Races

Michael Heaton’s Wednesday Geraldton Preview

RACE 1

Hard to go past Celebrity Angel. Ran second on debut, was gunned down in the shadows of the post by True Fiction (third to Heeza Phoenix on Saturday) second up and now strikes a much easier assignment with only 51kg. GINGERIFFIC finished nearly 5L off her stablemate last start but was solid at her previous run and maps sweetly. SHE’SATROOPER made good late ground at her 2 runs last prep but may need further to produce her best. CHINESE DENTIST has shown glimpses and now has his first start for Graeme Hammarquist.

Numbers: 9-10-6-2

Suggested Bet – CELEBRITY ANGEL WIN


RACE 2

MUST BE NICE was one of the more eye-catching trials you’ll see leading into his race debut. Was slow out first up but motored late to finish only 3L off Heeza Phoenix (subsequent dominant Saturday winner) and whilst his negative racing pattern could make him a hard horse to catch, the step to 1400m in an easier assignment here looks suitable. CANTILEVER is a former Peters Investments galloper who is a bit of a one-paced type but brings nice formlines and will have admirers. FLAMING RONDA has been around the mark lately and has options from her draw. DESERT MADAME was unlucky first up and should be an improver on-speed.

Numbers: 5-2-7-6

Suggested Bet – MUST BE NICE WIN


RACE 3

PAT’S LAST BANG looks suited dropping back to this grade after contesting stronger races at her last couple of outings. She was a dominant winner 3 starts back when crossing Talk To Wyn to lead all the way and has the luxury of meeting him on the same weight terms here. GAV HAS SPOKEN can be forgiven for her last-start flop on a heavy-8 and is undefeated from 2 starts at Geraldton. She was a good run first up and just needs some luck from the gate. TALK TO WIN didn’t run out the mile last start and looks better placed dropping back to 1400m. It looks hard for him to turn the tables on the 3L beaten margin from Pat’s Last Bang at their last encounter but he’s going okay. TIGER LINE hasn’t fired a shot for a while and joins a new home.

Numbers: 5-4-2-1

Suggested Bet – PAT’S LAST BANG WIN


RACE 4

TWELVEUNDER resumes and showed enough last prep as a 3YO to suggest she could have a fruitful Geraldton campaign his time in. Produced decent figures at her first two Geraldton starts and looks the one and only leader in this race. HEWILLDOUS might get a long way back but should be steaming home late. He made ground in his recent trial and most of his runs last prep had a lot of merit. KIMBERLEY CURRENCY drops back from a Saturday Graduation to a Geraldton C1 but doesn’t win out of turn and doesn’t seem to run 1200m? SHASHENO is a lightly-raced 4YO who was around the mark last prep.

Numbers: 6-1-4-5

Suggested Bet – TWELVEUNDER WIN


RACE 5

Tough race with 6 of the 9 runners coming off last-start dirt runs. NEVER SOBER would prefer this to be a mile but he showed a return to form last start and is a former 2-time Saturday Graduation winner who has dropped at least 10 rating points from his peak. He finds a race with minimal speed here and could give some cheek if he’s able to find the front. DIVINE INANNA is a hard mare to catch but hasn’t had any luck at her first 2 runs back. She’s usually a consistent type and maps favourably with a senior aboard as opposed to the other main fancies who have apprentices. GOLD SPY was impressive in Carnarvon but arrived in WA as a 12-start maiden and now has his first WA grass run in a 58+ so it’ll be interesting to see how he measures up. PULL THE TRIGGER profiles well but can be a tricky horse to ride.

Numbers: 7-4-2-5

Suggested Bet – NEVER SOBER EACH-WAY


RACE 6

SNIPPY WHICH had a disappointing prep last prep but has trialled nicely this time in. Didn’t have blinkers on in either but hit the line well under his own steam and he’s proven himself effective at Geraldton previously. UNDER INFLUENCE is coming off a poor run but is nicely placed back into this grade and a repeat of any of his previous 3 efforts would see him hard to hold out. ONEMORETWOMANY has his first start for the new yard and has the right profile to be a top Geraldton horse but hasn’t won since his 2YO season. PATCHWORK has won 3 from 4 first up, including this exact track/grade/distance off the same day spacing at the opening meeting last year.

Numbers: 3-5-2-7

Suggested Bet – SNIPPY WHICH WIN


RACE 7

Tricky race with 9 of the 10 runners first up and 7 without trialling. LUCKEE FLORAN turned beast mode when the blinkers went on last prep and won the last 3 starts of his prep in style. 2 of those wins were in this grade and the last was also at this distance with only a half-kilo less. MASTER ALEX trialled up nicely without visors on and finished less than a half-length off Sure No Something first up in this grade at Geraldton last prep. SOUTHERN SCANDAL resumes after 2 dominant Carnarvon wins last prep and hasn’t done much wrong since joining Team Hammarquist. THE HORSEMAN is a former Ascot 66+ winner but hasn’t fired a shot in a long while and is now first up off 10 months with 62kg.

Numbers: 2-6-3-1

Suggested Bet – LUCKEE FLORAN WIN


Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,6

1,2,4,5,7

2,3,4,5,7

1,2,3,6

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