The Leg Up – Bunbury Stakes Day – Wednesday 4 March 2020

Popular race-by-race meeting preview The Leg Up by Thoroheads provides in-depth summaries, tips and suggested bets.

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Race 1 – 12:24PM BUNBURY PLUMBING SERVICES MAIDEN (1100 METRES)

Expecting a forward showing from ELLIE’N’PINK fresh. Tipped out after being a beaten $3.70 favourite on debut last August, but both lead-up trials have been handy, and she does have the services of William Pike also. Should land just off pace from this draw and work home with strength late. NATIVE CHIMES is on a six-day back up after finding Beret too good. 1410m back to 1100m is a query, but has a form and race-fitness advantage. Natural on-pacer JAKESTAR showed a bit last prep and the form around him reads well, while the recent trials of fellow first-upper GALAGA have been encouraging.

Tips: 8-7-3-1
Suggested: 8. ELLIE’N’PINK win.

8. ELLIE’N’PINK
7. NATIVE CHIMES
3. JAKESTAR
1. GALAGA

Race 2 – 12:59PM JCW ELECTRICAL MAIDEN (1200 METRES)

Really liked the way GRACIENNE attacked the line at Ascot last start. Has settled rearwards from gates nine and 10 at her first two outings, but has the ability to land much closer from this draw, and with the closing speed she possesses really should be fighting out the finish. OUR BOY DYLAN has looked extra sharp in his two lead-up trial wins and moves like a nice horse. Suited from this draw, major player on debut. A freshened EM TEE AYE can find the front and run them along, trial winning debutante SOLAIA will have admirers, while LINCOLN’S LAW was huge on debut but a high draw hinders.

Tips: 9-7-1-12
Suggested: 9. GRACIENNE each way.

9. GRACIENNE
7. OUR BOY DYLAN
1. EM TEE AYE
12. SOLAIA

Race 3 – 1:34PM TABTOUCH – BETTER YOUR BET MAIDEN (1200 METRES)

This is particularly strong but quite keen on GIANT LEAP first up. Thought his debut effort last November was excellent, with the form out of that race stacking up strong, and he looked all class in his Lark Hill 24/02 trial win. Draw may be a touch sticky, but he appears the have the talent to endure a less than ideal passage and still win. Have been tracking MR DELEGATOR closely at trials and anticipating a big run on debut. Hails from red-hot stable also. Possible leader ARTFUL ZOFFANY showed a bit on debut and must rate highly, while no surprise to see ENDURING MOMENT impact first up.

Tips: 2-7-4-5
Suggested: 2. GIANT LEAP win.

2. GIANT LEAP
7. MR DELEGATOR
4. ARTFUL ZOFFANY
5. ENDURING MOMENT

Race 4 – 2:09PM FURPHY – REFRESHING ALE MAIDEN (1400 METRES)

ORISTANO looks set to break through. Sent out a $1.80 favourite first up at Pinjarra and although beaten, he actually performed quite well and may not have been entirely suited on the day. Expecting him to come forward significantly and with a clean getaway, should find the front and control proceedings from there. Interesting to see LYLE’S CHOICE leave Team Williams and join the Pearce Bros, but regardless he does look a standout second selection in a bit of a thin race. Should be peaking third up. THANKYOU VERY MUCH looks a likely improver, while MOAMA ROSE should rebound into the top four.

Tips: 4-3-9-10
Suggested: 4. ORISTANO win.

4. ORISTANO
3. LYLE’S CHOICE
9. MOAMA ROSE
10. PHANTOM’S STAR

*Numbers amended after final scratchings

Race 5 – 2:44PM LJ HOOKER BUNBURY COLLIE HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

SHAKE THE BLOOM really came into her own with a strong Narrogin 21/02 maiden win last start. Did get a few favours in the run, but felt as though she let down well and gives the impression she’ll improve even further rising to 2000m. Must respect Durrant-trained stayers, should take some beating again. Likely leader XAARMERIT has to be considered also, with race-fitness and solid formlines on his side. Does run for Chloe Azzopardi also. Stablemates BLAISZEN CAZAH and WILD GALAH look well placed on their home track, their best form reads well, while FINANCIAL SUPPORT could be the blowout.

Tips: 5-1-7-2
Suggested: 5. SHAKE THE BLOOM win.

5. SHAKE THE BLOOM
1. XAARMERIT
7. BLAISZEN CAZAH
2. WILD GALAH
3. FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Race 6 – 3:15PM AMELIA PARK WINES HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

It’s been a huge week for the Tiarrna Robertson yard and it looks set to continue with Fabergino’s full brother RUSH’N MACHINE a winning chance first up. Showed promise during his initial racing campaign and caught the eye when working home nicely behind recent winner Chisano in a Belmont 14/02 trial. Maps well, goes close. SEMIGEL is right back in form, but does map rearwards from this alley. Still has the ability to impact. Natural on-pacer STRASMORE has been readied for this with two lead-up trials and warrants consideration, while fellow front-runner ERISTIC is in the mix also.

Tips: 2-4-3-1
Suggested: 2. RUSH’N MACHINE win.

2. RUSH’N MACHINE
4. SEMIGEL
3. STRASMORE
1. ERISTIC

Race 7 – 3:50PM CITY & REGIONAL FUELS HANDICAP (1675 METRES)

Thinking TOLLMAN can get the job done again. This competitor found the front when returning from a let up at Ascot 19/02 and just did enough to hold out some fairly decent opposition. That result stacks up, and with a reasonable run from this draw, will be hard to counter. SAKARYA is flying this prep, but has had to be aggressively ridden by Joe Azzopardi. Can sister Chloe get the best out of her? ALL THE JULZ got the maiden win she was looking for at Pinjarra 23/02 and should get every chance again from this draw, while THUNDER BOOM was big at Albany and Pike going on is an obvious positive.

Tips: 1-3-8-5
Suggested: 1. TOLLMAN win.

1. TOLLMAN
3. SAKARYA
8. ALL THE JULZ
5. THUNDER BOOM

Race 8 – 4:25PM AMELIA PARK BUNBURY STAKES (1400 METRES)

After his Pinjarra Classic domination FREE TRADE is all the rage, however, if TELLEM WE’RE COMIN can tap into his peak form he’s obviously going to take some beating. Was never in contention behind Free Trade first up, but happy to forget he went around in a strange race, and expecting him to be back breathing fire. Free Trade produced a massive peak at Pinjarra and absolutely relished the way the race was run. This will be different tempo wise, still he’s a thoroughly deserved favourite. FLOWER OF WAR is taking all before her and must be respected, while PLATOON has top-end talent also.

Tips: 1-5-4-2
Suggested: 1. TELLEM WE’RE COMIN win.

1. TELLEM WE’RE COMIN
5. FREE TRADE
4. FLOWER OF WAR
2. PLATOON

Race 9 – 5:05PM CIVILCON CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

Really competitive event to wrap up Bunbury Stakes Day and happy to be on board with the talented yet sparingly-raced TAWNY PETE. The Paul Roberts stable has found some form in recent weeks and this fellow certainly enjoys racing on his home track, with his 1216m win two starts back being arguably career-best. If he can hold up and lead, he’s going to take some beating. HENTY GAL was disappointing last start, but expecting her to bounce back in this. Hard to fault the recent form from GESSATO, ROADRAGER maps rearwards but will be steaming late, while ICE TRADE had no luck last start.

Tips: 1-5-3-4
Suggested: 1. TAWNY PETE win.

1. TAWNY PETE
5. HENTY GAL
3. GESSATO
4. ROADRAGER
8. ICE TRADE

**This edition of #TheLegUp by @thoroheadsWA originally published at 7:00am on Tuesday 3 March 2020


The Leg Up is provided by Thoroheads — Digital content producers servicing the Western Australian Thoroughbred Horse Racing Industry.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the Bunbury Turf Club.