The Leg Up – Wednesday 21 March 2018

Popular race-by-race meeting preview The Leg Up by Thoroheads provides in-depth summaries, tips and suggested bets.

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RACE 1 COUNTRY CUPS FASHIONS ON THE FIELD MAIDEN 12:16 PM (1000M)

REBOW really gets his chance to break through after leading and being getting gunned down late by subsequent Ascot winner Pearls And Prawns here on February 28. That formline reads very well and his only previous Bunbury effort was a placing behind the capable You Am I back on December 29. Has the gate speed to work forward and race on-pace from a high draw, and REBOW looks the one to beat. ONE OH ONE led them up on debut and was only collared in the last couple of strides. Drawn to lead or sit leader’s back and she goes close again. WISE MONKEY comes through the same race as ONE OH ONE and is drawn to enjoy a sweet run in transit, while PRECIOUS LIBERTY caught the eye and should’ve finished closer at her Ascot debut.

Tips: 1-8-3-9
Suggested: 1. REBOW 1 x 3 units.

1. REBOW
8. ONE OH ONE
3. WISE MONKEY
9. PRECIOUS LIBERTY

RACE 2 GET THE TABTOUCH MAIDEN 12:49 PM (2000M)

Have been tracking MODERN NEWS closely this prep and this looks a terrific option for her to record a maiden victory, before more than likely heading down a WA Oaks path, similar to half-sister and stablemate Just Like Fire, who placed third in the 2017 Oaks. First two runs this prep have been good against quality opposition and she gives the impression she’ll relish the step up to 2000m. With even luck in running MODERN NEWS should be saluting. COOLGARDIE AL followed up his Albany placing with a game Pinjarra effort when leading from barrier 12 and finishing close-up behind the promising Imortalite. Likely to roll forward again and should be ready for this trip fourth up. PERCY KIWA caught the eye when running on from last first up at Ascot two weeks ago and has drawn to settle closer to the speed on this occasion. William Pike has opted to stick with this fellow also, while LUCKY ESCAPE worked home well enough over the 1920m at York last time and has drawn to enjoy a soft rails run in transit.

Tips: 13-2-4-6
Suggested: 13. MODERN NEWS 1 x 3 units.

13. MODERN NEWS
2. COOLGARDIE AL
4. PERCY KIWA
6. LUCKY ESCAPE

RACE 3 XXXX GOLD MAIDEN 1:24 PM (1400M)

FROSTY BEVERAGE ran out of his skin when returning from a lengthy absence in a competitive three-year-old event at Ascot two back, however, he did put in a flat second-up run when a $2.50 chance here on February 28. Did finish alongside subsequent winner Sweet Dreamin’ on that occasion and Pearls And Prawns has gone on to dominate at Ascot since also, so all his recent formlines are strong and he looks to have a clear class edge on most of these. FROSTY BEVERAGE on top. MONTAGNA has produced two ripping efforts this prep and was only nosed out by Comparative last time, who has since raced well at Ascot. Showing promise and has to rate among main winning chances. WELCOME SHADOW comes through the same race as MONTAGNA and wasn’t far away at the finish. He can race on pace and give this a nudge, while COULD BE QUEEN put in a shocker last time, but is more than capable of bouncing back from a low draw.

Tips: 5-1-2-12
Suggested: 5. FROSTY BEVERAGE 1 x 3 units.

5. FROSTY BEVERAGE
1. MONTAGNA
2. WELCOME SHADOW
12. COULD BE QUEEN

RACE 4 RTW STEEL FABRICATION & CONSTRUCTION MAIDEN 1:57 PM (1400M)

Eventually settled on ZERO DEMERITS in this wide-open affair with his two recent Pinjarra efforts building some trust. Has raced on-pace and been most competitive recently, and with a clean getaway from barrier one jockey Jason Whiting should be able to hold up and settle somewhere in the first four/five again. ZERO DEMERITS is set to conserve plenty of fuel in running and with clear galloping room, should be too strong late. ACROSS THE SEA raced outside leader when returning from a four-week freshen and was only narrowly beaten by Send My Love, who ran very well in Saturday’s Ascot 1000 Guineas. Should roll forward and fight out the finish again. LUNA ROSSA has some ability and his last-start Pinjarra effort was much better than it reads, while the addition of William Pike and a low draw brings on-pacer QUIET WHISPER right into calculations.

Tips: 4-10-1-12
Suggested: 4. ZERO DEMERITS each way.

4. ZERO DEMERITS
10. ACROSS THE SEA
1. LUNA ROSSA
12. QUIET WHISPER

RACE 5 MGIB HANDICAP 2:35 PM (1200M)

Really competitive Class 3 sprint and we’re thinking HALLDORA might be the way to go on an each-way basis. Raced on top of a crazy fast tempo when coming off a five-week freshen at Ascot last Saturday week and did a big job to finish as close as she did. Expecting her to be ridden positively again and perhaps stalk likely leader TRIPELETTO in running, and she has the class to get over the top late. TRIPELETTO was beaten for gate speed and resented being ridden with a sit last start, so fully expecting him to be sent straight to the front on this occasion. Appears to be a natural leader and, if allowed to roll along, he’s going to take some passing. HOBOKEN just missed in Graduation company two back and had major traffic issues last start. Racing very well, drawn nicely and will no doubt have plenty of admirers, while SOUTHERN TERN caught the eye when strong through the line at Ascot on March 3.

Tips: 7-3-2-5
Suggested: 7. HALLDORA each way.

7. HALLDORA
3. SOUTHERN TERN
2. FATHER KNICK
5. MULTIVERSE

*Numbers amended after Final Scratchings

RACE 6 BUNBURY APARTMENT MOTEL HANDICAP 3:15 PM (1100M)

Expecting promising filly MISTY METAL to bounce back hard and she’s one of our best of the day. Ran into subsequent Ascot winner Just A Fluke first up at Pinjarra and was found to have a throat infection when struggling as an $8.50 chance in a very strong three-year-old event at Ascot on March 3. Drawn to get a lovely run in the first four/five and from that prominent running position, MISTY METAL should be able to get the job done. First-upper LIQUID MAN has impressed at his two lead-up trials and, from a nice low draw, looks set to give this a big shake fresh. DISTANT TRILOGY has his share of ability and matched motors with Bunbury Stakes entrant Flying Time in his lead-up trial. Draw puts him in the back-half though, while HAYAN LAD has shown a bit in the past and trialled well leading in to this first-up assignment.

Tips: 8-5-1-2
Suggested: 8. MISTY METAL 1 x 3 units.

8. MISTY METAL
5. LIQUID MAN
1. DISTANT TRILOGY
2. HAYAN LAD

RACE 7 CITY & REGIONAL FUELS HANDICAP 3:50 PM (1675M)

Tough race with plenty of chances and we eventually settled on GEIGER GEM. Thought his midweek win three back was very strong and two subsequent performances were full of merit also, especially last start in a very fast 1500m Graduation Handicap at Ascot. Race fit, in form and the Lou Luciani stable is on song, so GEIGER GEM looks the way to go. Consistent Great Southerner JESTER ROCK shouldn’t be underestimated and he maps to enjoy the right run in the first four/five in transit. Has arguably been in career-best form this prep and he’s set to give this a shake. SASSO’S CIRCUS has been very well supported at his past two runs in this grade, and was doing his best work late last week, after getting a long way out of his ground. Has to be kept safe on the quick back up, while the reliable FLOWER OF SCOTLAND in another winning chance and must be included in all exotics.

Tips: 5-6-2-4
Suggested: 5. GEIGER GEM 1 x 3 units.

5. GEIGER GEM
6. JESTER ROCK
2. SASSO’S CIRCUS
4. FLOWER OF SCOTLAND

RACE 8 RANGEVIEW STUD CLASSIC 4:30 PM (1400M)

Pretty keen on the chances of ABDICATOR in the 2018 edition of the Rangeview Stud Classic. This fellow clocked impressive sectionals when winning his first two runs back from a break and ran his heart out behind high-quality fillies Private Dancer and Showcase in the Challenge Stakes last start, leading at a faster-than-average tempo and fighting on gamely late. ABDICATOR maps to enjoy a lovely run somewhere in the first three/four in transit, and from there he simply has to be the horse to beat. We have a lot of time for THREE SECRETS and his first-up 1100m Ascot performance was simply massive. High draw makes things tricky for in-form hoop Shaun McGruddy, but this fellow is strong enough to be positive early and still compete, having breezed outside leader in a high-pressure WA Guineas back in November. THREE SECRETS has a bit of class about him. SALUBRIOUS comes through the same lead-up as THREE SECRETS and is expected to elevate further stepping up to 1400m. This fellow’s best is very good, remembering his massive Lee Steere Stakes run at weight-for-age last November, and he has to be respected, while FINE SCENT has the services of William Pike and maps to enjoy a soft passage in the forward half. She looks the best of the fillies division.

Tips: 3-1-11-4
Suggested: 3. ABDICATOR 1 x 3 units.

3. ABDICATOR
1. SALUBRIOUS
11. FINE SCENT
4. PATROCITY

*Numbers amended after Final Scratchings

RACE 9 AMELIA PARK-BUNBURY STAKES 5:05 PM (1400M)

The 82+ weight scale has turned the 2018 Bunbury Stakes into a super-competitive handicap and it’s hard to go past rapidly-emerging four-year-old OLIVER’S TRAVELS. Slides in only 1kg off the minimum and from the draw, he should be able to park up behind the likely hot tempo (thanks to CORPORATE LARRIKIN and WRINKLY), absorb the mid-race pressure and be strong to the line late. Is coming in off a 32-day break, which is a little unconventional, but how can you second-guess the Simon A. Miller stable, who are simply killing it this year. OLIVER’S TRAVELS ticks the most boxes. High-class mare ELLICAZOOM is another lightweight chance and she maps to enjoy a similar run in transit to our on-top selection. Was pretty good in a very fast 1200m assignment first up at Ascot and we’re expecting her to elevate sharply second up over this journey. Her best is outstanding and she must rate among the main winning chances. RED ORA rises sharply to 59kg under this scale after a game second behind Battle Hero in last month’s Pinjarra Classic. Has been in fantastic form since joining the Steve Wolfe stable in Albany and he’s racing too well to be ruled out, while ROGER THE ROMAN finished alongside RED ORA in the Pinjarra Classic and should be ready to peak at his third run this prep.

Tips: 7-11-2-5
Suggested: 7. OLIVER’S TRAVELS each way.

7. OLIVER’S TRAVELS
11. ELLICAZOOM
2. RED ORA
5. ROGER THE ROMAN

RACE 10 STATEWIDE BEARINGS HANDICAP 5:40 PM (1400M)

We’ve been all over SIGIL this prep and he has to be one of the more unlucky horses going around at present, having been just about a good thing beat at each of his last three starts. William Pike has been booked to try to weave some magic, and from an inside draw ‘The Wizard’ should be able to conserve early and have plenty of fuel left to launch late. With clear galloping room SIGIL should be winning. PARADISE SQUARE is back sharply in grade after a decent Challenge Stakes effort last time. Race fit, in form and gives himself every chance as an on-pace runner. RED NOIRE has his the line hard at both runs this prep and should be ready to peak third up, while big-finisher ELIZA’S DREAM will be getting back and steaming home late.

Tips: 2-1-5-4
Suggested: 2. SIGIL 1 x 3 units.

2. SIGIL
1. PARADISE SQUARE
5. RED NOIRE
4. ELIZA’S DREAM


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.