RACE 1 OWNERS ONLY MAIDEN 1:30 PM (2000M)

We’re pretty confident of getting off to a fast start with BREAK THE CHAIN appearing perfectly positioned to record his maiden victory, after an eye-catching minor placing in much stronger company at Belmont last start. This fellow showed a bit during his initial racing campaign and has endured an interrupted winter/spring preparation, however, he’s trending in the right direction and the four-year-old son of Blackfriars certainly has some staying potential. BREAK THE CHAIN comes out of a faster-than-average 2000-metre special conditions event where he was strong right through the line, and this appears his race to lose. REGENT STAR made a significant leap from 1400 to 2200 metres at only his third career start at Northam last time and did a good job to place after meeting with some support in betting. That middle-distance hit-out will obviously be beneficial leading into this assignment and he does hail from the very much in-form Adam Durrant stable, so we’re expecting further improvement from this nicely-bred three-year-old. PRO MUTUAL led them up as a well-backed $3.50 favourite at York last start, but couldn’t get the job done after being ambushed in a clever mid-race move from Ryan Hill aboard eventual winner Come On Journey. Stuck on well enough in the sprint home and he’s capable of another competitive performance here, while NO PLACE TO HIDE made ground on a day that didn’t suit the backmarkers at Belmont last start and she’s a lock for your exotic bets.

Tips: 5-10-3-7
Suggested Bet: (5) BREAK THE CHAIN to win.

RACE 2 MOSHI MOSHI MARKETING MAIDEN 2:04 PM (1100M)

There’s quite a few chances in this 1100-metre maiden but we’re pretty happy to be on the side of sharp filly LIES IN DISGUISE. The Brett Pope-trained three-year-old finished third behind Fabergino in the fastest Ascot 1000-metre juvenile event of the season on debut in April and she’s warmed up for this first-up assignment with two good trial performances, clocking sub-56 seconds for the 950 metres on both occasions, which is always a positive sign at Lark Hill. Have to say we’re curious to see Mitchell Pateman aboard SUNLOVER and not LIES IN DISGUISE, but this daughter of Frost Giant certainly loses nothing with new rider Clint Johnston-Porter. LIES IN DISGUISE should give herself every chance by beginning well from the low draw and racing on pace, and if she reproduces her Ascot debut then she should be winning. FAIR TEQUILA is a horse we tracked closely when last in work and we were really impressed with her recent Lark Hill trial, when working to the line under a hold behind Infernal Star, who raced well here last Saturday. Appears likely to drift back from the high draw and will be giving most of her rivals a head-start, however, we fully expect to see FAIR TEQUILA charging home to make things interesting late. QUEEN BOUDICA comes through the hot Roganella trial at Belmont on September 18 and we didn’t mind the way she hit the line on debut at Northam last start. With natural improvement we can see this filly coming to play, while Peters Investments filly SPECIAL IMAGE will no doubt have admirers first up, but her lead-up trial was only fair and some of these may be too sharp over this short course.

Tips: 9-5-10-11
Suggested Bet: (9) LIES IN DISGUISE to win.

RACE 3 MELBOURNE CUP DAY AT BUNBURY MAIDEN 2:45 PM (1200M)

Really looking forward to this contest and our top four selections are particularity promising and are all capable of winning. It’s very difficult to compete with the Peters/Pike/Durrant combination and as such we decided to play the percentages by locking in STATE ATTORNEY on top, who’s set to continue the recent cerise and white blitz. This fellow has always been well regarded and his first-up effort behind the smart Sophia’s Secret in midweek company was a lot better than it reads on paper, as he ran into trouble when the pace slowed dramatically mid race. His sectional times stack up well considering the race shape and STATE ATTORNEY wasn’t far away from the second-placed Three Secrets, who’s a horse with ability. With natural improvement STATE ATTORNEY looks ready to pounce second up and with clear galloping room in the straight, he should get it done. COLOURFUL CHARADE goes good and has tremendous formlines around some of the best two-year-olds in the State last season. Was sent out a $1.90 favourite first up at Belmont recently, however, it will pay to forget he went around on that occasion after handing up the lead mid-race and getting blocked badly in the straight. COLOURFUL CHARADE can comfortably lead these from his outside draw and with more aggressive tactics this fellow will prove very hard to catch. OUQBA JACK is a nice horse who showed plenty when last in work and was one of the standout performers at the October 9 Belmont trials. Hard not to be taken with his effortless trial display and he cannot be underestimated first up here, while QUIRKY GIRL was a moral beaten on debut at York last start and had caught the eye at the trials beforehand.

Tips: 2-1-3-7
Suggested Bet: (2) STATE ATTORNEY to win.

RACE 4 ROSS PRICE LIFE MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP 3:15 PM (1200M)

There are quite a few hopes in this Class Five sprint but it’s hard to go past likely favourite MY GRACE, who was doing her best work late when saluting as an odds on favourite first up at York recently. The win, which followed up a smart Lark Hill trial display, was a tradesman-like performance, but the opportunity to run fast on a fresh York surface will no doubt provide this beautifully-bred four-year-old with the perfect platform for the rest of her campaign. MY GRACE competed well against some quality opposition when last in work and did start favourite against the likes of Just Act Natural, when taking on the older horses in Graduation 62+ company last April. No doubt there’s a class edge and MY GRACE really should make it two straight. FIRE MAKER is a lightly-raced five-year-old with ability and he’s capable of stretching our on-top selection. Didn’t enjoy the best of runs first up in midweek company and the way he worked to the line suggests he may have needed the hit-out also, so with natural improvement, from a sweet draw, FIRE MAKER can make his presence felt. MEGA MINX was well found ($3.40) when resuming at Northam recently and competed well enough in what’s turned out to be a particularly strong form race. Will obviously strip fitter for this second-up assignment, and we expect to see her roll forward and be afforded every opportunity, while we wouldn’t be surprised to see BARRY’S RABBIT go close at his first run back from a break. Can gallop and is a must for your exotic bets.

Tips: 3-2-9-4
Suggested Bet: (3) MY GRACE to win.

RACE 5 GET THE TABTOUCH MAIDEN 3:47 PM (1400M)

This is a really deep first leg of the late Quaddie and we eventually narrowed it down to the Pearce Bros-trained duo RACY AVA and VITAL SILVER, with the nicely-bred filly RACY AVA on top. This Testa Rossa three-year-old impressed at her Northam debut and probably should have won, when diving late and failing to catch Red Hot Flirt by a head. RACY AVA rattled off some sharp sectionals on that occasion and it was her final 100 metres that stood out for us, where she knuckled down and really ran through the line. The 1400 metres suits, and we expect to see RACY AVA ridden fairly patiently and sweeping home powerfully late. Stablemate VITAL SILVER, a half-brother to the well-regarded Touch Of Silver, caught the eye on debut when coming from the back half to get within a length of the winner over 1200 metres. Team Pearce have lodged three significant gear changes for this second-up assignment, which is interesting, but with a better getaway VITAL SILVER can land closer in running from his low draw and should have plenty of fuel in the tank to charge late. Although she was rolled as a $2.10 favourite first up at York recently, AMERICAN JOY will derive plenty of benefit from the hit-out in a fast race and she was doing her best work late, clocking good sectionals. Expect to see her coming home with wet sail, while SCINTILLATING didn’t appear to handle the seven-day back up when well fancied last start, but his previous effort behind the exciting Action suggests he shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Tips: 14-5-15-9
Suggested Bet: (14) RACY AVA win & place (i.e. 1 x 3 units).

RACE 6 XXXX GOLD HANDICAP 4:20 PM (1400M)

Another competitive line up on a decent card, and we think FLOWER OF SCOTLAND has all the right formlines and can give this a shake at his first attempt over 1400 metres. Ran into plenty of strife in a ridiculously slowly run 1200-metre affair at Belmont last start and did a pretty good job under the circumstances to close late, finishing only a length behind smart filly Dynamite Dream. FLOWER OF SCOTLAND should land in the sweet spot from his good draw, and with MATER REMEDY and AWESOME AS likely to create an even tempo, the Paige Kenny-trained four-year-old should get his chance. FILLE DE MERIT has won three from seven and looks set to fire first up after a good Lark Hill trial victory, in slick time. The Brett Pope-trained four-year-old has a a few issues at the barriers, so there is always a slight risk with her, but she can certainly gallop and will no doubt have her share of admirers. First-upper MIDNIGHT SKY is another of the Peters Investments squad set to make their presence felt on this program. Showed a bit during her initial racing campaign and should have finished closer in her recent Lark Hill trial, so we expect to see a competitive effort from her fresh, while AWESOME AS is a horse we have some time for, and we can see him racing up on top of the speed and fighting out the finish.

Tips: 5-3-9-1
Suggested Bet: (5) FLOWER OF SCOTLAND to win.

RACE 7 AMELIA PARK HANDICAP 4:55 PM (1100M)

Tricky short-course Class 1 event here and we ended up settling on THE GOSPEL SIN, who’s a horse we quite like. Won like a smart horse first up last campaign, accounting for the capable Mantime here over 1200 metres, and continued to race well on the provincial circuit through the summer/autumn. THE GOSPEL SIN hasn’t been knocked around in two lead-up barrier trials and, while 1100 metres is short of his best distance, we’re confident he can show some dash with fresh legs here. VITAL ASSET appreciated being back on top of the ground at Northam last start when almost upsetting the short-priced favourite Danes Maree over this trip, and he did chase home the smart Father Knick at Belmont three starts back. Goes okay this fellow, and we expect to see him enjoying a soft run from an inside draw and fighting out the finish. HIGH CALYPSO improved sharply with the drop in grade second up at Northam recently, returning to the solid form she displayed during a successful autumn campaign. Possesses good gate speed and gives herself every chance by racing up on top of the pace, so it’s hard seeing her miss the top four, while we wouldn’t be surprised to see MADAM WINKS produce a more competitive effort second up. Will strip fitter after running out of steam when leading them up at Belmont first up and she does have some strong form at this venue.

Tips: 1-2-5-7
Suggested Bet: (1) THE GOSPEL SIN win & place (i.e. 1 x 3 units).

RACE 8 PARKS TAVERN HANDICAP 5:30 PM (1675M)

A bit of a thin race to end the day and it really looks set up for very promising local KIA ORA STAR, who is double-engaged this weekend having accepted to start at Ascot also. While there’s no doubt he’s a chance in town, he looks just about a moral in this Class One Handicap, coming back in grade after a quality minor placing in Graduation 62+ company on opening day last Saturday. Big effort to get within a long neck of the winner on that occasion, considering the way the race was run, and none of his opposition here would be able to compete as well in that grade. Looks like only bad luck will be able to deny KIA ORA STAR victory here. PERSISTENCE TIME comes out of the same race as KIA ORA STAR and we didn’t mind the way he hit the line after being last swinging for home. Was doing some nice work late in the race and he should be ready to produce a peak performance at his fourth run this campaign. TRACKTA is a three-year-old who showed a bit during the winter and is better than his first-up Northam effort suggests. Performed well enough in a mid-prep trial at Lark Hill recently and we wouldn’t be surprised to see sharp improvement with the nose band going on, while former Victorian LIQUID MAN was expected to challenge second up at Belmont last start, but was a little disappointing after enjoying a soft run in transit. May have just needed that blow out and the blinkers have been added for this third-up assignment, so he’s worth sticking with especially when you consider he was backed into $4.20 last start.

Tips: 4-6-3-5 *Amended after final scratchings*
Suggested Bet: (4) PERSISTENCE TIME win & place (i.e. 1 x 3 units) *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.