SELECTIONS - 24 February 2007

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

Ascot 2-1 Lacida [18]
Cheltenham 2-1 Aquifier [12]
Gold Coast 2-5 Kaybee [1]
Rosehill 9-4 Crosswise [1]

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

Ascot 4-3, 8-1
Caulfield 2-2, 4-3, 6-3
Eagle 4-9
Rosehill 7-8, 8-11
Warracknabeal 4-6, 6-4, 7-3, 8-5

(* Updates at Ascot after final details are in - UPDATED with POOMA *)

Comments: What's this? Three POOMAs in a row? A System 13 gets home at more than $5? Was a nice win, too, by our selection, In The Shadows, yesterday at Kyneton. Quickly to the front, he dictated the pace, sprinted from the 400m and won clearly being eased down late. That was his first run past a mile and he might have some scope so I've put him in the black book.

Cheltenham 2-1 Aquifier started $1.20 in a six horse field at his only start and gave anyone who took the short price a mild scare when sneaking home by a half length. He is the only winner in the field, which is always an advantage in 2YO races, though will probaby be shorter than I'd want to back him. Gold Coast 2-5 Kaybee returned from a spell for a clear win at Ballina. That was on a slow track, which can sometimes mask performances, but he did come from the extreme outside gate and ran quick time in the conditions so maybe he's come back a much improved horse. I'd still want $5+ to back him. Rosehill 9-4 Crosswise is a really good horse and I've commented before that I think he's up to a Listed race. He's unbeaten on dry tracks, is very well weighted and just needs to get a good run in the race in order to win. I don't think there's any hope that he'll be anywhere near the $5 on the morning line and will be happy to back him above $3.

Lots of good horses running around today at Caulfield. In race 2, Seachange will probably start favourite in front of Conisten Gem but people keep under rating the up and coming Conisten Gem so if she's better than $3.50 then I'll have a go. Miss Finland looks like she just has to run her normal race to win the Armanasco. Haradasun has a bit more competition than recent runs but he'll be near his peak and looks the winner again. I'll go for Aqua Damore to knock off Marasco in the St George. Her first up run was really good. The Blue Diamond looks a lottery and I'm going for an upset with 14-Chinamora. She'll get the right run and has been getting home OK. In the Oakleigh Plate I'll go with Shadoways. There's a heap of pace and so it'll suit the swoopers. I'll be interested to see how Bon Hoffa measures up in the Carlyon Cup. He went through the grades nicely last time in. The last leg of the quaddie looks like a field job.