Once again courtesy The West Australian website:

Former Tasmanian Derby winner Party Boy, to contest tomorrow's $100,000 Swan Draught Bunbury Cup (2200m), firmed sharply in betting soon after wagering opened yesterday with WA TAB Sportsbet.

The Mark Bairstow-trained five-year-old impressed when he won last start over 2200m at Ascot on March 1 and jockey Jason Miller is booked to ride him tomorrow.

"We quoted $16 Party Boy and that was immediately snapped up," said TAB Sportsbet business promotions manager Wade Annear.

"The horse was shortened into $11."

Party Boy joined Bairstow's stable after being trained in Melbourne by Lee Freedman and the horse is now prepared at Bunbury.

"Party Boy's done a treat," Bairstow said yesterday.

"It's probably to his advantage that he did not race in last Sunday week's Pinjarra Cup when conditions were extremely hot."

Bairstow will also start Fore Stay, a winner of two recent Ascot 2200m races, in tomorrow's cup.

He said Fore Stay, to be ridden by John Claite, had also thrived.

Three horses dominated the market when TAB Sportsbet opened the Bunbury Cup betting yesterday.

Pinjarra Cup winner Czariffic and Geraldton stayer Tapdog, a last-start Ascot winner, opened as $4 equal favourites.

"We've got Son Of Vasac at $5, Money Is Magic at $8 and Alibi Bay on $11 with Party Boy," Annear said.

"Tapdog is particularly short because there is a big live double coupling him with Bunbury Stakes winner Finito."

The Bunbury Stakes featured heavy support for Finito and he was backed from $12 to $7.50 in the 24 hours before his big win.

"We are showing a lot of respect for Czariffic because the Pinjarra Cup is a good guide to the Bunbury Cup and he fought off challenges after getting to the front at Pinjarra," Annear said.

"Tapdog drops from 57kg to 52kg and Son Of Vasac is being kept short because he is expected to improve on his unplaced Pinjarra Cup run."

A dejected trainer Megan Midgley yesterday scratched Exit Lane and Dashing Scene from the Bunbury Cup.

Exit Lane won last year's Pinjarra and Bunbury cups double, and ran a courageous third in last Sunday week's Pinjarra Cup. But he pulled up lame after his last race.

"Exit Lane has slight swelling in the suspensory ligament area," Midgley said yesterday.

"Dashing Scene has a little swelling in a fetlock joint and I won't take any risk with him either."

Trainer Colin Webster, who has won Bunbury Cups with Preened, Beau Heed (twice) and Rogan Josh, is confident his smart galloper Money Is Magic will be prominent in the finish of tomorrow's cup.

"He has done particularly well since his second in the Pinjarra Cup," Webster said.

Jockey Craig Staples yesterday warned punters not to write off Easter and Ascot Gold cups winner Alibi Bay in the Bunbury Cup.

"He ran only eighth in the Pinjarra Cup but has since been freshened by his trainer Paul Miller," Staples said yesterday.

__________________
Ta me go maith