Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - SPICE IS RIGHT (3) just missed two back before a solid effort here a fortnight ago. Back to the 1000m now and Derrick takes 1.5kg off. Better than he showed last time out and can threaten. SHOW THE WAY (2) was very good from the back at this course first-up and now drops back to the 1000m journey. That may be a slight niggle, but Steve Parnham sticking is a good sign. Nicely drawn and can improve on the first-up effort. BATTLE COMMANDER (1) beat a lot of these last start when leading all the way. Meets them worse at the weights but will prove tough to catch again. GOLD FLAKES (5) comes back from Group 3 company last start and can feature.
RACE 2 - ENCHANTING SOUND (12) turned in a great first-up effort when only 0.3L off the winner. She was 25-1 there, but she's expected to be better as she steps out in trip and she's placed 2/3 second-up. Good signs fresh and can build on that effort second-up. NORICH (6) steps out to 1200m again today after finishing behind Enchanting Sound last time out. She was only narrowly beaten at this track and trip second-up this campaign. Steve Parnham hopping in the irons is a positive sign and he can make his presence felt. CRIPPALENKO (5) showed good improvement to win on the quick turnaround last start. He won like a good horse there and he has upside being lightly raced. Can repeat the dose without surprising. DIAMOND ROCKS (10) dipped a little second-up but has been kept fresh for this effort which seems to work best. Expecting a much better effort this time. DEETEA (1) can be running on strong first-up.
RACE 3 - REAL DANGER (2) may have been a little outclassed in the Rock Magic last time out but looks to have found her right race today. Good in the Pinjarra Classic and won the Cyril Flower before that. Drawn to sit just off her main rival and power over the top late. That main danger is BABY PARIS (1) who is a noted fresh performer, having won 3/5 first-up. She trialled like a bomb recently with the blinkers on and she now wears them on raceday. Her best is right up to winning this, she'll just have to be at her peak fresh. REAR ADMIRAL (4) is racing well having finished just 0.7L off the winner last time out. Can sit in behind the leading pair and if they carve each other up, CJP will be there to pounce. MEGAMI (5) might not be a bet today, but is worth watching for future endeavours.
RACE 4 - SHE'S PERFECTION (9) has accepted for the Derby but is an emergency there and looks a genuine winning hope if she fronts up here. Still a maiden, but her run in the Oaks was super over this trip and she continues to improve with racing. Love the inside alley for her and CJP hopping on board. Can shed the maiden tag. FLOWER IN THE WIND (2) is strong opposition though having run away to win by 1.5L over 2200m last week. Out to this trip for the first time but that doesn't appear an issue and she looks to get the run of the race from the barrier. She's the main danger. SAVORSKI (8) never really got into the race last start and finished well back. He is better than what he showed there, having won well over 2200m at Belmont the start prior. He drops right down in the weights now and should be right in the finish. LET'SDEAL (1) wasn't far away in the Albany Cup and is not to be discounted.
RACE 5 - INFLUENCING (1) just keeps on winning, leading all the way to score by 0.8L over this track and trip 21 days ago. That form has already been franked and he only rises 0.5kg despite the win. Can find the front again and take plenty of catching to make it five wins in a row for the progressive galloper. COOL MEMORY (5) stuck on well when winning over 1300m last time out but may have found them a touch sharp over 1200m most recently. Getting out to this trip looks ideal and he can be handy from an inside draw for CJP. Expecting him to bounce back in a big way. SAPPHIRE STREET (2) has been right around the finish of late but her racing pattern makes it hard for herself. Expect her to get back from the wide draw once again and be flashing home strongly at the finish. SOLAR SYSTEM (10) is better than he showed last start and can improve with the blinkers back on and out to this trip.
RACE 6 - ICE PICK NICK (2) has been narrowly defeated his past couple and now steps out to the 1400m for just the third time. The inside draw is a big tick for him as Brad Parnham can put him on the speed without doing too much work. Big effort a fortnight ago and he can go to another level now. OLY'S CHOICE (9) ran on well from midfield to just miss over this track and trip last time out, beaten 0.8L. He's now 532 days between wins, but Pike hops in the irons and his recent form is good enough to be winning this. DESENNEA (3) resumed in good order over this course and distance, finishing alongside Oly's Choice at the finish. Drawn well again, the question is whether he's looking for further now or not. Drops in weight and won't be far away. EXCELTRAIN (5) got the job done nicely from an outside alley last time out and can repeat the dose without surprising. THE SPRUIKER (6) is in the mix if he can run to form.
RACE 7 - The feature of the day, the WA Derby. BUCKETS RIDGE (5) out-sprinted his rivals in a farcically run Melvista, but he was pulling away from them impressively at the line. The signs were there with Pike on board and he sticks with him today. Draw is sticky, but with some luck he'll go close. A sterner test may be what A LOT OF GOOD MEN (2) is looking for now. Not sure if he gets that in the Derby but he showed glimpses of what we saw in the Northerly last time out. Nicely drawn and can put his best foot forward. ALASKAN (6) has run on strongly his past couple and now gets the Winkers on. Will need to improve but he's not out of the equation. OWN THE QUEEN (14) won the Oaks well and has already ticked the distance box. In the mix.
RACE 8 - HEMLOCK STONE (7) was very impressive over this course and distance a fortnight ago, just missing by 0.5L in a similar race. He is drawn wide again, but he gets Pike in the saddle and he rates highly off that last start effort. Improving type who can bounce back to winning ways. BOAB BOY (3) was an all-the-way winner two back before tiring over the mile most recently at this track. Freshened and back to this trip are both big ticks and Fiore has a successful record when riding. Will be handy in the run and take plenty of catching. PRINCESS IN RED (13) disappointed when right in the market last time out and is better than she showed there. Still lightly raced with plenty of upside, she can be closer form the draw today and put her best foot forward. FAST FLICKER (4) jumped favourite last start and disappointed. Can bounce back to form today with Parnham riding. FLY WITH CAUTION (10) can go on with the job after a good win last time out.
RACE 9 - ULTIMATE COMMAND (7) disappointed over the 1000m journey last start when a heavy favourite, beaten 3.3L. Back out to this trip seems ideal though and she was trending the right way before the last start effort. Brad Parnham rides again now and she's expected to get back to her best. KARALEE ROCKS (4) just missed first-up when rocketing home from the back, finishing just 0.6L away as favourite. She's a winner second-up previously and the wide draw doesn't hurt as she gets back anyway. Watch for her flashing late. SONOFTHEBOSS (10) just couldn't hold on last time out when edged out close to the line as a 10-1 chance. Drawn to find the front again and should be at peak fitness now. Will take plenty of catching. THINK OF GOD (11) was a very impressive winner last time out and looks a sharp improver. Can win again. MAGNALEE (3) hasn't been far away this campaign and merits plenty of respect.
