SELECTIONS - 19 April 2008

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

Caulfield 6-10 Mondano [10]
Gold Coast 1-3 Single Bound [6,10]
Gold Coast 6-4 Laurie's Lad [13]
Gold Coast 8-1 Dardan [6,7]
Newcastle 6-7 Canny Finch [7]

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

Ascot 2-3, 5-1
Caulfield 1-6, 2-1
Cheltenham 2-6, 5-1, 7-1, 7-3
Eagle Farm 6-13, 8-6
Gold Coast 5-1, 5-3
Newcastle 1-13, 6-7
Pakenham 1-12, 2-1, 2-3
Rosehill 9-15
Toowoomba 3-4, 6-1


(* Any updates at Ascot later on *)

Comments: The big races are all in Sydney and I think that a few of the popular runners will fail. In the Golden Slipper I give no chance to the unbeaten Sebring and Augusta Proud. I'll go for Hips Don't Lie and Sugar Babe as the chances. In the George Ryder Stakes I'm going to pot Weekend Hussler. I'll go for Racing To Win to turn the tables on Mentality with Weekend Hussler to miss a place. I could end up with a lot of egg on my face with that one but beating Triple Honour by a wart with Arlington 3rd is not terrific form for this race. To the POOMAs: Caulfield 6-10 Mondano ran his usual consistent race last time but doesn't look very well placed in this. He'll get a good run from his gate and will be e/w odds so might be a chance at odds. Gold Coast 1-3 Single Bound killed them on the heavy track over this course last time out in the same class. Will lead them up and should go close again. Gold Coast 6-4 Laurie's Lad has won his last two at Toowoomba and this race seems within his scope. He's hard and fit and I expect him to get through the heavy going OK. Gold Coast 8-1 Dardan broke his duck over this course last time. They all seem to have a chance in this race so I'll want $4 to have a go. Newcastle 6-7 Canny Finch will win this race. He'll be good odds, too.

Black Book: Ascot 4-5 Inarticulate is a rising good 'un. Has treated his rivals with contempt at both runs from a spell at Bunbury when winning under a Full Nelson. I expect him to bring up the hat trick and $2.20 would be good odds. Caulfield 4-9 Hasta Manana is in the black book for his jumps ability but if you'd watched his three runs from a spell then you'd have the opinion that Robbie Laing is setting the horse for a kill somewhere. He's been allowed to flop out the back, sit deep and work to the line under his own steam at all of those runs. He ran the quickest 1000m to 400m sectional in the race last time so he's obviously going well. Don't be surprised to see him run a race.