Ascot, WA, January 24 2009 FIRST LEG 3.30 WA time
SECOND LEG 4.07 WA time
THIRD LEG 4.43 WA time
FOURTH LEG 5.20 WA time
Australia Day Stakes, 1200m
Doug Chatfield Hcp, 3YO, 1600m
Bio-John Hcp, (0-86), 1400m
www.perthracing.com.au Hcp (0-79), 1200m
A beautiful prospect – the first pairing of two local fliers, the proven star (1) Danny Beau, vs the up-andcomer facing his toughest battle, (4) Dante’s Volonte – seems unlikely with Danny Beau doubtful, with a hoof ailment. So, in Friday preview mode, we must include each as top chances, but if, as seems likely, Danny Beau falls away, then Dante’s Volonte looks untouchable. Dante's Volonte has five straight wins this preparation, including the Ascot 1100m track record at his last start on Jan 10. (2) Keytomoney has some claims, with a likely soft run behind Dante’s Volonte, but he comes off an inexplicable fizzy fourth ($1.70) in the Mungrup Stud Stakes (1300m) at Mt Barker last Sunday, a race that looked made for him. He was always under pressure in the second rung behind the lead, and just held his place to the line. We don’t rate any of the others in the class of these two – in fact, if Danny Beau is not running, we can’t see Dante’s Volonte being beaten. Conservatives will include Keytomoney, and good luck to them
The easy choice is the topweight (1) Kim Coin, who landed good bets when an all-the-way winner over 1500m at Ascot on Jan 10. In that race, and going around here, are (4) Kaiser Crown, (7) Karriwood, (8) Port Johnson and (9) Sweet Dane. From that formline we can only include Port Johnson, who came from well back and was impeded when fifth, and Sweet Dane, who was wide from the 800m when a battling fourth. Kim Coin, still looks more likely, particularly from the inside gate. The one we like is the strong finisher (3) Shajezar, who came off consecutive wins (1300m, 1200m) at Pinjarra with a 1¾-length fourth to Admiring over 1400m here last week. We rate that as a strong form race, and we’re inclined to put Shajezar up top. (2) Late Night Flight followed seconds at Ascot to Sheenasaidgrey (Dec 17) and Flying Falcon (Dec 20) with a tiring fourth to Videro (1400m) here on Jan 17. He had the perfect run behind the leader, dashed clear, then folded to finish 2¾ lens from the winner. Will have a gun run again. If anything else wins, we’re dead.
There are four top chances in this – (10) Search Me, a 3YO filly against a mob ranging in age from 4 to 10, (3) Oscar Wildly, (9) Proud Falcon, (8) Friartruck, with a gap to (2) Beyond Dispute (the 10YO), and (4) Dante’s Banquet, a stayer resuming. Search Me was outstanding, coming from the rear with a cracking run, when beating Fremantle (1200m) here first up on Dec 27, then started 6/4 when she led – surprisingly – with 56kg, when a tiring fourth to the 2 nd starter Magic Eight over 1200m here on Jan 10. She’ll appreciate the weight drop, and we expect her to be ridden midfield this time. Friartruck surprised first up when he nosed out Last Frontier and a wall of others (1200m, Ascot, Jan 10), Proud Falcon was no more than a neck behind when third in that race, and keeps pushing without winning. Oscar Wildly was cut down by Proart (since won) over 1400m here on Jan 10. Dante’s Banquet, back from a back injury, won a 950m trial at Belmont on Jan 12. Beyond Dispute is racing strongly, forgetting his age. (5) Kaleido, has won 5-14 at the track, but is 0-5 first up.
We can see seven runners with great chances and a couple of others that would not surprise. Our magnificent seven are (2) Feint, (3) Watsons Bay, (4) Galldora, (5) China Bay, (6) Coronate, (7) Found And Kept, and (14) Steel The Empire. Others that pessimists must include are (8) Last Frontier, and (9) Artillery Prince. Phew! The best of the lot, for us, is Galldora, who came with a flashing run to beat Steel The Empire, who had the lead at the 100m, over 1200m at Ascot on Jan 14. This is a class rise, but that was impressive. Feint improved markedly to win here last week, but his record is now almost 50-50, with 5 wins from 12. Coronate, first up since October, hasn’t won since July, but his past two runs were impressive over 1000m, and he has a first-up record of a win and a second from three. China Bay was impressive winning first up, then was in a blanket finish for 5th to Friartruck over 1200m here on Jan 10. Found And Kept was a neck closer in fourth place in that race. Watsons Bay can surprise, although it would be a surprise. Last Frontier shot away and was KO’d on the line when second to Friartruck. Artillery Prince has Geraldton form, which we don’t like in town.
1 (doubtful), 4 – 2
3 – 1 – 9, 8, 2
10,3,9,8 – 2,4 – 5
4,5,6,7,14,3,2 – 8,9
FOCUS ON FIRST LEG
THE PLAYS (50c unit) – assumes Danny Beau out
With (1) Danny Beau, unlikely we can’t see (4) Dante’s Volonte being tossed in what will become a five-horse field. Sometimes strange things happen in small fields, but we can’t see any of the candidates challenging Dante’s Volonte for the front, which will see him – at best – running at $1.50. The only “roughie” to challenge the favourite is (2) Keytomoney, but we would only include him because occasionally the obvious falls over.
$28
4/3,1/10,3,9,8/4,5,6,7,14,3,2
$42
4/3,1/10,3,9,8,2,4/4,5,6,7,14,3,2
$126
4/3,1,9,2/10,3,9,8,2,4,5/4,5,6,7,14,3,2,8,9
$196
4/3,1,9,2/10,3,9,8,2,4,5/FIELD
$392
4,2/3,1,9,2/10,3,9,8,2,4,5/FIELD
OUR FAVOURED BET
$196
4/3,1,9,2/10,3,9,8,2,4,5/FIELD