Races

Michael Heaton’s Tuesday Bunbury Preview

RACE 1

BRAVE SPIRIT looks extremely hard to beat. He finished 1.5L third to the talented Zipaway on a Saturday last start, with Five Down (subsequent Ascot winner last Wednesday) back in sixth. Steve Wolfe’s yard is humming and the Pontiff is the Pontiff. LET SPARKS FLY made a sustained run from the 600m when second at the second track/grade/distance last start. She’s getting closer to a win. SKYTALKER appears to have good ability but is still green and raw. The step to 1400m second up looks in his favour. OMERTA GRACE next best on debut.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 2 – 6

Suggested Bet – BRAVE SPIRIT WIN


RACE 2

COVENTRY REEF was a sharp improver second up when stepping from 1300m to 1690m and making a sustained run from the 600m to run second. He finished off strongly and looks primed with that run now under his belt and a significant draw advantage on KILARNEY who may have to settle a long way back. KILARNEY has placed at 3 of his 4 career starts and hit the line better than anything at his two runs back this prep. His outside draw is the major concern as he may have to come from last seeing he doesn’t appear to possess any early speed. FLASH PADDY is yet to run a bad race from 4 starts and ran all the fastest closing sectionals when charging home first up. He shouldn’t be a maiden for long. HENRY HAS SPOKEN can ride the speed and have a significant field position advantage on the main dangers.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 5 – 8

Suggested Bet – COVENTRY REEF WIN


RACE 3

ZING TO WIN trialled up super when not fully extended and finishing a half-length third to subsequent first-up winners Scorpion Ruler and Weeraechoux in good time at Lark Hill before racing no better than four-deep the trip first up. He’s always shown ability at the trials and has a perfect draw in gate two in what appears a fairly thin race. SUPER SNIPPY made late ground against a slow tempo first up and now drops 2kg with Brayden Gaerth jumping on. Brayden rode him to second placings at three of his previous four starts. Debutant ONE ABOVE ALL covered ground in his recent trial and still went to the line nicely when third to first-up winner Amarlie Miss. Some of NITRONIC’S runs have been better than his unplaced record suggests and his recent trial was sound enough.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 8 – 4

Suggested Bet – ZING TO WIN WIN


RACE 4

SPEAK TO ME charged through the bridle first up over 1410m when leading at a strong tempo but he stuck on gamely to be beaten less than a length. The blinkers come off second up and with natural improvement and not a huge amount of speed drawn to his inside he should be able to slide across from his wide draw to settle on the pace again and be there for a long way. MANGANUI trialled up stylishly before simply never seeing daylight first up. He got stopped in his tracks multiple times in the straight but was travelling well enough to be right in the finish and now Paul Harvey jumps aboard. AUTHORATIVE made late ground in Speak To Me’s race on return but is likely to have to settle a long way back from a tough draw. CIAO BLOOMY next best.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 3 – 10

Suggested Bet – SPEAK TO ME WIN


RACE 5 

I LOVE YOUR SMILE is a nice type resuming. She was a booming winner first and second up last prep over 1600m and 1700m before going on to contest the winter 3YO feature race series. Have loved her two recent trials when well held and not asked for an effort over an unsuitable 950m and she kicks off in a modest C3. SEE YA CHAMP was a big run two starts ago when three-deep the trip on a hot speed and sticking on for third then went back to last from her wide draw last start and reeled off the fastest late splits in an eye-catching finish. ARCADIA STAR was good first up at Geraldton when beaten a nose by the in-form Patchwork but was poor second up. BOBSLED ran a cheeky race fresh at $51 and looks the likely leader but is 1 from 31.

Numbers: 3 – 8 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – I LOVE YOUR SMILE WIN


RACE 6

MANHATTAN STRIP finished in the placings at 6 of his 8 starts last prep and showed enough progressiveness to suggest he could come back a handy type as a 4YO. Whilst it was run in slow time, he trucked through the line when third to Captain Pluto and San Fibrizio in his recent trial and should be able to park up midfield-with-cover. DREAM EVIL went around at $18 first up, no trial at Ascot but crossed the field from barrier 13 and won well. He’s a first-up specialist (won 3 from 5) but was quite consistent last campaign and should lead again. MANAVENDRA is short of his best distance but charged to lead by a space in his recent trial and stuck on well to finish second in the fastest heat of the day (about 9L faster than Manhattan Strip’s trial). He races best with the sting out of the ground but has clearly come back well. JELLY CAN RUN is another consistent type resuming and will be doing his best work late.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – MANHATTAN STRIP EACH-WAY


RACE 7

SIMPLY ROSSO raced against some handy types in maiden and C3 company last prep (including now-Saturday winners Pompey, Laquetta’s Gift and Little Strawberry) and has always shown promise. He kicks off his prep in a C1 and looks the likely leader who will take running down. AFTER PARTY should also find this easier after trialling up well before drawing barrier 12 first up and making a solid enough return when fourth to Dream Evil and Dance Boss in an Ascot C3. ANGEL’S MY NAME is a 13-start C1 but ran some nice races at the end of her last campaign and this isn’t a deep field. LADY CABERNET an improver second up.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 10 – 7

Suggested Bet – SIMPLY ROSSO WIN


Quaddie (Race 4 – 7)

2,4

3,8

1,2,3,4,7

3,4,10

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