WARRNAMBOOL – GRAND ANNUAL/CUP Day
BEST BET: HANG MAN R4 #3.
BEST VALUE: BARTHELONA R5 #13
Race 1: 2-3-4-8
Early start so don’t over think this. DUKE OF BONEO, oh – trained by Weir and 2/2 jumps, nailed GETTING LEGGIE at Hamilton though it was favourite that day. One beats the other again and that’s the race with EXALTED KANGA leading home back-up horse JAMIESON behind them.
SUGGESTED: Safe start – Weir and DUKE OF BONEO.
Race 2: 4-9-6-11
KAPLUMICH (Weir again) was very good at Seymour debut (albeit at $8) and looms as one to beat in tricky race. TEE TRAIN has been well supported, a $150k Inglis premier yearling who was bet as much as $9.50. MUMBLES resumed with some promise at Terand on heavy ground. A local obviously primed for this. SOCIALISING did enough in a city race (Thrillster) to entertain its chances on home track.
SUGGESTED: KAPLUMICH looks the one but respecting TEE TRAIN money in tricky race.
Race 3: 6-3-4-5
SUMMER GLEN looks the one here. No issue if forecast rain comes, is a heavy track winner, liked first-up win then had tough run Caulfield in strong race. LA FLEURETTE comes through same race as Summer Glen and finished with it, a winner on home track, probably doesn’t want it heavy. RISING HOPE (Weir) is back in winning form). Respecting FLORIDA PEARL fresh.
SUGGESTED: SUMMER GLEN on top or not much between next 4.
Race 4: 3-4-1-14
Now we get serious. Took the $3.4 last night about HANG MAN – bet of the day – on race morning as low as $2.30 in some places. A northern hemisphere bred galloped who won like a group horse in making by 5 lengths at Terang and post-race comments by P Moloney mirrored that. And track was heavy there so no issue what is served up here. THUNDER CLOUD and GOLDEN FLAG – the Weir pair -represent some challenge and THE SLEDGEHAMMER is ready to do something.
SUGGESTED: Get on – HANG MAN.
Race 5: 13-7-17-1
Wide race, BARTHELONA was scratched Tuesday to go here and like him drawn out and back to 1100m. Never runs poorly, ground no issue. HIGHLAND BEAT is well graded and ditto drawn out and handles affected ground. Wary Weir’s pair ARTIE DEE TWO and LABUAN STAR resuming.
SUGGESTED: Keep the HangMan winnings and have a little play BARTHELONA. Better races coming.
Race 6: 17-6-5-9
The other good thing of the day FURRION but that’s easy to say at $1.4, may have to work the parlays with Hang Man into one in R10 to make this work. Looks a group horse in making. Another northern hemisphere bred and trotted up at Ballarat. Has only seen good ground, doubt it would be an issue on soft. Scratched Wednesday for this. Another Weir quinella, APPROVED ANGER was terrific last time out and ready to show something. TRENCHANT is racing well, doubt the inside draw a plus. HE’S THE BOSS won well last start.
SUGGESTED: Going places FURRION.
Race 7: 1-2-5-3
It’s Patrick Payne’s Annual again. Going ZED EM who I thought was mighty and brave in Tuesday’s Brierley. Has to do it at the extended trip here but this is where gallantry survives and think he can do it. Stablemate NO SONG NO SUPPER has been here before and won it in 2016 and terrific last year and Payne has given this a huge flat ground to come back and win again today. MONARCH CHIMES might be a season away but loved the clean jumping in the Brierly. GOLD MEDALS cruised around to win that race, also has to go the extra hard yards here. Great race.
SUGGESTED: ZED EM to become another Bool hero.
Race 8: 13-6-8-12
Good grounding for ARKHAM KNIGHT coming here after 3 runs in, has C Williams and trainer always targets this carnival. Seen a heavy once for a win. Appeal. ARTIE’S SHORE was sound resuming, often runs wells on home track and wide draw a plus, his form ties in with another local SIGA LA VACA which beat it home in 1700m Koroit Cup a few runs back. Might be touch short for THE WILLYBE but reckon he will run well.
SUGGESTED: ARKHAM KNIGHT looks ready to peak.
Race 9: 3-10-1-4
Have to stick with Weiry here. Everyone saw what happened to KIWIA at Caulfield but move on, regroup and bet-up. Seen heavy once for a win and might be the classiest stayer in the race. Stablemate YOGI might be half a run short but only got into game late in Terang Cup (that’s Swacadelic form) and can finish off here 3rd up. MASTER OF ARTS wants the rain to come. BERISHA was beaten by GALLIC CHIEFTAIN at Flemington but give it a serious hope here.
SUGGESTED: Have to stick with KIWIA.
Race 10: 6-9-15-14
Well its race 30 of the carnival. Be rude not to end up on Weir here and FIFTY STARS looks a great way to finish off the carnival and reflect that he will have trained more than a third of the winners – might not be 14 like last year by 4 on day 1, 4 on day 2 and this will be my 5th on top selection for Weir on the final day. Another northern hemisphere bred galloper who went of $5 at The Bool on debut and looked most impressive. Wet? Don’t know. But plenty of confidence in the ability. LAGERFELD has ability, has drawn out, has run favourite all four starts – 3 2nds, including one here on a soft at $1.28. SONGS OF IRELAND resumes, has some hope. DECEMBER is fit, sure to run well.
SUGGESTED: Drinking more beer with Weir here- FIFTY STARS.
QUADDIE: (1)
1-2
1-6-7-8-12-13
3
6
$12 for $100%
QUADDIE (2)
1-2-3-5-6-7
6-12-13
1-2-3-4-10-13
6-9
$108 for 50%