Gumbys Gossip Bunbury 15th Feb

Gary Wright | Gumbys Gossip | Tue 14 February, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Bunbury- 15th February

A mammoth day of country racing in the South West today sees generally big fields, the normal maiden races at the front end of the programme and a couple of good events later in the day featuring horses of the calibre of Miss Vinniore and Mctango, both very good city class performers. A tough few races early to test the punters, but maybe a chance to back a couple of winners later in the day.

Race 1- South West Autumn Racing Carnival Maiden- 1016metres

A small field of two year olds to open the card this afternoon, and we can probably narrow this race down to just two main chances in Guessing Game and Elite Scope, both of whom have shown ability in their brief careers so far. I will tip Guessing Game here on the strength of a second to boom filly Darlington Abbey at Pinjarra last start over the straight 1000 metre course, that followed another good run behind Saturday Skies at Ascot and this Key Business filly certainly looks an early winner for local trainer Chris Stelmach. She has the services of top jockey William Pike today, a nice draw near the inside and looks ready to win this. Elite Scope is another filly that shows a lot of promise, her last start was at Ascot when fourth to another very promising two year old in Looking Ahead, and she also looks primed to run well here today. Its hard to go for anything else in this race, but for novelty punters Amber's Hero trialled well at Ascot last week in preparation for his race debut here today and Unpretentious Lass ran a reasonable race in the city at her only race start behind Miami Horror on Jan 28.
Numbers- 3-4-1-8

Suggested Bet- 3- Guessing Game- Win, 3- Guessing Game and 4- Elite Scope- Quinella.

Race 2- Mt Franklin- AHA Cup Day 4th March Maiden- 1200metres

This is a very open maiden race with some good city form to recommend a few of these. One of those is the Lou Luciani trained Endorsed who ran a good fourth only beaten a length by Izjalu at Ascot at her first start back from a spell on Feb 1. This Rock Of Gibraltar mare did run close up behinds horses of the calibre of Watermans Bay and Private Business in her last campaign and she should be at each way odds this afternoon. Drawn slightly wide in barrier eleven if the emergencies do come out of this event, she may go back and be running on late today. Palmdale is another who ran some pretty good races during the Belmont winter season and should go well first up today. He warmed up for this with a slashing trial win by 3.5lengths at Ascot last week so looks primed for a forward showing at his return to the racetrack today. Others with claims in a good maiden race must be California Dude on the strength of a third at Ascot at his last start there on Feb 1, and Latavia has a similar form line running fourth in the same race at his last start. Others for novelties may be Fonzarelli, drawn wide but ran a good second here last start and Sass'n'Ping who should be improved by his first up effort at Pinjarra, he also ran some good races in his last campaign.
Numbers- 10-1-4-6

Suggested Bet- 10- Endorsed- Each Way

Race 3- APH Contractors Bunbury Stakes Day 11th March Maiden- 1200metres

Bluable has run some good races of late at Ascot in much stronger company and does look suited here today back to maiden class at Bunbury. Her last start third to Izjalu at Ascot was full of merit, not beaten much that day, and that followed on from good runs behind Rio Spark and Uncle George at the city track. She should come in a couple of barrier positions with the probable scratchings of the emergency runners and does get her best chance to break out of maiden company this afternoon, so is the on top selection for me. Lord Elvstroem ran some good races when last in work during the winter months and won a trial easily last week so looks ready to run a good race first up today. Twikkey is locally trained and wasn't beaten far behind Town Champion at the last meeting down here, is drawn the car park unfortunately and that may be an obstacle too big to overcome in the large field, but must still be respected on that last start effort, and The Cavalieri has been trialling nicely for the Chris Gangemi stable and might be good each way value to throw into novelties in this event.
Numbers- 6-1-7-9

Suggested Bet- 6- Bluable- Win

Race 4- XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup Day 15th March Maiden- 1200metres

Another big maiden field here and very difficult to pinpoint the winner of this race. A race of many chances with some perennial placegetters up against some inexperienced racehorses so probably better to stay out of this race unless you really do have a fancy for something. I will tip basically on spec here and opt for the Simon Miller first starter in Platinum Rocker. The stable has been flying of late taking out the big Magic Millions double last Saturday and they look to have another useful one here in Platinum Rocker. This Love A Dane mare has been going very well in trials and looks ready to run well at her first race start. Not sure whether the inside barrier is an advantage or a hindrance to an unraced horse really, but I suppose you would rather draw inside than the outside in a field this size. It will be interesting to see what odds the bookies put up about this mare first up. Plenty of other chances in an open race with Flicks Legacy seemingly improving at every run, last start she wasn't beaten far by The Grey Don here on Feb 3, Mon Biscuit is one that finds it hard to win but has been placed nine of sixteen starts so should be about the place today, and Royal Edict is in a similar boat, always runs on late in his races but yet to find the line first, also from sixteen attempts.
Numbers- 13-9-1-8

Suggested Bet- No Bet

Race 5- Johnnie Walker Lounge @Bunbury Cup Day Maiden- 1420metres

Another big field engaged here but we may be able to narrow it down a little. Will go for Regal Honour to break through for the Williams/ Pike combination today on the basis of two very good runs at his first two starts. He certainly wasn't disgraced last start when sent out as favourite only to be run over by the promising Opera Seria at the end of that race, and gets his chance this afternoon to break through for his maiden victory. The draw will test so we will rely on Pike to somehow overcome that hurdle, and if he can get this Testa Rossa gelding into a good position he will prove very difficult to beat. Another drawn a wide gate is At The Gates, another from the Simon Miller stable, this filly has run a couple of reasonable races in city midweek class at her only two starts, and looks better suited down here at Bunbury this afternoon, and will be one of the main chances here. Both Tellem Ya Dreamin and My Departure are steadily improving with racing and could be in the firing line at the end of this race, with the first emergency Let's Buy Iht some chance if she ends up gaining a start today, four race starts have ended in fourth placing every time, another who will improve with racing.
Numbers- 8-14-1-2

Suggested Bet- 8- Regal Honour- Each Way

Race 6- Legends Bar @Bunbury Cup Day Maiden- 1420metres

Its not getting any easier in this race either, another big maiden field over the 1420metres. Again if forced into a selection will go for Belltorio for the powerful Durrant stable primarily because of the nice draw in the big field, where he hopefully can get away well and race a bit more forward than he has in his first three race starts. If he can do that and get into a good posse in the race then he should go close in this. Jack The Sparrow looms as a big player in this event also, he has raced well in his two runs this campaign with a third at Pinjarra and a fourth to Town Champion here last start, but is drawn a little wide so jockey Glenn Smith will somehow have to deal with that predicament. Others with chances are Mad About Harry who will be better suited here then his last start at Ascot and has a favourable draw and William Pike on board, as well as Kim Ashlee, who ran a nice race down here last start on Australia Day behind Full Reign. One that may improve today is Love The Faith for the Jim Taylor stable, may be at good each way odds for novelty punters.
Numbers- 6-2-12-10

Suggested Bet- 6- Belltorio- Each Way

Race 7- Fascinators @Bunbury Stakes Day Handicap- 2038metres

The distance race of the day see's probably two main winning chances in Crispiano and Red Cheeks. Crispiano was blocked for a run somewhat at Ascot last start in the race won by Drive West, that following on from a fourth to Jazz'n'Shiraz at Pinjarra the start before that, and he appears to be better suited the longer the distance he races over. He does have the 59kgs and the outside draw to contend with today, but he may just appreciate the 2038m journey and get home in front this afternoon from Red Cheeks, who won well over the 1690m last start at this track, that following on from some good form previous. Sheer Logic ran third here last start to Jazz'n'Shiraz on Feb 3, and on the strength of that performance will come into calculations here also. Ocyofoz was a little disappointing last start but his previous form indicates he may be around the place this afternoon if we forgive that last effort, when he got a long way back in a big field.
Numbers- 1-6-8-5

Suggested Bet- 1- Crispiano- Win

Race 8- XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup Calcutta Handicap- 1420metres

The best event of the day here with a few well performed horses engaged. Miss Vinnoire will no doubt start a warm favourite today, as she would have done at her previous start at Ascot before getting cast in the gates that day. She is making her Bunbury debut today but should have the class to overcome the opposition here and looks to be one of the better bets of the afternoon. Kimberley Cowboy has been racing well of late, culminating in a win at Ascot at his last start there on Feb 1 and looks to be in this race with good claims as well if he can repeat that effort. Mctango raced extremely well at Belmont Park last season, winning three of his last five starts before being spelled, but the 60kgs first up even with the claim for apprentice Renee Forrest may be too much of an impost to carry here. Gallipoli Prince also comes into the race with claims on the back of a Mt Barker victory at his last start. All in all a good race.
Numbers- 3-2-1-4

Suggested Bet- 3- Miss Vinnoire- Win

Race 9- BTC Annual Horse Swim Race Handicap- 1705metres

The promising Opera Seria steps out again this afternoon, and should build on her good record she has put together at her first four race starts. Last start she came home strongly over the 1410m down here at Bunbury to run over Regal Honour and record an impressive victory, and the step back up to 1705m today looks to suit her down to the ground. That victory followed a couple of nice seconds at her previous two starts when charging home from well back, which she should be doing at the end of this race today. Fair Hunter won well first up at Pinjarra on Jan 29 and looks set to go on with it this campaign, he is another that will appreciate the extra ground this afternoon and comes into the race with good claims. Amarna is another who races well over these distances, and will appreciate the 3kg claim for apprentice Aaron Rogers bringing him into this race with 56.5kgs, so expect a bold showing here. One that may be good odds is Joehouserock, who won well first up at his home track in Albany and makes the trip up to Bunbury on the back of that this afternoon. The locally trained Dr Ava has also been consistent of late and may pay to throw into quaddies if you are taking a few selections in this race.
Numbers- 12-2-1-6

Suggested Bet- 12- Opera Seria- Win

Race 10- Smokefree WA Handicap- 1200metres

The last event of a long days racing and it doesn't appear easy at all if you are behind at this stage of the day, or are still alive in the quadrella, with another big field to race over the 1200metres. One of the main chances appears to be the locally trained Talk Up A Storm, who flew home to only be beaten a short head by Countess Panetti last start at Pinjarra. She may have to do something similar today from a shocking barrier draw, she may come into thirteen if the emergencies come out, but from her previous racing patters it does appear she will be giving most of these a start and relying on a big finishing burst. However this Oratorio mare does appear to have quite a bit of ability and will be the on top selection in a difficult race. The Grey Don may go on with it after breaking his maiden status here at Bunbury at his last start on Feb 3, that following some good lead up form, he does like to race in a forward position also which may be a plus in a big field here. One at good odds is the Bunbury specialist Jomatesi, who bobs up every now and again in these sorts of races, relies on a little luck in running but is about due to run another good race today. Tropical Spice may be the best of the rest with in form jock Shaun O'Donnell on board this afternoon, and one that may come into calculations if it gains a start is Rivimac, he has held form well in this campaign.

Numbers- 12-6-8-14

Suggested Bet- 12- Talk Up A Storm- Each Way

Best Bet- Race 8 No 3 Miss Vinniore
Race 9 No 12 Opera Seria