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Race 1 TABTOUCH WESTSPEED PLATINUM SERIES HANDICAP HEAT 3 1200m
Selections: 2* - 6 – 5 – 11
Looks a race with really good speed, but speed influences I don’t expect to be overly strong at the business end, by default looking at runners that will settle of the speed in the run and although it has been a while between drinks, a long while, this looks a really good race for Ex Sport Man. Comes through what I suggest is by far the strongest form race into this behind Halatorion. Finished off massive there, didn’t have a great deal of early speed but never has and needed a few reminders to keep his mind on the job approaching the corner, but once he balanced up he savaged the line in easily the best L200m of the race into 3rd. We’ve seen Halatorion more than frank that form by running a very brave 3rd in a very strong Cyril Flower behind a couple of genuine top liners. There looks to be good tempo here, he should love the big, long straight Pinjarra presents him and he’s already 1/1 at the track/trip in his career. McGruddy will look for that 3 wide moving line building into the corner, he looks finally ready to break through again.
Big respect to Here’s Dreaming. Thought he was terrific 1st up behind Sir Mambo, got a long way off them in a slowly run race and rattled home in the best late splits of that entire meeting. This looks a real 3 wide cover line building into the race on the corner kind of set-up and 1200m given the way he finished off 1st up also looks a big tick. Has plenty of ability and upside, would love to be able to chop out here in an ideal world.
Cywer is a really nice horse and while it may be harsh, perhaps just didn’t reach the heights expected of her last prep when not assisted at all by drawing bad barriers. The trial was just a pass mark and think from the barrier if she steps a tad slow like she did in her trial hit-out, she may have plenty of traffic to contend with.
Twice A Fortnight never got a crack at them 1st up in this grade when on the bridle right to the line. Still eligible for a maiden but has plenty of ability and can reel off a big section.
Suggested Bet: Ex Sport Man to win.
Race 2 TABTOUCH PINJARRA CUP & FASHIONS ON THE FIELD 2 APR HANDICAP 2000m
Selections: 5 – 4 – 6 – 2
Roch Legacy gets a 3.5kgs swing here on Currimundi for a 1.3L defeat last time around and didn’t think his run was too inferior, just got caught in traffic to the inside and wasn’t able to build his revs up at a crucial stage and is drawn for a better run here again. Starting to become costly to follow but think he deserves another chance.
Soviet Spy was last seen a month ago and given a Pike special in an incredibly slowly run race. In that same race I didn’t think there was anything between the runs of it and Roch Legacy either and more traffic here you’d think for Pike to navigate from barrier 2 if he can’t hold a prominent position and utilise that draw. Racing very well.
Big Swoop could lead them all the way again here without surprise. If he can get across, which I think he can, he’s a ripper. Deeper field, but stays on well and not penalised at all at the weights. 1/1 track and distance and doesn’t look a great deal of genuine speed engaged here. He’s tough as old boots.
Currimundi was a very good win last start coming from the tail in a very slowly run race and the combination of Steve Wolfe/Shaun McGruddy are absolutely airborne. Will have to repeat the dose again here in a deeper field but only getting better the more ground he gets over.
Suggested Bet: Roch Legacy each way from a tipping perspective, but no interest from me in the race, sit back and enjoy.
Race 3 DANCE TO FELIX AFTER THE LAST HANDICAP 1400m
Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 6
I feel like I’ve missed the boat a bit with Weaponson, having tried to take him on at his last couple of starts to no avail, but I just think he gets yet another cracking set-up here again from a race shape perspective. Yes, he has been gifted a couple of soft leads but credit where credit is due, he’s had to work early on both occasions and he’s still well and truly burnt the candle at both ends of those races. He is flying. Cheval De Vaga drawn underneath him your likely leader, Big Bada Boom crosses to the breeze, Pike backs out of the speed battle and takes the drop in behind them getting the run of the race. No concern for me back to 1400m the type of horse that he is, queries regarding the vast majorities of other runners, just ticks every box.
River Rubicon I thought was the clear danger. He’s just a really good horse. Got a terrific in a very fast run 1400m last start. Form hasn’t exactly been franked through runners to come out of that event but I wouldn’t read much into that, likely gets back here again in a deeper race and a much better quality of horses settling in front of him that he has to gun down was my only slight concern. Stable running hot and there has been plenty of early support.
Cheval De Vaga your likely leader here drawn the pole and got pocketed badly last start in the Ascot Mile when only beaten a touch over a length The Velvet Queen which reads up very nicely. Two back think River Rubicon beats him home in the Mungrup if he doesn’t get walloped off the track approaching the corner.
Big Bada Boom works across to the breeze and always gives a tough account of himself, this is just a quality field assembled.
Suggested Bet: Weaponson to win again.
Race 4 THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS WA PLATINUM FILLIES AND MARES CLASSIC 1200m
Selections: 5* – 4 – 7 – 8
The $16 available early doors has gone off, but thought Blow Me Out was way over the odds in early markets. I loved her 1st up effort behind Halatorion. She began on terms with the rest of the field but was just made to really snag early from the gate when it looked as thought she was going to be caught very wide early. Ended up last, had to really work from the 800-400m to be put into the race and loved the way she cut through the field late despite perhaps just peaking on her run over the last 100m. Should derive great benefit from that run under the belt and no doubt in my mind she has been set for this race, being the Pinjarra Magic Millions meeting for Brett Pope who trains out of Pinjarra. Can sit much handier here from the draw, great record at the track, think she’s a terrific each-way bet.
Stellar Vista showed really good tactical speed, something we haven’t become expected of her fresh. Got a soft run throughout and almost picked Halatorion up in the shadow of the post in that same race, who franked the form by running 3rd in a very strong Cyril Flower last weekend and was very brave. Most likely if she begins as tractably as she did can box-seat again here on the back of a very strong tempo. Great winning chance and impossible to knock.
Hammarmill another if they really go hard in front who will be suited by the tempo. Mare with a booming turn of foot, liked the way she got to the line in that same race. Will get a long way back here from that gate but every chance the race-shape really suits.
Dream To Me travels down from Geraldton but is very talented and while the form is hard to line up, brings X factor.
Suggested Bet: Blow Me Out a terrific each way bet.
Race 5 LIGHTSABER @ DARLING VIEW IN 2023 HANDICAP 1000m
Selections: 9 – 3 – 2 – 7
Straight track form is worth its weight in gold down the straight five furlongs at Pinjarra and Material Witness is an out and out straight track horse. Looks a race with cracking tempo, Clint Johnston Porter returns to the saddle and down on the minimum, he will certainly get his chance to be getting over the top of these late at his favourite set-up, and while this is a very strong field, straight track form is the best form with many of these others untried.
Metallon is drawn the “wrong” side of the straight but is quick enough to get across and has race fitness on his side after a dominant 1st up win which should only bring him on. Huge opinion of him, black-type horse in waiting.
Spin The Knife joins the camp of SJ Miller and the recent trial was brilliant. Settled in the run despite not leading which is something we haven’t come to expect from him. Traditionally flies fresh and just needs to handle the straight to be going very close.
Bopping Blue another who loves the straight and is incredibly quick, looks your likely leader and that’s where he is at his best despite the expected pressure that will be up there with him.
Suggested Bet: Don’t like betting in straight races with too many unknown variables, but Material Witness each way would be the way I’d go.
Race 6 TABTOUCH PINJARRA CLASSIC 26TH FEBRUARY HANDICAP 1200m
Selections: 3* – 5 – 4 – 11
Big field, plenty of speed, looks quite messy on paper. Expecting 3-4 wide moving lines to be building into this. Prawns Eleven is naturally going to garner plenty of attention, and rightfully so, Pike is the perfect jockey for this Colt who certainly has his quirks. His 1st up win last prep in a CL3 was just huge after missing the kick badly. Then progressed into a 3yo Saturday race and was beaten under 2L My Bella Mae after bombing the start by over 3 lengths and conceding her 2.5kgs. If he leaves on terms, he beats her home there quite simply. Don’t bother with the Placid Ark run, completely pen job, nothing went right there, but what I will say is, he was very well thought of throughout betting. Just think Pike is the perfect jockey for him.
Big field, a number of speed influences engaged, if he can leave the barriers cleanly or at least semi on terms, Pike can look to tag into the race 3-4 deep with cover building into the corner before making his run down the middle of the track. Very talented, last time we saw him was still doing plenty wrong, but he gets into this 60+ with 1.5kgs less than he carried in 3yo company when he ran 2nd to My Bella Mae. Incredible placement for a yard that generally have them ready to fire fresh, the gear changes says to me they’ve done some work trying to settle him down pre-race which hopefully assists with how he leaves the machines.
Capo Veloce is another 3yo who looks ready to peak 3rd up here out to 1200m. Comes through that incredibly high-rating race behind Wild Belle I think will certainly hold up as a form reference and was the best closer of that race from a long way off them. Aside from Prawns Eleven and Valsassina, this is a weaker assignment into a 60+ and in the big field, I like the midfield draw for Turner to give him a smother midfield or just worse than here in a race that should have a strong tempo. Both runs back have been terrific, he’s ready to win and happy to also make him a smaller result.
Valsassina was huge when off the track in the Breeders Classic but I have my concerns with her with the draw. Barrier 1 becoming a real graveyard at the moment, if she lands leaders back she will need room, not a great place to be at Pinjarra specifically you see it very often, and if she is a stride or two slow in a race with many possible horses that can be ridden with aggression, she’s 3 back the fence. Think she is a really nice filly, I just don’t love the draw for her as I think most likely scenario she is buried behind horses that will most likely be falling back in her lap.
Supersession has put together two uber impressive performances to kick start his career, but this is a huge step-up. All ability.
Suggested Bet: Backing both Prawns Eleven and Capo Veloce.
Race 7 MAGIC MILLIONS WA 3YO TROPHY 1200m
Selections: 9 – 1 – 2 – 8
I know it might be a little contradictory to what I said about Valsassina in the last race, but I just keep coming back to that 1st up effort behind Wild Belle of Malkar Pindari. 1st up no trial, she sat 3 deep no cover outside a speed almost 6L faster than average and couldn’t believe how strong she still was through the line into 2nd despite the run she had in transit, for me on of the best peformances of the day. Loved the tactical speed she showed there, would love to see Pike (who takes the ride on Saturday) kick up with that positivity he has been showing lately and hold leaders back. I think with a jockey like Pike in the saddle, I’m not as nervous about being coffin’d in that position. The slight concern for me being how big that run was fresh, for a stable that generally preps them up to be forward enough to win fresh, that she may fall a bit flat here second up.
Just have queries with the set up for Man Crush from the draw fresh without a trial despite the runs he has on the board, Street Parade got run down late by Cut The Talk at 1100m and is a query for me at 1200m, Cut The Talk took the whole straight to run down Bisector Wednesday who Malkar Pindari put away after sitting 3 wide no cover on the tempo that she set in that race behind Wild Belle. I just keep coming back to her, think she is a quality filly with stacks of ability and love the Pike booking. Keen she can finally break through for a deserved victory.
Divine Inanna takes up a prominent position, drops weight off her back and is tough, love how she races but this is a big leap from her last start victory in terms of quality of opposition.
Suggested Bet: Malkar Pindari to win.
Race 8 MAGIC MILLIONS WA 2YO CLASSIC 1200m
Selections: 9 – 2 – 1 – 6
The best 2yo trialler of the season produced the best 2yo trial for this race on debut, quite simply, I thought Super Smink and what she was able to produce on debut when 3rd behind A Lot Of Good Men was a terrific trial in preparation for getting her to this race 2nd up. Trialled like a bomb prior to that effort, she actually began there much better than the eventual winner did, but from barrier 14 of 14 was made to really snag with A Lot Of Good Men having that real tactical barrier advantage. The way she got home was outstanding, and you’d think from barrier 5 drawn the inside of the favourite she is going to be afforded the opportunity to position up a lot closer to them on the weekend.
A Lot Of Good Men has plenty of quality, love how hard he charges through the line when he hits top gear, there’s no doubt about that, but from a data perspective he regressed from his 1st up win over the 1000m to his 2nd up win over the 1100m, to me that’s just a tad concerning at his 3rd run for the campaign out to the 1200m and certainly doesn’t get anywhere near as much of a map advantage as he did last start, something offset by the 1.5kg weight swing he gets on his rivals here from that victory. To me, Super Smink looks one of the better bets of the day in the feature. I really think this filly has star qualities and is going to be a force progressing on to races like the Karrakatta if she can stay sound.
Odinaka has to handle the back up, but 1200m is far more suitable for him than the 1000m and he was just far too good for them last week. He’s very good and still hasn’t really been in a race run to suit him yet where he can really build into it like he did in his trial prior to his luckless debut.
Guarding Heaven will be much better ridden with cover from the barrier I feel, the Brave Halo form and the strength of her run behind the favourite here two back when made to really snag back to last from a wide draw is hard to forget.
Suggested Bet: Super Smink to win (Best Bet)
Race 9 GEISEL PARK STUD HANDICAP 1200m
Selections: 14 – 1 – 13 – 5
Really tough race to round out the card on Magic Millions day.
Arcadia Grace win was so impressive last start albeit in lesser grade and Pike goes back aboard for Taj Dyson who gets lengths out of these kind of horses. Barrier 1 again looks like traffic again on paper but Pike the man you want in the saddle to be directing it. Very dangerous if the splits come when the wizard needs them and you know it’s just tailor made for yet another edition of #PikeInTheLast
Westriver Miracle comes through stronger races than this beaten at his last two by The Velvet Queen. Loved how hard he’s chased at his two runs this campaign, perhaps was just left a little flat 2nd up off how big his performance was fresh at 1500m when unlucky not to have finished closer than the 3L margin to TVQ. Penalised at the weights here back to a 66+, but love how this race maps for him and in the past has shown he can certainly carry weight with aplomb.
Allmamoney is a horse I have been following this prep. Haven’t been a fan of how little intent they’ve shown with her early to find a spot, felt like last start there was a spot there for her forward of where she eventually landed if they wanted it and they just didn’t show any interest in lobbing her in the first 6-7. Barrier 2 likely means 3 back the fence here and plenty of traffic issues for Clint Johnston Porter to navigate but this is the sort of race a horse like her with luck can certainly win.
Be Optimistic just keeps progressing and her ceiling is unknown yet. Loved how almost effortlessly she was able to gun down another progressive type in Cerridwyn last start. Barrier draw really hurts but if Holly can lob her in that 3-4 wide moving line with cover and a big long straight to attack, she’s certainly in the game and she’s looking for more ground now out to the mile.
Suggested Bet: Tough end to the day, Arcadia Grace and Westriver Miracle my top seeds for a bet in the get-out.
Best Bets
Race 1 #2 Ex Sport Man
Race 4 #5 Blow Me Out each way
Race 7 #9 Malkar Pindari
Race 8 #9 Super Smink (Best Bet)
IMAGE: FILE