Gumbys Gossip - Narrogin 14th March

Gary Wright | Gumbys Gossip | Tue 13 March, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Narrogin 14th March

An eight event card at Narrogin today, featuring smaller fields and a few horses who have been about the place on the bigger provincial tracks getting a chance to break through for overdue victories. The normal fare of a few maidens to start with and a couple of good races later in the programme.

Race 1- Smokefree WA Maiden- 1100metres

Venetian Queen will never get a better chance than today to break through for an overdue maiden victory. This Bearcat mare has been racing against stronger opposition on the major country tracks lately and has been competitive without winning, but must come strongly into calculations in this modest maiden field today. She should come into a nice gate if the four emergencies are taken out and can give Glenn Smith an early winner this afternoon. Loretta's Own does has a similar formline to Venetian Queen and should be the main danger on her home track here. Her last three starts have resulted in minor placings but she will probably have to contend with an outside draw in the ten horse field today, but does warrant consideration in this. For the minors Biscay Bonny has also run some promising races and should be prominent again today, from a nice draw as well. One from trials is Mozyiuto, he won well at Lark Hill on Feb20 and has his regular rider Chloe Chatfield on board at his race debut this afternoon.

Numbers- 8-7-9-3
Suggested Bet- 8- Venetian Queen- Win

Race 2- Flickerfest Maiden- 1190metres

Another horse with its hoof on the till is Endorsed, and she also gets her best chance for a first victory here at Narrogin today. She was only beaten two lengths by the promising Grape Crusher last start after commencing slowly and with only moderate opposition can finally notch a win this afternoon. Her previous start was in a handy field behind Comtesse Le Gran and there is nothing remotely like that running in this race. A perfect draw at the 1190metre start should also enhance her prospects today. Polar Cat looks to be the main danger on the strength of his last start third at Pinjarra on Mar 1 behind the promising Blitz Off, also nicely drawn here and should run a good forward race. La Fairet may run a better race today after two runs back from a spell in much stronger company, with the best of the rest Big City Lights, who was placed at this track back on Feb 10.

Numbers- 10-4-7-5
Suggested Bet- 10- Endorsed- Win

Race 3- The Big Hoo Haa Maiden- 1190metres

A big chance for a local victory here with Storm Maid, she looks to have some promise and should really win this race to justify that promise today. During her six start career she has run midfield in stronger company at Belmont last winter, resumed with a fourth at this track back on Feb 10, but has really improved since with placings at Bunbury behind Let's Lighten Up and Chop It Out, good enough form to suggest she will go very close to winning this race. Stormout is another who should go well today on the back of good form also at Bunbury since resuming, and he also has blinkers added to his gear this afternoon, nicely drawn and the claim for apprentice Joseph Azzopardi brings him in with good claims. Ima Cougar ran a good race behind Fair Flight at Bunbury when second on Feb 23 and should be included in novelties here. Maybe Artesian Mist can improve by coming to Narrogin today as well, with top apprentice Kyra Yuill to take the ride.

Numbers- 10-3-7-5
Suggested Bet- 10- Storm Maid- Win

Race 4- LR Sims and Co Maiden- 1700metres

A very open distance maiden race here, nothing unusual, and it will probably pay to give this a miss. Forced into a selection I will go with the bottom weight in the Neville Parnham trained Bag Of Stars at what will probably be each way prices. He has been racing in seriously stronger company of late, behind such promising types as Opera Seria and Jack The Sparrow, and there is nothing like that going around in this event. Jarrad Noske takes the mount today fresh from booting home a winner at Bunbury on Sunday so will tip this young Kendal Star filly on top. Toorak Deb has also run some reasonable races in stronger Ascot and Pinjarra company at her last two starts, they followed two placings here at her only two visits to Narrogin in January, so she must be respected today. Royal Conquest ran a much better race last start when going up to 1600metres, so the extra 100metres on that last run will probably suit. Danelez is probably the best of the rest, although only one placing from thirteen starts doesn't inspire.

Numbers- 12-11-10-9
Suggested Bet- No Bet

Race 5- Chaff City Handicap- 1700metres

Crispiano has been expensive for punters to follow of late, and if you have been burnt it may be time to get a little back today. This isn't an overly strong distance field and he has been racing in city class company of late finishing midlfield behind horses of the calibre of Drive West and Seth's Blessed, having started close to punters elect in those races. Surely on that form he comes to Narrogin today and breaks through for his second win. Fourwhitesocks won the Kojonup Cup back on Feb18 and followed that with a reasonable fifth to Rohan at the city midweek meeting at Ascot on Feb29, and will now carry only 57kgs with the claiming apprentice on board, so looks the danger here. Ebony Blues finished third in the Kojonup cup but was beaten three lengths by Fourwhitesocks that day (interestingly both these horses are down 10.5kgs and 11kgs respectively on those Kojonup cup runs), so should be a place chance here. One that has raced well at Narrogin is Princess Vivian for the Parnham stable, might be one to include in quartets this afternoon.

Numbers- 3-1-4-6
Suggested Bet- 3- Crispiano- Win

Race 6- Bio John Handicap- 1190metres

A small field to contest the main event of the day but most have some claims on recent efforts. You Buddy Beauty has shown real promise at his first two race starts and is an interesting runner in this field, as some of the horses in this race have been going around for some time. On that promise shown and allowing for further improvement I will put Buddy on top here, his regular race jockey Jarrad Noske has made the trip down today and will ride him again, and he may just go to the front and prove too hard to run over. Akhenhome is another interesting runner, as he only ran last Saturday at Ascot when a very creditable third to Black Blast at long prices, but this is a considerable drop in class from the Ascot race, and he must be considered a strong winning chance also. Locally trained Surtifier brings good Narrogin form to the table here, must be a chance in an open race, and Viking Lad won here back at the last Narrogin meeting on Feb 10 and has claims.

Numbers- 6-1-5-2
Suggested Bet- 6- You Buddy Beauty- Win

Race 7- Elders Insurance Narrogin Handicap- 1190metres

Fighters Second does look the testing material today and can give apprentice Ellie Cockram a welcome winner here. His form of late has been quite good running close up at both Pinjarra and Narrogin in this campaign and with an excellent barrier draw coupled with the light weight should be able to take care of these today. April's Fury has run a few reasonable races of late and will be one of the main chances for the local trainer Kylie Downing, who has numerous runners engaged this afternoon. If Crash Hot could reproduce some semblance of the form that he showed earlier in his racing career, he may also be a chance today at each way odds. He did win well in his first campaign and started favourite at a couple of subsequent starts but his form has slipped badly since then, maybe back to a weaker field today he may make his presence felt. Best of the rest is probably Tequilamockingbird.

Numbers- 2-8-6-10
Suggested Bet- 2- Fighters Second- Win

Race 8- Autumn Handicap- 1100metres

Most punters and racing people will like the name of this race after the recent spells of extreme hot weather, but Chok Dee should be the hot selection here. He is down a mountain on class from his last few runs in the City and Pinjarra, and has the inside barrier draw here which he should make good use of and bound straight to the front. The only problems may be racing at Narrogin, where he hasn't started for some time and the extra 100metres in distance on top of what he has been going over lately. But you would have to back him to overcome those obstacles here and win this race. Disco Music has good track form but does have to overcome a wide barrier and give Chok Dee 2kgs in weight which you would think would be too much to overcome. Argent Bijou has an outstanding record at the Narrogin track having been in the money at ten of twelve starts down here, does have an awkward draw though, but on that record down here is a must for novelty punters. Black Coat also likes racing on this track, has a nice draw and a postage stamp weight so should be included in novelties as well.

Numbers- 4-5-3-9
Suggested Bet- 4- Chok Dee

Best Bets- Race 3 No 10 Storm Maid

Race 8 No 4 Chok Dee