RACING returns to the Bunbury Turf Club for the 2014-15 season on Sunday with the running of the Busselton Cup.
Kicking off at 12.30pm, the nine race card included the 2000 metre feature race at 5pm with plenty of chances among the 14 runners.
1. Reset’s Mate. Jockey: Ms Emma Stent (A3.0)
This horse often finds its best form in Bunbury and will appreciate the three kilogram claim from apprentice jockey Emma Stent. It has appeared to be searching for a slightly shorter distance than its last two starts and with a good ride could figure in this.
2. Amarna. Jockey: Ms Natasha Faithfull (A1.5)
Amarna has a lot of experience but its recent form has been a bit hit and miss. Trainer Mark Bairstow took out last year’s race and if this horse is ready to go, it would not be the worst in the field.
3. Foxing. Jockey: Patrick Carberry
Another long distance horse with fair recent results but running against some tough fields at Belmont. This looks a bit easier and with the good barrier draw may be worth an each-way ticket.
4. The Trout. Jockey: Jason Whiting
The Trout was a black-booker three starts back where it flew home along the rail to win at Belmont at the tasty odds of 31-1. If jockey Jason ‘The Fish’ Whiting has him in a good spot on the turn, he is capable of flashing home and pinching a place.
5. Gold Flight. Jockey: Ben Paterson
The Ross and Clint Price trained Gold Flight has plenty of ability. He came from 9th on the turn at his latest outing to finish fourth of 1400 metres in Northam. I’m not sure he is ready to take the win in this race but jockey Ben Paterson is super competitive and will be sure to give the horse every chance.
6. This Cat Rocks. Jockey: Paul Harvey
This Cat Rocks – well it sure does. I am a big fan of this three year old gelding and his last two starts this month over 2100 and 2000 metres respectively have produced two seconds. Trained by Justin Warwick, his daughter Lucy Warwick is not the jockey on this occasion with Paul Harvey jumping aboard. I would expect this horse to be every chance of claiming victory.
7. Hockney. Jockey: William Pike
Hockney is a horse with plenty of promise and he has been solid in his last few starts. He only has the one win from 10 starts over 1600 metres but with last year’s Bunbury jockey of the year William Pike aboard, he cannot be left out of the mix.
8. Moet Dancer. Jockey: Ms Kyra Yuill
The trainer/rider combination of Graham and Kyra Yuill is pretty hard to ignore, especially when racing in Bunbury. Kyra was successful in this race last year scoring a two length victory aboard the Mark Bairstow trained Toned. Moet Dancer was great over 2100 metres at Belmont on October 1 where he came from 4th on the turn to record a short neck win over This Cat Rocks, Hard As Nails. Definitely a favourite in this.
9. Nunca Te Rincas. Jockey: Mitchell Pateman (A)
I get the sense that this horse is super close to a win with two seconds and a third at his last three starts in Perth. Trainer Fred Kersley is pretty cunning and would have studying the country meetings hard to find a race where he was confident Nunca Te Rincas could score a victory. One to watch.
10. Ocean Cracker. Jockey: Ms Ellie Cockram (A2.0)
Ocean Cracker scored a great, upset victory on Bunbury Cup day last season. The seasoned campaigner of 90 race starts has been thereabouts recently but may find the going a bit tougher here. A wide barrier does apprentice jockey Ellie Cockram no favours.
11. Rubykon Lass. Jockey: Ms Lucy Warwick (A1.5)
There is no disputing South West jockey Lucy Warwick has had a winter season many can only dream of. She has racked up a ton of winners in her first season and will undoubtedly find a winner or two on this day. But I don’t think that Rubykon Lass will be one of them. He was unfortunate on October 4 when blocked for a run over 2100 metres at Belmont to finish seventh to Paseo Del Prado.
12. Hang On Honey. Jockey: Ms Renee Forrest (A1.5)
Hang On Honey has only been fair in recent months and if the weather is poor on the weekend, I would not expect him to figure in this.
13. The Ladies Choice. Jockey: Steven Parnham
It is great to see Steven Parnham back in the saddle after a nasty fall at Pinjarra in June sidelined him. I have a lot of respect for him as a rider but I don’t think his mount is up to the task in this. It faded disappointingly from first to finish fourth over 2200 metres in Northam last month and it has been a long time since he was in the money.
14. Witha Blaze. Jockey: No Rider.
No rider is listed for this six year old gelding who recorded a good win over 1600 metres at his last start in Northam despite jumping awkwardly. He has never run at the track or distance and if he gets a start, it is hard to predict him being in the top three.
My selection is for hometown favourite Kyra Yuill to claim back-to-back victories.
1. Moet Dancer (8), 2. This Cat Rocks (6), 3. Nunca Te Rincas (9), 4. The Trout (4).