WINNO'S WINNERS: GOLD COAST, MARCH 9, 2024

By Darren Winningham | Thursday, March 7, 2024

Well, it is here the 2024 JEWEL RACE Day! The track is rated ‘Slow’ and the rail is in the true position.

A big shout out to Ben Thompson posted his first win in Hong Kong at Happy Valley on Wednesday night – a great ride and wonderful result – Well done Ben!

The NRL and AFL are back – sport everywhere with the Broncos got smashed last weekend in Las Vegas – a great way to start the season!

Time to look at the program.

Race 1

A Class 1 race over 1800 metres. Very open race to start the day.

Blue Ray (1) trained by Jack Bruce and will have Justin Huxtable riding. The blinkers go on this week – his recent runs would suggest that he is looking for this distance.

Plaimont (10) won at Grafton over 1720 metres. That was in maiden grade – he is trained by Kris Lees. The way he got to the line late would see him well placed here – Andrew Mallyon will ride.

Lawbreaker (9) raced over 2040 metres – maybe a little too long. Back in distance and with the in-form Cejay Graham aboard she could cause an upset.
Selections:

1 – Blue Ray
10 – Plaimont
9 – Lawbreaker
5 – Flash Prince

Race 2

Class 6 over 1700 metres.

I think a roughie may get the job done here – the Lindsay Hatch trained Perfect Encounter (10). She races well on the speed and I think she may get her own way in front here and be hard to run down with Bailey Wheeler to ride.

Wairere Falls (4) from the Chris Waller Racing team is down in weight and this is his fourth run this preparation – he looks well placed and the tempo of the race will permit Jimmy Orman to give him the run of the race.

Selections:

10 – Perfect Encounter
4 – Wairere Falls
7 – Granite Prince
3 – Bettcha The Crown
Rough chance – (12) Goldeel

Race 3

BM78 over 1800 metres.

Fleur De Monde (10) got back into the winner’s stall in her last race. Trained by Chris Waller and with Mark Du Plessis aboard she looks competitive against this opposition. The only concern is barrier 16 – however, she should get a long run up the side straight and get across into a forward position.

Heleva Deel (4) is trained by Mark Currie and is third up. She has got too far back in recent starts. Look for jockey Jimmy Orman to be more positive and have her racing in a forward position. She has a good third up record with 2 wins and a second from five starts. She will be competitive.

As for the rest – just play wide – or look for anything backed late.

Selections:

10 – Fleur Du Monde
4 – Heleva Deel
11 – Whiskey Dream
13 – O’Miss Behaving
Rough chance – (9) Cosmic Gossip

Race 4

This race is over 1800 metres at Open class.

Daytona Bay (1) is trained by Kelly Schweida. Was unlucky last time out when a couple of runners went hard in front and turned the race on its head. I think that he will settle here and be too strong for them despite the huge weight.

Southern Stock (11) is trained by Chris Munce and will be ridden by Jake Bayliss. He loves to race on the speed, and he won last time out at the Sunshine Coast. He gets in well at the weights and must be considered.

Red Top (13) is trained by Sears Racing and Angela Jones will ride. His last few efforts would suggest that he is looking for this 1800 metres. He is fourth up here and looks a definite threat.

Selections:

1 – Daytona Bay
11 – Southern Stock
13 – Red Top
8 – Indian Dreamer
Rough chances – (4) Trevelyan

Race 5

This race is over 1200 metres at Class 3.

John Rambo (4) is trained by Tony Gollan. No luck last time out – drew wide – got back and then struggled before making ground late. Jimmy Orman will ride here – look for him to try and get in from another awkward barrier – 11. If he gets lucky in running, he will be in the finish.

Plundering (1) loves to lead and has a good record on this track. Trained by Annabel Neasham and Bailey Wheeler will ride. The blinkers go on this week – that can be a huge advantage to his chances.

Dark Harmony (3) is first up from Munce Racing with Mark Du Plessis aboard. Resumes from a 21-week spell – could race well fresh.

Selous (8) is trained by Kris Lees Racing – is first up in a while and some nice trials have been noted – may sprint well fresh.

Selections:

4 – John Rambo
1 – Plundering
3 – Dark Harmony
8 – Selous
Rough chance – (15) Typhoon Tavvi

Race 6 THE GOLD JEWEL

Open class race over 1400 metres.

Toby Edmonds trains Corfe Castle (9) with Cejay Graham to ride. I think I can forgive the last start at Doomben over 1350 metres. The gelding is down in the weights and looks well placed in this small field. Look for him to storm down the middle of the track late – at $12 it is a great each way chance.

Boom Torque (3) is a last start winner for Matthew Dunn Racing. Two starts ago he won here on Magic Millions Day. Jimmy Orman retains the ride. He is a short-priced favourite. Orman has a tremendous record on him – 6 rides – 4 wins and a placing. He will get the run of the race in behind the speed – difficult to beat.

Selections:

9 – Corfe Castle
3 – Boom Torque
8 – Viminele
7 – Enterprise Pomme

Race 7

First leg of the Quaddie with 10 races. This race is for fillies and mares over 1100 metres.

Gollan Racing has Black On Beauty (9) engaged with Jimmy Orman to ride. This mare loves to lead – she was run down late in her last start over 1200 metres. Three weeks between runs – drawn a little wide, however, she should get to the lead early and set up the tempo of the race. She is good odds to take on the favourite at $7.

Chinny Boom (3) is the early favourite at short odds. Trained by Clinton Taylor and with Justin Stanley riding. Has had an eight week freshen up and a recent striking barrier trial at Rockhampton – she will go well here.

Ruby July (4) has been transferred to Chris Meagher. She is an absolute freak in far north QLD. She runs time and is very honest. She came down last year around the same time to the same stable and raced without much luck. I think that she could cause a major upset here at $41. Take her on trust – Sam Collett will ride.

Mabel (1) is trained by Tracey Bartley and Ash Morgan will ride. Has been racing in tougher grades in NSW. She has a habit of winning at big prices.

Selections:

9 – Black On Beauty
3 – Chinny Boom
4 – Ruby July
1 – Mabel
Rough chances – (2) Russian Alliance

Race 8 AQUIS QTIS JEWEL – 2-year-old runners

First leg of the Treble – one of our feature races.

A huge effort from Les Ross Racing and the Mishani machine who have 7 runners in the field.

Mishani Lily (8) resumed from a break at Doomben – jumped and led and ran the opposition into the ground. Looks like she could lead again here – however, I am certain that a few will go forward here and push on. Jimmy Orman will have to trail the speed. I do not think this will be an issue.

The stable mate Mishani Aloha (7) will be ridden by Sam Collett. She is first up since racing here in the 2024 Magic Millions. She was not disgraced, and she will be right in this race from a nice barrier draw – barrier 2.

Defiant Boom (3) is trained by Stuart Kendrick (a winning double last weekend) and Michael Rodd will ride. He rode him when resuming – he looks well placed and should race on the speed.

Estrondo (6) is trained by Robert Heathcote Racing with Kyle Wilson Taylor aboard. He won on debut on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast – time was okay – his effort sound – maybe a rough chance.

Selections:

8 – Mishani Lily
3 – Defiant Boom
7 – Mishani Aloha
6 – Estrondo
Rough chance – (2) Head Honcho

Race 9 MR RACING.AU QTIS JEWEL – 3-year-old runners

Defiant Spirit (1) is trained by Stuart Kendrick with Robbie Dolan riding. Resumed from an eight-week spell two weeks ago at Doomben and was unwanted in the betting – however, won the race impressively. That was after a superb effort on Magic Millions Day where he led and was run down in the shadows of the post. That field on Magic Millions day was a far superior field than this – I think he gets the job done here with any luck.

Betterletmedance (16) is trained by David Vandyke and resumes after racing here the week before Magic Millions where he ran second to Defiant Spirit (1). She has had a nine week freshen up and Damien Thornton will ride her. Just some concern with barrier 14 – but if she can get in and get a cosy run, she will be right in it.

Epicproportions (7) is trained by Ciaron Maher Racing. He has been racing in poor form in NSW. I see the blinkers go on here – Jimmy Orman also gets the ride. He is a serious rough chance at around $16.

Trifling (10) is trained by the Queen of the Gold Coast – Helen Page. She resumes here after a sensational run-on Magic Millions Day in the Guineas – Michael Rodd will ride here. She can race well fresh.

Selections:

1 – Defiant Spirit
16 – Betterletmedance
7 – Epicproportions
10 – Trifling
Rough chance – (11) Party For Two

Race 10

BM78 class race over 1100 metres.

Scott Morissey trains on the track – so just a short walk across the road for his runner Tikki Ready (11). Yvette Lewis has been booked to ride – her 3-kilogram claim will be vital late. He is a speed machine and has shown versatility winning in front and coming from behind. Has posted two wins on his home track as well.

The last race – I am certain the Gold Coast Turf Club will have the “Party Spirit” (13) pumping after the last so the patrons can kick on! The last race runner Party Spirit (13) is trained by Robert Heathcote with Damien Thornton riding. Drawn well in barrier 7 should get a nice run-in transit.

Hidden Wealth (12) is trained by Gollan Racing and Jimmy Orman will ride. Has drawn terrible in barrier 18. Maybe will need one run more to be at his very best since coming back from a lengthy spell.

The stable mate is Shamrock Lu (5) with Michael Rodd riding – another awful barrier draw – 19. This runner got too far back second up at the Sunshine Coast. He has performed well at this track and third up and has a habit of causing upsets at big prices – he gets that chance this weekend.

Selections:

11 – Tikki Ready
13 – Party Spirit
12 – Hidden Wealth
5 – Shamrock Lu
Rough chance – (8) Crazy Train
_______________________________________________________________________

Jockeys Challenge

Jimmy Orman has a tremendous book of rides – should win it.

Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6)

4,10,11 / 1,11,13 / 1,3,4 / 3,8,9 - cost is $81 to $1.

Value Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6)

4,10 / 1,11 / 1,4 / 3,9 - cost is $16 to $1.

Quaddie (races 7 to 10)

3,4,9 / 3,7,8 / 1,7,10,16 / 5,11,12,13 - cost is $144 to $1

Value Quaddie (races 7 to 10)

3,9 / 3,8 / 1,7,16 / 11,12,13 - cost is $36 to $1

Treble (races 8 to 10)

3,7,8 / 1,7,10,16 / 5,11,12,13 - cost is $48 to $1.

WINNO V MITCH MANNERS

The battle this week will be between the local race caller and good bloke Mitch Manners and WINNO. Be sure to check the up to date and amended tips each Saturday morning on Facebook after any track changes and scratchings where I will post our selections and any late mail!

Winno