Race 1
The opening event looks a race in three with Ohoka Darcy, Just Bet On Black and Our Zak Whitby the trio most likely to capture the event. Webb Ellis is the knockout hope if there is to be one.
Expect a battle for the leading between Ohoka Darcy and Just Bet On Black early. The latter is quicker off the gate but the former has the inside barrier and will be trying his best to hold out his rival.
Just Bet On Black is my top pick in the race and looks close to his right price. The horse that I think is well over the odds is Our Zak Whitby (9) who has the dreaded barrier nine over the short-course.
Any speed battle is going to suit this pacer who was a narrow second in 1:56.2 last week; the last half was run in 54.8 seconds and he can make them pay if they spend too much petrol early.
Rated Price: $4.20
Selections: 3-1-9-10
Race 3
A match-race between Im Master Charlie and Whozideawasthis awaits and the horse that is able to find the lead is going to prove hardest to beat over the longer journey.
Im Master Charlie (8) draws inside his main danger and I think that can prove the difference as Michael Grantham will know that staying ahead of his main rival is the key to the race.
His last-start second to Mighty Mr Sharkey from the breeze position was very good and he hasn’t been far away from winning in recent time.
Whozideawasthis was beaten as a short-priced favourite two starts back over this distance when forced to make a move to the breeze. If he leads then he wins for fun, while breezing means he may be looking at second place.
Small each-way claims to Bettor Twisted and Our Jaccka Mara who will likely fight it out for third place.
Rated Price: $2.20
Selections: 8-9-5-6
Early Quaddie
R1 – 1, 3, 9
R2 – 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12
R3 – 8, 9
R4 – 4, 5, 6
Race 5
Lisharry and El Machine both drop in class for tonight’s event with Lisharry (1) beginning from barrier one and a good frontrunner. His gate speed is moderate but he has held out quick beginners in the past while being crossed other times. If he can hold up then he will prove extremely hard to beat.
His last win came at Pinjarra when defeating Shardons Rocket and Vanquished in 1:55.0 for the 2185m which is good time. He was also third last prep to Galactic Star and Condrieu.
Tanaka Eagle will make an attempt for the lead and he would become the horse to beat if he found that spot. El Machine will be finishing strongly from a good position.
Perfect Mach (5) almost beat Mitch Maguire from a mobile and he is an each-way chance at big odds tonight. I recommend having something smaller on him because he will race with cover and any speed battle between Lisharry and Tanaka Eagle is going to suit this horse who isn’t going too bad in the standing-start events.
Rated Price: $2.30
Rated Price: $8.50
Selections: 1-2-4-5
Race 7
Ideal Alice is clearly the horse to beat in the Spring Pace tonight. She will lead and will take plenty of catching.
The run of Norvic Nightowl (7) was excellent last week at his first run back from a spell. He made up plenty of ground and the 2536m suits this pacer who looked like being one of Perth’s topliners last year before setbacks forced him to miss more than a year’s worth of racing.
Back in May last year, Norvic Nightowl was able to run past Run Oneover to win in 1:53.4. He was also able to finish a half-neck away from Elegant Christian in 1:55.1 for the 2130m.
Rated Price: $5.50
Selections: 1-7-2-10
Quaddie
R5 – 1, 2, 4, 5, 11
R6 – 1, 5
R7 – 1, 2, 7
R8 – 3, 10
Race 10
Anna Faye (7) is the class runner of the field and she meets easier opposition than recent starts. The wider barrier over the short-course could test her but she has gate speed which gives her options at the start.
She had a period where she was finishing very close to the winner and she has only really put in one bad run recently.
I think she can do work in this company and still be right in the finish.
Wabi Sabi, Brookies Jet and Paramedic would all love to lead and any early speed will benefit Anna Faye later in the race.
Rated Price: $3.50
Selections: 7-1-2-3
Race 3
Foxy Dame (9) is the class mare of the field and she should run a strong race despite her wide draw. She was runner up behind Skippy Rascal at Northam last start. Three starts ago she was beaten a half-neck in this company when making a move to the breeze which looks her best chance of winning tonight.
Two starts ago she was driven back in the field which didn’t suit so I don’t think they will try the same tactic here. One of her main dangers is My Platinum Belle and she is unlikely to want to hold the breeze as it doesn’t suit so that position should be up for grabs. The concern could be Maia Maguire who would most likely hold the breeze if she found it.
These mares’ events are open and I’m happy with $8.00 about Foxy Dame.
Rated Price: $4.00
Selections: 9-2-7-1
Race 4
Gaz Wannabet looks the leader and he returned with a strong second behind Cut For An Ace. He is a horse that has been run down when leading in the past – Ohoka Darcy sat outside him to win and Kiwi Legend did the same.
Sprinter (8) looks the best horse in the race and despite recent defeats as an odds-on favourite, he will appreciate racing stronger company as it will allow him to work into the race. From the wide draw, he should be able to find a cart home and his closing speed can see him look the winner at some stage.
Three Kings loves the pegs and will be a big improver in this race. Overboard Again will be strong late while McClinchie and El Hombre have each-way prospects.
Rated Price: $3.50
Selections: 8-2-1-10
Early Quaddie
R1 – 1, 7
R2 – 4, 10
R3 – 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12
R4 – 1, 2, 8, 9, 10
Race 6
One of two open-class races tonight, this one over the sprint journey looks an absolute beauty with Ideal Tyson trying his best to hold out Courage Tells and Dredlock Rockstar. Shandale will be keen to hold the breeze position and he has been very impressive.
Looking at those drawn wide, we have Heez On Fire and Ideal Alice who can both fly home.
Heez On Fire (7) won a hat-trick of races back in April and May when charging home to defeat the likes of Ohoka Punter and Run Oneover. His record over the short-course reads four wins from five attempts and he might be a bit sharper tonight.
I recommend backing straight-out for the win as he will either run a cracker or won’t run on and could be likely to miss a place.
Considering Courage Tells (2) is a chance to cross Ideal Tyson, I want to have something smaller on him to win at big odds. This horse can pace a 1:53-mile rate and was placed behind Ideal Alice and Vultan Tin in July.
Rated Price: $6.50
Rated Price: $12
Selections: 4-1-7-10
Quaddie
R5 – 7, 9, 10
R6 – 1, 2, 4, 7, 10
R7 – 1, 7
R8 – 1, 3, 10
Race 9
The first heat of The Warwick looks terrific with four winning chances – Our Zak Whitby, Idealindiamonds, Messi and Whozideawasthis.
Gary Hall Snr prepares Idealindiamonds who makes his WA debut and Whozideawasthis (7). Gary Hall Jnr is driving the latter and that’s the way that I am going to go.
This horse is best suited leading; that won’t happen here with Our Zak Whitby or Messi the likely leader. Next best scenario is this horse racing with cover; that should occur after the horse showed he couldn’t finish off from the breeze position last start.
His recent form is excellent with a win four starts ago and a pair of seconds behind Johnny Disco and Rabchenko.
Rated Price: $4.20
Selections: 7-2-4-5
Race 10
Lord Lexus (3) drops a long way in class and if he can map to race 1 out 1 back or 1 out 2 back, he may have too much speed for rivals and is capable of finishing over the top of them.
Five starts ago he was second to Soho Chelsea as he beat home Khun Ratha, McClinchie and The Trilogy. All of those horses would have no trouble beating this field and Lord Lexus' main danger may be his manners. He has been known to gallop, but if he paces throughout and doesn't end up too far back in the moving line, then he will be hardest to beat.
Bettors Avenue looks the main danger and could find the front from barrier two. Nitro Lad and Our Big Slow are next best.
Rated Price: $1.85
Selections: 3-2-5-4