Races

Michael Heaton’s Thursday Geraldton Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

FLAMING RONDA looks hard to beat first up. She resumes off the back of a nice trial win and on debut last preparation ran less than 2L fourth to subsequent Saturday winner My Authoritah at Belmont before a solid third at her next outing. Meryl Hayley saddled up 7 runners last week for an impressive 3 winners and 2 placegetters so her yard is humming. LOONA DAWN wasn’t able to cross the leader at Dongara on Saturday but still stuck on for second and was also good at her previous run. She now backs up off 5 days and looks the danger. SNEAKY SESSION was only fair last start but was good enough in a C1 prior to that. BOUTIQUE SESSION should be kept safe at her first start for Anthony Barton.

Numbers: 6-4-7-5

Suggested Bet – FLAMING RONDA WIN

RACE 2

Tricky race with minimal natural speed engaged. IL BELLO BEALS is a 21-start maiden but he hasn’t been far away in majority of his Geraldton starts and kick through to lead and dictate terms for in-form apprentice Natika Riordan. ENCOSTA DE MONEY was a better run than reads on paper on debut then hit the line nicely when reeling off all the fastest closing sectionals last start. He’ll appreciate the step to 1400m. GANAJI WANGKATHE is a 4YO on debut and liked the way he got home late in his recent trial. LONG WAIT was solid first-up, no trial at 1400m.

Numbers: 1-6-5-7

Suggested Bet – IL BELLO BEALS WIN

RACE 3

SPARKLE CORNER is 40 days between runs but was going very well prior to his freshen up. He’s a multiple winner in this grade at Geraldton (including at 1200m) and can kick through to lead. DEEP DISCRETION has missed the money just twice from 10 starts at Geraldton and has the sharpest turn of foot in the race. She’ll sit in the second half of the field before launching late and the extra 100m suits. CHAMPEZE hasn’t raced for a couple of months but is a consistent type and should enjoy the right run parked just off the speed on the 54kg minimum. UNIVERSAL PLAYBOY is a class dropper but 61.5kg is a real leveller.

Numbers: 2-3-5-1

Suggested Bet – SPARKLE CORNER WIN

RACE 4 

PRINCE RAGNAR always looked mighty hard to beat at Dongara on Saturday and duly saluted when winning by more than 3 lengths with 61kg. He now backs up off 5 days, drops 2.5 and has never missed the money from 8 starts at the Geraldton 1100m. GOLD KEEPER is another highly consistent type and gets a nice map here where he can park just off Prince Ragnar and Luckee Floran in running. THEHORSEMAN resumes off a 2-month freshen and won his first 3 starts at Geraldton in impressive fashion last preparation. GOLD VANCOUVER races first up for new trainer Meryl Hayley and trialled up well enough.

Numbers: 1-4-2-5

Suggested Bet – PRINCE RAGNAR WIN

RACE 5

SOUTHLAND is a progressive type resuming. He’s won 2 from 2 first up and last raced when a neck third to Sparkle Corner (subsequent 3-time Ascot winner in a 58+). He kicks off in a C2 and looks hard to beat. UNDERCOVER SNIPER was a big run first up and is well placed dropping back into a C2 from a much better alley. GOLD LIGHTNING is hard to catch but can roll forward to take luck out of the equation. SALVADO was a good fresh winner for the hot Tony Scally yard but is now 40 days between runs.

Numbers: 1-2-7-8

Suggested Bet – SOUTHLAND WIN

RACE 6

Tricky race. PATCHWORK has drawn awkwardly but has raced in higher grade at her past 28 starts, including multiple 70+ wins. She did her best work late in an unsuitably slowly-run race last start and now steps to 1600m where she’s 2 from 3 at Geraldton. CANTILEVER is on the quick spin out of last Saturday’s Dongara Cup and was a strong winner at the Geraldton mile at his previous outing. He should enjoy the run of the race. KEYTRADE is a 9YO who hasn’t won in nearly 2 years but can roll forward and will find this easier than his first 2 starts back. ALTERO will sit back and charge home late.

Numbers: 5-3-2-7

Suggested Bet – PATCHWORK EACH-WAY

RACE 7

BAYHARA returns to Geraldton after racing in a Saturday Graduation at Ascot last start and was a Geraldton winner 2 starts back off a similar previous-start effort in town. She flies at her home track and has been racing very well all year. KENTUCKY BLUE steps to 2100m for the first time in a couple of years but has been going great guns lately and is on the 5-day back up out of the Dongara Cup. He looks the likely leader. BOMBAY is a 10YO veteran but racing in good form and meets Kentucky Blue 1kg better for finishing along side him on Saturday. HARD QUESTIONS an improver up to a more suitable distance.

Numbers: 2-4-1-5

Suggested Bet – BAYHARA WIN

RACE 8

LEONARDO DA GREY is well placed back into a C2. He charged home in the fastest closing sectionals of a high-rating midweek at Ascot last start and 3 starts back he run a close third in the $100,000 Regional Championship Final at Ascot. He always needs luck with his racing pattern but this is a nice race for him. CATERAN is highly consistent and drops back to 1400m which is the distance his back-to-back wins came at 2 and 3 starts ago. CRAMPIN’ MY STYLE is 7 weeks between runs and has a tough map to overcome but can play a part with some luck in running. MUST BE NICE is another who maps awkwardly but he’ll appreciate the step to 1400m and is a previous track/distance winner.

Numbers: 2-1-6-7

Suggested Bet – LEONARDO DA GREY WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

1,2

2,3,5,7

1,2,3,4,5

1,2,4,6,7

200 combinations

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