Gumbys Gossip Pinjarra March 8

Gary Wright | Gumbys Gossip | Thu 8 March, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Pinjarra- 8th March

Another good afternoon of country racing at Pinjarra this afternoon, a good day for a drive down to the track if you have some spare time, with a rare break from the recent heat on offer today. Some good races in the latter half of the programme, and some fairly open betting races throughout the afternoon offering value to punters who do manage to back a winner or two.

Race 1- Pinjarra Cup 1 April Fashions in the Field Maiden- 2013metres

A distance maiden to open the programme and quite an open race as well. You will get a good price whatever you choose to back in this race. I will go for Scarpered to finally break through today at his fifteenth race start. Her last two efforts have been full of merit, running close seconds to Proud Prince and Namisuki, beaten in a very tight photo finish at that last start as well. If she can reproduce that sort of form this afternoon a breakthrough victory is on the cards. Duke Of Norfolk may be the main danger here after a much improved run at this track last week behind The Ramada, he appears to be getting up to a suitable distance now and another forward showing wouldn't be a surprise. Others with chances here will be Kirky, he will relish the drop back to provincial company after his last start at a city midweek meeting, and one at nice odds for each way and novelty punters may be Rich In Stars, he has been well travelled around the South West lately, but his last run behind Lowndsie was a much improved effort, and he may go on with it now.

Numbers- 9-4-6-10

Suggested Bet- 9- Scarpered- Each Way

Race 2- Join Us- Pinjarra Cup 1 April Maiden- 1300metres

Another race of many chances here making it difficult to find the winner, but once again if you can manage to do so, you should be rewarded with a good price. Will go for Fighting The Blues in this, he should be a good each way prices, and has the services of Paul Harvey this afternoon. He has been placed here at his last two starts and should handle the step up in distance to the 1300metres today. He is beautifully drawn in barrier seven, and will come in a couple of spots as well if the emergencies don't gain a start today. A couple of near newcomers in Galaxy Prince and Miss Margene may prove the major opposition in this. Galaxy Prince ran a first up fifth at Bunbury at his first race start and did feature heavily in the stewards report that day, he also is drawn nicely and has Pike on board. Miss Margene ran a good race at her second race start down at Bunbury on Feb23 behind Fair Flight and allowing for further improvement must come into this race as a good each way chance. Kim Ashlee has also run placings in these type of maiden races of late, as has Crown of Arc, so all in all its difficult to declare anything with great confidence in this.
Numbers- 1-6-10-9

Suggested Bet- 1- Fighting the Blues- Each Way

Race 3- Gannons Hats and Fascinators @Pinjarra Cup Maiden- 1300metres

Harry's Horse has always shown ability at his first six race starts and today he gets his chance to showcase that. This Roman Emperor gelding did run Bliss Street to under two lengths during the last Belmont season, and has been running in much stronger city company since then. He will come into a nice gate given all the scratchings in this race and really does get his opportunity to break his maiden status this afternoon. The non appearance of Media Captain will also help his cause today. Friars Spirit should run well also, following up on a good first up fifth to Greymates at Bunbury last start, also drawn well and set to give you a good sight in this. Royal Titan is taking forever to break his maiden status but has run a couple of placings in the Great Southern at his last two starts and must come into novelty calculations at least, and don't be surprised to see a much better performance from Grand Beau this afternoon, will surely relish getting away from the stronger fields at Ascot and into more suitable company down at Pinjarra today.
Numbers- 5-10-1-2

Suggested Bet- 5- Harry's Horse- Win

Race 4- Alcoa-Great Neighbours @ Pinjarra Cup Maiden- 1000metres

The first straight five furlong race of the afternoon sees a couple of promising horses engaged here in My Charader and Gold Caviar. Its very tough to split the both of them, in the end will opt for My Charader on the strength of race fitness, having had the three starts in his first racing campaign where as Gold Caviar will be first up this afternoon. Katariina Aho has been engaged to ride My Charader to bring the weight down to a nice 55kgs, so hopefully that move pays off for connections, having had the experience of Harvey and Knuckey on board at previous starts. Peter Knuckey is aboard Gold Caviar for the Durrant stable, and this Bel Esprit filly has shown good potential at her first three race starts so must be respected this afternoon. Pure Adrenalin has been around the place at most of his seven starts and may run into a minor placing today, and an interesting runner is Flying Minx for the Harrison stable, a recent trial winner who may go well at each way prices here.
Numbers- 3-6-1-8

Suggested Bet- 3- My Charader and 6- Gold Caviar- Quinella

Race 5- Celebrating 100 Years @Pinjarra Cup Handicap- 1000metres
A terrific race down the straight here with a clash between last start 1000metre winner Beach Express, last start Pinjarra 1000metre winner Cockeyed Bob and the ever consistent Grand Platz who returns to the track today. These three really do look to be standout chances in this race. Will go with Beach Express to continue on his winning ways after his last start success at Ascot on Feb 29 when starting favourite and duly saluting. Apprentice Ben Paterson has been engaged here to get the weight down to a respectable 57kgs, where as his main rivals will be carrying a little extra. Grand Platz is returning today, he ran some very good races on city tracks last campaign and has a very impressive record first up, my only concern is he can be a perennial placegetter and may have to play the bridesmaids role once again today. Cockeyed Bob charged down the Pinjarra straight five furlongs at his last start to give some indication he was approaching the type of form that saw him win his first race at Belmont so impressively and he is a major player here. For quartet punters maybe Go Buster could be around the place, in what is a real highlight race of the afternoon.

Numbers- 1-3-5-2

Suggested Bet- 1- Beach Express- Win

Race 6- Program Connect on Pinjarra Cup Day Handicap- 1600metres

The anticipated scratching of second emergency Jack The Sparrow helps in trying to evaluate this race, he would have no doubt started favourite if he did gain a start, but was engaged at Ascot yesterday. We may be able to get a reasonable price on the Grant Williams/William Pike combination here in the form of Flaming Magic who is down in class on her last few starts at Ascot. Back in her first campaign during the Spring she ran a couple of good races at Northam culminating in her maiden win on Oct 12. If she can anywhere near reproduce that sort of form here at Pinjarra she looms as a strong chance in this event. She is beautifully drawn for the assignment today as well, and was mentioned as an unlucky runner at her last Ascot start. Ragtrader is one of the most consistent country gallopers going around but always seems to be in the placings rather than saluting the judge as his record of one win and eleven placings suggest. It is hard to tip him to win here but obviously must be one of the major chances. Windinthepillows should improve today from a nice draw and will be a place chance as will Shezapro, another who has been racing in stronger company of late and should run a good race from pole position in this.
Numbers- 9-2-1-5

Suggested Bet- 9- Flaming Magic- Each Way

Race 7- Book Your Ticket Now Pinjarra Cup Handicap- 1400metres

Another good race upcoming here with a few more promising gallopers engaged. Greymates was ultra impressive last start at Bunbury, given it was his first start in the state when defeating Crown of Arc. He should be further improved by that run, and was an Eagle Farm placegetter last spring before relocating to WA. He has a prefect draw in barrier four this afternoon and Troy Turner takes the ride again, he is the one to beat here. Strawberry Beau has also shown some talent in his eight start race career, he ran a close second to Ajexia here at his last start over the 1400metre distance and looms as the main danger to Greymates. He comes in with 56kgs and the inside draw so must be considered a big chance in this. Best of the rest are probably Digital Blackout, a good second to Rivimac at Bunbury at her last start and the consistent Our Ivy, who has also been about the place of late.
Numbers- 2-1-5-10

Suggested Bet- 2- Greymates- Win

Race 8- Gannons Trophies for Pinjarra Cup Handicap- 1200metres

A good race to finish of proceedings this afternoon and will go for Dangerously to win this first up today. This Bletchley Park gelding has shown enough in the past to be the outright tip here despite not being seen on the racetrack since Nov20 last year. When last in work he ran some terrific races on city and country tracks including a good win here at Pinjarra last June. It may to forget his last start before spelling as he got into all sorts of trouble and never got a clear run all the way up the straight, so on the exposed from from his previous campaign he will be the on top selection today. Dark Tryst has run some good races of late and should be about the place today, has a nice draw and the claim for promising apprentice Renee Forrest so must be included in quaddies here. Nirimich is a very interesting runner, eligible for maiden company but entered in a 57-68 event, he has been produced once in trials for a very easy victory at Lark Hill back on Feb13, so will pay to look closely at his prospects today. Octagene may be the best of the rest for novelty punters here.
Numbers- 3-4-10-1

Suggested Bet- 3- Dangerously- Each Way

Best Bet- Race 3 No 5 Harry's Horse
Race 7 No 2 Greymates