Races

Michael Heaton’s Thursday Bunbury Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

BEYOND A DOUBT looks hard to beat. He trialled up very nicely then drew the outside first up and went back before being put into the race and reeling off sharp late sectionals to run second to Chixfromthestix in a high-rating 1000m. He now gets an extra 100m, a perfect draw and the benefit of race experience over 6 debutants. ASH WARRIOR has drawn sticky on debut but she appeared to trial the best of the debutants and the Michael Lane-Chris Parnham combination must be respected. SIGN OF THE TIMES is the half-brother to star stablemate Rope Them In and looks big and raw but with good natural ability. MERIVALE LOUVAIN trialled up very well on a wet track at Lark Hill which suits here first up.

Numbers: 1-5-2-8

Suggested Bet – BEYOND A DOUBT WIN

RACE 2

DANCE ON SON resumes off the back of a nice trial win and last preparation ran second on debut to Galway Shawl (won 3 of her next 4) at this track/distance. He should get the run of the race and be hard to hold out late. BAMBINO CHINO trialled up very nicely when being one of only 2 horses (the other was first-up winner Brazen Butcher) to break 01:00:00 out of the 10 1000m heats at Belmont trials on May 25. She’s also run second at this track/distance previously. SPARTAN LASS showed good early toe to cross them and nearly pinch it at her last start but she’s unlikely to find the front here and rises 2kg. AMERICAN IMAGE is on debut after finishing second to Dance On Son in a nice recent trial.

Numbers: 1-4-5-9

Suggested Bet – DANCE ON SON WIN

RACE 3

FOXY RASCAL is a 13-start maiden who jumped $21 last start but it was a big run in review. He rocketed home in all the fastest closing sectionals to make big late ground over 1400m, now steps up to a 1675m from a better draw, gets the addition of winkers for the first time and the Pontiff sticks. This is winnable. LORD MOMO was good first up and second up then had to cover ground when starting hard in the market last start. He gets a much better run here and should be thereabouts. WHO’S TALKING will likely get back a long way but will be doing his best work late. THE LITHGOW FLASH comes from the same race as Foxy Rascal when on debut and was similarly a better run than reads on paper.

Numbers: 1-5-3-11

Suggested Bet – FOXY RASCAL EACH-WAY

RACE 4

NICE SORT has drawn awkwardly but has the tactical speed to be able to roll forward and whilst this is a capacity field, it looks the weakest opposition she’s faced in her career to date. She was a solid run first up when fourth to Brave Wasp/Spartan Lass/White Hot and with any natural improvement she can be in the finish. COMMON TOUCH has a sticky map to overcome at a distance short of his best but he trialled up nicely and ran some big races without much luck last campaign. QUEEN’S FIRST debuts after 8 lifetime trials and finished alongside last week’s quinella in Market Snitz/Younami in her most recent. She can ride the speed. PEANUT BUTTER was only fair last preparation but has trialled well on 2 separate occasions leading into this.

Numbers: 7-1-13-2

Suggested Bet – NICE SORT WIN

RACE 5

MYSTIC CHAOS looks ready to break through third-up. She’s reeled off strong late sectionals at her first 2 starts back and now backs up off 7 days from a perfect draw which should allow her to land in a nice spot and with a field position advantage on some of her main dangers. VEXATIOUS resumes and has placed at 7 of her 9 starts to date. She’ll be back in the second half of the field but will be doing her best work late. Debutant ENCHANTED HOUR similarly looks set to get a fair way back from the outside draw and the 1400m looks a suitable kick-off distance for her. KENTUCKY DRIVE is getting closer.

Numbers: 12-10-14-9

Suggested Bet – MYSTIC CHAOS WIN

RACE 6

UXORIOUS was a big run on debut when rocketing home in the fastest closing sectionals of the day on an on-speed day at Northam then worked his way to the top from barrier 16 of 16 second up and bolted in. He looks a progressive type, clearly has tactical versatility and Jason Miller’s yard is absolutely humming. SO MUCH SERENITY is 39 days between runs which isn’t ideal but she can bounce to the front from her good draw and give them something to catch. MYSTERIOUS FORTUNE hit the line powerfully to finish a narrow second to I’m Odette (races again at Belmont on Wednesday) last start and the extra 100m here suits. ALL LACED UP looks a filly with some upside.

Numbers: 2-7-1-4

Suggested Bet – UXORIOUS WIN

RACE 7

Great race. DE GRANDHOMME is going to need some luck and a good ride from apprentice Bailey Webster from his awkward draw but he’s beautifully placed back into  C5 with 57kg after racing in Saturday grade at his past 5 starts. First up he hit the line nicely to finish fifth in a 66+ which contained 4 subsequent winners (Xentaro, Atlantic Spirit, Charino and Empress Of India) and he now steps to 1200m (won 3 from 6) second up (won 2 from 3) at Bunbury (won 1 from 1). SHOWLAS placed at each of her 9 starts prior to last start and her recent mid-prep trial when deliberately ridden cold was super. Change of tactics? SALTY MISS is a last-start Saturday Graduation winner resuming off the back of 2 quiet but nice trials. PLAYING QUEST is going well and loves Bunbury.

Numbers: 2-6-8-9

Suggested Bet – DE GRANDHOMME EACH-WAY

Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2,7,13

10,12,14

1,2,7

1,2,3,6,8,9

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