SELECTIONS - 29 November 2006

POOMA selections:

Ascot 7-4 Zabba Doo
Randwick 5-3 Red Monarch
Sandown 2-8 One Way Or Another
Sandown 3-4 Cut In Stone

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

Nil

Today: A few more POOMAs than normal for a non-Saturday starting at Sandown with 2-8 One Way Or Another from the in-form David Hayes' stable. He led them up at his first start at Balaklava before being run down by Tramuntana who has won twice since, and then settled back and ran home well for 2nd behind Family Guy at Morphettville last time in fast time. That horse started favourite at Morphettville on Saturday and finished 5th behind the smart Idalou. This is not a strong race and he'll be value at $5+. Sandown 3-4 Cut In Stone drew 9/12 at MV last time, sat three deep all of the way, sprinted into the race on the corner and went strongly to the line to win in a tough effort. This race is no harder and she's in nicely on the limit weight. If the track wasn't rain affected then I'd give Endower an e/w chance in that race. Her form is better than it looks on paper. Randwick 5-3 Red Monarch has won his two starts from a spell at Necastle very nicely. He flogged them first up in fast time and then followed up with a narrow win in a race where the small field dawdled along and then sprinted home hard, which always contracts the margins. He's drawn a bit wide but will probably settle back anyway and that shouldn't be a disadvantage on the Kensington track, which has been playing very fairly in recent months; it really is in terrific shape. Ascot 7-4 Zabba Doo hasn't managed to win past 1200m yet, has run 8 placings from 12 runs at Ascot without winning and will need to cross and get an easy lead in this but that's what I expect to happen so he should be a great chance to break his Ascot duck.

Yesterday: 2 from 2 for the POOMAs returning a handy $4.70. Image Dancer got things off well when he really caned them in winning his Maiden at $1.60. Like his last two starts he was heavily backed late and I suggest you follow him. He's in my Black Book. Shoot First was our other winner up at Townsville at $3.10 overcoming a wide draw to come from the rear and win narrowly. He's not a bad horse and can win again if he draws well. A few others to follow: Scone 4-2 Ironside had little luck as favourite when deep all the way but ran home strongly for 2nd and 7-4 Hairy won under a hold to make it 2/2 for her career. She's up to one of those F&M Class 3 races in town. The most impressive winner of the day and one well worth following was at Warwick Farm in the form of 7-12 Sniper's Bullet. He drew 12/13, settled back and went whoosh late to win by over 3L running away (and landing the quaddie there for me). Follow him in anything he contests, as his trainer, Tracy Bartley, is a very canny fella.