Gumbys Gossip - Pinjarra 25th April

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Tue 24 April, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Pinjarra 25th April

ANZAC day racing at the Pinjarra track this afternoon, a good eight event card of country racing with some good competitive events throughout the day. The second race sees a very strong 2 year old maiden field engaged, and the latter half of the day we see some horses with pretty good city form going around adding substance to the programme.

Race 1- Saxon@Heytesbury Stud Maiden- 1600metres

A distance maiden to start proceedings this afternoon, never an easy race to back a winner with confidence and no exception here. I will tip Due To Reign on the strength of his last start when an excellent third to Ready For Sure at Ascot after racing wide throughout that event, he looks like he will relish the 1600metres today after that effort. He did struggle at his first three race starts though, albeit over the shorter 1400metre journey. He has a lovely draw in barrier seven today and although not overly important at the Pinjarra 1600metre start he should be able to land in a very nice spot from there and give you a sight for your money. Twikkey has been expensive to follow in her nine start career, has quite often looked the winner of a race on paper only to be unlucky or disappoint a little, but maybe she will appreciate the step up to the mile journey today, and if you have been burnt before on this horse, maybe stay with her this afternoon, certainly a good chance here. Best Of Minx improved at his last race start when flooding home over 1400metres at this track on Apr 1, and the extra distance appears to suit him as well, another with a good chance in this opening race. Princely Sage has been going well in trials, a big first up task racing over the 1600metres, but might pay to watch this newcomer today.
Numbers- 1-12-4-10

Suggested Bet- 1- Due To Reign- Each Way

Race 2- Ritz Party Hire Maiden- 1200metres

A crack maiden field to contest this event today, with some very promising gallopers engaged bringing some good Ascot form down to Pinjarra. On the basis of a better barrier draw than his main rival Our Maxy Boy I will tip Advantage Norman to break through for his maiden victory today. This horse is beautifully named being out of Evert, well done to the connections for their imagination there. He has run some good races at Ascot, the best being a close second to Keep Fath on Dec 24, he races nice and handy in his races and will appreciate a nice draw here and should lob in a commanding position. Our Maxy Boy has been racing extremely well at Ascot of late, you can forget his last two runs there in the Karrakatta Plate and Sires Produce due to the quality of the fields and go on his previous three starts when running into the minor money on two occasions, he has the disadvantage of a wide draw here, may come in a few gates with the emergencies being withdrawn though, so this is almost a bracket selection with Advantage Norman. Sweet Maloo ran a nice second to Brocky's Deal at Ascot two weeks ago and must be respected as must Friar's Luck who ran third in the same race on Apr 11. A couple of other have been trialling well such as Grand Crusade, Speared and Comercio, but they will face tough tasks first up today in a maiden field of this quality.
Numbers- 1-4-12-2

Suggested Bet- 1- Advantage Norman - Win

Race 3- Chaff City "Choice of Champions" Maiden- 1200metres

The promising Luciani trained filly Swing certainly gets her chance today, she has been reasonably impressive at her five race starts at city tracks running into the placings or just behind them. Drawn the inside today in a big field at the tricky 1200metre start she hopefully will get a good run and if Clint Harvey can get her off the fence at some stage looms as a big winning chance in this event. Foxy Commander looks the main danger, she has also been in impressive form of late running two second placings at this track and will be right there at the business end of this race one would imagine. She should come in a couple of gates if the emergencies aren't required and has top hoop Shaun O'Donnell engaged once again. The very consistent No Time To Flirt musnt be left out of novelty bets today, she has been around the place at her last five starts, but finds it hard to crack that elusive victory. They do appear the main three chances here, with possibly Background the best of the rest, tired badly after working overtime last start, so probably better to go on his start previous, a good third to Full Clip at Ascot on Mar 24.
Numbers- 8-9-10-1

Suggested Bet- 8- Swing- Win

Race 4- Heytesbury Stud Maiden- 1400metres

A pretty tough maiden race here, with another maximum field over the 1400metres but will go with Saxon Knight to continue what might be a good day for the Luciani stable. His last two starts have resulted in most meritorious seconds behind Ghost Trader and Sovilla Storm, last start by only a nose and at this track on Apr 9. Drawn the inside barrier today where as a lot of the major opposition are drawn poorly might just be the catalyst for Saxon Knight to break the ice at his seventh race start today. I'm Easy looks to have a good chance in this, he ran a good fifth to Cant Hartley Wait at Ascot last start, only beaten two lengths and bringing that form with him today, he must come into calculations. Kim Ashlee has been pretty costly to punters in these types of races of late, has drawn terribly but does run consistent races without winning, so should be included for trifecta and quartet punters in this, and one that may surprise at odds is I Can Hurry, ran a much improved race when third in the Sovilla Storm race here on Apr 9, and has in form jockey Shaun McGruddy on board today.
Numbers- 1-2-9-13

Suggested Bet- 1- Saxon Knight- Win

Race 5- Read It In The Mandurah Mail Handicap- 1000metres

The first race down the straight five furlongs for the day and a very interesting race this one is. The first appearance in a race of the brilliant last start trial winner Did You Ever creates a lot of interest here. I will opt for Grape Crusher as the on top selection on the strength of his first up run down this straight five on Apr 11 when winning at his first race start for trainer Simon Miller, he has drawn ideally on the outside of the track today and may prove very hard to beat, we should probably forget his Ascot start as he was mentioned in the stewards report as having heat stress that day, back to more suitable company this afternoon. Did You Ever won a trial by nearly four lengths at Belmont last Monday, an interesting riding engagement of Kyra Yuill, who it seems has elected to ride this Oratorio gelding in front of her normal ride on her trainer/fathers horse Bromance, so we can take that as a sign this horse has immense promise. Bromance must be included in novelties, he is always around the place but finding it hard to win after eight race starts and Dimmagio is first up today, his only race start was back in June last year when he won up at Northam, may pay to respect his chances in this race as well, a good race this one.
Numbers- 3-5-4-2

Suggested Bet- 3- Grape Crusher- Each Way

Race 6- Crystal Surf Handicap- 1000metres

Beguile does look a good bet this afternoon, she has previously won down the straight at Pinjarra back on Apr 1 and followed that up with a good fourth to Freetime in a much tougher race at the last meeting here on Apr 15, the only time she has been unplaced in five race starts. She did win her race on Apr 1 by a commanding 3 lengths and seems to thrive in the Pinjarra straight races, this is a good pick up ride for Campbell McCallum following the departure of William Pike overseas for a few months. Another with a good record at this track and distance is Runnerdal, so may pay to put him into quaddie selections today on the back of that, drawn favourably in the outside barrier this afternoon as well. Rosalie Park is approaching her best form now after three starts this time in, has been improving at every outing and comes in with each way claims today, and Seattle Beau is first up today, but did win his first up start last winter at Northam, he looks to have a fair bit of ability also.

Numbers- 7-3-9-4

Suggested Bet- 7- Beguile- Win

Race 7- Integra Insurance Brokers Handicap- 1600metres

The best race of the day here with plenty of chances and a good field to contest. Celtic Rock has been racing well of late at Ascot and gets his chance to get a win on the board here today. He has been extremely consistent this campaign without winning, but running close up behind some promising city gallopers, has a really nice draw and regular jockey Troy Turner on board once again this afternoon, will tip him to breakthrough for an overdue victory here. The main danger must be Gaps In Me Knees, a very promising galloper who has yet to be unplaced in five race starts, she will probably lead or land in a very forward position here and give you a great sight for your money. Rockys Brother finally broke through last start at this track, and certainly races well at Pinjarra, he may well go on with it now he has broken the ice, looms as another strong chance today, and Greymates has held his form well this campaign, won well last start over the Pinjarra 1600metres after racing wide for most of that race, this is a step up in class today but hard to ignore his form line. One at odds if he gains a start is Catdancer, a good second here on Apr 15, comes home very strongly and will appreciate the 1600metre journey this afternoon.

Numbers- 6-13-9-3
Suggested Bet- 6- Celtic Rock- Win

Race 8- Racing 2 May Handicap- 1400metres

A difficult race to finish the programme today with a few promising horses who mix their form engaged in this one, against a last start maiden winner in He's Starkers whose chances aren't helped by a poor barrier. I will settle on Wild West Willy on the back of that terrific win down here on Mar 22, he bolted in by over four lengths that day, went to Ascot after that and probably disappointed a little after starting punters elect that afternoon, but the Pinjarra victory is very hard to ignore. He has drawn a little wide today but if he can overcome that obstacle may be hard to beat in this. He's Starkers was quite impressive winning his maiden at his first race start and looks to have a good future ahead of him, but the poor barrier draw in fourteen and the stronger field here may make it a little tougher for him, but certainly on that first up victory he must be given thought today. Foo Foo The Snoo has shown ability in the past but her last few runs have been a little disappointing albeit in stronger company, putting her best hoof forward today she must also be considered a chance. Lucy Lamplady ran a good race last start down here at Pinjarra and may be one to put into novelty bets as well today.

Numbers- 3-2-4-10

Suggested Bet 3- Wild West Willy- Each Way

Best Bet- Race 8 No 8 Swing
Race 6 No 7 Beguile