SELECTIONS - 21 October 2007

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

Clare 1-7 Soap Star [25]

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

Hobart 1-3, 10-1
Seymour 1-7

(* Any updates at Albany after final details are in *)

Comments: An amazing day yestarday at Caulfield with more drama than a year's worth of TV soapies. I thought that Maldivian would win with my long range tip (who went into the Black Book in November last year), Master O'Reilly, running 2nd. As it turned out, Eskimo Queen chose an unfortunate moment to display her break dancing skills and Maldivian was so appalled that he tried to slash his own throat. All of that let Master O'Reilly win in dominating fashion after a first class ride by Vlad Duric. This horse will when the Melbourne Cup, as well, even with a 3kg penalty and, as it happens, I have a Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double running at good odds - the only double I took. In another stroke of good luck/judgement I also managed to back Selsley with a $50 e/w bet in the last at Morphettville. This is a horse that for some reason - perhaps it's the fact that he's almost white and physically large - I've followed for quite a while. He actually has some talent but at recent runs has been appallingly handled by jockey D Robinson. The change to Stubby Holder was significant, as he let the horse flop out the back and brought him with one run. The $75 win and $16 place dividends were well received by me and the other fellas at the TAB who backed him.

Clare 1-7 Soap Star has had a change of stables recently and drops in grade on recent runs. Sits up on the pace and the drop back in trip must help her chances but when a horse has had 5 runs and is yet to run a drum you don't want to be taking too short a price.

Black Book: Seymour 10-16 Cognac Bay is a talented but injury plagued galloper. First up he settled back in the field in a slowly run race and ran home OK to finish 7th of 14 beaten 4L in what was a strong race. I'll assess his BB status on this run.