RACE 1 SUPPORT LOCAL SPARKY’S MAIDEN 1:30 PM (1216M)

Looking forward to the return of promising filly ROUTE EIGHTY EIGHT and we’re confident she can get us off to a flyer on JCW Electrical Raceday. Possesses some pretty strong formlines from her previous campaign when placing behind the likes of Denim Pack and Misty Metal, and the Justin Warwick-prepared three-year-old has looked nice and sharp in two recent trials wins. ROUTE EIGHTY EIGHT has the gate speed to work across and land somewhere in the first four/five and from there we expect to see her let down too well for her rivals late. I WONDER was big at his November 30 debut when leading at a faster-than-average tempo and understandably feeling the pinch late. That was fairly intense pressure for a maiden, but it should stand this fellow in good stead heading into this second-up assignment. Likely to roll forward again and be hard to counter late. First-upper KELLY’S GEM is an interesting runner and it will pay to keep a close eye on betting leads when assessing this filly. Has super formlines through her winter debut that includes WA Guineas winner Perfect Jewel and quality sprinter Arrum Boy, and she wasn’t knocked around in her lead-up Belmont trial, while TOUCHED was solid at her York debut and should enjoy a nice run in transit from the inside barrier.

Tips: 5-1-7-6
Suggested: (5) ROUTE EIGHTY EIGHT win (1) & place (3).

5. ROUTE EIGHTY EIGHT
1. I WONDER
7. KELLY’S GEM
6. TOUCHED

RACE 2 JCW SOLAR & ENERGY MAIDEN 2:05 PM (1216M)

Wide open All Aged Maiden this one and without a heap of confidence we decided to roll with first starter FLASH OF THUNDER. The Adam Durrant-prepared three-year-old has acquitted himself well at each of his three education trials and has shown good gate speed on each occasion. With a clean getaway from a low draw, we envisage FLASH OF THUNDER will be leading or racing right on top of the pace, and if he can transfer his trial form to raceday then he’s going to give his supporters a run for their money. ORABREEZE steps out first up without a trial, which is a little unusual for the David Harrison yard, however, this four-year-old showed enough at his first two starts last prep to suggest he’s capable of giving this a nudge fresh. Will be getting back from the high draw, but we expect him to see him running right through the line late. BOBCAT JOHNNIE is another first starter that has shown up at the trials and connections have shown significant patience in eventually getting this five-year-old to the races. Jumps well and parks up on speed, so he’s likely to put himself into a position to contend late, while three-year-old TENACITY was poor during his initial racing campaign, however, he showed a bit of spark when leading up a recent Belmont trial and could surprise first up.

Tips: 6-1-3-7
Suggested: (6) FLASH OF THUNDER win (1) & place (3).

6. FLASH OF THUNDER
1. ORABREEZE
3. BOBCAT JOHNNIE
7. TENACITY

RACE 3 CLUB CLIPSAL CLASSIC MAIDEN 2:45 PM (1705M)

Another All Aged Maiden without any real standouts, although we’re quite keen on the chances of FAIR TEQUILA and feel as though this could be her race. We have tracked this Barry Skinner-trained four-year-old this prep and last, and she’s simply been getting too far back in her races, so we’re hoping the step up in distance will help, although that’s not always the case in get back/run on types. Still, this isn’t particularly strong and FAIR TEQUILA was pretty good against the pattern over 1410 metres last start, so stepping up to the mile and a smaller field does tick some boxes for us. Worth a ticket each way. DEALING headed to the Great Southern for his Albany debut and encountered significant traffic issues in what was a fairly rough old race, particularly late. We’re thinking he would’ve gone close to saluting with any luck and although the sharp rise in distance isn’t ideal, trainer Darren McAuliffe knows his horses and we expect DEALING to be strong on the line. Normally we would’ve had FREECELL on top, as this appears his race to lose on paper, however, we’re not keen on the addition of a bar plate for this assignment. It may be something minor, but it still suggests a setback, so while we’re not leaving him out we simply can’t select him to win with confidence, and DEPOSIT rounds out our top four after competing well in a similar assignment to this last start. Should enjoy the right run in transit.

Tips: 9-5-10-8
Suggested: (9) FAIR TEQUILA win (1) & place (1).

9. FAIR TEQUILA
5. DEALING
10. DEPOSIT
8. COUNTRY FOX

*Numbers amended after final scratchings.

RACE 4 SWITCHBOARDS WA MAIDEN 3:20 PM (1420M)

There’s a bit of form to work with in this All Aged Maiden and after locking him in on top at his past two outings we’re going to go once more with LUNA ROSSA. Possesses some strong formlines having ran into last Saturday’s Lee Steere Classic winner War Room first up at Northam, before getting collared late by Missile Launch two back, with that smart customer going on to win again at Pinjarra last Sunday. Didn’t impact as a $3.90 chance last start, but that was a funny race in that nothing really made ground, so we weren’t too disappointed and we’re thinking the step up to seven furlongs should suit here. This isn’t as strong as what he’s been facing and with even luck in running LUNA ROSSA should be hard to beat. WILLAS WAY showed a bit when last in work and she cost herself victory first up at Mt Barker recently, ducking in badly when looming up to win at the 150-metre mark. The booking of strong senior rider Brad Parnham is a good one and he’s proficient with his left-hand whip riding, so there shouldn’t be a repeat of last start. Likely leader POKEMON PETE will be fitter after placing first up in a similar assignment to this on November 30 and should give them something to catch, while RINGER SOAK was sound after facing the breeze three-wide, chasing a hot tempo on debut and was turned up with a mid-prep trial on December 8. Blinkers going on is a positive.

Tips: 1-7-5-9
Suggested: (1) LUNA ROSSA win (1) & place (3).

1. LUNA ROSSA
7. WILLAS WAY
5. POKEMON PETE
9. RINGER SOAK

RACE 5 CNW ELECTRICAL WHOLESALERS HANDICAP 3:55 PM (1420M)

Fast-finishing mare SNOW BLOSSOM is simply flying for the Brent Larsson stable and she really gets her chance to break through for a deserved victory here. The lightly-raced five-year-old stretched subsequent Ascot listed-race winner War Room two back, before coming from last at the top of the straight for a rapid-closing third behind the in-form Wavehill Spur in a similar assignment to this on December 6. This doesn’t look as strong as the line up she faced last start and while she does need her share of luck being a get/back run on type, we simply can’t past SNOW BLOSSOM and she’s one of our best of the day. RISING SEA does mix up his form, but there’s no denying his raw ability and we expect to see him challenge at his first appearance in 186 days. We quite liked his recent Belmont trial effort, where he wasn’t asked for much of an effort, and he did kick off his previous campaign with a 1400-metre victory at Ascot in May. RISING SEA is the obvious danger. Hard to fault the form of DISCO RIFFIC and she competed really well at her first attempt over seven furlongs last start, in a race that’s turned out to be a strong form reference. DISCO RIFFIC is a lock for your exotic bets, while LONHMACC caught the eye in the $100,000 Regional Championships Final at Ascot last start and we expect that form to stack up at his first outing for new trainer Dion Luciani.

Tips: 5-2-3-4
Suggested: (5) SNOW BLOSSOM win (1) x place (3).

5. SNOW BLOSSOM
2. RISING SEA
3. DISCO RIFFIC
4. LONHMACC

RACE 6 PAT SHINE SUMMIT REALTY CLASSIC HANDICAP 4:25 PM (1116M)

This is a tricky short-course Class 1 Handicap and looms as a bit of a trap race. So without a lot of confidence we’re going the obvious route by selecting LUCKY LINDA LULU on top. Has shown promise in two racing campaigns so far, competing really well at each of her five starts and building up a fair bit of trust by mixing it with the likes of Snow Lord and Yeah Dardy. Enjoys rolling forward and racing on top of the speed, which we like, and trainer Brett Pope should have LUCKY LINDA LULU ready to rip at her first outing in 171 days. BELLA’S KEEPER hasn’t done a lot wrong in her two 1008-metre outings this campaign, filling the minor placing behind subsequent Ascot winner Ambiente first up, and capable pair You No What I Mean and A Good Plan last start. Likely to enjoy a soft run on the leader’s heels in transit and should have plenty of fuel left to quicken when the cutaway appears at the top of the straight. Three-year-old PARADISE SQUARE was taken to Mt Barker for an easy kill first up but while he completed the mission, it was far from convincing. Still, he dug deep and responded when challenged, which is a good sign, and he’s always shown above average potential so must be included in the mix, while LIGHT THE FUSE is coming off a 40-day break following her strong maiden victory on Melbourne Cup Day. Previous formlines read well and she must rate among the main winning chances, especially from the nice draw.

Tips: 3-5-7-2
Suggested: (3) LUCKY LINDA LULU win (1) x place (3).

3. LUCKY LINDA LULU
5. BELLA’S KEEPER
7. PARADISE SQUARE
2. LIGHT THE FUSE

RACE 7 JCW ELECTRICAL GROUP HANDICAP 4:55 PM (1216M)

The feature race of the day is a pretty good contest and almost all of the original acceptors are capable of winning at their best. We ended up locking in the race fit/in form SIXPENCE SPENT on top after he was edged out in a bobbing finish by Swift Platinum over 1410 metres third up last start, with that galloper going to to finish a strong third behind Wrinkly and Great Again at Ascot last Saturday.The Team Giadresco-trained six-year-old looks well placed coming back to his pet distance and really should enjoy the right run in transit jumping from a low draw. SIXPENCE SPENT, who was placed behind the flying La Mouline when resuming in Graduation company at Ascot three back, loves racing on his home track and we expect him to give this a big shake. First-upper HARRY THOMAS is a four-year-old on pacer who we have plenty of time for and he’s bound to have a heap of admirers here. Was sharpened up for this in a lead-up barrier trial and all the form around him reads so well through the likes of Friaresque, Helms Gate and Cruachan. Going to take some beating. ARAFURA got out of the ground late to salute well first up at Ascot and followed up with a competitive performance in Graduation company at Ascot last Saturday. Went to the line better than most on that occasion and probably should’ve finished a bit closer too, so she’s right in the mix here, while DETANGO is a talented mare but the bar plates have been fitted since a disappointing first-up performance and that gear change doesn’t really inspire confidence.

Tips: 3-2-1-4
Suggested: (3) SIXPENCE SPENT win (1) & place (3).

3. SIXPENCE SPENT
2. HARRY THOMAS
1. DETANGO
4. GEIGER GEM

*Numbers amended after final scratchings.

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