Race 5 – All Stars Sprint Heat 1
Miss Envy (pictured) just keeps finding ways to win and drawing box 1 in this makes her only harder to beat. She was enormous last week overcoming early trouble from box 6 to gun down Wise Barra, running home in 11.20 in doing so. The map looks good enough for her, where Warrego Storm and Italian Stallion should hold a straight line and they will have trouble with the fence crashing Torino in box 4. She’s the ultimate race dog and will be a short price for a reason.
Our Ozzie Salute (box 7) is the obvious and likely only danger to Envy. He’s well drawn wide with boxes 4 and 6 moving left. He just needs to hold Aston Walker out in 8 to make his presence felt. Despite that, it feels like only bad luck beats Miss Envy.
No betting – Miss Envy too short.
Race 6 – All Stars Sprint Heat 2
Heat 2 of the All Stars is a rather even affair, where opinions will no doubt be split. Let’s start with Bezzechi. His three return runs in the lead up to this series have been flat, where the argument can be made he simply needs further at this point in his career. Box 3 with Silent Assassin moving up the track certainly helps, however at his peak over this trip you were closing your eyes around the bend, that’s even more so now.
The form guide doesn’t show it, but I liked the run of Rare Speed last start on a very slow track and she has a great map here. With no pace in boxes 2,3 and the 4 running wide, she will have every hope and this is a winnable heat.
Silent Assassin has had a terrific few months and now drops back from 601 metres. He has strong muster but can be risky off the mat. Importantly however, he can make life difficult for his key rivals in Chefs Dream (box 5), who just keeps winning and Premium Star (box 7).
An intriguing run to the first bend. I’m happy enough to side with Rare Speed from the red.
Bet: #1 Rare Speed
Race 7 – All Stars Sprint Heat 3
This race is a headache. Iconic Jet returns to WA after an NSW campaign. Whilst it didn’t go to plan for him in the East, every time he has returned from travelling, he’s quickly returned to form on home soil, and the travel is no concern for me. From box 4, the speed map is somewhat sticky with the wide running Wise Barra in box 3. In saying this, I find it very hard to take him on in a thinnish heat.
On paper, Wise Barra is Jet’s main danger but she’s going to have problems with the favourite cutting her off early, and I wasn’t convinced by her effort last week. Junk Yard Clyde (box 7) is a fast beginner but must deal with Spencer (box 8) early, who is beginning well and has proved to be a tremendous acquisition for Rod Noden. Binnaway Charm in box 1 will be cricket score odds but will be left alone early. She’s severely outclassed but don’t be afraid to throw her in the back end of trifectas and first fours in case there’s some trouble in the run.
No betting
Race 8 – All Stars Spring Heat 4
Cracking race this. West On Sidney (box 6) is your favourite who will be well back, but flooding home. From the middle draw, it’s hard to pin down exactly where he will be in the run, however the likely leaders in this field will be tiring late and this sets up an intriguing affair. Aston Nero (box 1) returns to headquarters where he’s not shown his best to date but brings some decent form from Northam and Mandurah. He can be risky early but will have the room to show his best here and make life hard for Timmy Tesla (box 7) to cross. Throw in Cerulean Poppy in box 3 who was a consistent beginner at Sandown and The Meadows, the race is perfect for a run on dog.
Linguine Monelli is one who is certainly worth a ticket at each-way odds. He will get back and flop to the rail and has a better map than Sidney for this reason. 520 is likely too short for him now but the seven dog field and early speed in the race does provide him with an opportunity here. That’s how I’ll be playing.
Bet: #4 Linguine Monelli (small)