Hoops tips for Australia Day at Bunbury

Greg Hooper | Country Racing | Thu 26 January, 2012

RACE 1 -JOHN BRAY MEMORIAL MAIDEN 1690m

No. 8 GOLDEN FRIARS. This looks a pretty weak maiden to kick off the day. (8) GOLDEN FRIARS gets the nod tip wise on the strength of her last start effort behind Prince Charming when she was finishing strongly over the concluding stages. However, she is a 13 start maiden which makes her almost a non punting proposition. The big improver should be (4) NAMISUKI. His debut effort was solid and last start he was caught wide for the duration and dropped out. From barrier 2 he should get all the favours in running. The rest are a pretty average bunch, I'll throw in (2) LET ME TELL YOU and (9) RICH IN STARS into the numbers.
Numbers - 8, 4, 2, 9

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 2 - BUNDABERG DISTILLING COMPANY MAIDEN 1200m

No. 15 CRYSTAL MAKER. There is a lot more depth in this maiden with plenty of winning chances. I'm going for (15) CRYSTAL MAKER who should roll forward, take a spot in the first few and with only 52kg on her back I think she will be hard to catch. (1) MINICANO has burnt punters over his career, starting favourite more times than not. He definitely has winning claims again but I want to see him salute in a race before I tip him again. (7) BROMANCE is very honest, he'll go forward and should be in the finish. (11) HIGH ALERT makes her debut for the Williams/Peters combination. She was beaten long way in a recent trial but the two leaders did clear out and she was asked for nothing. (14) HAPPY VALLEEZ has her hoof firmly planted on the till, Shooter McGruddy goes on which is a big plus.
Numbers - 15, 1, 7, 11

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 3 - DBC EVERTENDER BEEF MAIDEN 1200m

No. 7 FULL REIGN. I'm happy to narrow this race to a couple of winning chances, they being (5) HURRICANE HOUND and (7) FULL REIGN. Going for the latter based on the fact that William Pike jumps aboard and he has drawn a nice gate. His debut effort when finishing strongly over 1000m was more than encouraging and he should appreciate the step up 1200m. (5) HURRICANE HOUND is ready to win. He led, gave a good kick and it took a smart filly in Pop Culture to run him down late. He should lead again and be the one to catch. They look the two for me. Of the rest (1) MONEY CZAR is limited but is always a top four chance. (10) FLANEUR trialled fairly well and makes her debut for a strong stable.
Numbers - 7, 5, 1, 10

Suggested Bet - Full Reign win and Hurricane Hound save if possible

RACE 4 - CHOP HITS MAIDEN 1410.

No. 4 I'M EASY. This is a really strong maiden field with plenty of form to work with. I was very impressed with the debut effort of (4) I'M EASY when he settled at the rear and made up plenty of ground in the straight. The form from that race has been franked to a degree with the runner up Rack ‘Em Up winning at his next start. If he can get some luck from his draw he should be hard to hold out. (11) ELSA'S GIRL has the form on the board to be a big player. She was sent back to the trials after being a late scratching at the gates. The trial effort was very good. (1) TIN WHISTLE drops substantially in grade from his recent effort and he has an obvious winning chance. (2) YOUBETYA showed enough last preparation to suggest he has some ability and his recent trial was solid. (6) CANYOUSEE ME SMILE resumes for Adam Durrant, he showed glimpses of form in his first preparation and his trial was solid.
Numbers - 4, 11, 1, 2

Suggested Bet - I'm Easy each way

RACE 5 - BUNDABERG FIVE COLA AND LIME HANDICAP 1410m

No. 8 YOUNG ‘N' FLIRTY. There doesn't appear to be much depth to this Class 1 and I think if (8) YOUNG ‘N' FLIRTY can repeat her first up effort when she was a fast finishing third over 1200m she would have most of these covered. Hopefully she can utilise the good gate, get a soft run and finish all over them. (1) RAGTRADER finds it hard to win but he does appear very close now, he was caught right on the wire at his last start. (9) SAD EYES was beaten a by talented horse at his last start after sitting without cover for the duration. He has solid each way claims again. (6)MAJOR BLIGH is limited but is a chance in this type of field.
Numbers - 8, 1, 9, 5

Suggested Bet - Young ‘N' Flirty each way

RACE 6 - VALLEY SPRING LAMB HANDICAP 1200m

No. 6 LUCY LAMPLADY. The first leg of the quaddie and it looks a very tough affair with at least half a dozen serious winning chances. With little confidence I'll go for (6) LUCY LAMPLADY who I thought ran well up the straight in her first up performance. Drawn well and with 54kg on her back, she gets the nod. (7) WINGED ANGEL has been freshened since a disappointing performance in a midweek event at Ascot. If she found her best form she could just blow these away. (9) TALK AND TEASE should box seat and from there has to be included, she is racing well. (8) PHARINFRONT resumes from a spell without a trial but I think she could be the one rattling late. There are definitely other winning chances.
Numbers 6, 7, 9, 8

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - $50,000 SOUTH WEST SUMMER SIZZLE 1200m

No. 2 BITES THE DUST With the important scratchings of Sir Hallowell and Inok I have had to revise my numbers as I originally had them running one and two. It does make it a fairly open race now, I'll stick with (2) BITES THE DUST who flying at the moment. Her last start win when beating the smart mare, Resetgold was full of merit. She does go up quickly in the weights but offsetting that to a degree is her good draw. From barrier 3 Shaun O'Donnell can have her all cuddled up ready to pounce. (10) Miss Dandy just keeps winning! This is her acid test but it would foolish to dismiss her chances on her current form. She will either lead or breeze, both scenarios will suit. (5) LE SACRE is going like a train at the moment. He has genuine winning claims especially after the scratchings. (4) FRENCH PRESIDENT settled just off midfield on the fence and saved up for that one finishing burst he has to be a chance.
Numbers 2, 10, 5, 4

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 8 - LAMB #1 ON AUSTRALIA DAY HANDICAP

No. 3 RED MERCEDES. Another of my original top picks has been scratched in this event. I'll go for (2) RED MERCEDES now, he has his hoof on the till and this does look an ideal assignment. He has been freshened since his last start performance in mid December when he finished just behind the likes of Disco Bling and Bombora. That is a strong form line for this race. He does appear to lack the ‘knockout blow' in his races but from barrier 4 he should camp right over the speed, take lead somewhere in the straight and hopefully hold on. (11) SUNDANCE BOY is ticking over nicely at the moment and is clearly right in the mix. (7) BACKHOUSE STREET is the interesting runner. He's started once for a win at big odds. He hasn't trialled so watch the market.(10) JOMATESI is always a solid top four chance on his home circuit.

Numbers - 3, 11, 7, 10

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 8 - BUNDABERG LEMON LIME AND SODA HANDICAP 2019m
No. 2 BOY MAMBO. With the early scratching of Crispiano I'm happy to be on (2) BOY MAMBO. This horse is dead set flying at the minute and there is no reason why he can't make it a winning hat trick. The 59.5kg is the steadier but hopefully that means we might get some type of price. I think he will be very hard to beat. (1) AMARNA raced like a stayer at his most recent outing, getting left flat footed but picking up strongly late. From barrier 2 he should get a sweet run and be in the finish. (10) OUR VINCENT is still a maiden but shows ability. He draw means he will go back and give the field a head start but I think he'll finish strongly. (2) EXCLUSIVE HONOUR'S couple of provincial wins were good and he ran solidly in Saturday company at his most recent outing.
Numbers - 2, 1, 10, 3

Suggested bet - Boy Mambo each way