Ascot, WA, April 18, 2009 FIRST LEG 3.14 WA time Maniana Hcp (E&G) 0-86, 1600m Around and around they go, the same moderate lot, with the expectation – for quaddie players – that choosing the winner is a choice between guesswork and the maximum affordable. The guesswork includes: (2) Another Clanger, a frontof-the-field runner easily run down by Euclassy Thing in a similar affair over 1400m on April 4; (3) Kaleido, thereabouts, but generally disappointing this time in; (4) Star Risca, favourite and fifth in the Euclassy Thing affair; (5) Lexicon Gold, scratched from a very winnable race at Bunbury on Thursday for this; and (8) Pete The Profiler, who was third in lesser grade here on Wednesday when he had every chance. We can even find reasons for (9) Zoom Star, who has two wins from 23, but pops into calculation on a second to the smart Famous Roman at Belmont in September. Beware of Another Clanger, who may be favourite but hasn’t won since December 2007. Star Risca last won in June 2008, fourth up, and is fourth up here. Forced to choose, we’d probably go for Lexicon Gold, with the knowledge he hasn’t won for 13 months.
5 – 4,2,3,8 – 9
SECOND LEG 3.50 WA time
THIRD LEG 4.25 WA time
FOURTH LEG 5.05 WA time
V&V Walsh Kentiara Classic (F&M) 1600m
V&V Walsh Grandstand Cup (Listed) 1400m
Fairflow Hcp (0-79) 1000m
Far from moderate this lot, but just as challenging. We admit to something of a love affair with (1) Calico Blue, from her beginnings almost four years ago, when she won her first four at Geraldton with star quality. She’s a mare who seems to love her home turf, and the training routines of her original trainer Rhona MacPhilomey. Since returning to Geraldton and MacPhilomey, after a poor set of runs in Melbourne in the spring, she has looked as good as ever with powerful seconds in strong class. Wide draw won’t affect, as she’s a back runner. Other strong hopes are (2) Russian Playmate, nabbed on the wire by (3) Metro Miss in the Listed Matchmaker (1400m) here on April 4, and (4) Brooklyn’s Rose, a front runner who lasted to beat Calico Blue first up over 1200m on March 21, then faded late when 2 ⇠ len fourth to Metro Miss last time. Draw doesn’t suit. Others with rough hopes (all up in class) are (6) Galldora, a strong finisher with a good draw, and (8) Thundelarra, who won three in a row in low class before an ordinary sixth (0-79) at Pinjarra on April 2, when favourite.
Another small field, with a tight bunch of quality set to fight it out. (1) Scenic Shot returns to Perth after strong performances in the best races in Melbourne, highlighted by a 3 ⇠ len fourth in the Gr1 Futurity (1600m) at Caulfield on Feb 28, followed by a 1 ½ len fifth in the Gr1 Australia Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 9. Has won eight of 19 at Ascot, and the 60kg is about right for him in this company. (2) Megatic resumed from a five-month spell when third to (4) Hadabeclorka in the 1200m Andretti Sprint on April 4. Megatic beat (3) Tarzi on level weights in the Northerly (1400m) here in October. Tarzi is racing in brilliant form, with a win over the unlucky Marasco in the Gr3 Hyperion (1400m) on March 21, then a strong second to Marasco over 1800m on April 4. Switch back to 1400m is no problem for this versatile galloper. Hadabeclorka took his time to break back into the winning list, but did it in style in the Andretti, beating the closing Calico Blue. Big show again. We liked the return to something like his best of (5) Mansion House, second in a 1MWLY last week. Drops 7kg.
There’s speed aplenty in the last, plus the confusion of strong possibilities resuming from long spells, AND the old bogey of a three-in-a-row winner at Kalgoorlie coming to town. (1) Bull Durham has plenty of weight to match his speed. Looked the winner until Snip Esprit came late over this trip last week. Down in grade, up in weight, poor gate. (4) Underline surprised twice at big odds at Ascot over this trip, was placed over 1100m, then was a strong winner over 1000m at Pinjarra on March 9. Racing in great heart. (6) Anecdotal has been placed twice since beating the smart Follow The Road over 1000m at Ascot on Feb 11. (8) Ma Ma Machine failed by a nose against Happy Chante (beaten on Wednesday) over this trip on April 8. (10) Honour Of Denmark has had three soft wins in low grade at Kalgoorlie in the past month. Drawn to get a soft run. Resuming are (2) Bluff Point, (3) Marunouchi (a trial winner over 1000m at Bunbury on April 3) and (5) Werd. Cases can be made for (9) Blizzard Ridge and (11) Classofherown. What a puzzle to finish off. Going wide is the only safe route.
1 – 2,4,3 – 6,8
1,3,4,2 – 5
FIELD
FOCUS ON SECOND LEG
THE PLAYS 50c unit)
(1) Calico Blue has a spectacular record, when trained out of Geraldton by Rhona MacPhilomey, and we reckon she’ll be adding to that in this strong race for fillies and mares. She’s won 10 from 29, with 10 placings, but if you leave out seven poor runs when away from “home”, that’s a record of 10-10-22. She has shown in two powerful runs from a spell that she’s at her very best and, although giving away weight to strong rivals, we’re happy to make her the standout in most of our quaddie shots.
$110
5,4,2,3,8/1/1,3,4,2/FIELD
$165
5,4,2,3,8,9/1/1,3,4,2,5/FIELD
$198
FIELD/1/1,3,4,2/FIELD
$352
5,4,2,3/1,2,4,3/1,3,4,2/FIELD
OUR FAVOURED BET
$198
FIELD/1/1,3,4,2/FIELD