SELECTIONS - 25 August 2006

POOMA selections:

Monington 1-10 Preceptor
Mornington 3-12 Tamavian

Non-POOMA selections (and ruffies in red below):

Canberra 8-8
Scone 6-5, 8-4
Townsville 2-1

Lay of the Day: Mornington 6-8 Hot Pink $2.70; beat Camille With Class last start and meets that horse worse here. The heavy track can sometimes even up that sort of change, as fitness plays a large part, but Hot Pink is coming off a 22 day break and Camille With Class 8 days, which might be the telling factor at the end of the rac - [LOTD 17 from 20]

Today: Another poorish day for a punt. I commented recently that Mornington always seems to have a wet track (in fact, there are more wet tracks there than dry) and, sure enough, the programming of the Mornington meeting has broken the mini drought over the last few weeks. I think that 10-Preceptor will go close in race 1. He was deep all the way last time and boxed on well. 3-12 Tamavian gets everything to suit with the inside draw and 3kg claim, and comes out of a good race in which Bingham finished 3rd. Is listed at $2.40 on the morning line but I'd expect her to start odds on. At Townsville the southerners first up are 3-1 Lord Rubenstein, 4-3 Medowie Storm and 4-7 Sweep On By. They're all 5YO geldings and any market move, especially for Lord Rubenstein should be followed. Gee, Crafty King gets in well in race 6. He's down 1.5kg after the claim on his win over the very good Sea Zulu over 1000m here last time. He steps up to 1200m, which on paper looks to be the end of his range, which might help his price stay around the $3 mark. Danger is 8-Prince Of Steel who steps into Open company after a good last start 2nd to Rejected. The Scone meeting holds no attraction at all. As I always point out, the all weather surface at Canberra (called the Acton track) has been an outstanding success. Very fair racing on a track that has always been rated good in spite of the weather. There are a few each way chances today that I might have a little go at if the odds are right. 6-4 Power Switch, 7-1 Borradaile and 8-8 Stormberg are all in with strong chances. Race 4 is a terrific field of sprinters. I've won more money on Keltic Flash over the last couple of years than any other horse but I'm not too sure he can knock off the topweight, Kiss My Fuji, who's going for a hat trick here.

Yesterday: Really, nothing to say about yesterday. Racing was poor, along with the weather. Hands in pocket. Wallet nailed shut.

POOMAs: There were no POOMA selections yesterday.

LOTD: Time Lion started at an amazingly short $1.90 and ran 3rd beaten 2L.