Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - Tricky race to begin. DESERT WHISPER (2) shed the maiden impressively two back before a strong effort over this track and trip in Saturday grade most recently. Back to this level looks a great opportunity to get back to winning ways and the apprentice claim helps. COZZIES CHOICE (4) has shown enough at the trials to suggest she can feature on debut. CJP has been on board for her latest efforts and sticks with the filly today. Maps to get her chance from the draw and can make her presence felt. BUSTER'S GIRL (10) has been just fair this time in work, but a firming surface may be what she's looking for. Back to this trip and Pike hopping in the saddle suggests she's open to improvement and a much better effort is on the cards. SIXINCH HEELS (9) has only trialled once over 400m in readiness for today, but she was doing her best work late there. Can feature. MILLICENTBYSTANDER (6) can sit up on the speed and be in this for a long way.
RACE 2 - FIRE THE GUARD (1) ran on beautifully first-up as an 8-1 chance, finishing just 0.6L off the winner. Fitter again now with CJP remaining in the saddle, he's expected to have come on from the fresh effort. The one to beat with further improvement anticipated. SAFEKEEPER (5) gets Pike in the saddle following a gutsy 0.9L defeat last start at Northam. On the quick turnaround from last week and she's shown on a few occasions she's good enough. Knocking on the door and today may be her day. HEZ GOT THE SAFE (9) resumes without a public trial but was the eye-catcher on debut when rattling home from the back. Suspect similar tactics will be on display again and if he can run up to the figure he produced there, he'll go very close to winning. BLOWIN' SMOKE (10) is a colt on debut for the Luke Fernie stable who has shown a bit at the trials. Can play a role. MARYBEE (6) is better than she showed last start and can be in the finish.
RACE 3 - ZAZA ROCK (1) draws a good barrier today after a 1L defeat over the mile at Northam last time out. Not only does she draw better, Pike takes the ride now and she rates highly on her last start effort. Racing well of late and looks set to return to winning ways. BAY STREET (3) was now match for the first couple over 15 600m at Northam last time out but had been in great form prior to that. Been freshened since his latest effort and the Visors replace the Blinkers. The booking of Chris Parnham suggests he's ready to rumble. Watch for him storming home late. CHANTEL (2) beat home Zaza Rock last start at Northam when sitting up on the speed throughout. She was 25-1 there, but the rating stacks up well and she's expected to be in the finish again if she can hold that form. LORD RANDOLPH (7) draws a slightly better gate today and the Blinkers go back on. Can improve. JEDI MIND (6) can feature if he's at his best.
RACE 4 - SINFUL LIVING (2) resumed in good order over this track and trip, beaten 0.4L as favourite. She's a second-up winner in the past and she should roll forward from the alley to be up on the speed. She still has plenty of upside and can work her way through the grades. MAGNIFICENT CARAT (3) finished behind Sinful Living last start when 2.1L off the winner here. She can take a dip second-up, though her best form is good enough for a race like this. CJP remains in the saddle, and she should get her chance from a good alley. SMOKEY MOUNTAIN (1) resumes from a freshen and trialled well recently following a disappointing effort at Northam. He's better than he showed there and has been known to perform when fresh. Can put his best foot forward. STATE OF FURY (5) resumes without a trial and won't be far away. DORADO (6) drops right back to this trip where he was good fresh at Pinjarra. Include.
RACE 5 - TALK TO WYN (2) couldn't go on with the job when leading over 1300m here 21 days ago, beaten 2.8L at the finish. The form out of that has stacked up and he's open to further improvement now. The 3kg claim helps and he'll take plenty of catching from out in front. ELLICAZAM (5) was a strong debut winner over 1000m at Northam and looks to have plenty of upside. She maps for a similar run this time around and with further improvement expected, she'll be hard to hold out. BE BARDOT (7) wasn't far away as favourite on debut when running on from the back. Drawn better now and she'll be in the finish. GOLD VANCOUVER (8) is ready to peak now third-up and draws the inside. Can make her presence felt.
RACE 6 - BOHEMIAN DIAMOND (4) bolted in fresh over this course and distance to shed the maiden tag a fortnight ago and looks ready to go on with the job. Chris Parnham remains in the saddle, and she won't be too far away from the draw. Still has plenty of upside and can win again. CENTRE BOND (2) jumped favourite over 1200m here last start on resumption, beaten just 0.2L. He was a second-up winner last campaign, and he was superb over this trip in Saturday company to end last preparation. Drawn well and can get over the top of them late. SO NATAYA (6) wasn't far away last start after a good win two back. This is easier than he most recent efforts and the inside draw should see her get every chance. Expected to be right in the finish. CLEVER COMBAT (5) disappointed last start over 1200m but has put up much better figures than that. Can bounce back from an inside alley. CHARLIE JANE (7) has claims after a narrow defeat last start.
RACE 7 - KIRALUI (6) won impressively first-up and almost backed it up when beaten 0.3L last start over 1300m here. Ready to peak third-up now and he drops plenty of weight with Pike taking the ride. She ticks plenty of boxes and with improvement likely, she's the one to beat. TRESPASSING (12) sat up on the speed and was too good over this trip at Northam last time out, winning by 0.8L. The wide draw is a niggle, but he should roll forward from out there. Rates highly and should be hard to catch. QUEEN NARDI (3) finds a good kickoff point after racing well in the WA Oaks last campaign. CJP hops in the saddle, and she is a fresh winner in the past. She may get back from the wide alley, but she'll be winding up strongly late. JUST ADORABELLE (5) is racing well of late and has strong claims after a narrow defeat last start.
