in that he needs to be ridden stone cold and come with one run late. COBBLE LANE drops back to midweek level and he should settle outside KIMBERELY COWBOY in running and he has each way claims.
Numbers 9, 4, 12, 1

Suggested Bet - Kimberley Cowboy each way if odds permit

RACE 7 - PERTH CUP 31ST DECEMBER HANDICAP 1600m

No. 3 TAQWAA. On a day in which a few do standout TAQWAA probably looks the best of them. He trialled super going into his first up run so it was not surprising to see him get the money but what was surprisingly was just how easy he did it! He was first up over 1500m, parked just behind the in speed, put pay to his rivals on straightening and came clear for a 4 length victory under a hand brake! He looks a promising galloper and with normal racing luck should be making it back to wins. PROPHET WAR deservedly broke his maiden tag at his most recent outing when he tracked wide throughout but came clear late. He gets the perfect trip from barrier 1 and looks the second pick. Of the rest KINCORA is racing well, he should lead which is always advantage in these mile events. ENDLESS SACRIFICE was forced to do a stack of work first up and battled on soundly. If he has pulled up OK then he's in the mix.
Numbers 3, 2, 1, 9

Suggested Bet - Taqwaa win

RACE 8 - PERTH ICE WORKS HANDICAP 1100m

No. 4 SKY BALLOON. There looks to be plenty of exposed top end pressure in this race with the likes of COOL CORONA, IMPULSIVE FIGHTER, RUNNERDAL, DANTE'S LAST, CALDO and TRIBULETTE all capable of hunting up and looking to lead. If the pace does get turned on early I think SKY BALLOON should be smoking it from her good gate and hopefully go whooshka in the straight. Her two wins this preparation have been completely dominant and she was moral beaten in her only defeat. She has come back a treat this preparation and I think she can make it a winning hat-trick. There are plenty of other gallopers with claims. If they go real quick upfront then I think the blowout chance late is HECACITY. He didn't have the best of luck first up in a race that was dominated by the speed horses. Drawing wide probably suits as he looks like a horse that wants room to move. CALDO returns from a 9 week freshen up. She bolted in first up last campaign but the outside means she might get posted. IMPULSIVE FIGHTER should get a nice run from his gate and he has claims. ALOHA SPIRIT resumes from a spell, she showed more than enough in her two-year-old starts.
Numbers 4, 5, 12, 11

Suggested Bet - Sky Balloon each way

I wish all the Perth Turf Talk users a very happy and safe Christmas and a prosperous new year.
Many winners
Hoops