RACE 1 FORD AND DOONAN MAIDEN 2:12 PM (1690M)

Pretty keen on AMBER GLOW to get us off to a winning start with the Peters Investments filly ready to break through. Has encountered traffic issues at each of her three starts to date and with even luck in running, she probably should’ve won both her previous two outings. The booking of Chris Parnham is an obvious positive and this filly does appear ready to stretch out to the mile now at her fourth run this prep. AMBER GLOW won’t be any fancy odds but should be saluting. SOPHIE’S REVENGE displayed potential last winter and she showed she was back in good order with a first-up placing behind the impressive Red Army last Wednesday week. After a lean run, the Trevor Andrews stable has been posting some positive results and we’d be surprised if SOPHIE’S REVENGE doesn’t finish top three. Lightly-raced six-year-old VOLADOR appeared to have every chance at Northam last start but the blinkers (and a pulling bit) have been added and we think think that second-up hit out will improve him significantly for this assignment, while NICCONI’S BOY comes through the same race as VOLADOR and has to be considered a first-four chance.

Tips: 7-4-3-5
Suggested: (7) AMBER GLOW to win.

7. AMBER GLOW
4. SOPHIE’S REVENGE
3. VOLADOR
5. NICCONI’S BOY

RACE 2 CAROMA MAIDEN 2:45 PM (1108M)

Tricky short-course maiden here with a host of first starters and first uppers, and without a heap of confidence we locked in debutante I WONDER on top. The Sharon Miller-trained three-year-old is unbeaten at the trials and has shown an ability to begin well and put himself on the speed, a good sign for a son of Blackfriars. We’ve been impressed with the way he’s travelled and covered the ground in trials, and jockey Alan Kennedy has given the punters a lead by opting to ride I WONDER over SECRET TARGET, who trialled well recently. Another first starter to catch the eye at trials is JUST SCOOT, who we feel probably could’ve won his recent Lark Hill heat had Mitchell Pateman wanted him to. This four-year-old should enjoy the right run in transit from a handy draw and we’re anticipating a strong debut showing from JUST SCOOT. Local filly SECRET TARGET showed a sharp turn-of-foot to account for the promising Paradise Square in her trial last Friday week and while the gate suggests she’s likely to drift back, we wouldn’t be surprised to see her hit the line hard first up, while TAWNY PETE overcame difficulties in running to post a smart trial win last Friday week and is another first starter capable of making his presence felt.

Tips: 9-4-10-5
Suggested: (9) I WONDER win & place (1 x 3 units).

9. I WONDER
4. JUST SCOOT
10. SECRET TARGET
5. TAWNY PETE

RACE 3 ASPIRED ALUMINIUM & GLASS HANDICAP 3:15 PM (1410M)

Only a small field but it was a challenge separating SIXPENCE SPENT, SWIFT PLATINUM and BACHELORS PROSPECT, eventually settling on SIXPENCE SPENT. The Team Giadresco-trained six-year-old was a serious eye-catcher in a strong form race first up at Ascot, however, he disappointed as a $4 favourite in a Regional Championship Series Heat last start. We’re expecting SIXPENCE SPENT to rebound quickly with a better draw and a softer tempo third up here, and the La Mouline and Cruachan form is too strong to ignore. SWIFT PLATINUM ran into a couple of smart customers in the form of Vital Silver and Regazzo D’Oro third up last Wednesday week, but he was solid enough after racing outside the leader in transit. Should put himself in the right spot again and SWIFT PLATINUM is going to take some getting past. BACHELORS PROSPECT has produced two quality Ascot efforts to kick off his spring campaign, however, we were not quite sure about coming back to the seven furlongs here. Still obviously racing well and will be doing his best work late, while first-upper PRYING TOM showed a heap when winning three of his first four starts last year and looked in good order in a recent Lark Hill trial. Could be back on track.

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

1. SIXPENCE SPENT
2. SWIFT PLATINUM
3. BACHELORS PROSPECT
4. PRYING TOM

RACE 4 BUNBURY TELECOM SERVICE MAIDEN 3:45 PM (1410M)

After two encouraging efforts to kick off his career, this looks the right race for BOMBARDMENT to break through. Has run in to a couple of decent 1400-metre maidens so far, bumping into the very smart Vital Silver on debut, before doing all the work on top of a strong tempo at Ascot last start and finishing behind Just Like That, Clever Dick and Hayan Lad, with all that form stacking up since. The 29 days between runs is a concern, however, if BOMBARDMENT turns up we’re confident he’s the horse to beat. ROSSANA comes back sharply in grade after not disgracing herself in the Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes at Ascot last Saturday week, passing a few after being last at the top of the straight. Previous metro-midweek efforts were both solid and ROSSANA has to rate among the better chances in this. After getting rolled as a $2.45 favourite at Northam last month, SONG OF VINCENT was sent back for a mid-prep trial on November 13 and enjoyed a sharp 400-metre grass gallop. Certainly an unconventional lead up to this assignment, however, he’s still shown enough to warrant consideration, while we wouldn’t be surprised to see sharp improvement from expensive Peters Investments filly GREETINGS after a plain debut last Wednesday week.

Tips: 3-8-1-10
Suggested: (3) BOMBARDMENT win & place (1 x 3 units).

3. BOMBARDMENT
8. ROSSANA
1. SONG OF VINCENT
10. GREETINGS

RACE 5 ACTIVE PLUMBING HANDICAP 4:15 PM (1108M)

This second leg of the late Quaddie is a really interesting contest and easily the best race on the card. After throwing a few different scenarios around we ended up coming back to under-rated four-year-old DENIM PACK, who has the best formlines, having matched motors with the likes of smart Peters Investments three-year-olds Truly Belong and Stageman this campaign. DENIM PACK picked himself up off the canvas to score at Ascot on Melbourne Cup Day, a win made even more meritorious considering it was against the established pattern of the day. This fellow appears to be a pretty smart customer and with even luck in running, DENIM PACK can win again. COUNT TOMOZ OFF appears to be the biggest danger and should relish this trip after appearing to not quite finish off over 1200 metres at Ascot last start. Is going to get the right run in transit from his low draw and COUNT TOMOZ OFF doesn’t really know how to run a bad race. First-upper DISCO METAL flies fresh and she’s looked really sharp in her two lead-up barrier trials, hitting the line hard on both occasions. Stepping out for the first time for new trainer Ted Martinovich and she’s bound to have plenty of admirers here, while FAIR NAKITA was scratched from Sunday and saved for this, and her first-up run was much better than it reads on paper, after covering plenty of additional ground chasing a hot tempo last Wednesday week.

Tips: 1-3-2-4
Suggested: (1) DENIM PACK win & place (1 x 3 units).

1. DENIM PACK
3. COUNT TOMOZ OFF
2. DISCO METAL
4. FAIR NAKITA

RACE 6 KITCHEN FORMATIONS HANDICAP 4:45 PM (1208M)

Three-year-old WAR ROOM couldn’t have been more impressive when saluting at his Northam debut and he appears placed to go back-to-back here. Enjoyed a sweet run in transit when hard in the market ($3.70) on that occasion and showed strong acceleration in the straight, dashing clear of Luna Rossa (who was placed on Sunday) to score by 2-3/4 lengths, with a further 2-1/2 lengths to the third placegetter. Never an easy task for last-start maiden winners to step up in grade and win again at their next start, but WAR ROOM looks to have some class about him and should get it done. SNOW BLOSSOM is flying for new trainer Brent Larsson, with two fast-finishing second placings this campaign. Has rattled off impressive sectionals on each occasion, however, she’ll have to repeat those efforts to be in the finish here, considering she’ll more than likely get back to last from her high draw. GLEN ALBYN found some peak form at his third-up run last Wednesday week, looming up to win before having to settle for third in the same race as SNOW BLOSSOM. GLEN ALBYN tends to hold form once he’s race hardened and we expect him to finishing somewhere in the first four, while three-year-old filly QUEEN BOUDICA continues to improve with racing and the Finance/Red Army formline from two back reads particularly well.

Tips: 5-6-8-10
Suggested: (5) WAR ROOM to win.

5. WAR ROOM
6. SNOW BLOSSOM
8. GLEN ALBYN
10. QUEEN BOUDICA

RACE 7 WA TIMBER SALES HANDICAP 5:25 PM (2019M)

Quite a few hopes in the lucky last and we’re thinking quaddie players would be looking to go a little wide, with more than half the original acceptors capable of winning at their best. In saying that, we feel as though punters will be well served following MASSA MAC at his first attempt beyond the mile, with the Aaron Bazeley-trained four-year-old racing well and having strong form around Sunday’s impressive winner New Age. Hasn’t done a lot wrong in his past three appearances and jockey Glenn Smith has certainly been a major positive for this fellow. Expect to see him drift back and get a nice trail into the race, and MASSA MAC looks one of our better each-way plays of the day. QUEEN BEY is stretching out for this third-up assignment after enduring a tough run, facing the breeze in the three-wide line at Ascot last start. Stuck on very well under the circumstances on that occasion and she did show a bit when last in work, and considering the soft run she’s likely to enjoy from the inside draw, QUEEN BEY has to rate among the major players. MISS RUMOUR MILL improved sharply fourth up over this trip last Wednesday week, trying her heart out but finding Perfect Dream simply too good. MISS RUMOUR MILL has to be included in your exotic bets, while UNCLE LINO scored a confidence-boosting win after a composed ride from Lee Newman at York last start. Fairly honest customer and he certainly has a race fitness edge on some of the other contenders.

Tips: 2-8-4-6
Suggested: (2) MASSA MAC each way.

2. MASSA MAC
8. MISS RUMOUR MILL
4. UNCLE LINO
6. ROGUE EMPRESS

*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.