Race 1 – 1:14PM DOG SQUAD MAIDEN (1016 METRES)

Smart type MIA DOLCE has the score on the board and looks set to attract plenty of support, however, expecting first-starter THUNDER GOD to make things very interesting. A $50,000 yearling purchase, this son of Playing God stretched out well in a 950-metre Lark Hill 14/01 trial and could’ve finished much closer had Mitchell Pateman slipped him an inch of rein. The S.J. Miller yard has been recording strong results in recent weeks and THUNDER GOD looks a genuine winning chance on debut. MIA DOLCE is the obvious horse to beat with quality formlines around two of WA’s best juveniles in Specialism and Miss West Coast. Gives herself every chance by beginning well and racing on speed, and it will take a decent horse to knock her off. CARABINIER looked nice and sharp in his 400-metre Belmont 21/01 trial, stretching Initial Plate winner Amarillo Rose. Like most Paul Jordan youngsters, expecting this fellow to jump-and-run and take some catching, while SANABREANNA hasn’t been seen since trialling well at Lark Hill 19/11 and the Rapid Eye Movement form read quite well.

Tips: 2-3-1-7
Suggested: 2. THUNDER GOD win.

2. THUNDER GOD
3. MIA DOLCE
1. CARABINIER
7. SANABREANNA

Race 2 – 1:54PM FLEX CONTRACTING HANDICAP (1016 METRES)

Impressed with the way SWANKY LASS cleaned up her opposition over this track/distance last Sunday week and if she’s ridden in a similar positive manner, she’ll be very hard to catch again. Did make the most of some favourable conditions on that occasion, but her speed figures stacked up well overall on the day and the Roy Rogers/Daniel Staeck team are one of the hottest trainer/jockey combinations in the State. Anticipating sharp improvement from MURRAY THE BULLDOG second up with William Pike in the saddle. Should enjoy a suitable rails run from the inside alley and with the cutaway in play, should be able to conserve early and accelerate into clear galloping room late. The Lou Luciani stable is coming off a big double at Ascot on Wednesday also. Lightly-raced six-year-old STRIP THE MOON resumes from a break and does possess plenty of early speed. Will be interesting to see if he can begin well enough to cross SWANKY LASS, while fellow first-upper IN THE BAG posted some good results when last in work and can make an impact on his best form.

Tips: 5-1-2-3
Suggested: 5. SWANKY LASS win.

5. SWANKY LASS
1. MURRAY THE BULLDOG
2. STRIP THE MOON
3. IN THE BAG

Race 3 – 2:34PM SH8RE MAIDEN (2038 METRES)

Expecting BLOOM AWAY to elevate significantly rising to this middle-distance assignment at her third run in. The half-sister to the Bunbury Cup winning Tick Tick Bloom has got a long way back at both outings so far, but has run on quite well and should have finished closer last start, when held up on heels over the final 100 metres. Obviously suited with William Pike climbing on board and this is a fairly thin maiden, so with the Adam Durrant-polish, BLOOM AWAY gets her chance. WILD GALAH has the best form in the race and will take some beating on the five-day back up. Was a bit soft at the finish of 1600 metres at Ascot on Wednesday, so not convinced stepping up to 2038 metres here, but should find this easier than what he’s been facing and must warrant consideration. OATHKEEPER hails from the in-form Roy Rogers stable and boxed on well after leading at a brisk tempo over the miler here last Sunday week. Looks the likely leader again and capable of competing well enough for another top-four finish, while GRAND OPENING has similar form to BLOOM AWAY and gives the impression he should’be be too troubled rising in distance third up.

Tips: 9-5-3-7
Suggested: 9. BLOOM AWAY win.

9. BLOOM AWAY
5. WILD GALAH
3. OATHKEEPER
7. GRAND OPENING

Race 4 – 3:12PM INFINITE ENERGY HANDICAP (1705 METRES)

This looks a good option for DANEFIN. The eight-year-old local has been in consistent form in four starts this campaign, taking on some decent opposition in higher-rated metro events recently. Hasn’t won beyond 1410 metres, but has multiple placings over the mile to his name and most of his best form has come when racing at his home track. Race fit and in form, DANEFIN should be hard to hold out. The well-regarded NEW AGE will be all the rage first up wearing the cerise and white, and has been sharpened up for this with two good Lark Hill trial efforts. Won fresh over a mile when kicking off her previous preparation and she stands out as the obvious horse to beat. No surprise to see MULGA go close, with his last-start Albany performance much better than it reads on paper. Suited with Lucy Warwick on board and he certainly has the class to impact, while AWESOME AS will appreciate coming back in trip on the nine-day back up and has a strong record over this Track/Distance.

Tips: 3-2-4-6
Suggested: 3. DANEFIN win.

3. DANEFIN
2. NEW AGE
4. AWESOME AS
6. SUMMIT TRAIL

*Numbers amended after scratchings.

Race 5 – 3:50PM PARKS TAVERN MAIDEN (1116 METRES)

Looking forward to seeing LAKEVIEW AND STAR in action after two dominant Bunbury trial victories recently. The full brother and stablemate of Arctic Stream, looks a touch sharper than his quality older sibling, and with a clean getaway should roll forward and race right on top of the speed on debut. Nothing has been able to lay a glove on him at either of his lead-up trials and if he brings that form to raceday, LAKEVIEW AND STAR should be saluting. First-upper VEEBEE is the only real danger and liked the way he edged clear late to record a soft Belmont 21/01 trial win. Looks to have his share of ability and was a $5 chance on debut last August, so that starting-price profile has to be respected. Anticipating sharp improvement from INDIAN CHANT, who will appreciate a lower draw and the cutaway rail. He’s much better than what he showed first up, while first-starter THE GRUFF hasn’t been sighted since recording a Lark Hill 3/12 trial win, but that effort was strong enough to suggest he can post a top-four finish on debut.

Tips: 5-3-1-6
Suggested: 5. LAKEVIEW AND STAR win.

5. LAKEVIEW AND STAR
3. VEEBEE
1. INDIAN CHANT
6. THE GRUFF

Race 6 – 4:25PM EASTMAN & CO ACCOUNTANTS MAIDEN (1216 METRES)

Keen on the chances of SHE’S A GALAH. Was really impressed with her Belmont 7/01 trial win and went looking for her first up last Wednesday week, however, she mapped to get too far back from barrier 12 and we opted to side with others. The effort she produced was a beauty though, coming from last in running to fill the minor placing and clock the fastest last 400-metre split and the second-fastest 200-metre split of the day. Maps to enjoy a more prominent running position on this occasion and should access clear running with the cutaway rail in play. HAPPY SANDAY was rock-solid at his first outing for the Justin Warwick stable, having every chance but just getting out-sprinted by the winner over the final stages. Looks suited from a similar low draw and can elevate further with that run under his belt. KENYLUCK was backed into $3.50 favouritism last start, but didn’t fire. Obviously better than that and happy to forgive one bad run, while PADDY O’FURNITURE really caught the eye when running on late in the same race as HAPPY SANDAY last start, but the pads going on is an obvious query.

Tips: 10-1-5-4
Suggested: 10. SHE’S A GALAH win.

10. SHE’S A GALAH
1. HAPPY SANDAY
5. KENYLUCK
4. PADDY O’FURNITURE

Race 7 – 5:00PM BOQ BUNBURY HANDICAP (2038 METRES)

Hard not to be impressed with the strength of the STAFFORD’S LAD victory here last Sunday week and locking him in to get the job done again. Patiently ridden by William Pike, the four-year-old relished the faster-than-average tempo, rolling into the race with an uninterrupted run and drawing clear for a decisive win. With his ties to the Adam Durrant stable, Pike has hopped off, however, STAFFORD’S LAD will no doubt be well handled by the very much in-form Daniel Staeck. Pike’s mount STAIRWAYTOTHEMOON will be heavily supported again, but wasn’t entirely convincing as a $2.15 favourite here last Wednesday week. Still, she hasn’t done a lot wrong all campaign and has to be respected. PERSISTENCE TIME was a $7 chance in the same race as STAIRWAYTOTHEMOON last time, but was disappointing when finishing over eight lengths from the winner. Can do better though and expecting improvement, while TORTINA really attacked the line for apprentice Jade McNaught when recording an overdue maiden win at York 9/01.

Tips: 2-3-7-8
Suggested: 2. STAFFORD’S LAD win.

2. STAFFORD’S LAD
3. STAIRWAYTOTHEMOON
7. PERSISTENCE TIME
8. TORTINA

Race 8 – 5:35PM BUNBURY SUBARU HANDICAP (1420 METRES)

William Pike in the last is a reasonable recipe for success and expecting him to get the best out of promising four-year-old KING OF JUDAH. Wasn’t far away as a $4 chance when resuming at Pinjarra 9/12, but he had over a month between runs when stepping out at Bunbury 16/01 and simply didn’t fire with apprentice Mollie Clark on board. The best of KING OF JUDAH stacks up very well and with ‘The Wizard’ on from a low draw, he really should be taking care of business. SOULSANA has his share of ability and is a major player second up. Drifted a fair way back and worked home nicely at Pinjarra 2/01, and that run will have tightened him up for this. FIND THE GAP is returning from a 36-day break and was in consistent form prior to his freshen up, while BOMBARDMENT made the most of favourable conditions to lead throughout here last Sunday week, and should race on speed and give a good account of himself again.

Tips: 3-4-2-5
Suggested: 3. KING OF JUDAH win.

3. KING OF JUDAH
4. SOULSANA
2. FIND THE GAP
5. TRIBUTE TO GLORY

*Numbers amended after scratchings.

*Originally published at 3:00pm on Friday 25 January 2019