SELECTIONS - 5 October 2006

POOMA selections:

There are no POOMA selections today

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

Rockhampton 1-2, 2-2, 8-2

Today: The form we're following around Stavka/Suspects/Yappa (the SSY form) has a couple of entries today, both in the last race at Geelong. 3-Gaelic Lad ran a first up 4th behind Bon Hoffa and Yappa in what is turning out to be a strong form race. He drops a grade and the step up in trip looks really suitable. 6-Nylstroem ran a first up 3rd behind Yappa and Suspects before coming out and winning his Maiden narrowly at Cranbourne. The bigger track will suit, as will the step up in trip. The three selections at Rockhampton all come out of very good systems and they all look to be right in their respective races with a big chance. 8-2 Way Home had her first run up north having done her racing in NSW and was beaten only half a length in a Class 2 1100m event when drawing 12 of 12. She drops in grade today but has to contend with 15/15. Normally, I don't worry about barriers, as the lower strike rate from out wide is more than compensated for by bigger dividends but I do have a bit of an aversion to the extreme outside barrier regardless of field size. I'm driving up to Canberra later on today. Will have the mighty band Hawkwind blasting away for a fair part of the trip. If you're a rock 'n' roll afficiando and don't know who they are then you are missing out big time, especially as they've been around for 30+ years.

Yesterday: The form at Werribee stacked up really well with all the winners being well in the market. You may not have noticed but three of the seven winners were by Pins who is a very nice sire. I had a few bets on the day and managed to get the First4 on the last there by standing out Pinsemtoit, which got home due to an Oliver special, sneaking a run through on the fence around the corner. Up at Townsville Strictly Smart sat three deep all of the way in a high pressure race and just wilted a bit to run 4th. Why his jockey pressed on like that is beyond me, as he has a good record when ridden off the pace. Didn't do me any damage, though, as he was way too short to back.

POOMAs: There were no POOMA selections yesterday.