Race 1 – 12:14PM OWNERS ONLY MAIDEN (1100 METRES)

Only the nine acceptors for this 2YO Maiden, but it’s certainly a deep race and we came up with six winning chances, before eventually siding with SOME SORT. The $100,000 yearling, who is a half-brother and stablemate to quality filly Assetro, impressed with his Lark Hill 25/2 trial win when beginning well, racing on speed and cruising to the line to hold off some well-regarded juveniles. With a clean getaway from the low draw, Peter Knuckey should provide SOME SORT every opportunity to salute on debut. Fellow $100,000 debutante DIG DEEP caught the eye when working home nicely under a hold in his Lark Hill 25/2 trial. Overall time was particularly slow for the 950 metres, but the winner Tinsnip has proven ability and we’re content that the form out of that heat will stack up. Team Williams’ $56,000 yearling WARBLER will have a heap of admirers on debut with ‘The Wizard’ William Pike on board and has shown plenty at trials. Ran into a couple of handy ones in Niccovi and Jericho Missile in his Lark Hill 29/1 trial, and is expected to roll forward and fight out the finish, while $200,000 yearling AMELIA’S CONTRAIRE hails from the leading two-year-old stable, has looked the goods at trials and has the gate speed to make the most of barrier one with WA racing’s favourite son Damien Oliver in the saddle.

Tips: 3-1-4-7
Suggested: 3. SOME SORT each way.

3. SOME SORT
1. DIG DEEP
4. WARBLER
7. AMELIA’S CONTRAIRE

Race 2 – 12:49PM CITY & REGIONAL FUELS HANDICAP (1675 METRES)

SOPHIE’S SONG is the likely favourite and obvious horse to beat. We were keen on her second up at Ascot 27/2, but after securing a soft lead she was gunned down late by the in-form Rebel Knight. Naturally, that hit out should bring her forward for this assignment and the current $6 WA Oaks third favourite on TABtouch should relish the rise to the 1675 metres. Expected to lead or race outside leader and control proceedings from there. PURE MAGNUS comes through the same race as Sophie’s Song and was doing his best work late. Looking for the mile now at this stage of his campaign and has been specked from $34 to $17 on TABtouch in next month’s WA Derby, so he is reasonably well regarded. ROSE THIEF is improving every time she goes to the race and dictated terms out in front when breaking through at Ascot 20/2. Anticipating similar positive tactics, while JEDAFFAIR has always promised plenty and finally delivered at Pinjarra 24/2. Maps to enjoy a soft run early and should have plenty of fuel left to challenge late.

Tips: 4-2-3-5
Suggested: 4. SOPHIE’S SONG win.

4. SOPHIE’S SONG
2. PURE MAGNUS
3. ROSE THIEF
5. JEDAFFAIR

Race 3 – 1:24PM AUSMIC PEST CONTROL HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

Intriguing race for the three year olds and it wouldn’t surprise to see any of the seven acceptors win. Going to roll with HENTY GAL on top, backing up only five days after leaving it late but getting the job done at Narrogin 1/3. May not have looked overly impressive to the eye, but she did have to produce the fastest last 200-metre split of the day (10.67) to get over the top of War Anthem, and that turn of foot must be respected. With a clean getaway, she should get a suitable run in transit and be very hard to hold out late. SWIFT MIRAGE couldn’t have been more impressive when winning at his Bunbury 14/2 debut, clocking the outstanding sectionals of the day. Form out of that race has stood up well and he appears to have a very bright future. Liked the second-up effort from STRASMORE in a competitive midweek Ascot 13/2 assignment, leading them up and just getting collared late. Rebel Knight form reads well and he looks capable of elevating further, while ONE POINT LADY showed some class in her strong first-up Albany 10/2 win and no surprise to see her fighting out the finish.

Tips: 6-2-4-7
Suggested: 6. HENTY GAL win.

6. HENTY GAL
2. SWIFT MIRAGE
4. STRASMORE
7. ONE POINT LADY

Race 4 – 1:59PM TABTOUCH – BETTER YOUR BET MAIDEN (1675 METRES)

Pretty hard to look past Peters Investments three-year-olds at this time of the year and ZARATITE really picks himself. Was $3.60 to $2.80 on debut at Pinjarra 24/2 and while he enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run from barrier one, he wasn’t able to build the same momentum as the winner Jedaffair yet still ran the fastest last 200 metres of the race. Will relish stepping up to the mile, maps to advantage and looks a standout. Have a bit of time for HE’S A GUNSLINGER and he should’ve finished much closer first up at Ascot 20/2 when running into traffic issues. The booking of Damian Lane is a positive and expecting this fellow to be hitting the line hard late. Same applies for giant-striding first starter MEXI COLA, who made up a stack of late ground in his Lark Hill 25/2 trial. Looks a nice staying prospect in the making, while BONNEVILLE BLACK will be at long odds but never saw daylight in a good form race last start, maps well and is suited with Shaun O’Donnell on board.

Tips: 5-7-8-6
Suggested: 5. ZARATITE win.

5. ZARATITE
7. HE’S A GUNSLINGER
8. MEXI COLA
6. BONNEVILLE BLACK

Race 5 – 2:34PM FURPHY MAIDEN (1000 METRES)

Looking forward to seeing what MY BLUEBOY can produce on debut. Really caught the eye in his Lark Hill 29/1 trial, when getting back and working home well late, before leading them up in a Lark Hill 25/2 trial and holding on narrowly when not really asked for maximum effort. Is raw, but has an engine, and with clear galloping room from barrier one, should make an impact. First-upper BLANKENBERGE has shown promise since her early two-year-olds days and was readied for this with a solid Lark Hill 25/2 trial. Is a natural on-pacer, so the low draw suits. Trainer Lou Luciani is taking an unorthodox approach with two-year-old SEMIGEL taking on the older horses on debut, but his trials suggest he can hold his own in this company, while CITY CIRCLE has ability and competed well down the Pinjarra Straight 1000 first up, but does have a high draw to contend with.

Tips: 4-7-9-6
Suggested: 4. MY BLUEBOY win.

4. MY BLUEBOY
7. BLANKENBERGE
9. SEMIGEL
6. CITY CIRCLE

Race 6 – 3:05PM DUCIMUS@RIVERCRESTPARK HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

This race lacks depth and Victorian import KING’S AUTHORITY looks capable of carrying 62.5kg to victory. Sent out a $4.80 chance in Ratings 66+ company at his WA debut on Australia Day and although he raced in patches was only 2.8 lengths from the winner. Was sent back for a mid-prep trial and competed well in a fast heat, and is he’s anywhere near right, he should be winning this with blinkers and Damien Oliver going on from a low draw. The Albany-based ROUND THE POINT hasn’t done a lot wrong in the Great Southern all season and should enjoy a suitable run in transit from a low draw. Have to respect his consistency. First-upper HYPERSPACE has his share of ability and will be fancied with William Pike on board, but the 1200-metre journey is short of his preferred distance range, while OUR BONNIE GIRL is coming off a 28-day freshen and is better than what she’s shown in three runs this prep.

Tips: 1-2-5-7
Suggested: 1. KING’S AUTHORITY win.

1. KING’S AUTHORITY
2. ROUND THE POINT
5. HYPERSPACE
7. OUR BONNIE GIRL

Race 7 – 3:40PM BUNBURY APARTMENT MOTEL HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

Plenty of hopes in this Class 3 scamper and with even luck from a high draw FIRE MAKER should go close. The 1000-metre specialist held his own against reasonable company when last in work and it was hard not to like his Lark Hill 25/2 trial effort. Expecting him to fire fresh. The enigmatic YOU NO WHAT I MEAN bounced back to form with an all-the-way Narrogin 17/2 win. Has raced well this track/distance in the past and should get a suitable on-pace run from the low draw. THUNDERPLUMP had excuses when running into a smart one at Ascot 20/2 and Damian Lane going on enhances her claims, while FORK HANDLES showed gate speed and got the job done first up down the Pinjarra Straight 1000m. Can figure late with similar positive tactics.

Tips: 1-5-4-6
Suggested: 1. FIRE MAKER each way.

1. FIRE MAKER
5. YOU NO WHAT I MEAN
4. THUNDERPLUMP
6. FORK HANDLES

Race 8 – 4:20PM AMELIA PARK-BUNBURY STAKES (1400 METRES)

Exciting edition of the Amelia Park-Bunbury Stakes with a combination of established stars taking on some up-and-coming talents, and happy to stick with one of the success stories of the summer in emerging four-year-old ALPHA SKY. A winner at four of his six starts this campaign, including his last three, this fellow led them up and clocked brilliant time when hammering his rivals over this distance at Ascot 16/2, looking every bit the ‘group horse’ trainer Simon A. Miller has always believed him to be. Looks well suited down on the 54kg limit weight, and expecting ALPHA SKY to lead from his mid draw and prove mighty hard to get past late. Fellow rising star VITAL SILVER announced his arrival with victory in the listed Pinjarra Classic, getting all the favours courtesy of a William Pike gem. Displayed both closing speed and strength on that occasion, and he’s going to need to draw from that strength here, with Jarrad Noske is likely to send him forward and attempt to park up outside leader. Class mare CELEBRITY DREAM should come forward after a solid fresh hit out in the Cyril Flower Stakes. Expecting her to be ridden patiently and flash late, while PUSHIN’ SHAPES will be send out at big odds, but can fire fresh and his Lark Hill 25/2 trial win was eye catching.

Tips: 9-5-7-4
Suggested: 9. ALPHA SKY win.

9. ALPHA SKY
5. VITAL SILVER
7. CELEBRITY DREAM
4. PUSHIN’ SHAPES

Race 9 – 5:00PM CIVILCON CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

Tough race to try to ‘get out’ on Amelia Park-Bunbury Stakes Day and decided upon GOLGOTHA. First two runs this prep were full of merit and was off the track the entire of the Narrogin Cup last time, doing a big job to finish only 1.5 lengths from the third placegetter. Should enjoy a much softer run from an inside draw, and the David Harrison stable and Shaun O’Donnell are both in form. Inconclusive was the best way to describe the effort of three-year-old STRONG HEART when a beaten $3.20 favourite at Ascot 20/2. Have a healthy opinion of this fellow and no surprise to see him rebound here. ELIZA’S DREAM loves racing on his home track and more than held his own in the Narrogin Cup. Maps to advantage also, while STAIRWAYTOTHEMOON is a very talented three-year-old who must be respected coming off a 37-day freshen.

Tips: 1-10-2-6
Suggested: 1. GOLGOTHA each way.

1. GOLGOTHA
10. STRONG HEART
2. ELIZA’S DREAM
6. STAIRWAYTOTHEMOON

*Originally published at 9:00am on Tuesday 5 March 2019