Races

Digby Beacham’s Friday Geraldton Preview

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

RACE 1

This is one of the deeper maidens we have seen at Geraldton this season. Three-year-old filly AUTO SPARK makes the trek after finishing fourth in a five-horse 3YO race at Belmont last month. She displayed good gate speed on that occasion and has the inside barrier to aid her chances  breaking through at start No.4. HOLY SPY found the line nicely last start when beaten by a smartee who we see later in the program. Good gate and Peter Knuckey and Willie Parker are a lethal combination. CIAO BLOOMY is a trial winner and has shown ability previously, as has STAY ASTERN, who had no luck last outing. The query here is 1400m back to 1200m.

Numbers: 12 – 1 – 9 – 2

Suggested Bet – AUTO SPARK WIN

RACE 2

MAJOR MARIO is going well without winning. First-up this time in, he ran third behind subsequent Saturday winner PLEASURE CRUISE and at Northam on the 11th of October, tried his best to match motors with MISS ROCKJOY, running second when well supported in betting. MISS ROCKJOY ran well at Ascot this week. Rolls forward and ready to peak third-up. ROMANTIC RULER ran Wednesday so he is long odds to start here. At the time of writing though, he remains in the field and calculations. HILLSIDE HORACE stomped home fresh and gets headgear, while RANDOM REWARDS just peaked late fresh. MOONEMIA was sound first-up.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 7 – 10

Suggested Bet – MAJOR MARIO WIN

RACE 3

This is a challenging race to assess and is one that will divide opinions. ISOLA BAY stepped cleanly and displayed his customary turn of foot to win a 950m Lark Hill trial when beating RUSTY DREAMS, who will start favourite at Ascot on the weekend. Is a proven fresh horse and boasts three wins from as many 1100m starts. Gets 6kg off BOMBAY STYLE, who was good enough last outing over 1200m. He’s a ripper, but has never won below the six furlongs. BE SEATED didn’t stretch out early when 10th of 13 behind CHIX CHATTER. Am prepared to forgive that, while ARABIAN RICHES perhaps suffered the dreaded second-up syndrome last start when wilting late. His previous form was strong.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 6 – 3

Suggested Be –  ISOLA BAY WIN

RACE 4

On face value, young Zephen Johnston-Porter has a tricky gate to contend with here in regards to the topweight SPEED BUBBLE. However, this looks a race with genuine tempo courtesy of THUNDER PRO and NIPPA WHISKEY, along with CAPE PRIDE and GEORGE GENTLY. SPEED BUBBLE worked home okay over the 1400m third-up and now to 1600m, should be chiming in down the centre of the track. He has been a costly conveyance but us punters are a forgiving lot. COLOUR ME QUICK couldn’t go when the sprint went on, but stuck to his task behind NIPPA WHISKEY, while GEORGE GENTLY and NEEDS TIME must be considered over the mile at this stage of their campaigns.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – SPEED BUBBLE WIN

RACE 5

Each season Geraldton produces a horse the creates an impression early in the season and then goes on with it. Enter THE SLAP. This former Victorian made just about everyone sit up and take notice at his local debut over 1100m, mustering when asked by Beaux Banovic-Edwards and then extending beautifully in the straight despite being very raw. It was emphatic. Awfully hard to beat again, even though the prospect of racing inside horses might represent a challenge. If he puts a hoof wrong, LUCKEE FLORAN will be primed to pounce. Rises 1.5kg for his last-start second in C2 company. JUST GOT PAID and RUSSIAN SNIPER next best.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 4 – 5

Suggested Bet – THE SLAP WIN

RACE 6

MOCHA DREAM was massive fresh when allowed to find his feet and then finding plenty of backsides in the straight for Michael Poy. Clint Johnston-Porter reunites after having piloted him to a Lark Hill trial win last month, beating PLAYHOUSE PATRON, who was a first-up winner and has since run second in a 66+ event in town. Will need a slice of luck in the straight, but if he gets it MOCHA DREAM has the motor to savage the line late. OUQBURRA upstaged his stablemate LUCKEE FLORAN to win impressively fresh and is now in a higher grade of race. He is an improving type however. Gordon Spowart has proven time and time again he can get a horse to sprint well early in their preparations, therefore SKIPPING DIGITS needs to be respected. DEMERITISE is talented on her day.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 3 – 8

Suggested Bet – MOCHA DREAM WIN

RACE 7

ALBERT went to Junction in late August and was beaten half a length by SET THE SCENE, who was then beaten at his next start in Mt Magnet. Conversely, ALBERT has been winning for fun, notching a victory at York and then going back-to-back here at Geraldton for Troy Turner. This is another rise in grade, but winning form is good form they say and if that’s the case, the barrier (6) and weight (57.5kg) are ideal for ALBERT to score again. PATCHWORK has been a great purchase for Willie Parker and connections. Her two runs this time in have been terrific. MYSTIC LOVE went into the blackbook behind ALBERT last start, but the barrier means she’ll be rearward again. WESTOZI is getting close.

Numbers: 6 – 5 – 8 – 1

Suggested Bet – ALBERT WIN

Quaddie (Races 4-7)

1,5,4,6,10

3,1

1,7,3,8

6,5,8,1,4

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