IT’S that time of the year at Bunbury Turf Club when the excitement of top class racing leading up to the annual race round comes to the fore kicking off with the eight event Insurance Day card tomorrow.
The round itself will be on the week commencing Monday, March 8, with the Lion Nathan Stakes being run on Tuesday, March 9, and the XXXX Gold Cup on Thursday, March 11.
Brewer Lion Nathan has secured the exclusive naming rights to both events this year after having won the Stakes raffle valued at more than $20,000 which was drawn after the last race on January 13.
The two major events promise to attract some of the State's top sprinters and stayers and just a couple of these to watch out for include sprinters Mekong Miss, Spitfire Ace, Mocassin Bend and Tudor Lad and cup contenders Almohad which is part owned by former Bunbury boy and now West Coast Eagles chief executive officer Trevor Nesbitt, Euro.
Others to watch out for include Mighty Ronnie and Friar's Touch and the last Perth Cup winner Guyno.
There will be plenty of others with great credentials including Cronshaw Cup winner Coronate and race goers should plan to be at this annual festival of stars which will not disappoint.
Local trainers have fared well at the course this season with Peter Giadresco, Brent Larsson, Bruce Watkins, Ross Price, Mark Bairstow and Michael Lane being the most successful.
Lane landed a double at the Australia day meeting with two of his younger charges and those following Bunbury based apprentice Kyra Yuill would have been pleased when she rode two winners on the day and won the “Jockey's Challenge” returning a dividend of $4.90.
This week's meeting again kicks off with Maidens featuring in the first four events and, while this appears to be an accepted practice, I am aware from first hand experience that this is detering a number of people from attending meetings and is something the club should look at.
The first event is timed to start at 1.07pm and here I like Intimidator to improve on its last start fifth at the track and beat Cyclone Bella. But both have drawn wide and this could be tricky.
The second race is a difficult affair and the only comment I offer is about the names of two of the starters Crackinghorseluck and Dontloitermosoyter. I believe it is time RWWA officials intervened with this naming phenomena, which must present a nightmare for race callers.
I lean towards Hussonace to win the third race while Inrange may be a good chance for local trainer Greg Carige and Yuill in the fourth.
That takes care of the Maidens.
Race five, the CGU Insurance Handicap, should be a beauty with my on top picks both being Bunbury trained horses.
Yuill's ride on Core Asset last start was not one of her best and she has been replaced by senior jockey Peter Hall.
I think this move may just give the Giadresco, trained mare the edge over Bairstow's Sparta Dane who has been in great form.
Nickeved, also for Giadresco has been improving with every run and with barrier seven and Jason Whiting, aboard I think she can win over the 1705 the metres of race six.
The last two races are interesting affairs and I am looking for wins in both races by Bunbury based trainers.
Race seven may be fought out by Armiston, Saintiram and Spirited Rocket trained by Larsson, Watkins and Giadresco respectively and in the last look for good runs from Giadresco's Two Strong Hearts and former Queensland galloper Sherann, Army Miss and Heavenly Dance for Larsson and Gift of Fury for John Parker.
Following this meet there will be just two more Bunbury meetings prior to commencement of the Bunbury Race Round and these will be on Sunday, February 14, and Wednesday, February 24.
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