Apprentice Alan Kennedy has good early rides at Northam

By Geoff Whittle: www.grassrootsracingwa.com

There is the potential for showers on Thursday for Northam Race Club’s nine-event programme that starts relatively early at 11.25 am.

The Avon Valley track has held up well despite some adverse conditions this season and on Thursday the moveable rail will be nine metres out. Once again the card is a hard one for punters but plenty of value should be on offer.

Best bet on the day looks to be the Christine Stelmach Gelorup trained chestnut Better Lighten Up in the first leg of the quaddie, race six.

To be ridden again by Jason Whiting, Better Lighten Up has not run a bad race in six starts and her last effort taking second behind Snuglet at Belmont was the sign of an impending win.

Another Stelmach runner, Eternalism should be an important runner in the final event, the www.northamraceclub.com handicap. The mare is first up after racing in strong company last campaign. She has won second up and in an open race Global Force, Comeon Kevvy and Vainekko are all chances.

Several well bred newcomers make the opening event interesting. Oratorio filly Or My God, Shovhog gelding Major Bligh and Zester by Danewin have all revealed potential at trials.

The more experienced Le Plunge (Alan Kennedy) looks the horse to beat following a metropolitan third to Arcaxaar in early June.

Ivan Haggerty’s Heart Ache blundered and dislodged jockey William Pike at barrier rise last week when favoured at Northam. On Thursday he should make amends this time for apprentice Alan Kennedy in race two, the XXXX Gold Maiden over 1400 metres.

Heart Ache was beaten on debut previously by the talented Classic Retreat at Pinjarra Park in March and has the potential and breeding to be a success. She is a half sister to Grey Monarch and closely related to group winner Suspicion.

The progeny of Scenic have taken all before them in recent days and his daughter Temuka in race three could be value in a field that lacks exposed form. Shaun McGruddy takes the mount for trainer Graeme Webster Snr.

Apprentice Chloe Chatfield has been in great form recently and Kurnall Road looks to be her best prospect in the fourth following her third Dylanesque last time. Breeding suggests that the 1300 metres will suit her while Superior Speed is close to a win and will be hard to reel in.

In race seven Frank Maynard’s Bigamist is the interesting runner after his unlucky eighth at Belmont on June 3rd behind All Fury when blocked for a run. Justavision, Armed Response and Whoville High are worthy of consideration.

Selections:

Race 1: 9 – Le Plunge (A. Kennedy) 1 – Black Blast 6 – Zester

Race 2: 7 – Heart Ache (A. Kennedy) 9 – Operation Leftfoot 10 – Simply A Star

Race 3: 12 – Temuka (S. Mc Gruddy) 11 – Malkan Rose 8 – Touch And Tell

Race 4: 8 – Kurnall Road (Ms C. Chatfield) 5 – Superior Speed 2 – Corvallis

Race 5: 2 – Copper Reign (C. Harvey) 6 – Cyclonic Force 9 – Penthouse Pet

Race 6: 9 – Better Lighten Up (J. Whiting) 2 – Brandy Lane 8 – The Golden Dynamo

Race 7: 3 – Bigamist (D. Staeck) 2 – Justavision 1 – Armed Response

Race 8: 1 – McStark (P. King) 10 – She’s Foxy Right 2 – Dan Pal

Race 9: 6 – Eternalism (P. Harvey) 7 – Global Force 3 – Comeon Kevvy

Best Bet: R6 – 9 Better Lighten Up

Value: R3 – 12 Temuka