Race 1 – 1:35PM CORNERS ON KING – SOUTH WEST REFUGE MAIDEN (1008 METRES)

Hard not to have been impressed with CLASSY LASSY at trials and she should be winning on debut. The Playing God filly is unbeaten in three trials this prep, so has been very well schooled, and has shown good gate speed on each occasion, so with a clean getaway she should roll forward and run them off their feet over the 1008 metres. Apprentice Bonnie Palise wore these same colours to lead all the way aboard Stares Andwhispers at York on Thursday and with similar tactics should boot home another winner. DASH FOR KNICKERS drifted back out of her ground here first up, but worked home well enough in quite a strong maiden. Expecting her to settle leader’s back from gate one and improve second up. First-upper WORTH SQUARE is a nice horse with plenty of upside and he should be running on strong late. Was very green in his 12/11 trial and blinkers have been added to switch him on, while POSITION OF POWER comes back in trip after a solid 1300-metre first-up hit out and looks a top-four chance again.

Tips: 6-5-1-2
Suggested: 6. CLASSY LASSY win.

6. CLASSY LASSY
5. DASH FOR KNICKERS
1. WORTH SQUARE
2. POSITION OF POWER

Race 2 – 2:15PM MERCEDES-BENZ BUNBURY – SOUTH WEST REFUGE MAIDEN (1008 METRES)

Have a bit of time for PICK YOUR BATTLES and with even luck should be hard to beat. Really liked his trials and he was a good thing beat when we fancied him on debut, bungling the start and suatsining a searching forward run, before being over-hauled by Unibro late. That galloper has raced well since, stamping a reasonable formline, and the race experience will naturally be invaluable for Pick Your Battles. With a clean getaway and clear running from a low draw, he’ll go close. MY LADY FAIR ran into traffic issues when most unlucky behind stablemate Rebel Yell last start, running the second-fastest last 200-metre split of the day. Looks well placed and should attract plenty of support. INDIGO WILD ran out of his skin in Class 1 company on debut over this track/distance, following up a strong Lark Hill trial win. The Stormy Ora and Ice Maker form stacks up and she warrants consideration, while we liked the way RAPID TRANSIT reeled in his opposition at the Belmont 12/11 trials and maps to advantage from a suitable draw.

Tips: 1-7-4-9
Suggested: 1. PICK YOUR BATTLES win.

1. PICK YOUR BATTLES
7. INDIGO WILD
4. TWO COOL
9. MERIT DREAM

*Numbers amended after scratchings

Race 3 – 2:50PM HIT FM 95.7 – SOUTH WEST REFUGE MAIDEN (1690 METRES)

A fairly even line up, but this does look the race for WILD GALAH. Looked home in a similar event fourth up last start, but after making a sweeping forward run he was left vulnerable late and was swallowed up by promising type Chapasco. Still, the effort was certainly full of merit and the run he looks like enjoying from the low draw suggests he’ll have plenty of fuel left in the tank to run right through the finish line. Plus no one is riding the Bunbury circuit better than Lucy Warwick at present. No surprise to see KORANIS elevate significantly third up. Met with good support at Northam 15/11 and the run was better than it reads and he looks suited rising to the mile. AL CAPITANO appeared to get his chance in the same race as Koranis last time, but was only plain late. Was second up though, so may be looking for this trip at this stage of his campaign, while ORABREEZE continues to race consistently and has to be included in your exotics.

Tips: 4-6-1-2
Suggested: 4. WILD GALAH win.

4. WILD GALAH
6. KORANIS
1. AL CAPITANO
2. ORABREEZE

Race 4 – 3:25PM YOURS OR MINE – SOUTH WEST REFUGE MAIDEN (1410 METRES)

Not a bad contest this, but kept coming back to the Michael Lane-prepared HENTY GAL. Really attacked the line on debut over 1108 metres and produced similar closing speed over the 1200 metres here last start, running the fifth fastest last 200-metre split on the card. Gives the impression she should appreciate this journey and looks capable of running right over the top of the late. LIPSTICK FLICKERS was rolled as a $1.50 fave second up at York 11/11, but she didn’t lose any admirers when lunging late and falling short. Capable of leading from gate one and will take some catching. BOMBARDMENT was gunned down late after leading second up at Geraldton 16/11, but should derive plenty of benefit from the hit out. Anticipating a peak performance third up, while FIND THE GAP caught the eye when working home well late third up over 1200 metres last start and expecting him to be strong late stepping up to this trip now.

Tips: 8-7-1-2
Suggested: 8. HENTY GAL win.

8. HENTY GAL
7. LIPSTICK FLICKERS
1. BOMBARDMENT
2. FIND THE GAP

Race 5 – 3:55PM MARTINA IVEY BROW ARTISTRY – SOUTH WEST REFUGE (1208 METRES)

Looking forward to seeing what the well-travelled SEEKING ALPHA can produce back in WA. The beautifully-bred daughter of Pierro and former star Paris Petard had three trials with Simon A. Miller in 2017, before a transfer to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young in Victoria, where she went on to record a smart debut win at Cranbourne. Has had obvious issues, having not raced or trialled since, but there’s plenty of talent there and gun trainer Lindsey Smith will have her ready to fire fresh. The market will tell the story, but all things being equal, Seeking Alpha should be hard to beat. BARTRADER was really strong when winning first up, racing three-wide without cover throughout and digging deep late. Hard not to have been impressed with that result and he maps to enjoy a more suitable run in transit. GROOVERSHAKER resumes for new trainer Neville Parker and he covered the ground nicely in his Lark Hill 19/11 trial win. Only lightly-raced, but has his share of ability and must be included, while MANKIND boxed on well enough after breezing three-wide throughout at Ascot 6/11 in what was a pretty deep three-year-old event.

Tips: 5-1-2-4
Suggested: 5. SEEKING ALPHA win.

5. SEEKING ALPHA
1. BARTRADER
2. GROOVERSHAKER
4. MANKIND

Race 6 – 4:25PM R SPENCER ELDERS REAL ESTATE – SOUTH WEST REFUGE (2019 METRES)

CHAPASCO looks a horse with a very bright future and expecting him to get the job done. Just missed first up behind Habari, who went on to win at Ascot during the week, before finishing right over the top of his rivals to record an impressive maiden win last start. Bred to be and moves like a stayer, so the step up to 2019 metres will suit, and on what he’s shown this campaign, he may have a reasonable class edge on these. MODERN NEWS is looking for this journey now at this stage of her campaign. Comes through the same races at Chapasco and has been competing well, but does seem to lack a knockout blow. Still, she must rate among the main dangers to our on-top selection. THROWDOWN worked home strong to salute over 1920 metres on debut at York 11/11. This assignment does look significantly stronger, however, he’s a horse with plenty of upside, while MASTER PEARL didn’t enjoy a lot of luck in Graduation Handicap company at Ascot 10/11 and the run was better than it reads. No surprise to see him figure prominently.

Tips: 3-5-2-1
Suggested: 3. CHAPASCO win.

3. CHAPASCO
5. MODERN NEWS
2. THROWDOWN
1. MASTER PEARL

Race 7 – 4:55PM FREDERICK COFFEE – SOUTH WEST REFUGE HANDICAP (1410 METRES)

Going to give slow-starter BOSS STRIKER one more opportunity to get it right. Has been impressive in three runs since arriving from Victoria, but his sluggish getaways have proven costly on each occasion. Will drift back from his high draw regardless and if he can be within striking distance on straightening, he does possess the closing speed to swoop over the top late. Expecting MISTY LAD to run a big race third up. Showed plenty when last in work and endured a tough run when taking on in front second up at Ascot 6/11. Can give this a nudge. FRIARANDICE produced a career-best performance first up, clearing out for a dominant victory in a similar event to this. Hard to ignore the strength of that performance and she must rate highly, while TOGETHER WE DREAM looks well placed back in this grade and expecting her to bounce back.

Tips: 9-2-8-6
Suggested: 9. BOSS STRIKER each way.

9. BOSS STRIKER
2. MISTY LAD
8. FRIARANDICE
6. TOGETHER WE DREAM

Race 8 – 5:30PM SOUTH WEST REFUGE HANDICAP (1108 METRES)

Very open race to finish the day and thought this could be a nice option for DENIM PACK. Pretty smart type on his day and should be ready to produce a peak performance at his third run back, especially with the drop in grade having competed in Ratings 72+ company in town last Saturday. Also much better suited over this trip and with even luck from a mid draw, Denim Pack should figure. Didn’t mind the effort of STABLE SECRET in Ratings 66+ grade at Ascot 10/11, boxing on well enough under pressure late. Hasn’t won for 792 days, but maps to advantage from a low draw and gets his chance in this company. Anticipating a bold first-up showing from DANEFIN. Has slid right down in the ratings, so he’s really well in with only 56.5kg in this grade, and he will get back and run on strong late, while first-up specialist KRAMDEN will have plenty of admirers, especially considering his unbeaten record in three previous Bunbury outings.

Tips: 3-5-4-2
Suggested: 3. DENIM PACK each way.

3. DENIM PACK
5. STABLE SECRET
4. DANEFIN
2. KRAMDEN

*This edition of The Leg Up was originally published at 9am on Friday 23 November 2018