RACE 1 OWNERS ONLY MAIDEN 1:24 PM (2038M)

TECHNICAL LIMIT is being stretched out beyond the mile for the first time and really gets his chance to break through for a maiden victory. The consistent four-year-old has been in the market at each of his four runs this campaign, notching up three top-three finishes, but this doesn’t appear to be at strong as what he’s been facing. They won’t be breaking any records in this small field and the likely slow tempo means this won’t be a testing 2038-metre assignment, so TECHNICAL LIMIT shouldn’t have any issues running it out and this really looks his race to lose. PERCY KIWA hit the line hard second up at York two back, before getting caught out of position at Narrogin last time and working home well enough late. Gives the impression he’ll appreciate this middle-distance and he should be able to land in a more prominent position in running. PERCY KIWA is the main danger. AL DI LA is a tough bugger, with this already being his 14th start as a spring three-year-old, and the blinkers have been added following a competitive effort over a similar journey here last Thursday. Lookout for him racing on pace and sticking on well late, while likely leader FREQUENTER tries hard and hasn’t been far away in similar Bunbury maidens in recent times.

Tips: 1-2-3-6
Suggested: (1) TECHNICAL LIMIT to win.

1. TECHNICAL LIMIT
2. PERCY KIWA
3. AL DI LA
6. FREQUENTER

RACE 2 BLACKERS FOR BREAKFAST MAIDEN 1:59 PM (1016M)

Interesting two-year-old maiden here and we’re leading towards ALL THAT SIZZLE. The Neville Parnham-prepared juvenile was in the market ($5) at her Ascot debut and after racing outside FIRE AND RAIN in transit, hit the front but just peaked on her run late. We’re thinking coming back slightly in distance and jumping from barrier one are both positives, and the Fairtrusive/Emerald Rose formlines really stack up, with those two performing really well in Saturday’s Crystal Slipper Stakes at Ascot. ALL THAT SIZZLE should be able to park up on the leader’s heels in transit and will get her chance in the straight with the cutaway in play. First starter CLASSIC JACK is a half-brother to star sprinting mare Dainty Tess and his trial results suggest he’s certainly inherited some of the family ability. Appeared pretty raw when comfortably accounting for APPARITION at Belmont recently, but he really covers the ground well and is a natural runner. Will have plenty of admirers on debut. FIRE AND RAIN went back for a mid-prep trial after doing plenty wrong at his Ascot debut, and wasn’t knocked around when winning his 400-metre heat last Monday week. Liked the way he kicked back after being headed first up and Paul Jordan-prepared jump-and-run youngsters always warrant respect in these short-course contests, while JEDAFFAIR wasn’t overly taxed in her lead-up trial behind the well-regarded Nemiroff and we wouldn’t be surprised to see her hitting the line hard on debut.

Tips: 5-3-1-7
Suggested: (5) ALL THAT SIZZLE to win.

5. ALL THAT SIZZLE
3. CLASSIC JACK
1. FIRE AND RAIN
7. JEDAFFAIR

RACE 3 AMELIA PARK WINES MAIDEN 2:37 PM (1216M)

We came up with five genuine winning chances in this all aged maiden and opted to stick with LUNA ROSSA after two rock-solid efforts for new trainer Josh Krispyn. Ran into the impressive War Room first up at Northam before locking horns with another promising customer in the form of Missile Launch last start, hitting the front and just getting run over late. Quality jock Glenn Smith has his eye in and should give LUNA ROSSA every chance from a sweet low draw. This fellow ticks the most boxes for us. GINGERELLA has performed well at her two outings so far and the blinkers have been added to extract that extra length or two, and to also help with her tendency to lay inwards under pressure late. This is a filly with her share of ability and we’d be surprised if she didn’t finish top three again. STORMY ORA showed plenty at trials and was simply run off her feet on debut over 930 metres at Narrogin recently. Did finish off well after being a long way from the leaders on the turn and we expect her to come on sharply following that first-up experience, while WELCOME SHADOW started a $2.05 favourite first up at Narrogin but was another to find the 930 metres too short. Appears better placed here and must warrant consideration.

Tips: 2-9-10-4
Suggested: (2) LUNA ROSSA win & place (1 x 3 units).

2. LUNA ROSSA
9. GINGERELLA
10. STORMY ORA
4. WELCOME SHADOW

*Numbers amended after Final Scratchings.

RACE 4 TRIPLE M ROCKS CRICKET MAIDEN 3:15 PM (1420M)

Plenty of chances in this full all aged maiden, but we kept coming back to SON OF A COAT. The Fenella Martin-trained three-year-old threw the race away when returning at Northam last start, baulking badly in the straight, laying in sharply and going down only a half-head on the line. Did have to trial to the satisfaction of Stewards following that wayward performance, and he passed with an untested 1000-metre heat at Belmont last Monday week. The stable has adjusted some of the gear on SON OF A COAT and if he does everything right then he is the horse to beat. FREO has endured an interrupted campaign, but he showed he still had something to give when getting well back and running on strong at York last start. Appears suited stepping up to this journey, after finding the 1100 metres too short last time, and we expect to see FREO fighting out the finish of this. On-pacer SINGLE MINDED LADY was good when resuming here two back before appearing to be a bit disappointing when well fancied ($4.60) at Northam last time. May not have handled the firmer surface on that occasion and does appear to do her best racing at this circuit, so we’re predicting sharp improvement, while THE RAKE is a very costly individual to follow but there’s no denying he can gallop a bit. Will be getting back and running on from the high draw.

Tips: 9-1-6-11
Suggested: (9) SINGLE MINDED LADY each way.

9. SINGLE MINDED LADY
1. THE RAKE
6. PRINCE O’LARA
11. RETOSONA

*Numbers amended after Final Scratchings.

RACE 5 XXXX GOLD HANDICAP 3:50 PM (1016M)

Some promising three-year-olds lining up here and we’re pretty keen on the chances of likely leader TANGO ORA. Showed a heap of speed when resuming behind flying filly Fabergino at Ascot and looked home when leading them up at Ascot last Wednesday week, only to be gunned down late by the well-regarded odds-on favourite Street Fury. We like the way this fellow covers the turf, and he will always give himself every chance by beginning well and utilising his brilliant early speed. TANGO ORA too sharp. First-upper ROUTE EIGHTY EIGHT showed plenty during a two-start campaign that saw her finish behind the likes of Denim Pack and Misty Metal. Looked in good order when winning a recent Belmont trial and this Justin Warwick-trained filly looks set to fire fresh. On-pacer THUNDERSTRUT raced first up without a trial at Narrogin last Friday week and was only nailed right on the line, after leading them up over 930 metres. She’s a pretty honest type and though we’re not sure the 1016 metres is her best distance, we still expect her to figure in the finish, while FOREVER YOUNG has caught the eye at trials in recent weeks and it wouldn’t surprise us to see her working home well late on debut.

Tips: 2-4-7-6
Suggested: (2) TANGO ORA to win.

2. TANGO ORA
4. THUNDERSTRUT
7. FOREVER YOUNG
6. COME ON OVER

*Numbers amended after Final Scratchings.

RACE 6 THE DRIVE HOME WITH CLIFF REEVE HANDICAP 4:30 PM (2038M)

After never getting out at Ascot on Saturday, Adam Durrant has opted for the four-day back up with CARALABEK and we’re going to back in the champion trainer to have this fellow spot on to win. This old-fashioned stayer doesn’t have the best of manners behind the gates and often blows his chances with slow getaways, however, he is being reunited with soon to be Victorian-based Freddie Kersley and they have teamed up well in the past. CARALABEK has quality Trap For Fools formlines and that really stands out in this company, and with a clean getaway, this six-year-old should be too strong at the finish. BARRY’S RABBIT appreciated being stretched out to the 1900 metres when saluting fourth up at Narrogin last start and appears well placed again by Bruce Watkins. Troy Turner will be looking to put him to sleep behind heels from his low draw, and if he relaxes and conserves energy early then BARRY’S RABBIT will be hitting the line hard. FILLE DE MERIT had a few excuses at her first attempt over 1800 metres at Ascot last start and the stable has opted to reenlist the services of senior jock Mitch Pateman. Being tested over a middle distance here, which is an obvious query, but as far as ability goes she certainly measures up, while PROCLAMATION comes through the same race as FILLE DE MERIT when easily clocked the fastest closing 600-metre time. Looks well placed down on the 54kg limit over this journey.

Tips: 1-2-3-8
Suggested: (1) CARALABEK win & place (1 x 3 units).

1. CARALABEK
2. BARRY’S RABBIT
3. FILLE DE MERIT
8. PROCLAMATION

RACE 7 GET THE TABTOUCH HANDICAP 5:10 PM (1705M)

Rapidly improving three-year-old LOVE ALWAYS stands out as one of the best of the day and she really should be taking case of business here. Impressed first up at Ascot in a good form race, before a smart maiden victory on Melbourne Cup Day, accounting for subsequent Albany winner Everything’s Sweet. However, it’s her Champion Fillies Stakes performance that will see her start a very short-priced favourite in this, as she produced a huge effort to come from near last in transit for a closing fifth behind the outstanding Art Series. LOVE ALWAYS looks very well placed by Brett Pope coming back to this Class 1 assignment and the high draw shouldn’t be an issue, as she likes to get back and run on regardless. Should be winning. MOTORVATOR has been building towards a peak performance and he was strong on the line behind Duck Feet and Just Like That at Ascot last start. Should be ready for the mile at this stage of his preparation and MOTORVATOR must rate among the main hopes. First-upper CASSOWARY STREET is a staying four-year-old with plenty of ability and we’re looking forward to seeing what she can produce this season. Competed against the best fillies in her division when last in work and her Natasha Stakes effort was much better than it reads on paper, and CASSOWARY STREET has been sharpened up for this assignment with two lead-up trials. We’re expecting a big fresh effort from her, while MYTHICAL SAGA is rarely far away at the finish an should enjoy the right run in transit from gate one.

Tips: 9-5-4-6
Suggested: (9) LOVE ALWAYS to win.

9. LOVE ALWAYS
5. MOTORVATOR
4. CASSOWARY STREET
6. MYTHICAL SAGA

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the Bunbury Turf Club.