SELECTIONS - 26 January 2007

POOMA selections (Location Race#-TAB# Horse [system/s])

Albany 4-2 Strong Force [13,17]
Randwick 3-3 Illuminates [18]
Wangaratta 6-1 Charoar [13]

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

Albany 6-1
Caulfield 5-7
Randwick 3-3
Wangaratta 4-1, 5-1

(* updates after final details at Albany - UPDATE with POOMA *)

Comments: Happy Australia Day. Wave the flag, sing the anthem, drink some beer, scoff a pie, BBQ some lamb and have a bit of a punt. Doesn't get any more Aussie than that. A happy Republic Day to our Indian friends, as well. Oliver's ride on El Segundo is the only thing that got the horse home in the Carlyon Stks last night. If Oli had have been on last spring then the horse would have won the Cox Plate for sure. In last night's race I have no doubt that Gauci would have hooked wide on the corner (his normal style on the horse) and steamed into 2nd or 3rd place with everyone talking about what a top run it was over an unsuitable distance. Bugger that. If you are an owner you want it to win. Pencil him in for the Australian Cup. Our POOMA last night, Patiencenvision had a perfect run in the race, was under pressure 600m out and plodded home from there in a performance not worthy of the great Might And Power's colours. Randwick 3-3 Illuminates has been good to us, as she's been a two time POOMA and scored both times at $6.40 and $3. This is a pretty sharp field and I have a bit of a query about her at 1100m. With the Waterhouse, Freedman and Hayes stables represented there's a fair chance we'll get some good value and that's what it's all about. At Wangaratta today, 6-1 Charoar comes from a system that's kicked off '07 on a bit of a downer. Fortunately, our horse doesn't know that. He's in good form, will sit close to the speed and be a good chance. I like the quinella with 6-El Veloz. It's the time of year when the good horses return for the Autumn carnival and it'll be good to see Haradasun at Caulfield. He is the best galloper in the country, in my opinion, and I really hope he's recovered 100% from his leg injury. There's absolutely no pace in the race so he wouldn't want to be giving a good horse like Churchill Downs much of a start from the top of the straight.