Kalgoorlie 05/10/2019

*Note: I don’t normally tip Kalgoorlie races, so I’m not as familiar with the horses and their form here as I am in the city

Conditions

Rail – True
Track – Good 3
Forecast – Max 24, partly cloudy

Race 1 – McDonald’s Maiden – 1300m – 12:12pm

Jag the Joker trialled second behind Validation, who I had a high opinion of last start. Haha I like the name Magic Will Reign but besides that, he has Pike on board and has trialled ok. Annihilator’s previous runs last preparation were not bad at Ascot. His trials could have been better, but he seems to have come back ok. First Strike is a bit of a hit and miss horse, but her run three starts ago over 1200 was good and she might appreciate the extra 100m.
7 – Jag the Joker
8 – Magic Will Reign
3 – Annihilator
2 – First Strike

Race 2 – Yarradale Stud Handicap – 1200m – 12:52pm

Cryptic Love’s performances have been pretty consistent this preparation and she showed a nice turn of foot four starts ago. Kiss the Breeze had clearly had enough last preparation, but she was racing well before that, plus her trials have been good too. Sammy the Boss did quite well against some good horses in the city, but I think he’ll appreciate coming back to Kalgoorlie. Badge of Courage has been racing well. He obviously didn’t handle the Coolgardie track two starts ago but he does do well in Kalgoorlie and is down in class here.
4 – Cryptic Love
3 – Kiss the Breeze
7 – Sammy the Boss
1 – Badge of Courage

Race 3 – Coastal Midwest Handicap – 1100m – 1:32pm

Night Voyage is a horse that surprised everyone three starts ago and I think he can do it again here despite being up in class. Senorita Bonita clearly doesn’t like Belmont, so she should appreciate being back here. Mervyn will definitely like the drier track here compared to the city. Desert Thorn is a winner of two in a row at Broome, including the Broome Sprint, but I’m not sure how that form translates here.
1 – Night Voyage
4 – Senorita Bonita
2 – Mervyn
6 – Desert Thorn

Race 4 – Magic Millions Westspeed Platinum Handicap – 1200m – 2:12pm

Watto’s Fury clearly has the form placing in the top 3 in his past 5 starts (5:1-3-1), however, he’s on a 2-day backup which is a major concern for me. Nemiroff is a winner last start and if they’re running on from the front, he’s one to watch. Arnie’s Boy has the city form but drops back in distance here. Smart Fox would have preferred a soft track, but he has been racing well.
6 – Watto’s Fury
2 – Nemiroff
3 – Arnie’s Boy
1 – Smart Fox

Race 5 – Coates Handicap – 1100m – 2:52pm

War Secrets is a winner of his past two starts and gets in very well in the weights. Tajmali is the horse I originally had on top as he’s been racing well in Kalgoorlie and combined with good city form, he could be winning, but War Secrets gets a massive weight swing despite beating him last start. Excaro was building a picket fence till he ran 4th last start, can bounce back here and is an obvious threat. There’s no Bells Tower for Another Demon to run second to here and he seems to be back after a good trial.
1 – War Secrets
7 – Tajmali
2 – Excaro
1 – Another Demon

Race 6 – LD Total Handicap – 1400m – 3:30pm

I loved Regal Counsel in the city, and I love him again here. He was unlucky last start and should appreciate the drop down in distance. Can He Rule Her has been racing well, though I would have preferred him over 1200m. Miracle Man should appreciate the return to a good track and is down in class. Sense of Power hasn’t been racing well in the city, so the scenic change might do her good.
2 – Regal Counsel
5 – Can He Rule Her
1 – Miracle Man
3 – Sense of Power

Race 7 – Suez Handicap – 1400m – 4:10pm

Paradise Square ran well last start behind Pym’s Royale and as long as he doesn’t get too far back he should go well. Mauldens Mill beat Regal Counsel, who I hold in high regard, five starts ago with a very impressive turn of foot and he’ll definitely appreciate the drop back in distance. Smarty is a horse who has quite good form and could win here. On The Turps was racing well in the city.
2 – Paradise Square
7 – Mauldens Mill
9 – Smarty
8 – On The Turps

Race 8 – Iron Jack Kalgoorlie Cup – 2200m – 4:45pm

Spiritual Warrior was a winner at his previous 3 starts in the city and he should find a nice spot from barrier 2. Ihtsahymn won the Darwin Cup and a trial leading into this race, plus winning a race three starts ago carrying 66kg, so this weight is no problem here. Touch of Silver run third in the Boulder Cup and he has been racing well prior to that, including races at Belmont. Booma Lacka has been racing consistently 3rd but does step up in distance here.
10 – Spiritual Warrior
1 – Ihtsahymn
2 – Touch of Silver
6 – Booma Lacka

Race 9 – Neometals Handicap – 1760m – 5:20pm

Scintillating has shown a nice turn of foot in his previous races and did win last start. Stoicism is second up here, so he should be fitter coming off a third last start. Decoy Noxious drops back in distance here and came into this preparation without a trial, so he could have been needing the run last start. Stairwaytothemoon has been racing ok.
7 – Scintillating
3 – Stoicism
1 – Decoy Noxious
5 – Stairwaytothemoon

Best Bet

Race 6 – Regal Counsel

Confidence rating

It’s actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be, given that I don’t know the Kalgoorlie form and that these races are fairly evenly matched. I’ve gone for a bit of value in some races and race 5 is my biggest worry.