Kalgoorlie 02/10/2021

Conditions

Rail – True
Track – Soft 5
Forecast – Max 21 degrees, early rain, mostly sunny day

Race 1 – Access Hire Maiden – 1200m – 12:13pm

5 – Green And Shady
9 – Commodore Gal
7 – Queenship
4 – Talk It Up

Comment: Green And Shady comes into this race without a trial, but his only place was first up last preparation (1:0-1-0). He was thought to be good enough by connections to contest the G3 WA Sires, but he looked to have gotten too far back. The wide barrier may get the better of him, but he does have good form surrounding his races. Commodore Gal showed her inexperience at her first race. She didn’t finish that far off the winner. She has a better barrier this time and she should improve off her first run. Queenships showed a good turn of foot three starts ago behind All day Session, but other than that, her form is on the weaker side. She does her best work when she’s in the first few, so from barrier 8, she should be able to attain this position. If she does get back, the step up in distance should suit her. She’s not without her chances in this even race. Talk It Up looks to be in for a better preparation after narrowly going down to Rebelzone on Thursday. From barrier 2, he should easily find the front and give them something to run down. There’s just the question mark over whether he’ll handle the very quick backup.

Suggested bet: Green And Shady, Commodore Gal and Queenship – each way

Race 2 – CD Dodd Scrap Metal Recyclers Handicap – 2100m – 12:52pm

2 – Egg White
3 – Miss Zedel
7 – Regal City
4 – The Cat Ratcher

Comment: Egg White has really come into himself since stepping up in distance, so he looks to be well suited here. Thanks to his run two starts ago, he’s unbeaten at this distance (1:1-0-0). There’s no reason for him to run a bad race here. Miss Zedel hasn’t been performing as well over 2000m, but she has been competing in quality races. This does look weaker on paper and she loves this track. Whether she’s better suited to under 1800m, we’ll find out here. Regal City is hit and miss, but the poor performance can be put down to him getting too far back. He finished second last start in Kalgoorlie and Pike retains the ride. He’s up in distance, but he should go well. The Cat Ratcher has placed fourth at his two starts this preparation. Considering that he’s 10 years old, that’s an impressive feat. The form in those races has been good. He steps up in distance which I do question why given his record (2:0-0-0) and he races at Kalgoorlie for the first time. He could surprise.

Suggested bet: Egg White, Miss Zedel and Regal City – each way

Race 3 – LD Total Handicap – 1760m – 1:32pm

6 – Pretty Friar
4 – Pink And Purple
2 – Cuban Twist
7 – Stratocreed

Comment: Pretty Friar showed a really good turn of foot last start. Thanks to that start, she’s unbeaten at this track/distance (1:1-0-0). As she’s up in class, she drops 3kg off last start’s run and she’s drawn a better barrier. She should run a good race. Pink And Purple had a few excuses last start. She drops down in distance, which looks to suit, especially as she’s won at this track/distance (8:2-1-0). I do wonder whether she has gotten to the end of her preparation but look for her to bounce back here. Cuban Twist didn’t seem to handle the 2100m last start, so dropping back in distance will suit her here. The biggest thing in her favour is that she’s proven at this track/distance (6:2-1-1). Her barrier and weight are on her side too. There’s no reason why she can’t win. Stratocreed is hit and miss but didn’t have a lot of luck last start. While he’s yet to race over 1760m, the step up in distance looks to suit him. There’s not much to complain about with him.

Suggested bet: Pretty Friar, Pink And Purple, Cuban Twist and Stratocreed – each way

Race 4 – Coastal Midwest Transport Westspeed Handicap – 1200m – 2:12pm

2 – Snippy Miss
3 – Trade War
4 – World Ruler
9 – Born Spicy

Comment: Snippy Miss has been performing really well in the city and on paper, this is a weaker race, so she looks to be well suited here. She’s yet to race at Kalgoorlie, but she’s no stranger to this distance (8:2-3-1). Surprisingly, she’s never won on a good track (21:0-8-2), but I’m hoping that can change here. Trade War is first up here after placing third in a trial. He has won first up before (2:1-0-0) and at this distance (4:2-0-0). The good track is in his favour and he’s drawn beautifully in barrier 3. He’s one to watch. World Ruler is coming off a win at this track/distance on a good track, so there’s no doubt that he’ll handle the conditions here. He’s up in class, so isn’t penalised in the weights for the win. We’ll just have to see whether he can handle the class. Born Spicy has been racing since April, but she is still racing consistently in Kalgoorlie. Due to last start. She’s placed at this track/distance (3:0-0-1), though she is probably better suited to 1000-1100m. She is versatile in where she can sit in the run and she prefers a good track, which she’ll get here. She can win without surprising.

Suggested bet: Snippy Miss, Trade War, World Ruler and Born Spicy – each way

Race 5 – Raglan Drilling Handicap – 1400m – 2:52pm

2 – Staralign
5 – Indigo Blue
4 – Phoneme
1 – Majinika

Comment: Staralign is just an ultra-consistent horse. He looks to be continuing his form this preparation, recording a second and win so far. He loves this track/distance (4:3-0-1), has drawn beautifully in barrier 6 and Pike keeps the ride. He does have to carry 60kg, but it is only 0.5kg more than his win last start. Look for him to continue his winning ways here. Indigo Blue didn’t finish that far off Reliable Star first up, which looks like good form to follow. She’s won second up before (2:1-0-0), but her distance record could be better (5:0-0-1). She’s up in class so drops 4kg off last start’s run. She won’t know herself with just 54kg on her back! Phoneme has pretty good form leading into this race. Returning to a good track will be in his favour and he has won at this distance (17:4-0-3). This distance is actually his favourite. It’s hard to fault him. Majinika comes into this race without a trial and hasn’t been seen at the races since May. He was hit and miss last preparation and he races at Kalgoorlie for the first time. Conditions look to suit but I do worry about the 60.5kg he has to carry.

Suggested bet: Staralign, Indigo Blue and Phoneme – each way

Race 6 – Gordon’s Premium Pink Handicap – 1600m – 3:34pm

8 – Little Ses
9 – There’s A Chance
1 – Campese
3 – He’s All Mighty

Comment: Little Ses showed a really good turn of foot at her past two starts. These two starts proved that she’ll be able to overcome the wide barrier here. She’s also unbeaten at this track/distance (1:1-0-0) and adores Kalgoorlie (6:3-0-2). There’s no reason why she should run a bad race. There’s A Chance comes into this race having won two of his past three starts and placing second in the third. From barrier 7, he should be able to settle in the first few which is where he does his best work. He’s also proven at this track/distance (2:1-1-0). He’s a winning chance. Campese brings city form to this race and didn’t finish that far off Reliable Star last start. I thought he was better suited to 1200m, but he has placed over 1600m before (1:0-0-1). He probably would have preferred a soft track (which he’ll now get due to the track downgrade) and I do worry that 60kg may take its toll. However, class could see him winning this. He’s All Mighty has been a bit disappointed at his past two starts at Belmont. His run before that was at Kalgoorlie though and thanks to that run, he’s placed at this track (1:0-1-0). I question whether he’s more a 1200m horse but I guess we’ll find out here.

Suggested bet: Little Ses, There’s A Chance and Campese – each way

Race 7 – Neometals Handicap – 1200m – 4:10pm

8 – Beret
5 – Weaponson
4 – Manhattan Money
9 – Desert Thorn

Comment: Beret narrowly tasted defeat last start. She should take improvement from that run, especially as she has a good second up record (3:1-1-1). She’s also proven at this distance (4:1-1-1) and she drops 3kg off last stats run. She might be looking for a touch further but it’s hard to fault her. Weaponson just hasn’t been himself this preparation and we’re not entirely sure why. He steps up in distance (5:2-2-0) and he’s nearly faultless third up (3:2-1-0). This looks to be a slightly easier race on paper and a senior jockey in Paul jumps back on board. We should see an improved performance here. Manhattan Money had a tonne of excuses last start, but I’m hoping her barrier manners have improved here. She generally goes well in Kalgoorlie and has won at this track/distance before (8:3-1-1). Pike jumps on board for the first time and I suspect she’ll go well. Desert Thorn brings good results from the Broome carnival. He’s yet to place at Kalgoorlie (4:0-0-0), so I do have my reservations about that. He can run on to some extent though and if he can continue his Broome form, he could surprise.

Suggested bet: Beret, Weaponson and Manhattan Money – each way

Race 8 – XXXX Kalgoorlie Cup – 2200m – 4:45pm

9 – Sugar Cain
7 – Red Hot Tip
4 – Bella’s Idol
5 – Living The Dream

Comment: Sugar Cain is coming off a win at Belmont over 2100m. She’s on the one-week backup and races at Kalgoorlie for the first time, but she is no stranger to this distance (14:2-1-3). She’s drawn perfectly in barrier 4 and Pike retains the ride. She’s one to watch. Red Hot Tip improved last start when he stepped up in distance. The 60.5kg may have just gotten the better of him over 2000m though. He drops 6.5kg off that run, which is certainly going to help his chances here. He’s also won at this distance before (4:1-1-0). There’s no reason he can’t win. Bella’s Idol got a taste for Kalgoorlie last start, where he finished second in the Boulder Cup. He looked to have just been beaten by a better horse on the day. That was his only start in Kalgoorlie (1:0-1-0) but he is proven at this distance (9:2-1-3). From barrier 8, he should easily get to the front too and give them something to run down. Living The Dream comes out of the same race as Bella’s Idol and gets 0.5kg on him here. The margin was small but I don’t think this weight alone is enough to make a difference. He’s really come into himself since racing at Kalgoorlie (2:1-0-1) and I can’t see this start being any different.

Suggested bet: Sugar Cain, Red Hot Tip, Bella’s Idol and Living The Dream – each way

Race 9 – Magic Millions Handicap – 1100m – 5:20pm

5 – Rain God
3 – Devine Beast
7 – Jackpot Legend
6 – Tajmali

Comment: Rain God is yet to finish outside of the top three in his career (4:1-2-1). All of his races have been between 1000-1100m and he does his best work on a good track (3:1-2-0), so those conditions look to suit him here. My only concern is that the form surrounding his races could have been a little bit stronger. Devine Beast has always been the bridesmaid lately, but I particularly like last start’s form behind Come Magic. She’s also won at this track/distance (3:1-2-0) and she can run on to some extent. It was incredibly hard to split my top two tips. Jackpot Legend comes over from Melbourne and races in WA for the first time. He hasn’t trialled leading into this race, so it’s a bit hard to tell where he’s at. His career statistics are pretty good (3:1-0-1) and that win and third were at this distance (2:1-0-1) and on a good track (2:1-0-1). He could be one to watch going forward. Tajmali did race at Kalgoorlie on Thursday, where she got third, so she is on the very quick backup here. From barrier 3, she should easily be able to settle in the first few and she’s proven at this track/distance (8:2-1-2). Poor horse gets her 6th jockey in as many starts, but the good news is that she ran well for most of them.

Suggested bet: Rain God, Devine Beast and Jackpot Legend – each way

Best Bet

Race 5 – Staralign

Quaddie

R6: 1, 9 10
R7: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
R8: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9
R9: 3, 5, 7

Confidence rating

My confidence is absolutely shot today. I’m not familiar with Kalgoorlie’s form or how the track plays and now the track has been downgraded to a soft 5. Throw in the even races and it’s a tipping nightmare. Basically, the only race I am confident about is my best bet in race 5 with Staralign.

Last Week’s Results

R2-boxed first 4
R6-exacta
Winners in top 4: 6/9
Top picks: 2nd, 1st, 2nd, -, 2nd, 1st, -, -, –
Best bet: –
Quaddie: no
Profit: -7.86 ($1ew on top tips & $2ew on bb)