Expected weather: Sunny 31°C
Expected track rating: GOOD4
Race 1 - 12:48PM GET THE TABTOUCH PLATE (1000 METRES) – FULL FIELD
10. MASSAGI is a filly by dual South African Group One winner Delago Deluxe and a half-sister to the in-form Gatting, which is also trained by Darren McAuliffe. Her recent trial was good but the time was only fair, however, she did look to have plenty left in the tank. Pike stays on.
9. IZ THAT RIGHT makes her debut from barrier two after trialling impressively and in good time. She tracked wide in the trial and kept finding the line. She is full sister to in-form Albany trained galloper Secret Minx and should go close from barrier two.
7. COUNTESS KINSKY is a filly by Alfred Nobel and trialled well recently in good time under Troy Turner. She was doing her best work late in the trial and Turner stays on for her debut. The filly looms as a key consideration.
1. FROSTY BEVERAGE jumped well in his recent trial before having to steady off heels and then settle about fifth. The son of Frost Giant has drawn well in barrier four and the first starter looks to be another main chance.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 10 – 9 – 7 – 1
SUGGESTED BET: 10. Massagi – WIN & 9. Iz That Right - PLACE
Race 2 - 1:28PM PERTH RACING MEMBERSHIP MAIDEN (1200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
3. BLUE HOUDINI gets Pike on here. He came from last recently, in the same race as AND SO AM I, and finished off brilliantly for third. He should be going one better here.
4. MUSS GET IT led last start and only finished 1.5 lengths off the winner. That winner Zefiro has since won as has the runner-up Keeper's Tale, which broke her maiden. The form lines read well.
1. AND SO AM I had to work in the early part of his race last start at Pinjarra but ran quite well considering the winner's potential. He'll improve second up and could be one very big odds.
2. FAULTY should have probably won a maiden by now but gets a good opportunity here from barrier eight. Shaun McGruddy will get every possible chance.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 3 – 4 – 1 – 2
SUGGESTED BET: 4. Muss Get It – EACH WAY
Race 3 - 2:08PM LAVAZZA HANDICAP (1500 METRES) – FULL FIELD
8. FAST AS THE WIND won her maiden in impressive fashion last time out at Bunbury. She gapped them and looks to be the real deal. Pike will have no worries from barrier two.
3. GENERAL HUSSON was tough when on-speed last start in a Saturday three-year-old race. He finished third on that occasion receives the 2kg claim from Clint Johnston-Porter here. The one to run down.
5. PERSIAN PRINCESS performed well last start for fourth in the same race as GENERAL HUSSON. The better draw here will hopefully see her settle midfield and finishing off strongly. Back out to 1500m suits.
1. WRINKLY has to carry 60kg here but will get the run of the race. Top four hope.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 8 – 3 – 5 – 1
SUGGESTED BET: 8. Fast As The Wind - WIN
Race 4 - 2:44PM HEINEKEN HANDICAP (1400 METRES) – FULL FIELD
6. POINT won well last start in slightly easier company. He is afforded the luxury of barrier one and WA's best jockey, William Pike. Back to 1400m may be the only concern but he looks mighty hard to beat.
4. SETTLERS CREEK has been unlucky this preparation and deserves to win a race of this nature. He just needs a trouble-free run and, with that, he should be in the mix.
7. BARAKI BEATS is an inconsistent galloper but can run well if right. There is a swag of gear changes which will hopefully switch him on for raceday. If he can reproduce the run from three starts ago, where he ran second to Candlelight Star (since black type-placed), he can mix it at the top end of this race.
11. SPANGLED IMPACT takes on the older horses again after acquitting herself well in tougher open age company last time out. She can improve and run a nice race. If she gets anywhere near her form from the autumn, as a two-year-old, she will be hard to beat.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 6 – 4 – 7 – 11
SUGGESTED BET: 6. Point – WIN & 7. Baraki Beats – EACH WAY
Race 5 - 3:20PM STONE MOTHERLESS AFTER THE RACES HANDICAP (1000 METRES) – FULL FIELD
8. CUANZO was an impressive winner last start when rattling home in 34.80 for his last 600m. The form out of that race has well and truly been franked with Three Votes coming out and blitzing his rivals last week. The in-form Jason Whiting rides.
5. BOMBS AWAY is on the quick one-week backup after smashing a handy field last time out in equal class. The swift backup suggests that Lindsey Smith has the four-year-old happy and well. Randy Tan retains the ride.
2. AGACHAR CRUZ drops in class after running reasonably well in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes. He was beaten only three lengths on that occasion and drops in class significantly. Tayla Stone takes off 3kg which will suit.
4. RED PUBLISHER won well last time out in equal class, at Pinjarra. The query is coming down from 1400m to 1000m. He has won previously over 1000m but this doesn’t seem like an ideal formula. One thing we know is that Ash Maley has him flying.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 8 – 5 – 2 – 4
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Bombs Away – WIN & 8. Cuanzo – WIN
Race 6 - 4:00PM AUTO CLASSIC BMW CHINESE NEW YEAR RACEDAY-4 FEB (1200 METRES) – FULL FIELD
9. PRESENTATIE got too far back last start when finishing midfield behind Cuanzo in slightly tougher class. She was doing her best work late after missing the start from barrier 11. From barrier three here, Pike should enjoy a trouble-free run behind the speed and be a lot closer in the run. Expect improvement second up.
5. SHADY GRAY’s two runs this time in have been super when running a couple of luckless fourths behind Tommy Who and Cuanzo respectively. He'll have to go back from barrier seven under apprentice Aaron Mitchell and should run on strongly again. A win is just around the corner for this son of Vital Equine.
2. MY GREEK BOY is a last start winner at Albany but proved that he can compete in Saturday class after winning in the winter at Belmont. The gelding will get a soft run from barrier one and Shaun O'Donnell will be biding his time before turning into the straight. A good each-way chance.
6. MR AFRICAN ran a good race last start in an equal class and distance affair at Pinjarra. He is a big gelding and only has to carry 54.5kg which is a big advantage. Don't be surprised to see him in the finish at double figure odds.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 9 – 5 – 2 – 6
SUGGESTED BET: 5. Shady Gray – WIN & 9. Presentatie – WIN
Race 7 - 4:40PM AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ NEXT SATURDAY HANDICAP (1800 METRES) – FULL FIELD
1. JUICING CARROTS will have to lug top weight of 60kg but he has proved this preparation that he can give his rivals weight without any issue. He looks to have furnished nicely this time in and out to 1800m looks ideal. He is a serious horse with a bright future.
9. GATTING takes on the older horses here and steps out to a middle distance trip for the first time in his career. With only 54kg on his back and Pike in the saddle, they will be looking to see if he can stay and then potentially point him towards a Derby campaign. He will be a winning chance.
4. HAY MAGIC has been racing in outstanding form and possesses an incredible late turn of speed. The one query is the Ascot track as she seemed to get around Pinjarra a lot better when winning last start but she gets barrier three here and it's hard to go against a mare in form.
6. MACAVITY continues to show his toughness and potential by running very competitive races. He was just grabbed late by HAY MAGIC last start but the start before that, which happened to also be over 1800m at Ascot, he was three-wide and on-pace but kept finding the line and ground out a very impressive win. He's a serious chance here.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 1 – 9 – 4 – 6
SUGGESTED BET: 1. Juicing Carrots – EACH WAY
Race 8 - 5:15PM SUMMER BRIGHT LAGER HANDICAP (1600 METRES) – FULL FIELD
4. FIRST AFFAIR is one from one when racing over 1600m. She holds some nice form lines behind the likes Macavity and Preselection which should hold her in good stead for a race like this. She'll be near the leading bunch on settling and will finish off powerfully.
10. ROMELO ran ok last start when first up. Out to 1600m second up will suit the son of Ekraar, as will a couple of important gear changes. The one-eyed blinker comes off and the tongue tie goes on. Hopefully the tinkering of gear can improve the horse.
13. BACHELORS PROSPECT’s two runs this preparation have been very good. He was slightly unlucky first up but got the deserved victory last time out in a class three over 1600m at Pinjarra. Barrier 15 makes the task hard for Jason Whiting but expect the gelding to flash home late.
2. SLICK TALKER is fourth up, back out to 1600m and Sarah Bonner takes off 3kg. The son of Discorsi is ready to show his best this preparation after running only fair races so far. Expect an improved performance.
SUGGESTED SELECTIONS: 4 – 10 – 13 – 2
SUGGESTED BET: 4. First Affair – WIN & 10. Romelo – WIN
HAVING A BET?
BEST BET: Race 3 – 8. Fast As The Wind
BEST VALUE: Race 2 – 4. Muss Get It
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