RACE 1 GET UP WITH NED AND JOSH HANDICAP 12:34 PM (2219M)

The Melbourne Cup Day program kicks off with a small 2219-metre handicap and anyone of our first four selections could win. We ended up with tough on-pacer SAXAPAK on top as he’s raced really competitively in tougher company than this recently and has a great record at Bunbury. The nine-year-old has the best formlines in the race through quality gallopers Danehills Daughter and Trap For Fools, and while he hasn’t won for a fair while now (635 days), this does look set up for him. SAXAPAK to break the drought. ABSOLUTE MAGIC looked good when winning comfortably at Northam two back, before never really getting in the race when well in the market ($5.50) at Ascot last start. Didn’t see the best of her due to a muddling tempo on that occasion, but this looks a good option for her and we expect to see her fighting out the finish. VINTRUSIVE was working his way into form before getting the job done at Northam last start, making the most of a soft run in transit. Ran well in the WA Derby in April, so he can gallop a bit and only has to hold form to go close, while KHAWAJA didn’t have a lot of luck at Northam last start and shouldn’t encounter those traffic issues here.

Tips: 5-1-3-6
Suggested Bet: (5) SAXAPAK to win.

RACE 2 DALE ALCOCK HOMES MAIDEN 1:23 PM (1690M)

Supporters of MAJORA’S MASK were licking their wounds after copping a bad beat at Northam last start, but the rapidly improving four-year-old certainly gets his chance to make amends here. The Gavin Foster-trained son of Starcraft lost significant ground and momentum when a tiring runner fell back in his lap on that occasion, and there’s no doubt he should’ve won easily after charging late and managing to get within a short neck of the winner. MAJORA’S MASK certainly won’t be the same price ($6.50) as last start, but with even luck in running he really should be breaking through. TECHNICAL LIMIT has met with good support in betting at his two starts back from a spell and trainer Tameeka Brown has fired in a most of gear chances after he over-exerted when racing too keenly last time. Should certainly appreciate a low draw and this doesn’t look as strong as what TECHNICAL LIMIT has been facing recently. Three-year-old AL DI LA led and competed well against some talented opposition at Ascot last Saturday week, with those that beat him home heading towards the WA Guineas. That form reads well coming back to maiden company here and this fellow raced an amazing nine times as a two-year-old, so he must be a tough bugger. AL DI LA should roll forward again and be competitive late, while DARK TACTICS is better than what he showed last start and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him improve into a top-four finish.

Tips: 4-3-6-9
Suggested Bet: (4) MAJORA’S MASK to win.

RACE 3 MAZINS DIAMOND JEWELLERS MAIDEN 1:58 PM (1410M)

Competitive 1410-metre maiden here with over half the field capable of winning without surprising, but this really does look the day for LOVE ALWAYS to break through. Displayed plenty of promise as a two-year-old and showed she’d come back well by following up some solid trial form with a first-up placing behind the highly-rated In Love With Paris at Ascot last start. We really appreciated the way LOVE ALWAYS lengthened late and ran right through the line on that occasion, and her previous effort over this distance was a minor placing against decent opposition at Ascot in May. LOVE ALWAYS ticks plenty of boxes. HUSSAR HUGHES made good use of the cutaway rail first up at Northam last start, working home better than anything to be beaten less than a length on the line, and that hit out will naturally bring him forward for this assignment. Looks well placed from another low draw and we expect HUSSAR HUGHES to give his supporters another good run for their money. EVERYTHING’S SWEET has been a little costly to follow this campaign, but there’s no doubting she has a bit of ability. Penny hasn’t quite dropped for this filly as yet, but this isn’t a bad option for her, and we expect to see her running on and playing a part in the finish, while MARCHIGIANO improved nicely on top of the ground at Northam last start and appears set to run a race here.

Tips: 11-5-10-6
Suggested Bet: (11) LOVE ALWAYS win & place (1 x 3 units).

RACE 4 TOTAL TOOLS MAIDEN 2:36 PM (1008M)

We were pretty keen on the chances of MACROY at Bunbury on Thursday, however, trainer Bruce Watkins opted to scratch and save her for this assignment. And once again we’re bullish about her winning chances following three quality trials, including a brilliant October 16 effort when easily accounting for subsequent winners Demeritorious and In Love With Paris in fast time. MACROY has the speed to lead these or sit outside SALSA CUBANA should that filly hold up, but if she brings that trial form to the races it’s very hard seeing anything being able to match motors with her. MACROY will be short but will be winning on debut. MEDIA BARON showed ability as a two-year-old and was unlucky not to have gone close to saluting on debut at Ascot around this time last year. Caught our eye in a recent Lark Hill trial and MEDIA BARON appears set to challenge first up. SALSA CUBANA has been well schooled with three recent trials, racing on-pace and competing strongly on each occasion. Always a good sign when they break 60 seconds in the 1000-metre Belmont heats and this filly will have admirers on debut, while CLASSY MARCY showed a heap of gate speed and wasn’t far away at the finish when well fancied first up at Northam last start.

Tips: 8-1-9-4
Suggested Bet: (8) MACROY to win.

RACE 5 STEP ONE HOMES MAIDEN 3:12 PM (1108M)

We were strong on LIES IN DISGUISE first up last start, as were many others considering her $1.75 starting price, but she couldn’t get the job done and on face value was disappointing. The Brett Pope-trained filly wasn’t asked for much of an effort at either of her two lead-up barrier trials, so the pressure of raceday may have brought her undone last start, however, we’re confident the experience will be a positive one heading into this second-up assignment. LIES IN DISGUISE has strong form around the super-exciting Fabergino and if the daughter of Frost Giant can bring her best, then we feel as though she’s simply going to be too fast for her rivals, especially carrying only 51kg. WILD FRONT is racing first up for new trainer Stephen Miller and this fellow did show promise as a juvenile. Liked what he produced in a recent Lark Hill trial and he should enjoy a nice run in transit from the low draw. We’re expecting WILD FRONT to fire fresh. POLITE PASS did a good job to place behind the well-regarded In Love With Paris on debut at Ascot recently and this looks a nice second-up option for her. The Justin Warwick stable is in good form and POLITE PASS must rate among the main fancies, while local first-upper FOO TROUBLE has ability and stretched out nicely when winning a 1000-metre trial here on Friday.

Tips: 12-10-13-4
Suggested Bet: (12) LIES IN DISGUISE to win.

RACE 6 FORD & DOONAN BUNBURY HANDICAP 3:50 PM (1108M)

Competitive second leg of the late Quaddie here and we’re liking the looks of first-upper SOUTHERN TERN, who stretched out well in a recent Lark Hill trial. Team Giadresco are in a bit of form and this fellow did show plenty of promise during a five-start initial campaign, with Jason Whiting giving the punters a steer by opting to ride this five-year-old ahead of WANTED DESIRE. SOUTHERN TERN looks set to enjoy the right run in transit from his low draw and may slide under the radar in a race with many hopes. Our best each-way play of the day. DISTANT TRILOGY was good to us on debut in the October 14 edition of The Leg Up, following up a smart trial display by holding on to defeat subsequent winner Finance. This fellow appears to have a bright future and we wouldn’t be one bit surprised to see DISTANT TRILOGY win again. CONICAL PEAK is starting to fulfill his potential for new trainer Adam Durrant and was dominant when breaking through third up at Northam last start, easily accounting for subsequent winner Mervyn. Should land in the sweet spot from the draw and we expect to see CONICAL PEAK fighting out the finish, while WANTED DESIRE flies fresh and was sharpened up for this first-up assignment with two encouraging Lark Hill trial hit outs.

Tips: 6-1-5-7
Suggested Bet: (6) SOUTHERN TERN each way.

RACE 7 HIT FM – R&B FRIDAY’S HANDICAP 4:25 PM (1690M)

This race appears set to be dominated by promising three-year-old ALMASTER, and we expect to see this fellow starting odds on and getting the job done. Came from well off the pace to defeat subsequent winners Zygalski and Bold Victory on debut at Geraldton, before being well fancied ($5) stepping up sharply into Graduation 62+ company last Saturday week and finishing three lengths from the winner in a ridiculously slow-tempo race. None of these appear to match ALMASTER for class, and the son of Al Maher looks perfectly placed by Adam Durrant and Peters Investments. Just wins. MISS MEIKA is a consistent mare, however, with only one victory from 22 starts it’s hard being too bullish about her winning chances. Still, she has posted 12 placings and her recent form suggests she’s more than likely going to record another top-three finish in a bit of a thin race. MY NAUGHTY BLONDE enjoyed the run of the race fourth up at Ascot last start, but was a little disappointing in the run to the line after being sent out an $8.50 chance. Has a bit of ability, though, and she can return to form coming back in class here, while MISS RUMOUR MILL comes out of the same race as ALMASTER and should be ready to produce a peak effort at her third run back from a break.

Tips: 4-2-3-8
Suggested Bet: (4) ALMASTER to win.

RACE 8 HARVEY NORMAN BUNBURY HANDICAP 5:02 PM (1208M)

Cracking race to wrap up Melbourne Cup Day and we marked seven of the original 12 acceptors as winning chances in our initial assessment. After digging a little deeper we found it very hard to go past PINBALL WIZARD, who went out hard as a $1.95 favourite at Northam last start and was gunned down late by the promising Don’t Fuss. That searching hit out will provide him with a strong platform heading into this assignment and PINBALL WIZARD does have good recent form around Saturday winners Friaresque and Blitzem Someday. Team Williams stable apprentice Maddison Brown should be able to roll forward and control the tempo from out in front, and PINBALL WIZARD is going to be very hard to get past late. PATAPUS rarely puts in a bad one but last start was certainly well below her best, enjoying a soft run following the winner Stageman in transit and fading out of contention in the straight. PATAPUS is much better than that and it’s always advisable to forgive a smart horse one bad run. KRAKKA VISION didn’t do a lot in two lead-up trials, but she was pretty solid when resuming in the same race as PATAPUS at Ascot last start. KRAKKA VISION appears likely to drift back from her high draw and will need a few things to fall into place to run on into the finish, but she has a class edge on most of these and must be respected, while THE GOSPEL SIN is a horse with talent and he’ll be getting back and charging home late.

Tips: 4-6-1-2
Suggested Bet: (4) PINBALL WIZARD win & place (1 x 3 units).

The Leg Up is provided by Thoroheads — Digital content producers servicing the Western Australian Thoroughbred Horse Racing Industry.

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