BOLD MIRAGE - 5YO who registered best rating last start in the CB COX Stakes when he ran on strongly to win. Drops 5.5kg on that run. Addition of blinkers last start did make a difference – went to the line more truly. One of the better chances, although slight doubt over the distance. Will be very hard to beat. Definite top-3 chance but just under true odds at 9/2 in a fairly open Cup field.


TIME SIGNAL – Carried 52 kg (on the limit) when won the Queensland Cup in November, running on well. Lottila Bay won the 2001 Perth Cup carrying 3.5kg over the limit in 3m25.60. Cardinal Colours won the 2002 Perth Cup carrying 1kg above the limit in 3m25.99. Time Signal won the Queensland Cup in 3m21.50 and has only 2.5kg over the limit in the Perth Cup. Proven at the distance, so if he can reproduce his Qld Cup run must be the hardest to beat.


TUMERIC – 6YO who ran a bit below best when running on very well for a 1.25len 2nd to Bold Mirage over 2400m in the CB COX Stakes, last start. Meets Bold Mirage 1.5kg worse on that run. Will be very hard to beat. Definite top-3 chance but under true odds at 7/2 in a fairly open Cup field.



_________________
All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:


[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2002-12-29 10:04 ]

Final Field with barrier draw & jockey (where available)

1 EXIT LANE 55 (14) J Noske
2 ALIBI BAY 54 (6) C Staples
3 HONOR LAP 54 (8) P King
4 SO CANNY 54 (12) C Harvey
5 TUMERIC 54 (3) J Claite
6 TIME SIGNAL 53.5 (17) J Powell
7 BOLD MIRAGE 52.5 (1) T Turner
8 MOONRISE 52 (20) P Carbery
9 MR TAMBOURINEMAN 51.5 (18) L Camilleri
10 OUR ANNABEL 51.5 (2) J Whiting
11 ZERO POINT 51.5 (10) TBA
12 DANANMATT 51 (11) T Jackman
13 DELA VENTOSA 51 (13) TBA
14 FUJIAMA 51 (4) TBA
15 HIGGINS GOLD 51 (19) A Samson
16 PLAY THE WHISTLE 51 (9) TBA
17 SUPER MOSS 51 (7) D Staeck
18 TUARTS PRIDE 51 (15) N Chapman
19 UNO JACK (1 Em) 51 (5) TBA
20 GILLS DREAM (2 Em) 51 (16) TBA

_________________
All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:

[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2002-12-29 09:59 ]

SO CANNY – 7YO best rating over 1600m in March 2000. Best distance range 1600m-2200m. Current preparation racing a bit below best. Two starts back defeated a number of Cup rivals over 2200m at Ascot, running on well. Meets most of those rivals a bit worse off at the weights. Last start in the CB COX Stakes ran on fairly to be beaten 3len by Bold Mirage. Meets both Bold Mirage and Tumeric (2nd in that race) worse off at the weights. Has an EW chance – but a bit of a doubt at the journey.



HONOR LAP – 4YO Oaks & Derby winner back in April this year, running on well on both occasions over the 2400m. Five runs back from a spell, should be primed to run a big race. Disappointing last start in the CB COX Stakes when beaten 4len & failing to produce anything like her customarily finishing burst. May have had excuses though, as was reported in season on race day. One of the better chances, & on past performances should handle the 3200m.



ALIBI BAY – 5YO best rating over 1600m in October this year. Best distance range 1600m-2400m. Current preparation rating best to-date. Last start in the CB COX Stakes 3rd, running on fairly to be beaten 1.5len by Bold Mirage. Meets Bold Mirage 1.5kg worse off on that run. An EW chance but was well beaten (6.5len) in last year's Cup, fading over the final stages. Based on that run must be doubtful at the distance again.


EXIT LANE – 7YO best rating over 1400m in December 2001. Best distance range 1400m-2200m. Very interesting runner who until last start had never gone further than 2200m. Has some outstanding form over the shorter distances. Last start rated well below best (shorter distance form), but still managed to run 6th beaten 2.75len, running on fairly, in the CB COX Stakes.
Although he meets the winner - Bold Mirage 2.5kg worse off on that run, would have an EW chance, if he has been improved by that hit-out. Having said that, there must be some doubt that he can handle the step up to 3200m at only his second run beyond 2200m.



GOOD LUCK EVERYONE !


_________________
All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:



[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2002-12-30 13:57 ]

Seems many are viewing your thread Sandgroper, yet you are receiving little or no feedback!

Non appreciating bunch, aren't they!

Wouldn't blame you if you didn't bother anymore.

I for one do appreciate your time & effort, Perth Placegetter. Thanks very much. :wink:

__________________
Ta me go maith

Looks to be nice odds on offer (WATab?) for Time Signal. NSWTab not betting on this race yet. Would not be surprised to see Time Signal (and Zero Point) much shorter on this side of Oz, when the action commences.

Thanks for all the information Sandgroper, not much coverage over here to-date. Thanks again.

Courtesy The West Australian website:

THE late withdrawal of stayer Thunder Hawk has freed jockey Jason Brown to take the ride on NSW raider Zero Point in Wednesday's $350,000 BMW Perth Cup (3200m) at Ascot.

Zero Point's trainer, Garry White, asked Brown to take the ride last week, when it became apparent WA's premier jockey, Paul Harvey, was getting cold feet about keeping a promise to ride the horse at 52kg - half a kilo above his handicap.

Brown could not immediately give a commitment to White because he was locked into recent Queensland acquisition Thunder Hawk for master trainer Fred Kersley.

But opportunity knocked for Brown when Thunder Hawk disappointed by running seventh in Saturday's ATA Stakes (2200m) and was scratched from the cup.

Brown won the 2000 Perth Cup on Luna Tudor for trainer Neville Parnham, who will saddle revived stayer Moonrise (Patrick Carbery) in the cup.

The 2000-2001 champion rider finished second to Cardinal Colours on Give Me A Chance in the cup last January.

"Zero Point has the advantage of having run over the distance," Brown said yesterday.

"I've seen him at the track and he looks a big strong type and I am sure that run will top him off for the race.

"I couldn't commit to Zero Point when I was first asked to ride him last Monday because of my obligation to Thunder Hawk."

Brown has no problem riding the gelding at 51.5.

Harvey rode Zero Point when he raced too fresh but finished on for a good 10th to Bold Mirage at his WA debut in last Saturday week's Cox Stakes (2400m).

Zero Point is the value bet of White's two runners. He is at $18 on the WA TAB's Sportsbet fixed-odds market. Stablemate and Queensland Cup winner Time Signal is paying $9.

Queensland jockey John Powell was due to fly into Perth last night to keep the ride on Time Signal, who has not raced since winning the Queensland Cup (3200m) on November 23.

White flew Zero Point and Time Signal over from Melbourne three weeks ago to get them acclimatised to Ascot.

"Zero Point has improved heaps on his first run here," White said. "He is the fittest he's ever been and will hold himself in good stead.

"Time Signal's work has been top class and I'm expecting him to be competitive, too."

The master of pace, Dan Miller, has the ride on WA Oaks placegetter Play The Whistle and, with no obvious front-runner in the race, many racegoers think the mare could fill the void.

Kersley said yesterday he was not against the idea of Play The Whistle leading.

Play The Whistle beat star filly Kalatiara in the Natasha Trophy (2200m) two years ago when Miller used catch-me-if-you-can tactics after joining the front-running Damascus Diva from about the 1400m.

"Leaders have a fairly good record in the cup and I wouldn't be disappointed if she was to race at the front," Kersley said.

"I was very encouraged by the way she finished over the last 100m on Saturday when she ran fifth to Mr Tambourineman in the ATA. Her form is better than it looks because the distances she has been racing over were too short."

Play The Whistle emerged as a star staying filly in 2000 with a second to Old Money in the WA Oaks (2400m) and a good eighth in the WATC Derby (2400m), before a race injury dashed hopes of a foray to SA for the Australasian and SA Oaks.

__________________
Ta me go maith

Just got back from a nice break down south Sandgroper so have only just caught up with your post.

You have certainly put in some effort Sandgroper and I’m another who doesn’t mind thanking you publicly for a job well done. Thanks, much appreciated!

Looking at the form of your two top (in betting) – Tumeric & Bold Mirage, Tumeric has only started twice over 2400m (2nd on both occasions) and Bold Mirage only once – his last start win in the CB COX Stakes. All their other starts have been over 2200m or less. This is a worry, especially if there is pace on in the race i.e. a truly run 3200m event.

Many others seem to be in a similar position. eg. Exit Lane – only 1 start over 2400m (unplaced), So Canny only 1 start over 2400m (unplaced), Mr Tambourineman – only 1 start over 2400m (3rd) and Play The Whistle only started twice (2nd & unplaced)

Alibi Bay, Our Annabel, Super Moss & Dela Ventosa have previously failed at the distance.

Higgins Gold & Dananmatt do look to be the up & comers. Like the fact that both are lightly raced, are in form & have both had a couple of tries over the 2400m.

Higgins Gold has run & won twice over the 2400m. Dananmatt has also run twice over 2400m for a 2nd and unplaced (although not beaten far, running on from last – 16th to finish 8th beaten 3.75len).

Honor Lap would have to be a chance if she can recapture her 3YO form.

But the bulk of my money will be on the eastern states duo.

I did back Time Signal in the Queensland Cup and made a nice profit thank you very much. If that run has done him no harm, can’t see why he can’t win again.

And Zero Point is weighted to finish closer and could turn the tables with luck in running.


Anyway, all the best to those taking the punt!

Thanks for the thanks - Paddy, BettyBoop & Rogan Josh.

Are you guys some sort of tag-team?! :lol:

Weather is warming up over here again, predict 32 degrees for Cup day. Let's hope it gets no hotter!

Understand your logic Rogan Josh. Did say early on in this thread that this year, the invaders have a real good chance to take the Cup home with them. Only two have made it, but both are real good chances.

Don't rule out the local brigade altogether Rogan Josh. Tumeric & Bold Mirage in particular are well placed at the weights, Mr Tambourineman, Dananmatt & Higgins Gold are racing at their best & and there a number of other chances, if they put their best foot forward on the day.

As always I'll be backing the value horses - those at odds equal or greater than the prices I have framed.

Have already secured good overs for a few on SPORTSBet (ozbet) over here & looking forward to what I can secure on the day.

As before, good luck to all those punting on the Cup.

_________________
All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:



[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2002-12-30 16:58 ]

Latest Betting Moves-

1 EXIT LANE 55 $12
2 ALIBI BAY 54 was $14 now $11
3 HONOR LAP 54 was $13 now $14
4 SO CANNY 54 was $21 now $23
5 TUMERIC 54 $5
6 TIME SIGNAL 53.5 $9
7 BOLD MIRAGE 52.5 was $5.50 now $6.50
8 MOONRISE 52 $17
9 MR TAMBOURINEMAN 51.5 was $7.50 now $8
10 OUR ANNABEL 51.5 $41
11 ZERO POINT 51.5 was $16 now $18
12 DANANMATT 51 was $12 now $11
13 DELA VENTOSA 51 was $201 now $151
14 FUJIAMA 51 $81
15 HIGGINS GOLD 51 $12
16 PLAY THE WHISTLE 51 was $201 now $31
17 SUPER MOSS 51 was $31 now $41
18 TUARTS PRIDE 51 $26
19 UNO JACK (1 Em) 51 was $251 now $201
20 GILLS DREAM (2 Em) 51 $251


_________________
All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:

[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2002-12-30 16:56 ]

Thanks for supplying this info Sandgroper - much appreciated.
:wink: