EXPERT RACING TIPS: PINJARRA

PINJARRA PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH 2025

Betting Strategy

The speed battle early will be key over the 1000m scamper here. Despite the weight Castle Road is the deserved favourite and with his race/barrier experience is your likely leader. Definitely have some reservations at the thin odds about the trial on Monday and race Saturday (did the same thing last prep when failing, before winning with a leg in the air, in a harder race, second up), but he’s the proven commodity. Trials of Cosmic Treat were nice, while Desert Life had no luck (nor gate speed) on debut. Can Chris Parnham find the breeze? Market will know more than me.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 6. Rock In Wonder (WIN & PLACE) for 2 units (Rated at $3.80)

The price around is going to see me fall into Rock In Wonder again. Loved the first up run against the flying Fancy Red, when conceding weight to her and gapping the third horse. He’s then gone to a dodgy outside fence deck at Bunbury, led and never really looked likely when having to get a long way off the fence on straightening. I actually think if you look at the horses who loomed to him around the 200 (Ton Of Grunt being one who went super a week ago), he was pretty strong through the line again. Definitely wants the mile now, needs a track where the rail can be clung to and whipped around (should get that) and a lot of the major dangers will get back and really only have moderate form? Considering I’ve marked him favourite (perhaps on my personal over-rating of the horse?), I have to go again. Noble Connection has come back a different horse this prep. Will float back, but the rise to the mile and lack of depth here really does suit. Expecting Impressive Jewel to be the ‘money’ horse. Strong maiden winner (beat nothing), young horse with scope and Pike goes on. Still not convinced on her and at best you think she is aiming for the breeze? Idyllic Ruler was so tough at his most recent. Just makes life difficult for himself by missing kicks by 2 and mustering forward. If he can land in the breeze fluently, he’ll be hard to hold out. Catch These Hands maps beautifully – loved his return to racing in a back marking role which has never been his go.

BACK: 6. Rock In Wonder (PLACE) for 2 units

The price around is going to see me fall into Rock In Wonder again. Loved the first up run against the flying Fancy Red, when conceding weight to her and gapping the third horse. He’s then gone to a dodgy outside fence deck at Bunbury, led and never really looked likely when having to get a long way off the fence on straightening. I actually think if you look at the horses who loomed to him around the 200 (Ton Of Grunt being one who went super a week ago), he was pretty strong through the line again. Definitely wants the mile now, needs a track where the rail can be clung to and whipped around (should get that) and a lot of the major dangers will get back and really only have moderate form? Considering I’ve marked him favourite (perhaps on my personal over-rating of the horse?), I have to go again. Noble Connection has come back a different horse this prep. Will float back, but the rise to the mile and lack of depth here really does suit. Expecting Impressive Jewel to be the ‘money’ horse. Strong maiden winner (beat nothing), young horse with scope and Pike goes on. Still not convinced on her and at best you think she is aiming for the breeze? Idyllic Ruler was so tough at his most recent. Just makes life difficult for himself by missing kicks by 2 and mustering forward. If he can land in the breeze fluently, he’ll be hard to hold out. Catch These Hands maps beautifully – loved his return to racing in a back marking role which has never been his go.

BACK (WIN) Noble connection for 1 unit

A saver here

Betting Strategy

BACK: 1. Lord Gannicus (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.80)

Lord Gannicus looks to be loving his new role bowling along out in front. Off the 7 days, back up to the mile with a well-used claim (minimal between Chanel and Chloe and we get the 3kg’s in our favour), he’s going to be very hard to run down. He gets a 4kg swing from narrowly being defeated by Famous Dain earlier this prep, was also 1200 to 1690 second up and Famous Dain did get the tow ball on him. He’s fitter and on paper, he maps better than Dain. In front for a long way. Cool Memory will be hoping to find the breeze (Kerman Rock, Decoration and maybe Famous Dain with some intent) and these grinding forward settling horses tend to find a length or two for Brad Parnham. It’s just the work to get there. Arcadia Knight was luckless at his most recent. Isn’t much of a stepper so is likely 3 or 4 the fence, but can make his presence felt late with a reasonable amount of speed engaged.

Betting Strategy

I’ve probably said this a few times, but this has to be close to the worst 60k+ Saturday race I’ve seen. A lot of these are struggling to be overly competitive in 50+ midweekers and will go in with a reasonable hope here. Still, there has to be a winner. I was with Manzor Magic a week ago and to say I was displeased with the steer would be an understatement. By that stage of the day it was clear that the inside pad was absolute dynamite, so to see Pike purposely not take the back of eventual winner Dark Looks (I am certain it wins if he does), upset this usually very docile ginger. This race is easier, I like the 7 days but it is a sticky old setup for the apprentice. Drop to last and circle. True Player is clearly the #1 seed of the Williams trio with Pike riding, despite the weight. Was only OK at his most recent, which was a month ago. Big weight, wide draw and 28 days into a staying race. Only favourite because the rest of them can’t be. Long Genes looks to be stepping this prep. Suspect they go forward from the wide draw and perhaps that’s his go? Beats Of War the complete blowout. Blinkers have gone on this prep, and he is finally stepping well. Was not suited at his most recent sitting in behind horses (just fights the hoop), so I dare say with the retention of the apprentice the stable will look to jump and lead. I’d try to put 12 lengths on them pre-bend (mainly for entertainment in a very thin race)

Betting Strategy

BACK: 6. Horcrux (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $3.35) (SCRATCHED)

With the speed engaged here (Resonator, Horcrux, Earth God, Sunlit Fresco, Hezangelic) it’ll be interesting who can use this Belmont chute to their advantage (strong bias to those nearer the speed at the 1000). I suspect we may see a couple of the well-drawn ones sitting and it might not be as big a mess as it appears on paper. Horcrux will get me for a very small play. I’m back in the ‘Want A Winner could be a star’ camp, so happy to look at that as a reasonable form reference. Always a little question mark on those coming back to the 1000, but this bloke might actually be better suited over this trip. Like Clint going on, like the fact he can either lead or sit right on them and like that he gets 2.5kg’s off Madhi Girl, who I see as the main danger. In their past meetings he’s always beaten her home and he’s also carried more weight than her. She’s come back well, but it is a stickier setup with the extra 5kg. $4+ gets me. No major knock on Madhi Girl, just trying to be proactive than reactive on the setup of this race. I think she has returned in career best form, and this map may actually work out OK for her (can settle midfield/3WL behind the speed). Earth God might be a rung below these but is a rare horse dropping weight into a harder assignment and sometimes being drawn wide in a race with speed can be advantageous as he’s got no choice but to just bully his way forward. Interesting to note both failures were down the straight, which he also went below his SP when attempted at Flemington early doors. Might need a bend. Sunlit Fresco has real X factor, while Deferred will be attacking them late. The more rain the better for her.

Betting Strategy

The expectation will be to follow up on Soldanelle here and for mental health reasons it’s likely I will to some degree, but for now I’m going to keep the powder dry. With this race being later in the day, there will be an opportunity to assess conditions and see what type of deck we are betting into. I can make a case for a few at a price pending patterns/rain. Warralea Lass was never going to be suited back to 1200. She gets through the ground well and I think she can beat home the 2 that got her (Simply Thinkin’ and Playing Games) a fortnight ago. Just think the 1400 might be 200m too short for her at this level? Cobbanco has put in 3 crackers this prep and one complete failure on a bog. Don’t know if he wins another race, but will jump millions if the rain stays away. Hey Pino has come back in career best form. Arguably should have won first up (Repeater since franked) and second up you could nearly say it was the same story. How will 3 or 4 back the fence be by this stage of the day? Luck required regardless. Where’s My Lunch is probably a rung below these, but if the heavens really open up and those finding the front look to just be keep on going, he comes right into it. Should lead and has a very strong on speed hoop. Soldanelle on top from a tipping POV (marked around $4), but she just gives me bad feels. Essentric Nature will be popular again, but gee it looks a sticky setup?

Betting Strategy

BACK: 10. Petula (WIN & PLACE) for 1 unit (Rated at $7.40) (SCRATCHED)

Great little feature race with the addition of the lightly weighted Fast Flicker, Petula, Stormchaser and consistent sprinter Saloon Bar, adding a good level of intrigue. Wind And The Lion is the obvious starting point. His win was good in the Bolton when Pike weaved a path from one (similar to Terratif– I think Pike found a nice lane to offset the dodgy inside draw). Respect the win, respect this setup but am wary how strong that Vast Art/Gemma’s Son form is? Deserves favouritism, but perhaps there is some value around him? Petula could have as much scope as any of these. Been stiff in a Joey. Good in a Quokka and pretty continually luckless throughout her career (though she does that to herself with her racing pattern). I loved the run v West Star last prep when she was exposed early (no cover from the 600) carried the 59.5 and gave the up-and-coming star 2kg’s in a 1.8L defeat. These sprints are often dominated by those yet to reach their mark and she is one of those. Will get me small at the double figures EW. Also going to have a very small play on the old boy Phanta back to Belmont with Brad Parnham on. Wet, Belmont and BP are the 3 factors he needs and those 3 boxes are ticked here. I thought both his first and second up runs were honest enough and I suspect he can out-tough Puli from the front with those factors in his favour. Rockin’ Rupert could be the forgive from the Bolton after I did my dough on him there. Stormchaser fits the bill on the minimum, but he has to settle last.

Betting Strategy

I rarely blackbook one after a win, but I loved the strength of Want A Winner through the line in his recent victory. The question to ask with him and his failure two back is a) was it the heavy deck or b) was it the 1000? Could also be a combination, but I think it was more the drop back to the 1000. He was simply gassed when the sprint went on at the top of the straight, but held his own late. I think he’ll keep getting better as he steps out in trip and while the extra weight makes life hard, I do like the fact he’ll have track position on his major dangers. Marked him $3.60, so at the time of writing there is no bet, but will keep an eye out for something north of $4 (probably a little higher required if the rain really does come due to the added variable). Desert Nymph was a serious run a week ago. Nothing really stuck on in that cold pad and she sat there for the entirety of the event. The weight is a serious ask, but if the heavens open up, she’s one of the better proven swimmers on the card. Rain and $10+ will get me. Supernatural was unlucky at her most recent with the middle of the Belmont deck seeing most runners peak on their runs. Won in what may be similar conditions two back, she just may be a fair way off them. How good is Dirty Chai going?! Surely not, but a bit like Where’s My Lunch in the 6th, if they aren’t making any ground then you simply never know for a horse who will be handlebars down start to finish.