Gumbys Gossip - Northam 10th May

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Thu 10 May, 2012

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Northam- Thursday 10th May

Nine events in the Avon Valley today, a very even card of racing with no real standouts, the first six races are maiden events, so may pay to be conservative on the punt for those races, a little more exposed form later in the day with a couple of good country types engaged in the quaddie legs.

Race 1- www.avonvalleywa.com.au Maiden- 1100metres

A two year old maiden race to start the day, with almost no race form exposed, so it may pay to tread warily here if having an investment, especially if having a few novelty bets. The only horse with any exposed form at all is Rebelson, so that will be the on top selection today, he was a very good fourth to El Rijes at Ascot back on Dec 10, that was coming off a good trial win a few days previous. He started at $7 in that strong Ascot race so we can take that as a pointer to the fact he has plenty of ability. There are quite a few horse with good trial form having their first race start today, among them Motoko who won a Lark Hill trial on Apr 30 beating another of todays acceptors Classified Info in that trial. Others with reasonable trial form are Busters Courage, Anywhere Express and Keep Her Secret, but its very hard to try and line that sort of form up for this race. I would suggest Rebelson is the only betting proposition at this stage whilst the others get some sort of race form behind them.

Numbers- 1-9-7-2
Suggested Bet- 1- Rebelson- Win

Race 2- Northam Skin and Body Care Maiden- 1100metres

Blue Sasso certainly gets his best chance to salute today after his five race starts have produced three second placings. He did finish sixth at his last start at Pinjarra but that was from a very wide gate, and he is drawn beautifully today. His previous three starts resulted in those runners up placings and she looks like she may go one better today. Another factor in her favour is the appointment of Peter Knuckey to ride, he is riding on the crest of a wave at present. Nova Park appears well placed in this race and probably represents the main danger today, he has run some good races in this sort of company in the past and has the in form apprentice Ned Coldbeck to ride, and the 3kgs claim that goes with his engagement onto Nova Park. Great Success was disappointing at his first race start back in November and was then spelled, but has trialled pretty well at Lark Hill on Apr 30 and must also be given a chance in this race, they appear to be the three main chances in this event, but its difficult to split all three of them. Old Black Cat may be the roughie for novelty punters here, he will certainly add value if he does scrape into the minors.

Numbers- 9-2-5-13
Suggested Bet- 9- Blue Sasso- Each Way

Race 3- Sheer Elegance for Hair Maiden- 1100metres

It may be a battle of the gold colours in this maiden race as my first three tips in the race all race in predominately gold. Will tip Thurston Lane primarily due to the Paul Harvey factor, this Oratorio gelding has finished on the heels of the placegetters at most of his six starts, he did venture up to Kalgoorlie last start and may have been slightly disappointing that day, but did get a mention in the stewards report in that race, so maybe forgive that aberration and go on his previous efforts. Has drawn very well in barrier six this afternoon and should go well in this. Patriotic Cause has a similar form line to Thurston Lane in his previous campaigns and although first up today he still commands respect in a race like this, also well drawn for regular jockey Jason Whiting, he has been placed first up previously as well. Free Geoffrey looked good at his first race start on Apr 9 when a good third at Pinjarra, but then raced very greenly at his next start when well down the track, on his first up run he looks to be in this race with a chance. A maddie might be Boardroom Belle from the strong Sharon Taylor yard, hasn't done much in trials but has drawn pole position and may run some sort of race at what should be very nice odds.

Numbers- 3-8-2-9
Suggested Bet- 3- Thurstun Lane- Win

Race 4- Northam Liquor Store Maiden- 1300metres

A pretty tough maiden race here, not a lot of form exposed and a few of the better chances not drawn well on the outside of this field. However if we can forget Barge Thru started at Albany on Apr 26, when he got a long way back and ran sixth that day and go on his promising trial form preceding that run, we might be able to pinpoint the winner here. It appears from the Albany effort that Barge Thru might appreciate the 1300metre journey this afternoon, and he is drawn very nicely where as a lot of his major opposition aren't. Kyra Yuill stays on board today and we will stick with him to break his maiden status this afternoon. Amelia's Moment has been ultra consistent of late and reproducing that form here must come into calculations if she can overcome the extreme outside barrier. Hydroflight, well what do you say, has been very costly to punters of late, and it may be a case of if you have backed her a few times previously stay on board on an each way basis, if you havent backed her before, don't do it this time, she certainly looks to have ability but is yet to really put it together on race day. Best of the rest may be Gold Sasso, a much improved run last start behind the promising He's Starkers at Pinjarra, it may be the pointer to better things to come from this gelding.

Numbers- 5-11-10-6
Suggested Bet- 5- Barge Thru- Each Way

Race 5- McDonalds Northam Maiden- 1300metres

Another tough maiden race here with quite a few chances in an open affair. Certainly not going to throw anything out with any certainty in this race but will go for Tiffany Yellow for trainer Ivan Haggerty who ran a pretty good race at her first start at Pinjarra on Apr25 when fifth to Background after racing a little wide that day. Allowing for further improvement this afternoon she may well run a good race in this. Chase The Cat ran a very nice race here at Northam on Apr29 when running third to Classic Knowledge, that was a big improvement on previous efforts and hopefully for the connections he can reproduce that sort of form from now on, he looks a danger today. The Bob Peters horse Ultimate Success makes his race debut here and has put in a few good efforts at trials over the last year, they have taken their time in getting this Blackfriars gelding to the track and he does look to have ability, but it may pay to have a look this afternoon, he isn't drawn too well for his debut. I Can Hurry may be the best of the rest if he can overcome a wide barrier draw in this race, has shown a little form in his preceding three starts.

Numbers- 14-9-7-10
Suggested Bet- 14- Tiffany Yellow- Each Way

Race 6- Dunnings Caltex Maiden- 1600metres

Saxon Knight has been knocking at the door at his recent starts finishing runner up on the last three occasions and certainly looks like he may go one better this afternoon. He has finished close up behind horses of the calibre of Ghost Trader and Sovilla Storm recently, and that is a good form line for a race such as this that really lacks a great deal of depth. He does come home in his races and the rise to the mile certainly looks as if it will suit him down to the ground here. It's down the page in this race with the main danger appearing to be I'm Easy, who has run close up at his last few starts as well at various tracks, is drawn well for Shaun O'Donnell and should also go well in this, another that appears to want the mile distance. Princely Sage ran a good third at his first race start beaten under a length that day, and with Paul Harvey on board should go well once again in this race. Due Para may be the best of the rest, another with consistent form just behind the placegetters of late, and may be around the place once again today.

Numbers- 1-2-3-5
Suggested Bet- 1- Saxon Knight- Win

Race 7- Quins Gourmet Butchers Handicap- 1600metres

Endless Sacrifice has been a perennial placegetter at her ten race starts earning a cheque on eight occasions, although only once as the winner of a race. Thats the only concern here in tipping her to record a victory today, she has been racing so well over these distances, she has a superb record at the Northam track including her maiden victory, she is drawn so well today, she looks the winner, so she is the on top selection today but with the reservation mentioned earlier, hopefully in a weaker field than she has been racing against lately, Endless Sacrifice can break through again this afternoon. One with nice consistent form is No Expectations, has been placed third and fourth at his last three starts at the Pinjarra track and is certainly working towards a victory shortly, he gets in well on weights here with Aaron Rogers on board and looks to be a major player in this event. Invidious ran a much improved race last start, is still a maiden, but was only beaten a nose by the promising He's Starkers last start so he commands respect in a race like this, and Te Quiero did beat Endless Sacrifice home two starts ago at Bunbury on Bunbury cup day, he surprised at big odds that day when leading, maybe similar tactics may be employed today, he will be at good odds.

Numbers- 3-6-5-4
Suggested Bet- 3- Endless Sacrifice- Win

Race 8- Northam Caravan Park Handicap- 1300metres

Friarday showed both his best and worst form during his last campaign, two really good wins by big margins followed by a couple of ordinary efforts when starting punters elect. He has since been spelled and it may pay to go on his two wins when assessing this race, and if he can race up to that form and overcome a wide barrier he looks the way to go in this race. The two failures were over middle distances, which is something we can take into calculations, back to what looks like a more suitable distance for him today is a pointer to a good showing. This field isn't overly strong at all so he looks to be the favourite and will be the selection this afternoon. Pure Rust is another resuming from a let up, is well drawn and comes in well on weights with the claiming apprentice on board in Chanelle O'Grady, and if she can get this gelding in a prominent position throughout he can certainly prove hard to beat. Mystic Dust won her maiden at Pinjarra two starts ago, followed that up with an unplaced run on Apr 25 but in a stronger field than this, so can improve today, and the veteran Wonder Weed may run reasonably well here, down in the weights these days and in this type of field may make his presence felt in this.

Numbers- 1-5-7-13
Suggested Bet 1- Friarday- Win

Race 9- www.northamraceclub.com Handicap- 1100metres

A very tough race to finish the day, so I would be going a little wide in the last leg of the quaddie here. Merger Benefits has run two good races since coming over from NSW, winning at Pinjarra before being just beaten at Narrogin last start , is nicely drawn at the tough 1100metre start and is the selection here based on his form line. However its a tough race with horses like Distinctive Dane returning to racing today, she has been off the scene for three months but was racing well before her spell, her first up form isn't flash which stopped me from making her the on top selection here but she does command a lot of respect in a field like this. Midnight Whispers came home well last start when fourth at Pinjarra and should improve on that run this afternoon, another with claims in this race. Night Man won really well at Mt Barker back on Mar18 and raced well in the Great Southern during their season, he must be included in novelty bets on this race as well. Rosalie Park would have been right in this event also, but will probably be scratched as she was due to run at Ascot yesterday.

Numbers- 3-4-10-2
Suggested Bet- 3 Merger Benefits- Each Way