grey matter
 

Silvermorn (4th) and Penniesfromheaven (7th) the only two representatives for the grey brigade at Geraldton today.

pop’s BBs – Ascot yesterday
 

(3) Grasspatch Girl 1st 7/2
(7) Kimique 2nd 7/1
(1) Zabba Doo 2nd 7/1
(3) Metal Dancer 4th
(2) Storm Closure 2nd 4/5
(1) King Wally 2nd 5/4
(1) Dakas Gem 1st 5/4
(7) Secret Link 4th
(11) Zoometric 2nd 4/1
(2) Our Selection 2nd 4/1
(13) Zinder 3rd 7/2
(3) Elsie The Eagle 1st 6/4
(5) Twig Gold 4th 50/1
(11) Master Mawson 2nd 4/1

grey matter wrap-up
 

Reasonable day at Albany yesterday with Ball Lee (3rd), Moondance Magic (1st), Costalot Girl (unplaced), Nostoc (unplaced), Silver Ambush (3rd), Norfolk Song (SCR) and College Dean (unplaced).

grey matter wrap-up
 

Just the one winner at Esperance yesterday - With Promise (unplaced), Milky Bars Galore (3rd), William's Steal (1st) and Rodeo Man (5th).

grey matter wrap-up
 

A couple of winners at Ascot yesterday with Leading Man (4th), Grasspatch Girl (1st), Expedition (1st), Strawb Knows and Our Vain Kingdom (both unplaced), So Long Syd (unplaced), Triconya (3rd), Heavy Handed and Sooty The Sweep (both unplaced).

GERALDTON
 

Race 1
(1) Beau Vivian (8) Latelle (10) Speedy Satina (3) Captain Woody
Race 2
(9) Satan's Kiss (6) Seafaring Lad (1) Domino Prince (2) Gnarloo
Race 3
(1) Corporate Kate (3) Summer Wave (2) Cent Dancing (4) Zarheed
Race 4
(1) Silver Morn (3) Tribal Lover (9) Sovereignito (2) Screen Master
Race 5
(3) Henry Half Crown (6) Sweet Record (4) Recalcitrant (5) Jungle Gem (2) Mr Pomp
Race 6
(1) Solar Impact (8) Island Mirage (2) Bar Runner (3) Classic Piece (4) Collins Street
Race 7
(4) Alshammar (1) Action Pak (7) Tribune (5) Trade Aura (8) Cocky Feathers (11) My Garcia

Main Stage
 

The Lindsey Smith trained Main Stage has been scratched from the Perth Cup. According to Smith the horse has suffered some kind of viral infection and his Perth Cup campaign has been aborted.

Ascot - News Years Day
 

Two listed and one group II scheduled for Ascot New Years Day.

The Group II Perth Cup over 3200M and the Listed La Trice Classic (1800M) and Summer Scorcher (1000M).

Noms - Summer Scorcher
 

1 Arctic Park 2 OPN 58.5 J W Price
2 Hartleys Dream 4 OPN 55.5 L Smith
3 Electic 12 OPN 53.5 N D Parnham
4 Western Tycoon 15 OPN 52.5 E A Martinovich
5 Bleepak 3 OPN 52 L P Luciani
6 Cubic Zirconia (B) 1 CL5 52 I F Shield
7 Drifter 13 OPN 52 G L Carige
8 Educated Money (B) 5 OPN 52 N D Parnham
9 Etcetera Etcetera 16 CL2 52 W W Pope
10 Gobiton (B) 9 OPN 52 M W Bairstow
11 Great Nation 10 OPN 52 V A Brockman
12 Mercury Halo (X) 6 OPN 52 M W Pateman
13 Mr O'Malley 11 CL4 52 M S Campbell
14 Stone Man 14 CL5 52 D Thom
15 The Little Tacker 7 OPN 52 R L Nairn
16 Valicia (B) 8 CL5 52 R W Williams

Noms - La Trice Classic
 

1 Belle Bizarre 10 OPN 57 R R Bynder
2 Empire Dancer 11 OPN 57 M J Grant
3 All Keyed Up 3 OPN 55.5 D R Harrison
4 Bella Nikita 5 CL2 55.5 R R Bynder
5 Bremer Bay 1 CL6 55.5 F R Kersley
6 Dark Review (B) 2 CL2 55.5 J P Taylor
7 Holy Bounty (B) 9 OPN 55.5 S L Miller
8 Kim Joy 12 CL4 55.5 M Burnett
9 Professional Lady 4 CL6 55.5 C S Pearce
10 Rossam 6 CL4 55.5 M J Sheehy (Snr.)
11 Suave Lady 7 OPN 55.5 C H Webster
12 What A Blonde 8 CL1 55.5 B M Dudley

Perth Cup
 

1 Hugs Dancer(FR) 0 OPN 56 D A Hayes
2 Early Express 0 OPN 55.5 P J Giadresco
3 Bon Argent 0 OPN 52.5 I S Haggerty
4 Al Didnavadad 0 OPN 52 P J Bermingham
5 Armiger 0 OPN 52 B V Watkins
6 Black Tom 0 OPN 52 F H Maynard
7 Blevvo (B) 0 OPN 52 D R Harrison
8 Ca Cao 0 OPN 52 K M Kersley-Dyson
9 Caught Courting(NZ) (B) 0 CL5 52 L Kennewell
10 Dundally (B) 0 OPN 52 J M Busslinger
11 Higgins Gold 0 OPN 52 A G Durrant
12 Intowishin (B) 0 OPN 52 A D Mathews
13 Lord Erin(NZ) (B) 0 CL6 52 G Dalziel
14 Lust For Dust (B) 0 OPN 52 P D Tapper
15 Master Minx 0 OPN 52 R C Mc Pherson
16 Our Grey Halo 0 OPN 52 A G Durrant
17 Quintanella (B) 0 OPN 52 R Laing
18 Universal Warrior 0 OPN 52 N D Parnham
19 Beswinging (B) E 1 0 OPN 52 B P Graham
20 Thermo King E 2 0 CL5 52 I S Haggerty

Perth Cup - Current EW Fixed Odds
 

BLACK TOM $3.80
EARLY EXPRESS $4.20
LORD ERIN $7.00
HUGS DANCER $9.00
BON ARGENT $13.00
BLEVVO $17.00
CAUGHT COURTING $17.00
HIGGINS GOLD $17.00
DUNDALLY $21.00
OUR GREY HALO $21.00
QUINTANELLA $26.00
INTOWISHIN $35.00
MASTER MINX $35.00
UNIVERSAL WARRIOR $35.00
AL DIDNAVADAD $51.00
CA CAO $51.00
ARMIGER $101.00
BESWINGING (1E) $101.00
THERMO KING (2E) $101.00
LUST FOR DUST $151.00

EW Savers
 

6/1 LORD ERIN & 8/1 HUGS DANCER look good savers outside the obvious top local hope BLACK TOM!

Perth Cup
 

Higgins Gold EW at 16/1 looks a good wager. Impressive in winning the Ray White Cup Trial (2800m) at Pinjarra recently by 4.5lens. On that day easily beat other Cup contenders Quintanella, Universal Warrior and Ca Cao.

Plastered
 

News to hand is that Plastered’s operation for a condition known as “lazy larynx” has been successful and he has returned to Perth. But NOT to Lindsey Smith’s Casuarina stables! As yet a new trainer has not been confirmed!!

grey matter wrap-up
 

Silvermorn (3rd) and Penniesfromheaven (unplaced ) at Geraldton yesterday

grey matter
 

Tribal Lord (1st), Silver Deck (2nd), Maximum Force (3rd), Haka Star, Royal Title, Blue Blitz and Starlight Grey (4th), Jarnot (7th), Calarosa Donna (8th), Miss Pavlinovich and Norfolk Song (9th) make up the grey brigade at Bunbury today.

Geraldton 27/12
 

R1 (8) Latelle 3RD
R2 (9) Satans Kiss 1ST
R3 (1) Corporate Kate 2ND
R4 (3) Tribal Lover 2ND
R5 (5) Jungle Gem UNPL
R6 (1) Solar Impact 1ST
R7 (11) My Garcia 2ND

Perth Cup Barrier Draw
 

Hugs Dancer (7)
Early Express (6)
Bon Argent (14)
Al Didnavadad (5)
Armiger (11)
Black Tom (2)
Blevvo (8)
Ca Cao (13)
Caught Courting (4)
Dundally (17)
Higgins Gold (1)
Intowishin (19)
Lord Erin (16)
Lust For Dust (12)
Master Minx (3)
Our Grey Halo (20)
Quintanella (1)
Universal Warrior (15)
BeSwinging (18)
Thermo King (9)

Plastered
 

Not surprised in the least given the reported recent rocky relationship between managing part owner Janelle Harvey and Lindsey Smith :rolleyes:

Good news re Plastered
 

Forgetting the trainer issue great news re what has been reported as a successful operation! :) Apparently a pretty tricky affair where they had to reconstruct Plastered’s larynx using nerves from other muscles. Accolades to Ballarat vet Dr Ian Fulton!!

Plastered
 

Yes great new about Plastered, let's hope op was 100% success and we see him back on the race track!

The rumour mill is touting Trevor Andrews as Smith's successor but Trevor has publicly stated that he has not been approached to train Plastered....(yet! ;) )

Perth Cup - Final Field
 

1 Hugs Dancer(FR) 7 OPN 56 Nicholas Ryan D A Hayes
2 Early Express 6 OPN 55.5 Jason Whiting P J Giadresco
3 Bon Argent 14 OPN 52.5 John Claite I S Haggerty
4 Al Didnavadad 5 OPN 52 Dion Luciani P J Bermingham
5 Armiger 11 OPN 52 B V Watkins
6 Black Tom 2 OPN 52 Peter Hall F H Maynard
7 Blevvo (B) 8 OPN 52 Danny Miller D R Harrison
8 Ca Cao 13 OPN 52 Daniel Staeck K M Kersley-Dyson
9 Caught Courting(NZ) (B) 4 CL5 52 Lucas Camilleri L Kennewell
10 Dundally (B) 17 OPN 52 Shaun Mc Gruddy J M Busslinger
11 Higgins Gold 1 OPN 52 Peter Knuckey A G Durrant
12 Intowishin (B) 19 OPN 52 Patrick Carbery A D Mathews
13 Lord Erin(NZ) (B) 16 CL6 52 Jason Brown G Dalziel
14 Lust For Dust (B) 12 OPN 52 Alana Sansom P D Tapper
15 Master Minx 3 OPN 52 William Pike R C Mc Pherson
16 Our Grey Halo 20 OPN 52 Shaun O'Donnell A G Durrant
17 Quintanella (B) 10 OPN 52 Kevin Forrester R Laing
18 Universal Warrior 15 OPN 52 Steven Parnham N D Parnham
19 Beswinging (B) E 1 18 OPN 52 B P Graham
20 Thermo King E 2 9 CL5 52 Troy Turner I S Haggerty

Perth Cup - OzBet EW Fixed
 

BLACK TOM $3.40
EARLY EXPRESS $3.40
HUGS DANCER $8.00
LORD ERIN $10.00
CAUGHT COURTING $16.00
HIGGINS GOLD $16.00
BLEVVO $18.00
BON ARGENT $18.00
QUINTANELLA $26.00
AL DIDNAVADAD $35.00
DUNDALLY $35.00
MASTER MINX $35.00
OUR GREY HALO $35.00
CA CAO $51.00
INTOWISHIN $51.00
UNIVERSAL WARRIOR $51.00
ARMIGER $101.00
THERMO KING (2E) $101.00
BESWINGING (1E) $151.00
LUST FOR DUST $151.00

PERTH CUP
 

Try as I can I can't find anything to beat Black Tom. Placed in this race last year, recent form very good and drops 6kg on his last start effort in the C.B. Cox


...so.. my selections are:- (6) Black Tom; (1) Hugs Dancer; (2) Early Express; (13) Lord Erin; (9) Caught Courting

..value:- (16) Our Grey Halo; (17) Quintanella

grey matter wrap-up
 

Reasonable day at Bunbury yesterday with Tribal Lord (1st), Silver Deck (4th), Maximum Force (unplaced), Haka Star (3rd), Royal Title (unplaced), Blue Blitz (unplaced), Starlight Grey (2nd), Jarnot (unplaced), Calarosa Donna (2nd) and Miss Pavlinovich and Norfolk Song (both unplaced).

Plastered
 

Great to hear that Plastered's on the road back! :)

Perth Cup
 

Strongly rumoured that the David Hayes trained Hugs Dancer will NOT be venturing west for the cup. We should hear officially later today.

Listed TOMMY SMITH SLIPPER – 1200M
 

The WATAB is operating an EW fixed market on the listed Tommy Smith Slipper at Doomben on Saturday, as well as a double this race into the Perth Cup.

TOMMY SMITH SLIPPER – 1200M
 

1 WAY OFF Ron Macrae S Galloway 7 55.5
2 MEL Alan Bailey G Colless 12 55.5
3 BRAMBLETYE John Wallace Z Purton 10 55.5
4 BARLAGARNEY Graeme Rogerson D Beasley 2 55.5
5 COLE TRICKLE Ray McCall D Browne 8 55.5
6 MASTER ARCHIE Paddy Cunningham B El-Issa 1 55.5
7 SPECIAL OFFER Dale Sutton B Pengelly 11 55.5
8 RING RING Mick Mair K Pope 6 55.5
9 IN YOUR HONOUR Stephen Lee B Stewart 4 55.5
10 DIAMONDS AM I Kelly Schweida S Katsidis 5 52.5
11 TANTRA Gai Waterhouse S Seamer 3 52.5
12 SIMPLY FANTASTIC John Wallace J Bowditch 9 52.5

TOMMY SMITH SLIPPER - Current EW
 

TANTRA $3.00
BARLAGARNEY $4.00
MEL $5.00
WAY OFF $6.50
DIAMONDS AM I $9.00
MASTER ARCHIE $13.00
BRAMBLETYE $21.00
COLE TRICKLE $21.00
SPECIAL OFFER $26.00
RING RING $35.00
IN YOUR HONOUR $51.00
SIMPLY FANTASTIC $51.00

TOMMY SMITH SLIPPER
 

Plenty of pace in this race so would expect Scott Seamer to settle (from a good draw) the Gai Waterhouse trained (11) TANTRA just off the pace and be too strong for them over the last bit. Main danger should be the Danehill colt (4) BARLAGARNEY, assuming he can handle the reverse way of going. (2) MEL from a wide draw will race with the leading bunch and will be hard to catch with any luck in running. The erratic Catbird filly (10) DIAMONDS AM I from a good draw also a good chance.

Listed La Trice Classic - 1800 Metres - Ascot Sunday 1/1/2006
 

1 Belle Bizarre 10 OPN 57 Mark Forder R R Bynder
2 Empire Dancer 11 OPN 57 Jason Whiting M J Grant
3 Suave Lady 7 OPN 55.5 Troy Turner C H Webster
4 All Keyed Up 3 OPN 55.5 David O'Heare D R Harrison
5 Professional Lady 4 CL6 55.5 Nicholas Ryan C S Pearce
6 Bremer Bay 1 CL6 55.5 William Pike F R Kersley
7 Holy Bounty (B) 9 OPN 55.5 Kevin Forrester S L Miller
8 Kim Joy 12 CL4 55.5 Shaun Mc Gruddy M Burnett
9 Rossam 6 CL4 55.5 Peter Knuckey M J Sheehy (Snr.)
10 Dark Review (B) 2 CL2 55.5 Jason Brown J P Taylor
11 Bella Nikita 5 CL2 55.5 Shaun O'Donnell R R Bynder
12 What A Blonde 8 CL1 55.5 Willie Arnold B M Dudley

Listed Summer Scorcher - 1000 Metres - Ascot Sunday 1/1/2006
 

1 Arctic Park 2 OPN 58.5 Peter Knuckey J W Price
2 Hartleys Dream 4 OPN 55.5 William Pike L Smith
3 Electic 12 OPN 53.5 Brad Parnham N D Parnham
4 Western Tycoon 14 OPN 52.5 David O'Heare E A Martinovich
5 Bleepak 3 OPN 52 Jason Whiting L P Luciani
6 Cubic Zirconia (B) 1 CL5 52 T. Ikenushi I F Shield
7 Drifter 13 OPN 52 Daniel Staeck G L Carige
8 Educated Money (B) 5 OPN 52 Steven Parnham N D Parnham
9 Etcetera Etcetera 15 CL2 52 Lucas Camilleri W W Pope
10 Gobiton (B) 9 OPN 52 Jason Brown M W Bairstow
11 Great Nation 10 OPN 52 Kevin Forrester V A Brockman
12 Mercury Halo (X) 6 OPN 52 Patrick Carbery M W Pateman
13 Mr O'Malley 11 CL4 52 Shaun Mc Gruddy M S Campbell
14 The Little Tacker 7 OPN 52 Paul King R L Nairn
15 Valicia (B) 8 CL5 52 Gerahd De Bari R W Williams

grey matter
 

S e x y Smile (2nd), Ascot Inn (3rd), Wungong Song (5th), Marshall Vic (6th) and Heavy Handed (7th) make up the grey brigade at Pinjarra Park tomorrow.

grey matter
 

The Silver Don, Hot Time and With Promise (1st) and Milky Bars Galore makeup the small grey brigade turnout for Esperance tomorrow.

PINJARRA Sat
 

R1 (4) REACTIVE THUNDER (9) GOLD PATCH (10) NEVER RESPOND

R2 (3) PRESTEA, (6) BONNY DEE (11) STORMY ZAPH

R3 (7) TRIHEED (8) OLITATE (13) TRIBAL SONG

R4 (5) WESTERN SPUR (6) STEEL GRIT (9) WHAT A BLONDE

R5 (3) GREAT CYRUS (11) LORD OF DARKNESS (15) WUNGONG SONG

R6 (4) RANCHER’S BOY (8) SUPREME STRIKER (11) BOLD REVENGE

R7 (1) MAIN CONTENDER (4) KING KADE (10) CELL BLOCK TANGO

R8 (3) DANE COUNTESS (6) ALPHA NOVA (16) DRIFTING BY

TOMMY SMITH SLIPPER
 

MEL
TANTRA
WAY OFF
DIAMONDS AM I
MASTER ARCHIE
COLE TRICKLE

(1) RACHAEL COOK MAIDEN (1)
 

NEVER RESPOND
REACTIVE THUNDER
CORPORATE BOX
TAYASU RUN
GOLD PATCH
ITALIAN FIRE

(2) MELISSA MURRAY & KERRI LEE VARISCHETTI MAIDEN (2)
 

STORMY ZAPH
DAMON'S HALO
PRESTEA
INSTALL
DIG THE BEAT
BONNY DEE