SELECTIONS - 1 November 2008

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

Ballina 6-1 Centennial Son [6,7]
Flemington 6-7 Littorio [12]
Morphettville 1-3 Kiss The Cash [10]
Morphettville 7-4 Happy Banker [10]
Traralgon 8-3 Acamar [1]

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

Ascot 9-7
Ballina 5-2, 7-3
Flemington 2-1, 5-6, 9-14, 10-3
Morphettville 5-2
Toowoomba 2-4

(* Any updates for Western Australia later on *)

Comments: We managed to eke out a small profit in October in spite of a high 43% strike rate. If the monthly win-loss sequence continues then we're in for a loss this month but given how bad September was we're due for a really big month so let's hope this lot can kick things off on the right foot for us. Ballina 6-1 Centennial Son easily won his Maiden three runs back, then missed the start and was never in the race before returning to form with an impressive win over this course last time out. Looks the winner in this. Flemington 6-7 Littorio finished well for 5th in the Caulfield Cup. Doesn't strike me as a WFA horse but if he's going to have any hope in the big one on Tuesday then he needs to add this to his two career wins given it's not a strong race. Morphettville 1-3 Kiss The Cash is a hard finishing type that racked up a couple of wins on the provincial circuit before being beaten less than half a length here 4 weeks ago. Must be a chance here but the current price of less than $3 doesn't excite me. Morphettville 7-4 Happy Banker hasn't won since the equivalent meeting this time last year. This is easier than recent runs and I'll be taking him one out in quaddies. Traralgon 8-3 Acamar thundered home first up to win her Maiden at Echuca and then ran well in a strong race at Ballarat last time out for 5th, beaten less than 3L. She's well placed after the claim and I expect her to be there at the business end.

Black Book: Ascot 7-3 Swan Bee started favourite first up and was a bit one paced when beaten into 6th spot, albeit beaten only 1.5L. The step up to 1400m is probably suitable and I'm not going to sack him just yet. Doomben 6-2 Rockem was horribly ridden last time when 7th of 13. Has a change of jockey here and will jump from an inside alley so I'll be taking him one out in the quaddie and if he can't get home then his days as a BBer will come to an end. Flemington 9-2 Sunburnt Land has been terrific for us with 5 wins from 7 runs. His career 1100-1200m runs read 1611111 so trainer Matty Ellerton has decided that keeping him fresh and to sprints is the go. He'll settle just off the expected hot pace and run over them late to win.