Expected weather: Sunny 33°C
Expected track rating: GOOD4
Race 1 - 1:17PM SCHWEPPES MAIDEN (1200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
12. SHE BANGS THE DRUM is on debut for Nick Cox and trialled well recently at Belmont on Monday 9 January. She was no match for Latakia Friars on that occasion but the daughter of Pluck looked to have improvement to come. Chris Parnham trialled her on that occasion and stays on for raceday. A jump and run job from barrier five.
11. KEEPER'S TALE opened a short-priced favourite with TABtouch but is certainly no good thing in what is a wide open maiden. Her form warrants favouritism but certainly not the $1.90 quote she opened up. A winning chance but don’t take the shorts.
6. AQUAINTANCE is first up after running seventh behind Sweet Ora twice last preparation. The son of War Chant trialled well recently and was ridden right out but was then given an easy time in the last 100m. The concern here is the wide draw but expect a good run from the gelding.
7. DESERT ORE is somewhat of an unknown coming into this. He raced twice as two-year-old in the early part of season 2015/16 before having a break and then a raceless preparation in the autumn. He has had two trials leading up to this race. The first was pipe-opener and the most recent was good even though he raced greenly. Improvement is expected and the Medaglia D'Oro gelding should run well.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 12 – 11 – 6 – 7
SUGGESTED BET: 12. She Bangs The Drum – EACH WAY
Race 2 - 1:52PM HEINEKEN 3 HANDICAP (1400 METRES) – FULL FIELD
6. ROYAL STAR could not have been more impressive on debut when winning by three lengths as a $2.40 favourite. She is also a half-sister to recent Perth Cup winner Star Exhibit, so stepping out to 1400m should suit the daughter of Redoute's Choice. She looks the best bet of the day.
5. PARADINI’s effort on Christmas Eve at Ascot was sound behind Gatting, when beaten three lengths. Gatting has since come out and run well again in Saturday company which suggests that the form behind him is solid. Clint Johnston-Porter claims 2kg and is riding in sensational form after booting home a double at Ascot on Saturday and then again the following day at Pinjarra.
3. PATAPUS has fantastic form leading into this. The filly has won her last two starts over 1208m and 1300m respectively. Out to 1400m is a query considering she is by Patronize and races on the pace but she'll make her own luck out in front and there is no doubt that Shaun McGruddy will give her a good steer.
4. AVON TRADER performed well enough last time out on debut. He jumps from barrier one which will suit considering the cutaway is in effect. The synthetic bar plates go on which is a concern but there should be improvement in him from his first up sixth.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 6 – 5 – 3 – 4
SUGGESTED BET: 6. Royal Star – WIN & 5. Paradini - PLACE
Race 3 - 2:32PM AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ - 28 JAN HANDICAP (1400 METRES) – FULL FIELD
5. AMALIEMOO got the job done at Bunbury last start when stepping up from 1008m to 1420m. She has another go at 1400m here but should be fitter and find the line stronger. William Pike on helps.
8. MYAKE MAK will have her 25th start while looking for her second career win. Since breaking her maiden, in January 2015, she has been very consistent but unable to shake her class one status. From the good draw, she gets another chance and a win would not surprise.
2. MISS MEIKA ran well last start at Ascot behind the well-backed Wrinkly. Craig Staples will get a nice cart into the race from barrier three and the four-year-old mare looms as a threat.
4. TIME STREAM was plain last start at Bunbury but maybe looking for 1400m, which she gets this race. An each-way chance from barrier five.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 5 – 8 – 2 – 4
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Amaliemoo - WIN
Race 4 - 3:10PM COUNTRY INTERSTATE & INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP HC (2200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
3. PAGAN DANCER won nicely last start, at Pinjarra, in a maiden over 2000m. He sat outside of the leader and packed too many punches in the home straight. Pike jumps on for Ben Paterson and he is likely to roll forward again, this time from barrier 10.
4. YOUNG GEORGE won a fairly weak class two last start at Narrogin but was impressive in running on. Clint Johnston-Porter will ride and is in good form. Barrier two will allow him to settle closer in this.
9. GREATER IMPACT led all of the way last start in a 2000m class one at Bunbury. He just held off High Success on that occasion but that is the way to ride him, positively and out in front.
2. PROCLAMATION has never run worse than second when running over 2200m. The son of High Chaparral was only fair at his first two starts this preparation but expect vast improvement out to this extended trip. A great rough chance.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 3 – 4 – 9 – 2
SUGGESTED BET: 2. Proclamation - PLACE
Race 5 - 3:45PM SUMMER RACING - $5 EARLYBIRD TICKETS HANDICAP (1200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
7. HASHTAG’s recent trial on January 3 at Lark Hill was excellent and run in good time. The six-year-old mare has won first up previously and boasts a fourth in the 2015 Jungle Mist behind gun sprinter Sheidel. She was first up on that occasion also. Hard to beat from barrier three.
8. STAR GLITTER was an improved effort last start at Bunbury. He made up good ground in a similar class race. The son of Mutawaajid is third up here and his previous third up runs include a second to Red Paddy, a second to Castle Retreat and a win as a two-year-old.
9. GOOD MORNING did plenty wrong last start when running a fast-finishing second in a class five at Narrogin. Senior rider Shaun O'Donnell takes over from apprentice Fred W Kersley which may make the difference.
10. DU PLESSIS will run along and lead from barrier two. The Lauren Ho-trained mare has run well at her first two runs this preparation after returning from a Broome campaign. She will be the one to catch out in front.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 7 – 8 – 9 – 10
SUGGESTED BET: 7. Hashtag – WIN & 9. Good Morning - PLACE
Race 6 - 4:20PM CHINESE NEW YEAR RACEDAY - 4 FEB HANDICAP (1200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
11. RADIANT GIRL box-seated last start at Pinjarra behind the favourite and worked to the line well. She is giving PRIME WITNESS weight but she draws better, than her, here and may have more upside than her main danger.
12. PRIME WITNESS was good last start in the same race as RADIANT GIRL. She was off the speed and hit the line well for second. Jim Taylor may have turned the corner with her but she is still yet to win at Ascot after four attempts.
3. PATRIMONIO has promised a lot since his maiden win at Pinjarra almost a year ago but he hasn't quite delivered. He rarely runs a bad race yet has only won twice. The common denominator from those two wins is that he was first up on both occasions. He is first up here so expect a good run after a solid recent trial.
6. JINGTANG comes into this event third up after running two good races in Saturday company. The tactics are all important here. He led last start and was only beaten by just over a length but his two most recent wins were when he came off the speed at Kalgoorlie.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 11 – 12 – 3 – 6
SUGGESTED BET: 11. Radiant Girl – WIN & 3. Patrimonio - WIN
Race 7 - 5:00PM CLUB MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP (1400 METRES) – FULL FIELD
5. ZEFIRO was desperately unlucky last start and not too many punters would have missed it. Apprentice Fiona Bell was luckless in the final stages of the race at Pinjarra behind Main Instigator and could only manage eighth, beaten under two lengths. Senior ride Jason Whiting jumps aboard and he looks hard to beat.
1. CHECKERS was stretched out 2100m last preparation in the Dayana Plate but, the son of Golden Slipper winner Stratum, didn’t get the journey. 1400m first up is a query but the recent trial over 1000m was good under Fred W Kersley who keeps the ride for raceday.
9. BROTHER'S KEEPER won a maiden last start with thanks to a soft ride from Jarrad Noske and barrier one. He has barrier 12 to contend with here but watch for a good run-on effort.
10. CELTIC WIZARD has a turn of speed but just wasn't racing well towards the end of last preparation. The son of Ihtiram has since had over a month of rest and gets a slight gear change with the lugging bit going on. He will be at handy each way odds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 5 – 1 – 9 – 10
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Zefiro – EACH WAY
Race 8 - 5:40PM YOUNG MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP (1600 METRES) – FULL FIELD
14. THUNDER BOOM is three-year-old filly taking on the older horses but she looks to be extra special with bright future ahead. William Pike rides from barrier two, bottom weight of 54kg and the cutaway in play. No excuses and she will start at a short price.
4. BATTLE TORQUE has been unlucky this preparation and has as many excuses as William Pike has wins. There will be no excuses here though. In-form jockey Clint Johnston-Porter rides from barrier four and should give the son of Passenger every possible chance.
3. WRINKLY won well two starts ago in class one company before stepping up in grade to three-year-old Saturday class. He was not disgraced in the latter but back to class three suits. Expect a positive ride from barrier 11.
2. STARRY DANE is a stayer resuming after two trials, the second of which was over 1450m. 1600m first up would worry form pundits but not when the runner comes from the Durrant and Miller stable. They know how to prepare a stayer. Randy Tan's 2kg claim will help the top weight and expect a forward ride on this grinding one-pacer.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 14 – 4 – 3 – 2
SUGGESTED BET: 14/2,3,4 – EXACTA $10 for 333.33%
HAVING A BET?
BEST BET: Race 2 – 6. Royal Star
BEST VALUE: Race 1 – 12. She Bangs The Drum
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