Races

Michael Heaton’s Monday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

MACHO ARQUERO might have finally found his race at lucky start number 30. His last 3 starts in isolation have all had a lot of merit to them and this looks just about the thinnest race he’s seen. Give him strength. MR FRODO was brave when covering ground in his first start over 2000m last start and whilst he’s on trial at 2200m, he’s drawn soft and is going well. SISTER MARY is on trial at the staying distance but hasn’t been far away lately and should get the run of the race. CROMBIE is a 39-start maiden who is up 700m in distance but he’s been solid at his past couple.

Numbers: 1-3-7-2

Suggested Bet – MACHO ARQUERO WIN

RACE 2

TIGER TANK resumes and has strong formlines through Storm Away and Hurricane Harley last preparation but will likely have to burn the candle at both ends here having drawn 9 of 9 in a race with good speed underneath him. If he can cross or breeze he’ll take beating. SALVE REGINA jumped from 16 of 16, covered ground and was only beaten 4L by My Danny Boy first up. She’ll get a much softer run here and her earlier 2YO form reads up well. WEMBLEY STADIUM is a former Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained Zoustar 3YO who has trialled up well ahead of his WA debut and is a big watch. HARVEY’S WISH debuts off the back of some nice trials where she showed speed.

Numbers: 1-4-2-9

Suggested Bet – TIGER TANK WIN

RACE 3

WHITE HOT is also accepted for Bunbury on Sunday but if she heads to this race she’ll be the one to beat. She potentially has a sticky map to overcome but she was good first up over 1000m and the extra 100m is a big positive. MAURICE’S PRINCESS is also accepted for Bunbury on Sunday and will ride the speed here if she starts. UNGOVERNED is a lightly-raced 5YO who hasn’t raced for over 450 days but showed enough in his first race preparation. DROMORE CASTLE is a 4YO on debut and was a strong recent trial winner over Ungoverned.

Numbers: 8-6-4-5

Suggested Bet – WHITE HOT WIN

RACE 4

BOOKENDS resumed in a fast-run 1200m maiden won by My Danny Boy and this race looks a lot thinner. She ran a nice third after drawing the outside but should get a sweet run from her inside draw here and Pike sticks. YANDY BLUE has the speed to work across from his wide draw and be prominent throughout. OLAF THE SNOWMAN resumes and was eye catching when making big late ground in his runs last preparation. ELEGANT RULER was beaten a long way in her recent trial but her race efforts to date have all been sound.

Numbers: 8-2-3-7

Suggested Bet – BOOKENDS WIN

RACE 5

PREMIUM BOY was heavily backed on debut but has since been scratched from a race and is now 54 days between runs which is a concern but this looks a nice race for him. He could land one-out and one-back and a repeat of his debut effort would see him go close here. WATTO’S WARRIOR resumes and has an awkward map to overcome from his outside draw but his first 2 runs in much stronger races last prep read up well for this. MIND FIELD is also accepted to race at Bunbury on Sunday but contested a far stronger maiden which included Two Time Charlie & Watto’s Mark on debut last preparation. I’M ALL THE FUNK has inferior formlines to some of her rivals but has always shown glimpses.

Numbers: 6-1-8-9

Suggested Bet – PREMIUM BOY WIN

RACE 6

SPECIAL COUNSEL looks a 3YO with plenty of upside. His first 2 starts this preparation were big in defeat then he broke his maiden in style stepping up to a mile last time out and he appears to have the ability to overcome another sticky gate here. DOMINANT FORCE looks the map horse. She should be able to position up a bit closer here and the step to 1600m is in her favour. RELIABLE IMAGE is a long time Class 1 mare but she’s been going better than reads on paper in Kalgoorlie and now gets Lucy Fiore aboard who has won aboard her previously. WHO TOLD KAYLA looks the likely leader again and was solid last start.

Numbers: 1-4-6-8

Suggested Bet – SPECIAL COUNSEL WIN

RACE 7

Wonderful edition of the WA Day Cup. AUTO CRUISE is a serious mare on the rise and she should have a moving line to blend into before letting rip down the middle of the track. She’s won her past 3 on the bounce and looks destined for greater heights. FIRST ENCOUNTER resumed in a 72+, gets 4kg on Major Mario for a half-length defeat and grows a leg on wet tracks. ASTRO WORLD will need a lot to go right from his extreme outside alley but her 2 starts for Team Williams have been super. MAJOR MARIO drops in grade from his last-start win and is another proven on rain-affected surfaces but rises 5kg in weight.

Numbers: 8-5-13-6

Suggested Bet – SPECIAL COUNSEL WIN

RACE 8

ART SESSION trialled like a bomb then set a hot tempo when overdoing it in front first up but still sticking on well enough. The blinkers come off here which will hopefully help him settle better, he drops from a C5 to a C3 and if he can pinch a mid-race breather he’ll be hard to run down. CORNER OFF hit the line really well in a high-rating race won by Lord Shiva last start and she flies on rain-affected tracks. Wetter the better for her. SHE’S CAPITANA has been forced to go back from wide gates at her past couple but can position up a bit closer here for Pike. IN SITU is a lightly-raced 3YO with ability and is a likely improver second-up.

Numbers: 2-4-6-3

Suggested Bet – ART SESSION WIN

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