Gumbys Gossip - Mount Barker 18th April

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Tue 17 April, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Mt Barker- 18th April

The final meeting of the season at Mount Barker this afternoon featuring a few good races throughout the middle of the program, with the usual fare of Great Southern gallopers engaged, not an easy punting day with a few good chances in nearly every event on the card. Still, if you back a couple of winners it will certainly be worthwhile. Quaddie punters may like to go wide in a few legs this afternoon in an effort to secure a dividend.

Race 1- The Likely Lads Maiden- 1100metres

As is normally the case a maiden to start the day off and I think that maybe Dianella could finally break through today. This mare has been well thought of in maiden races at the bigger provincial tracks during her nine start career, but has disappointed on most occasions. However the transfer to the Annette Crump stable in Albany may be the catalyst for an improved performance today, in fact she did run third at her first start for the stable at the last Albany meeting on Apr 8, and allowing for further improvement today can bring up her maiden victory in what isn't an overly strong race. The Steve Wolfe trained Getaway Car may be the main danger, a much improved run at his last start when fourth at the same Albany meeting may mean he is approaching the top of his game now, with Mozyiuto the next best, he is coming down to the Great Southern from Ascot, so the connections must think he has a good chance in this race. For quartet punters possibly Sir Chewzalot could be one to put in, first up for quite a while today, but he has been placed in these sort of races in the past.
Numbers- 9-2-3-6

Suggested Bet- 9- Dianella- Each Way

Race 2- Paddy N Ida Handicap- 1200metres

A small field steps out here in the second race of the afternoon and I think we can back Fiery Fox with confidence today. This Stormy's Son gelding has been placed ten times from seventeen appearances, which is a good strike rate. With the claim for Natasha Faithfull he will carry only 52kgs this afternoon which may prove decisive in the end. He has been quite sparingly raced over the Great Southern season, but did win at Albany in December, and since then has run third on two occasions at that track. The veteran The Keillor Kid has a very good record at this track and must be a chance but the weight differential of 7kgs between him and Fiery Fox is very hard to ignore. They do appear to be the best two chances in this race. Alabameramer does have an impressive record at the Mt Barker track, with three wins from five attempts here so must also be respected today, and Juggernaut Jack may be the other horse to sneak into any trifectas and quartets in this.
Numbers- 3-2-5-6

Suggested Bet- 3- Fiery Fox- Win

Race 3- Western Mineral Fertilisers Maiden- 1300metres

A pretty tough maiden event here with not a lot of race form exposed. However will throw out Nigel's Gold to break the ice today basically on the strength of some reasonable form over the last month or so. An eighth at Bunbury in what was a strong maiden race that day has been followed by a couple of acceptable runs at Albany from wide draws in larger fields and he looks like he may go well in this sort of field this afternoon. He has drawn a lot better today and the Steve Wolfe/Shaun Mcgruddy combination may score a victory in this event. McIntyre has been extremely expensive to follow, is yet to win after twenty four starts, but always runs about the place and today will probably be no exception, a very good place chance once again in this race. Got Me Again is another of the Wolfe runners who has been running just behind the placegetters on Great Southern Tracks of late and looks to have a chance in this race today, as does Strange Brew who may improve on his first up fifth at Albany back on Mar 29.

Numbers- 4-3-2-7

Suggested Bet- Nigel's Gold- Each Way

Race 4- Mt Barker Transport Service Maiden- 1850metres

Chong Nonsi has probably been the best performed horse from the Great Southern over the last few months with a win in the Country Championship final at Ascot the highlight and she certainly represents the class horse in this field today. This Blackfriars mare has held her form well over the summer months, has won at her only start at the Mt Barker track, and is well drawn for top hoop Jason Whiting this afternoon, all pointers to a very forward showing in this race. Ancient Spell certainly represents the main danger here, coming off an Ascot midweek victory last start on Apr 4, he is another that has held form well over recent months and must be respected this afternoon, a definite for quaddie punters. Another that races very consistently is Rock Prince, but he certainly finds it hard to win, however he is certainly one to put into trifectas and quartets with such a consistent place record, with Striking Viking also in contention in what is a very good race.

Numbers- 2-4-10-1

Suggested Bet- 2- Chong Nonsi- Win

Race 5- Mt Barker Country Bakery Handicap- 1300metres

Another good race here with quite a few chances. Hard to tip an outright winner so it would probably pay to go a little wide in quaddies in this leg. I will tip Internationalist for the sake of a tip, if we can forgive his last start behind Carry The Nation at Albany and go on his good form previous to that, including a meritorious second to Soldiers Salute there on Mar 9. He is down a few kilos in weight from what he has been carrying this afternoon, has blinkers added to his racing gear, and is drawn beautifully in barrier three today. Plenty of opposition though including the ever consistent Book Club, he has been up for a long time but is still racing very consistently, maybe the 59kgs and barrier ten just puts me off tipping him as the winner today, but certainly a major chance here. Others who come into this race with strong chances are Redford, he has been a perennial placegetter during the Great Southern season and must also be respected this afternoon, and I'm Called Earl is another who has raced well for the Wolfe stable during the season, this is also a very good race with a lot of the better Great Southern horses engaged this afternoon.

Numbers- 8-1-6-3

Suggested Bet- 8- Internationalist- Each Way

Race 6- Advertiser Print Handicap- 1200metres

Huracan showed some promise with a first up win at Albany back in November, that coming off a couple of good trial runs, he blotted his copybook badly last start when a poor eighth at the same track, he did get a mention in the stewards report that day and has since been spelled, so if we go on the first up victory in his last campaign he may prove hard to beat this afternoon. This field also boasts some depth though with quite a few good chances so not tipping Huracan with any great confidence. Pure Attraction is another horse with consistent form who is finding it extremely difficult to salute the judge in first place and once again represents good value for novelty punters, he should certainly be about the place at the end of the race. Glazing Honey is another with prospects, down a little in weight this afternoon with the appointment of apprentice Ben Paterson to ride, he must also be respected. City Of Subiaco is another who tends to fly home late in her races, a poor barrier indicates this pattern of racing will continue, she should drop back and be saved for a late burst, she has been no further back that sixth at her last few starts, so is another to consider for quartets in another good country race here.

Numbers- 6-7-1-2

Suggested Bet- 6- Huracan- Each Way

Race 7- Ramsay's Horse Transport Handicap- 2000metres

The last event of the season at Mount Barker and it really couldn't be any more difficult to pick a winner. Lord Airlie seems to do his best work when leading and from barrier four this afternoon may bounce straight to the front, if that is the case then he may be pretty hard to run down. Lukaston did win at this track over the 1850metre journey back in March, and has since run down the track at Albany, however in much stronger company, including a last start ninth in the Albany Cup over Easter, so this is a drop in class for him today, he must come in with a good chance. My Richard and Inherit the Tiger did quinella a race at Albany on Cup day, and if reproducing that form can make their presence felt today as well, certainly plenty of chances in a very open affair here.
Numbers- 2-3-4-7

Suggested Bet- 2- Lord Airlie- Each Way

Best Bet- Race 2 No 3 Fiery Fox