SELECTIONS - 20 October 2006

POOMA selections:

Coffs Harbour 3-4 The Bhagwan
Mornington 8-2 Nuclear Roo

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

Mornington 1-10
Townsville 2-4

Today: A couple of POOMAs today, both of which are from our horses to follow. Mornington 8-2 Nuclear Roo led on the fence first up last time at Wangaratta, was taken on left, right and centre, and dashed away to win eased up by 3L. He drifted to the middle of the track that day, which didn't look to be by design, and I suspect he's got a few feet problems given he's 0/6 on dry tracks and 3/8 on wet so today's dead conditions should suit. Coffs Harbour 3-4 The Bhagwan was terrific at his first start when racing at the back of the field, running very wide on the corner and then rocketing to the line for 3rd. He would have won in another couple of bounds and the step up in trip will also help. He could be a really good horse and should win today. Townsville 2-4 Our Georgia Rose looks hard to beat again. She should position handy, sprint to the lead and be hard to run down. I assess her price at $2.20 and will back her at those odds. A couple at Canterbury that might go OK (if they're not one of the all too common boat races that have infected Sydey racing over the last 12 months) are 5-3 Flavoursome, which should get a better run than last time, and 7-3 Cara Y Cruz for Gai Waterhouse. The 14 gate will add a couple of dollars to her price. She's 2/2 first up and has the tactical speed to position handy, especially as Eight Moons has drawn 10 and will need to go forward.

Yesterday: Not much of a day yesterday in terms of horses to follow but I did managed to end in front. Gallant Guru carried his 57kg to a powerful win in the Moe Cup. He's one of those horses with talent that's not up to the top grade but can win in Listed company. Cardiac Arrest was terrific at Port Lincoln in carrying his 60.5kg from the outside gate of 11 to a narrow win. I had a nice result, which could have been better if my quinella 1x2-5 for $1 had have been put on for the $50 that I actually wanted. Was happy to get the $11.70 back for my $2 outlay on that one...

POOMAs: Two 2nds yesterday from two selections, which I hate more than anything, especially as Cardiac Arrest really should have been a POOMA but I decided against nominating him due to his gate thus turning a winning day into a losing one.