Gumbys Gossip - Pinjarra Cup Day 1st April

Gary Wright | Gumbys Gossip | Sun 1 April, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Pinjarra 1st April

The biggest race day of the year for the Pinjarra club this afternoon with the running of the centenary Pinjarra Cup. Some of the best stayers currently racing in WA are engaged and it should be a terrific race. Some good supporting races as well making for a big day of country racing.

Race 1- Pinjarra Crane Hire Maiden- 1000metres

A maximum field down the straight 1000metre course to start the day, it may be advisable to take a little longer enjoying lunch rather than try and back the winner of this race, an extremely difficult race indeed. Will go for Beguile if forced into a tip, due to a few factors, the nice draw near the outside of the field, preferable for these races, the fact the horse has been placed at both her first up starts, and the Morton/Pike combination. She has been raced sparingly but has been placed at all three starts so far, so if looking for an investment here maybe Beguile is the way to go. Starfield Image ran second down the Pinjarra straight at her only race start to Pure Adrenalin, which has subsequently won at Ascot, so that line of form brings her in with a good chance today, she is also drawn nicely near the outside in this race. Blue Sasso has been consistent in her short racing career up at Northam and may go well first up in a new campaign this afternoon for trainer David Harrison, other chances include Chester's Mill, a newcomer from New South Wales, who trialled well at Belmont on Mar19, and Epic Impact, a well bred gelding who has been coming along nicely in trials. All in all, its a tough race to start the day.
Numbers- 7-9-8-2

Suggested Bet- 7- Beguile - Each Way

Race 2- Leinster Contracting Maiden- 1400metres

Another maximum field here over the 1400metres with a few horses engaged that have been costly to punters of late. One of those is Twikkey, who was well supported on Bunbury Cup day when we all thought she might break her maiden status, she was sent out a $2.40 favorite and somehow managed to race three wide throughout despite starting from barrier four that day. It was a very good run though to battle on and finish a close second to Soo Auspicious that afternoon, and we will follow up on this Mosayter filly here today despite a poor draw in barrier fifteen, guess we will just hope for some sort of luck from there. Polar Cat is another who was well thought of last start and only managed a third at Narrogin, however the factor in his favour here is a lovely draw in barrier two, he has been ridden more forward lately, and can give you a good sight for your money here. Others with chances are Hinzley, a close third to Miss Margene at Bunbury on Mar15, and another horse that proved costly for punters last start in Storm Maid, her form is very consistent without winning, another horse drawn terribly here, but on her previous form looks to be a chance in this event. Fabulistic may improve today for the Parnham stable from a good draw, his form has been reasonable in stronger company of late.
Numbers- 9-1-2-8

Suggested Bet- 9- Twikkey- Each Way

Race 3- Rhino Water Tanks Maiden- 1400metres

Oh Boy, its not getting any easier with another huge field to contest this race. Numerous chances as you would expect in a maiden field of this size, will go with Wayward Warrior but with little confidence, simply on the strength of a good second up run at Bunbury on Mar15, only beaten a short neck by Miss Margene, when he raced a lot more forward than at his first race start. The draw is ideal in barrier two, whereas most of his main rivals are drawn almost in Dwellingup, so if you are having an investment maybe the Warrior is the way to go. Stormy Prince looks to have some ability, placed twice from four starts but the barrier is horrendous, and he will need a lot of luck in running from there. Silver Minx has been pretty good lately, a second here on Mar22 behind the runaway winner Wild West Willy stands him in good stead to be around the place again today. Others with chances are Fighting The Blues, who has the 3kgs claiming apprentice engaged bringing his weight down to 55kgs, Richtiram Lass, a much improved run last start at Bunbury and nicely drawn and Kim Ashlee has been around the place of late, pay to have a look at her prospects if she does gain a start in this. All in all, its too tough to pick really so maybe steer clear.
Numbers- 6-3-5-1

Suggested Bet- No Bet

Race 4- Heytesbury Stud Maiden - 1400metres

This race looks a lot easier to try and make some sense of, and I think we can probably get on Dante's Princess with a little confidence today. This Dante's Fury mare has been racing in very good form of late and really gets a chance to win a race this afternoon. Nicely drawn in barrier two, and with the 3kg claiming apprentice Jo Azzopardi on board, all pointers towards a very good showing today. Tottenham Hots is certainly down in class from his last start last weekend at Ascot behind Rafferty, and should be approaching his best form now after a few race starts in this campaign, he will also have the 1.5kg claim for Ryan Hill up his sleeve here, and can run a much better race today. Carlton Street is another coming back down here after a couple of starts in town, has a good record at this track and must be respected. They look the best three here, with Amherst the best of the others, will appreciate the extra distance this afternoon.
Numbers- 1-5-3-6

Suggested Bet- 1- Dante's Princess- Win

Race 5- Alcoa-Partnering Stronger Communities Handicap -1600metres

Another difficult race here with a big field engaged once again. On an each way basis maybe No Expectations can give you a good sight for your money this afternoon. He has been flooding home at his last few starts, the best of those was at this track last week when he came from well back to finish third to Stolen in the last event. The wide barrier won't be a concern if he does drop back as he has in previous starts but the extra 100 metres from his last start will definitely work in his favour here. Aaron Rogers takes the ride again and claims 3kgs bringing him in very nicely with 53kgs, and he may just be a reasonable price this afternoon. Plenty of other chances though with Miss Margene a promising galloper, coming off a maiden win at Bunbury, she may go on with it now, Finnegans Gold showing very consistent form of late, has a horror barrier to overcome unfortunately, Greymates, a little disappointing last week when fancied but worth another chance, Kilat also showing reasonable form of late, and Total Secret, down a long way in class from some of his previous engagements, all are some sort of chance in a very open race.

Numbers- 10-9-1-3
Suggested Bet- 10- No Expectations- Each Way

Race 6- gannons.com.au Handicap- 1300metres

Let's Lighten Up has been in terrific form on provincial tracks lately and certainly gets his chance to notch another victory this afternoon. Drawn well for claiming apprentice Ryan Hill he does look as if he might lob into a commanding position in the running and be very hard to beat. He has been placed at all four starts and looks a good each way bet to nothing on those statistics today. Charmoss may prove the hardest to beat, he has had a little let up since his last start at the Ascot midweeks on Feb8, but was about the place in those sorts of races during that campaign. Voctobougg is another that has been running just out of the placings at his last few starts and may improve a little today with Pike hopping on board and from a good draw. Boxo'chocolats may also run a better race today, second up from a short spell, he has been placed a couple of times when racing second up and will appreciate the rise in distance from the 1100metres he raced over on Mar21.

Numbers- 4-3-6-2
Suggested Bet- 4- Let's Lighten Up- Each Way

Race 7- Project Connect Handicap- 1200metres

One of the better races on the programme here with a couple of promising types resuming. One of those is Cassidy Cowboy, who was racing in splendid form at Belmont when last in work. A win over Hi Kilmore was followed by good seconds to Fortescue Flyer and Chanify before his spell and if running up to that form first up he will be very hard to beat here. The question is how forward is he for his return to racing but we will have to take it on trust that trainer David Harrison has him primed to go. Similarly The Widder resumes from a few months in the paddock, he also showed a lot of promise when last in work, he has been placed five times from nine starts and must be respected today. Shario Torio does mix her form a little, but must be respected on her last start at Bunbury when defeating the promising Twilight Hours, which went on to win again at Albany on Thursday. Sundanceboy looks the best of the rest in a good race.

Numbers- 1-2-8-4
Suggested Bet- 1- Cassidy Cowboy- Win

Race 8- Carlton Draught Pinjarra Centenary Cup- 2300metres

The big race of the Pinjarra season here, and the centenary of the Pinjarra Cup as well this year and its brought together a small but select field of the best stayers in the state, most of who are renewing rivalries from the Bunbury Cup a couple of weeks ago. That day Lords Ransom belted them by over two lengths with 59.5kgs, today he lines up with 61 kgs, a huge impost to carry. Does his class carry him through today ?. I would expect the pace to be a cracker the same as it was in the Bunbury Cup as Danny Miller again be riding Big Ted, he almost pulled off a surprise victory in that race by charging to the front and adopting "catch me if you can" tactics, hard to see anything changing this afternoon. The other main chances Rosie Rocket and Battle Emblem meet Lords Ransom on better weight terms from two weeks ago, and the unknown factor is Hibernian, who has been racing in wonderful form in the other country cups over the last month. I am going to stick with Lords Ransom here, after all he did charge away at the end of the Bunbury Cup to win easily, he does represent the class in this race, and whilst it will be a huge task to carry 61kgs, its still hard to go past that class factor. Rosie Rocket may follow him home, a good fourth in the Bunbury Cup when starting favourite augers well for her chances, with last years winner Battle Emblem one of the main chances also. Big Ted may find it a little harder today as I think the surprise factor of bolting away in front may have been taken away from him a little, but he still looms as an each way chance in this big race.

Numbers- 1-3-2-4
Suggested Bet- 1- Lords Ransom- Win

Race 9- Helen Lim Memorial Handicap- 1000metres

Another good field to contest the final event of the day here, and will go with Texan as one of the better bets of the day in this. His form has been exemplary since arriving from NSW with a victory at Ascot followed by a second to the boom mare Rose here down the 1000metre straight last week, he looks like he will go on with it today over the same distance. Barrier draws really of no consequence in this race with the small field as they will all come to the better running down the outside of the track. Main danger will be Lisetta, first up in a new campaign today, she raced well last time in over the shortcourse distances, and did win a trail on Mar19 at Belmont in preparation for her return to the track. French President carries topweight of 60kgs here, but did win at his only start down the straight five furlongs earlier in his career, and Desire Path has the useful 3kg claim for apprentice Mitchell Pateman and appears to be the best of the rest in this race.
Numbers- 4-3-1-2

Suggested Bet- 4- Texan- Win

Best Bet- Race 6 No 4 Let's Lighten Up- Each Way
Race 9 No 4 Texan