Group 2 Horsham Cup (480 metres)
Sunday 8 th March @ 8.12pm
The Watchdog’s Selections: 6 – 5 – 4 – 8

1. CYCLONE NED
(Big Daddy Cool – Cyclone Kelly)
Stats: 51 starts. 17 – 10 – 6
Prizemoney: $52,505
Odds: $21
Trainer: K J Lunson (Keysborough)
Group Race Honours:
Group Two Wangaratta Cup - Finalist
Group Three Canberra Cup – 2nd
Fast Times:
Traralgon – 29.73
Sandown – 29.81
Wangaratta – 26.93
Angle Park – 29.97
Meadows – 30.12
Warrnambool – 25.35
Shepparton – 25.52
Canberra – 31.04
Warragul – 24.20
The Watchdog Says: Used his wide draw to advantage last week and turned in a career best performance when narrowly going down to the brilliant Hanify’s Impact last week. Has a solid record from inside draws, however against this company he would prefer an outside draw which would give him clear galloping room. Ran an even first section in his heat and he is likely to find plenty of bother on the first turn when trying to get to the outside.

2. SPIRAL GLORY
(Spiral Nikita – Brittney Bale)
Stats: 42 Starts. 11 – 8 - 7
Prizemoney: $21,530
Odds: $16
Trainer: T Womann (Lara)
Group Race Honours:
Group Two SA Derby - Finalist
Fast Times:
Horsham – 27.25
Sandown – 29.95
Angle Park – 29.75
Meadows – 30.35
Geelong – 25.72
The Watchdog Says: Surprised many when he beat a top field here last week in a speedy 27.25. Like Cyclone Ned, he would be much better suited by a wide draw. Had been racing in consistent fashion before last weeks heat, however that was in much weaker class and he may find this beyond him.

3. BARNEY
(Elite State – Footy Bob)
Stats: 30 starts. 7 – 7 – 7
Prizemoney: $16,380
Odds: $51
Trainer: M Fearnley (Yinnar)
Group Race Honours:
-
Fast Times:
Ballarat - 25.41
Traralgon – 30.10
Meadows – 30.48
Cranbourne – 30.32
The Watchdog Says: Ran the race of his life here last week when runner up to the recent Australian Cup winner Velocette. Not always the most reliable of beginners and may find it hard to give some of these chasers a head start. Would need all the favours to have any chance here.

4. VELOCETTE
(Bombastic Shiraz – Texan Lady)
Stats: 40 starts. 16 – 8 – 2
Prizemoney: $226,350
Odds: $2.40
Trainer: G Bate (Lara)
Group Race Honours:
Group One Australian Cup – 1st
Group One – Melbourne Cup – Finalist
Group One – Brisbane Cup - Finalist
Group Two Traralgon Cup – 2nd
Group Two Young Star Classic - Finalist
Group Three Silver Bullet - Finalist
Group Three Launching Pad - Finalist
Fast Times:
Meadows – 29.77
Sandown – 29.54
Horsham – 27.07
Cranbourne – 29.98
Albion Park - 29.69
Wentworth Park – 30.00Q
Angle Park – 29.84
Geelong – 25.63
The Watchdog Says: Wasn’t the best to begin in his heat, but after about 40 yards he hit the turbo button and put an end to his rivals chances when roaring away to score a sizzling 27.07 heat win. Recently captured the Group One Australian Cup and he has the ability to reel off breathtaking sectionals when given clear galloping room. His poor box manners can work against him at times, however if he can step cleanly and position himself in the first four as they head into the first turn he will definitely prove hard to hold out.

5. JARVIS BALE
(Sonic Flight – Rosemary Bale)
Stats: 25 starts. 7 – 9 – 6
Prizemoney: $49,515
Odds: $7.50
Trainer: G Bate (Lara)
Group Race Honours:
Group One Silver Chief – 3rd
Group Two Warragul Cup – 2nd
Fast Times:
Meadows – 30.03
Sandown – 29.84
Horsham – 27.32
Warragul – 24.13
The Watchdog Says: Highly talented type who unleashed a powerful finishing burst to score here last week in a smart 27.32. Poor box draw hasn’t made too much of an impact as he is likely to find himself out the back in the early stages. With the abundance of early speed drawn directly outside him, he should be able to get out into the open and if he can gain a clear passage going through the turn he will be breathing down the leaders necks in the run to the line.

6. TAIPAN BALE
(Solve The Puzzle – Arivada Bale)
Stats: 60 starts. 28 – 15 – 7
Prizemoney: $117,220
Odds: $4.00
Trainer: G Bate (Lara)
Group Race Honours:
Group One Hobart Thousand - Finalist
Group Two Devonport Cup – 1st
Group Two Geelong Cup – 2nd
Group Two Bendigo Cup – 2nd
Group Two Warragul Cup (08) – 2nd
Group Two Warrnambool Cup – 3rd
Group Two Warragul Cup (09) – 3rd
Listed Healesville Cup (08) – 1st
Listed Healesville Cup (09) - ?
Fast Times:
Horsham – 27.13
Healesville – 18.21
Bendigo - 23.88
Warragul – 23.66
Devonport – 25.52
Hobart – 26.05
Ballarat – 25.02
Shepparton – 25.25
Geelong – 25.37
Sale – 25.02
Sandown – 29.85
Warrnambool – 25.02 (2 nd)
Warrnambool – 18.92
The Watchdog Says: Freakish provincial sprinter who has qualified for the Healesville Cup final (Saturday) and tonight’s final. Scorched the sand going through the first two sections and still held his condition to the line by recording a slick 27.13 heat win. Ideally drawn out wide and is most likely to be jostling for the lead with Hanify’s Impact. If he can hold the lead he should be a long way in front as they round the home bend and he will be able to clinch a well deserved Group Two win.

7. CRACKED ICE
(Pure Octane – Ikari Lee)
Stats: 25 starts. 10 – 7 – 2
Prizemoney: $32,375
Odds: $12
Trainer: P E Giles (Moe)
Group Race Honours:
Group Two Ballarat Cup Final - Reserve
Fast Times:
Meadows – 30.10
Sandown – 30.09
Geelong – 25.78
Ballarat – 25.22 (2 nd)
Wangaratta – 26.77
Traralgon – 30.02
Warragul – 24.25
Horsham – 27.34 (2 nd)
The Watchdog Says: Speared the lids and led until the shadows of the post in his gallant heat placing here last week. Very consistent chaser who has enough early speed to put himself in a prominent position in his races, however with loads of speed drawn either side he is likely to find the going tough into the first turn and if he can’t find the early lead his chances look very slim.

8. HANIFY’S IMPACT
(Collision – Miss Hanify)
Stats: 25 Starts. 14 – 2 – 0
Prizemoney: $104,035
Odds: $3.40
Trainer: J Thompson (Pearcedale)
Group Race Honours:
Group One Melbourne Cup – 2nd
Group One Temlee - Finalist
Group Two Shepparton Cup – 1st
Group Three Maitland Cup – 2nd
Fast Times:
Geelong – 25.25
Horsham – 27.17
Meadows – 29.84 (trial)
Sandown – 29.89
Ballarat – 25.06
Shepparton – 25.08
Wentworth Park – 29.93
Maitland – 25.24, 25.27, 25.31, 25.33, 25.34, 25.36
The Watchdog Says: Scored a breathtaking 25.25 Geelong win before spearing to the front here last week and reeling off ridiculously fast sectionals in her sizzling 27.17 heat win. Can be hit or miss at boxrise but there are not many chasers in the land which can go with her for 300m if she happens to step cleanly. Will be vulnerable in the last 50m, however if she turns for home with a commanding lead she will look the winner right up until the shadows of the post.

BIRTHDAY BOY
(Where’s Pedro – Juma County)
Stats: 30 Starts. 10 – 11 – 1
Prizemoney: $78,055
Odds: $6
Trainer: S J Elsum (Camperdown)
Group Race Honours:
Group Two Geelong Cup – 1st
Group Two Horsham Cup (08) – 2nd
Group Two Shepparton Cup - Finalist
Fast Times:
Sandown – 29.66
Geelong – 25.39
Horsham – 26.99 (2 nd)
Ballarat – 25.04
Shepparton – 25.13
The Watchdog Says: Runner up in this race last year and he showed a glimpse of his best form when he charged home into second place here last week. Is one of the most gifted chasers in training when given clear galloping room and if he fluked a run off box 1,7 or 8 he would be right in contention.

KINKA BALE
(Over Flo – Daphne Bale)
Stats: 11 Starts. 4 – 4 – 2
Prizemoney: $9,225
Odds: $21
Trainer: G Bate (Lara)
Group Race Honours:
Group Three Launching Pad - Finalist
Fast Times:
Sandown – 29.88
Geelong – 25.64 (2 nd)
The Watchdog Says: Most inexperienced chaser in this field who set tongues wagging when he scored at Sandown Park recently in a slick 29.88. Is a slow beginner most of the time and at this stage in his career he may find the going too tough in this class. Keep an eye out in upcoming age restricted events as he is a chaser who will be going places.

The Watchdog’s Final Thought: In what should be a brilliant race, it is hard to go past the in-form and ever consistent Taipan Bale. Taipan Bale was airborne through the first two sections before he held his condition in the run to the line to score an impressive 27.13 heat win. The key to the race like most races will be the run into the first turn. The two inside chasers will be trying to push off into the first turn and then the superior speed chasers drawn in box’s 6, 7 and 8 will be crashing to the inside. With the outside dogs’ coming across there is likely to be plenty of trouble as they head through the first turn. With the likelihood of trouble at the first bend, Taipan Bale and Hanify’s Impact should find themselves a long way in front with Jarvis Bale and Velocette both starting to warm up and commence their runs. As they head up the long home straight Taipan Bale should find himself with a handy lead over the tiring Hanify’s Impact and the strong Jarvis Bale and Velocette will be charging home into the placings.