Races

Digby Beacham’s Saturday Collie Preview

RACE 1

DARK CITY showed excellent speed to lead throughout on Moora Cup day over 1000m. The old boy now needs to stretch out an extra 200m and meets runner-up CRYSTAL VAIN 3.5kg worse after Aaron Pateman elected to engage Zephen Johnston-Porter. But DARK city is your likely leader and historically, that has been a good recipe at Collie. CRYSTAL VAIN most definitely has claims, likewise WESTERN IMPACT, who finished seventh in a Lark Hill trial behind KESHI BOOM, but wasn’t beaten out of sight. TOMMY TO JACK likes racing here.

Numbers: 2 – 3 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – DARK CITY WIN


RACE 2

TINY ‘N’ TUFF is a well-travelled mare and one that is suited in this grade. Carries only 55kg in a race which isn’t as strong as some she has contested of late. Has been beaten three lengths or less in her past four starts. Is actually going well enough to win. SHY BOY has blinkers fitted and two starts ago ran second behind the in-form ALBERT at York. MORTICIA comes here off a maiden win at Moora, with KENDEL’S STORM running in behind TINY ‘N’ TUFF at York last start.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – TINY ‘N’ TUFF WIN


RACE 3

DARE ME hasn’t trialled so we are taking on trust. Go back to January this year and this mare beat SIZZLE ME PATRICK in a 950m Lark Hill trial and then went to Geraldton fresh and ran third behind MOCHA DREAM. If Colin Haddon has her anywhere near her top, she’s the testing material. Market will be a great guide. INCANDESCENT LADY led them up at Ascot last week and ran seventh, beaten less than four lengths. BIRCHMONT trialled well and two starts ago, BAD BOY BU ran fourth at Northam to TYCOON HARRY at big odds.

Numbers: 8 – 7 – 4 – 3

Suggested Bet – DARE ME WIN


RACE 4

IT’S A LOVE STORY is now prepared by Adam Durrant and will be popular from a good gate and the 2kg claim of Zephen Johnston-Porter enabling him to get into this race on the minimum. However, am thinking HOT RHUMBA’S seventh behind SHOOTING SPIRIT at Ascot over 1200m last week is solid enough. Prior to that, wasn’t disgraced behind the in-form MALKAR PINDARI. MY GUARDIAN ANGEL and BORN TO BE LUCKY bring fair maiden form.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – HOT RHUMBA WIN


RACE 5

HOIST THE COLOURS is going to be immensely popular. Drops out of a 66+ 1800m race where he did finish last of eight. However, he had won two on the bounce leading into that and was a $10 chance at his most recent outing. Will roll forward and is rock-hard fit. ALKALINE’S ninth behind DIAMOND SCENE promises to be a good form reference. It was a better run than it looked and he strips fitter second-up. FINAL PLAN was doing his best work late to win at Moora earlier this month. MULTINOVA MAN next best.

Numbers: 1 – 6 – 9 – 3

Suggested Bet – HOIST THE COLOURS WIN


RACE 6

Ray Malpass looks to hold the key to the final event on Cup day. THE WITCH DOCTOR found the line well enough recently at Moora in 64+ company. Rises 3kg here, but also steps out to a more suitable 1400m. Stablemate DIVINE WIND is racing nicely, yet he hasn’t won for more than a year. MONEY FOR OLD ROPE gets blinkers after a below-par effort at York and GINGER SENORITA has the FINAL PLAN formlines.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 8

Suggested Bet – THE WITCH DOCTOR WIN


Quaddie (Races 3-6)

8,7,4,3

6,3,9

1,6,9

4,1,2

Market Market