SELECTIONS - 8 November 2008

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

Ascot 3-2 Kanturk [18]
Flemington 6-6 Keen Commander [12,10]
Flemington 6-8 Sunburnt Land [12]
Gold Coast 7-6 Ustino A Girl [7]
Newcastle 4-2 King's Course [8]

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

Ascot 2-7, 7-6
Doomben 6-3
Newcastle 1-1, 3-1
Randwick 1-1
Warren 6-1

(* Any updates for Western Australia later on *)

Comments: Ascot 3-2 Kanturk thundered home from near last for placings at his first two runs from a spell for placings before settling closer and getting away with a race two weeks ago. Steps up to a mile, which looks suitable, but the $2.60 on offer looks short to me. Flemington 6-6 Keen Commander has to beat Apache Cat, which has won 10 of his last 13 including 5 G1s in a row, and perform at the top level at 1200m which has been beyond him thus far. He'll be big odds. Flemington 6-8 Sunburnt Land as per Black Book comment. Gold Coast 7-6 Ustino A Girl has had 6 runs and been in the stewards' report every time so she's still learning what racing is all about. Luke Dittman seemed to find the key to things in her easy win last time over this course in a Class 1 race. If she repeats that effort then she'll be a chance again. Newcastle 4-2 King's Course has had a freshen up since putting a couple together here over six furlongs. Comes back to 900m but has a lot of speed and I expect him to win this.

Black Book: Sunburnt Land 6-8 should have won again in the Salinger but was held up for a long way and missed his chance. Can he beat Apache Cat? We'll be tempted with nice odds to find out.