SELECTIONS - 21 September 2006

POOMA selections:

Cranbourne 4-5 Nylstroem

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

Newcastle 1-1, 5-1, 6-2

Today: Today's POOMA is selected by multiple systems and is one of those horses that really should have won his Maiden by now but manages to find ways to keep that status intact. However today at Cranbourne, 4-5 Nylstroem gets his chance to break through after his good first up run behind Yappa and Suspects, both of whom have won or run well recently. There are a couple of first starters in the race from powerful stables that are worth keeping an eye on for multiples etc. The three non-POOMA selections at Newcastle all come from very well performing systems and I'd be a tad surprised if they didn't show a profit between them. The Newcastle Cup looks a difficult race. Carael Boy probably leads them from Attainable at only a moderate tempo. 9-Gaze On will have the right run in the race from his barrier and has probably struck a Group race he can win after a few previous attempts. I'll go for him at the value each way.

Yesterday: Well, Pantani won first up at 3000m paying a terrific $6+. I don't know what Robbie Laing's plans are for him, as he's not up to the quality races. Maybe he'll go for a jumping campaign. Stickpin appreciated the drop in class at the same time as not appreciating having to sit three deep all the way before lobbing in the last couple of hops. He's not a bad horse though on the next rung below the good ones. Miss Mooney Mooney won first up for new trainer, Lee Freedman, and was strong at the end when challenged, drawing away nicely. Don't know how far she can go, as she also seems a rung below the better ones. You Sexy Beast won his 4th race from 5 goes when winning the last race. He'll keep racing through his grades and is up to Saturday class. Two good wins at Newcastle in the form of Lucky Night and Court's In Session both of whom led most of the way while being taken on by all comers. Both 7YOs they don't have many more years in them but they certainly may well have more wins in store.

POOMAs: Like Wednesday I was very happy with the way our $11 POOMA selection, Ashkadaad, was going in the run. He ran up to nearly join the lead in the straight, weakened into 3rd, looked like he was going to run that place at a handy $2.80 before being cut out of it in the last 50m. POOMAs since the change I made in early August are now 28 from 56.