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Race Previews Thursday July 3, 2008
Posted on 2/07/2008 | Posted by Geoff Whittle | Back to News Archive
Northam Race Club�s meeting on Thursday has all races named after Northam Cup winners from 1976 to 1984. The horses and their respective jockeys were: 1976: King Tilla � David Brosnan. 1977: Bold Cidium � Rodney Kemp. 1978: Caduceus � Graeme Webster Snr. 1979: Reinella � Russell Stewart. 1980: Caduceus � Rodney Kemp. 1981: Scarlet Thread � Graham �Bluey� Lambie. 1982: Manitorma � Brendan Leunig. 1983: Cosmic Cavalier � Jeremy Hustwitt. 1984: Phizam � Rodney Kemp. Race Previews Race 1: Former Victorian galloper Mosher will probably be sent out favourite in the 1600 metre King Tilla Maiden but he tends to find one better, indicated by his four placings from six WA starts. Merlin Magic could be the one to run down Mosher this time. Having his second start for Lark Hill�s Duane Kitchingman, the Blackfriars gelding ran a slashing � length 2nd to Vain Strike over 1400 metres on June 19 after coming from 13th on the turn. He will be ideally suited by the extra distance and barrier draw. Mosher will be hard to run down judging by his 3rd behind Snookie The Bookie last start. Demelza�s Wings pulled hard when 7th in Vain Strike�s event last start and will sport blinkers this time while Queen Of The Rings ran 6th in the same race and rates with the chances. Race 2: On The Carpet resumes for trainer Sharon Miller and apprentice Duncan Miller. The gelding was placed at the first of his two career starts at Ascot on January 30 when 3rd behind Baltic Sea and subsequently was a very close minor placegetter to A Reprieve at Bunbury on February 24. He will be hard to beat over the 1000 metre of the Bold Cidium Maiden from barrier three. Dante�s Princess was caught in the last stride when beaten a nose by Western Standard on June 19 but has drawn the extreme outside gate here. Mekong Miss rates highly also after an encouraging second start five-length 4th at Ascot to Quiz Time on January 9. Should also go well fresh. Ascot Fair is another to return but displayed ability by placing 4th in Lexicon Gold�s 0-79 race at Ascot on December 29 last year at her second race start. Unrivalled was a fair 4th first up at Belmont and Stress Related has trialed well. Race 3: Ascot trainer Raquel Mills and jockey Paul Harvey have a good strike rate in combination and four-year-old mare Money Money could enhance that record in the Caduceus Maiden. Having her second start, the mare ran 3rd, 1� lengths astern of winner Crown Of Caitlin on January 17 after a first start 4th to Urlay Nook at Bunbury. She won a 1000 metre trial on June 16 and will be ready to fire first up. Master Marlon has finished in the placing at his two starts including a one-length 3rd in Pal Talk�s race on June 19. Extra Grand, placed three starts ago at Ascot and Neville Parnham�s trial winner Aussie Anthem can run into the money. Race 4: World Of Our Own tramped wide before being grabbed near the line by Eastern Light over 1300 metres in a good effort at Northam last week. Will wear Blinkers this time in the Reinella Maiden and jump from a perfect gate (4). Four starts for as many placings and should add a win here. Kilkenny Jac has been consistent with consecutive 2nds to Vain Dante and Pal Talk. Paul Harvey takes over from the incapacitated Lucas Camilleri for this event. Leuwin Star is another close to a win after a fighting 3rd in Vain Strike�s race over 1400 metres on June 19. Ideally drawn for jockey Peter Farrell. Race 5: An open event greets punters in the Scarlet Thread Handicap, the distance race for the day and the quaddie opener. Any one of ten runners could win without surprise. Peloton gets his chance for jockey John Claite here after working outside the leader and boxing on for a 1� length 3rd in Hallowell Mist�s race over 2200 metres at Northam on June 19. The Bruce Watkins prepared gelding meets Hallowell Mist 3 kilos better this time in a significant weight swing. Goldfields protagonist Hana Dickson will make the trip from Kalgoorlie with the promising Danni�s Business and the three-year-old will give plenty of opposition after a fresh win over 1780 metres and then a close 2nd behind Lottabiz over the same distance on June 22. Hallowell Mist commands respect on her win while Oceans Twelve could easily power home over the top after his unlucky 2nd two starts ago on the track. Race 6: An eye catcher at the last Northam meeting was Jason Whiting�s mount Beau Of Indies when he flashed home to claim 2nd to Prince Of Promise from 9th at the turn. He was held up between the 450 and 250 metre points in that event and also ran a 2� length 5th to Bannerkens at Belmont previously in 0-74 class. North And South rates highly in the chances after a win and 2nd to All Fury on the track in recent weeks. Halos For Us (Paul Harvey) has a good record on the track with a win three starts ago and 2nd behind Ma Chienne two starts ago. The gelding was only seventh in Prince Of Promise�s race last week but he did run wide on the bend in that race. Staying filly Simply Adorable could surprise first up. Race 7: The well-bred Saracen King promised a lot when he won at his first start in a race at Belmont in September 2006 but seven starts on and he is yet to win another race. But he has given indication of impending success with a 3rd to Queen Kerra (0-67) and 6th behind Reassess in 0-73 class last start when he pulled hard and was bumped at the 700 metre mark. He drops in class here and should be able to jump and run here for Alana Williams. The talented Feint looms as a danger to Saracen King. The Lindsey Smith trained filly has finished out of the money only once in four starts when a last start 6th behind Ngoma at Ascot in February. She had won comfortably at Bunbury at her previous start. Last start Northam winner Vain Dante, close runner-up Devdas should come under notice and The Bay One deserves another chance. Race 8: After two consecutive Northam wins, Primate finished level with the placegetters when 4th in Snooperclyde�s race on the track last Thursday. He knuckled over at the start and was held up between the 450 and 300 metres in that event. The gelding is another good ride for Paul Harvey. All Fury returned to the winner�s list last week on the track after racing outside the leader, winning by 1� lengths. He is up slightly in class but down marginally (� kg) in weight and he should perform well again. Monsoon Madness won his maiden well on June 2 but was only a 3� length 4th to North And South last start. He had excuses on that occasion and should bounce back here. Elite Dancer has drawn badly but her 3rd to Cielo De Fuego on June 19 was full of merit.
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