Races

Michael Heaton’s Thursday Northam Preview

RACE 1

IN GOOD ORDER finished brilliantly to beat Brave Spirit two starts back then stepped straight to a Saturday race when beaten <3.5L by Zipaway. That’s proven to be a winner-producing race with Autumn Rebel (fifth) and Five Down (sixth) winning at their next starts and he now drops right back in grade to the weakest provincial C1 race you’ll ever see. ROCK DEE JAY hasn’t been far away at his two runs for Bruce Kay and gets a 3.5kg pull on In Good Order. MORTICIA is a Moora winner and a Collie placegetter at her two career outings. BELLA EVE next best.

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – IN GOOD ORDER WIN


RACE 2

DENZOE is a 32-start maiden but she missed the start when stepping up to 1800m last start and ended up finishing off powerfully to run a close second. She beat home Henry Has Spoken who won well at Bunbury on Tuesday and might be edging closer to breaking through. ROMANTIC RULER looked quite one-paced last start and now gets to out to a staying journey. WHAT SHOUT has been hit and miss this prep but either of her efforts two or four starts back would be good enough for this. GUESS WHO’S BACK stepped up 600m last start and was solid.

Numbers: 6 – 1 – 7 – 9

Suggested Bet – DENZOE WIN


RACE 3

MAGIC BELLE has drawn the outside but has shown a lot of speed and should still be able to lead or breeze. She ran second to talented filly Playing Games on debut before going down by less than a length last start and looks better suited by the drop from 1100m to 1000m. HEZANGELIC looked a completely different horse with the blinkers on in his second trial. He trialled up impressively and has drawn well first up. NOVATORIO closed off strongly and was doing her best work through the line but now comes back 100m. WINNING SHUFFLE is another debutant who has shown some ability at trials.

Numbers: 6 – 2 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – MAGIC BELLE


RACE 4

ESPRIT GARCON trialled up stylishly before finishing a close second to subsequent Saturday winner Little Strawberry on debut then ran the highly-regarded Snippy Which to a nose at his next start. He gapped the third-placed horses by a margin on both occasions and resumes first up, no trial here. Nice type. CANNY ROCK was beaten only 1.5L when held up for clear running in Saturday grade last prep and is another who resumes first up, no trial. He maps to enjoy a gun run. BRAVE SHOT has only been fair at his two starts back but now has blinkers going on for the first time and Pike sticks. KING OF FRANCE had no luck three-deep at his return but his form last prep is good enough.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 6 – 5

Suggested Bet – ESPRIT GARCON WIN


RACE 5

KRATESIS trialled up very nicely under a hold at Belmont recently and has drawn beautifully for his return. He ran fifth to Rope Them In, Why Me and Krysanova in Saturday grade on debut last prep before running second to subsequent Saturday winner Ancient Guidance at his next outing his trial suggests he’s come back well. ROCKET STORM stepped up to 1300m a month between runs second up and stuck on okay. She’ll be naturally improved from that effort and can ride the speed for a long way. FINAL TRADE was eye-catching at his only public appearance to date. Missed the start then finished super impressively and is a big watch on debut. MAKES THE CUT has also trialled well ahead of his return but C Parnham jumps off to ride Kratesis.

Numbers: 10 – 11 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – KRATESIS WIN


RACE 6

YONGA LASS bolted in at this track/grade/distance first up before stepping to 1690m in a C5 last start and finishing second to progressive type Desennea. She drops back to 1400m and back into a C3 with blinkers on for the first time here and maps to lob one-out and one-back again. Hard to beat. FRIES WITH THAT won well last start and looks the likely leader again. He meets Who Be Whatee 1.5kg better off for beating him by almost two lengths and the fourth-placed horse that day (Marinsky Ballet) ran very well at Ascot on Tuesday. WHO BE WHATEE should be ready third-up from a spell and with CJP jumping aboard. He might have to roll forward from a sticky gate. CRUISE TO VICTORY didn’t get much room when he needed it last start and was going well prior to that.

Numbers: 5 – 7 – 4 – 6

Suggested Bet – YONGA LASS WIN


RACE 7

UNIVERSAL PLAYBOY’S recent trial was super when going to line under a hold to be beaten narrowly in slick time and with two lengths back to the third-placed horse. He’s raced in higher grade at his past 7 starts and has drawn a good gate to stalk the expected hot tempo. MILITARY POWER is a Northam 1000m specialist (4: 3-1-0). He can be his own worst enemy but has a couple of gear changes and will appreciate getting back to his preferred circuit, especially if he can cross Rock This Town. MIA GUSTO is 5 weeks between runs after winning at Geraldton first up. She’s a previous Saturday winner beating Hang Glider so she’s well suited to this grade. ROCK THIS TOWN returns as a lightly-raced 5YO who has always shown ability.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 5 – 6

Suggested Bet – UNIVERSAL PLAYBOY WIN


Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

1,2,6

8,10,11

5,7

1,4,5,6

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