SELECTIONS - 9 April 2005

More tips than a box of ear buds today but we’ve done the analysis on all these races.

Note that if Doomben gets downgraded from dead to slow that the selections there are void.

Belmont 2-6 Anywhere There has been thereabouts against these over the last few months and gets her chance to break through here. Her wide draw won’t affect her chances, as she’s a get back type. With Brad Parnham’s claim bringing her in below the limit I think she’ll be a great chance.

Belmont 4-7 Amber’s Halo is right in this race. She’s had 28 career starts for 10 wins, 14 starts at the track for 7 wins and 5 starts at the distance for 3 wins. The WFA scale brings her in very well and I expect her to be there at the business end.

Belmont 5-1 Plastered is a terrific stayer and should add this ‘Classic’ to his mantelpiece.

Belmont 6-10 No Questions is unbeaten and thrashed most of his opposition last time. Meets them at the same weights and the step up to 1400m should pose no problem.

Belmont 7-1 True Steel is the only real Group performer in this field. Should be cherry ripe for this after his last start 2nd to Sun Konyah who he meets 5kg better under the WFA scale than at their last outing.

Camperdown 2-1 Stigma has had 3 first up runs for one placing but hasn’t had any luck in her last two attempts (was slaughtered by an apprentice in one of them) and meets a very average field here. She’s drawn wide but that’s actually an advantage at the Camperdown 1000m start though will be back near last anyway. Look out for her with a nice white blaze to be flashing home late.

Camperdown 3-2 Cos I’m Free drew gate 1 at his debut at Stawell on Cup Day but seemingly threw away his chance by missing the start and settling worse than midfield. Got a run through on the corner and powered home late to miss by a whisker. The step up to 1400m should suit and he’ll be hard to hold out.

Caulfield 4-15 Tears ‘n’ Triumph comes to town after winning ridiculously softly first up at Benalla. Blake Shinn appeared to do his darndest to make sure the horse didn’t win by too far. Looks very smart.

Caulfield 8-2 Middlemarch is an up and coming stayer by my favourite sire, Peintre Celebre, who steps up to a mile and a half after a convincing win at MV last time. We’ll go for another by the same sire as the danger in Raphael who has been a bit luckless lately.

Doomben 2-2 Shilo is a real up and comer by Octagonal. Should get a nice run all the way and beat home the main danger Hit The Road.

Doomben 3-2 Rashini won his first start narrowly over 1000m and was then beaten less then 4L by Bradbury’s Luck in the Gold Coast Magic Millions where he also beat home Katsidis. Has been sharpened up by an Eagle Farm trial win and looks a really good chance from his good draw.

Doomben 6-1 Western Brace hasn’t won at Doomben from 11 goes but won’t ever get a better chance than here. Was slowly away before working up to his customary on pace position last time and was only caught near the line by the smart Proudly Agro who would be odds on if he was in this race.

Gold Coast 7-6 Mahiman is an up and comer in the Queensland staying ranks. Came off a let up and raced fiercely last time before weakening. That’s not his normal style and with Terry Treichel back on board he should be ridden midfield, which will give him the chance to finish over the top of them. He’s by Dolphin Street so the slow track shouldn’t be against him.

Hawkesbury 2-5 Octamins from the Waterhouse stable is an Octagonal 3YO who trialled recently when 2nd at Warwick Farm. Wouldn’t need to be too good to win here. Danger looks to be Manorwood.

Hawkesbury 4-8 Steal is also first up from the Waterhouse yard. Like Octamins trialled at Warwick Farm on 22/3 and ran 2nd. I expect Sydney Owner to improve dramatically from her first up duck egg.

Hawkesbury 5-1 Liquidity should be winning if form means anything, as he beat home 2 & 3 at their last encounter and meets them better at the weights. Those latter two have decisions over 4 & 6 and the 5 looks hopeless. Trifecta looks to be 1-2-3.

Hawkesbury 6-1 Cezanne was beaten first up as a 4/7 favourite after being backed in from even money. Why people back Peintre Celebre sired horses on rain affected going is beyond me, as he’s one of the worst wet track sires going around. Back to firm ground here should see this one opening his winning account.

Hawkesbury 7-1 Anwaar should continue a good day for Gai at Hawkesbury. He was terrific at his only start when bolting in. Tuned up with a soft trial last week and should be in the firing line all the way.

Morphettville 2-1 Marjumatic was backed from 7/1 to 7/2 at Murray Bridge on debut before jumping straight to the front and beating Facilikate who drifted from 4/7 to 4/5 and came from back in the field for 2nd. There’s not much form or good trials amongst the rest so I expect them to run 1-2 again.

Morphettville 5-1 Rustic Opal is looking to bring up a hat trick after wins at Naracoorte and Oakbank at his last two. Is yet to win at this track but has been thereabouts and bumped into some good ones along the way. Beat most of this field last time and meets all but one better at the weights after the claim for Scott Leckey who has been in dynamic riding form recently with a strike rate of 24% over his last 100 rides. The dangers look to be Imbruglia, Zero Issues and Tulum.

Morphettville 6-1 Honalee should give Scott Leckey the chance to bring up a double. Is 4 from 5 at the track, 3 from 6 at the distance and 2 from 2 first up. Won over this course first up last time in similar class and has drawn to advantage. Is one of those all-the-ticks-from-me picks.

Morphettville 8-9 Bouncing Around was desperately unlucky not to win at Oakbank last time and the step up in trip suits. Is yet to place at the track but has been in more sh!t than a Werribee duck in those runs. Drawn beautifully and looks a strong chance.

Warwick Farm 1-2 Irish Loop is in this race light as far as I can see. She won a Dubbo Class 6 last time out and that’s a stronger race than here. The only slight query is the 1200m but there’s no real pace in the race so we’ll go with her at what I expect will be good odds.

Warwick Farm 4-3 No Penalty stepped up from 1900m to 2600m on a slow track last time, raced midfield, made a run into the straight and just ran out of condition late in the Chairman’s Handicap. Looks a good thing in this field.

Warwick Farm 5-5 Waterwise drops from F&M Group company at her last two runs to this decidedly ordinary affair. She goes well at the track and distance and gets the services of top jockey, Darren Beadman. We won’t get the $7 overnight price and I expect she might be around $4.

Warwick Farm 6-1 Cateclipse led them up last time before being run down late by Captain Bax. Will have to cross from the wide gate and take up the lead but there’s nothing that’ll challenge her for the front. She’ll stack them up with Bromide also handy and turn it into a sprint home. I expect those two to fight the race out.

Warwick Farm 8-8 King’s Valour should be able to position himself handy to the lead, as there doesn’t look to be a lot of pace in the race with Rockin’ Roller looking the likely front runner. Has had two trial wins to sharpen him for this first up assignment and is a promising horse. Spirit Of Tara is right down in grade on his last run in the Hall Mark Stakes where he was simply out sped. He’ll be finishing on hard at the end.

Warwick Farm 9-7 Legendary Man is obviously named after me so should be a terrific chance. Won very well first up and then ran very well for 3rd behind Shania Dane last time. Might be nice each way odds and from his inside draw should be in the finish.