Round 9 – Sal’s previews and tips (Part 2): Is it Tiger Time again?

 

Greetings All,

 

Hmmmm, concerns of Tigers demise were quickly extinguish as they were able to enforce their blueprint on the game and not give the Dogs any chance.  Dogs look OK on the win-loss balance but all the losses have not been pretty each by margins in excess of six goals and resulting in stinking percentage.  Were the Demons truly that bad?

 

Now for rest of the round.

 

It’s a Kind of Majak ($1.65) vs Doodee or Don’tdee ($2.46)

 

Clash of the cellar dwellers that does not involve Carlton is a rarity these days.  But both North and Adelaide have shown glimpses of form and challenged for victory last week.  Who will have the greater will this week will come out the victor.  The Roos get Majak Daw back after a long lay off and we wish him all the best on his return, could be an important factor for the Roos but not sure lack of height has been their issue.  Meanwhile the Crows sweat on the fitness of Tom Doedee who just sets up their backline.  With Brad Crouch joining Rory on the sidelines reckon the Kangas midfield will have the edge to keep the Crows winless.

 

Power Outage ($1.44) vs Pap Smeared ($3.20)

 

Clarko’s commentary on Tom Papley were pretty unfair – not sure he should be potting opposition players or sooking up about umpires.  Tom’s Swans face the Saints who found the way to shut the Power down last week.  They run hard and are generally good to watch.  Sydney showed the same last week against Hawthorn, will Horse let them run and gun again or try and grind the opposition into submission?  He may little choice if Dane Rampe does not come up.  Suspect the Saints will be slicker and cleaner.

 

Just Joshin’ ($1.34) vs Toma Hawked ($3.75)

 

Small forwards are getting plenty of limelight this season, the giants up forward for the Eagles and Cats showed the big man value last week.  Josh Kennedy’s 7 goals is a phenomenal effort in these shortened games, no less impressive was the four goals from Tomahawk in torrential conditions on Monday night.  Assuming Perth returns to regular conditions it should provide the advantage to West Coast just that bit slicker in the midfield and doubt Geelong have anyone to counter Nic Natanui.

 

Twilight ($2.68) vs Maserati ($1.57)

 

The light has dimmed on the Suns losing the last 3 from 4 after such a promising start, suspect the season is only going to get tougher but they are making significant progress with a talented young list.  Puts them about 3-4 years behind the Giants whose time is now, but are struggling to put it all together although a very impressive win over the Tigers last week.  A common position – if the Giants want success they need to win this.

 

Long Mired ($3.10) vs Pendle Buried ($1.38)

 

Justin Longmuir has a long season ahead – his young charges have talent and will notch a few win but Monday night’s game against the mature Cats showed the gulf they need to make up from a physical perspective.  Nat Fyfe back will help against the Pies who have their share of injury woes and were as soundly beaten by West Coast.  Once again they started quickly but could not score after ¼ time.  Monday night was a tough slog for the Dockers and this might be a bit too tiring for a number of those younger players.

 

Track Time

 

Racing operates under a ‘social license’, there are plenty of factions who would like to see the end of the sport.  Plenty of readers get to this section of my preview and stop, such is the nature of the sport people either follow it or they don’t.  That ‘social license’ has been sorely tested this week with a horrific incident in Sydney on Saturday where a rider caused interference resulting in one horse being euthanased, another suffering a fracture and a jockey in hospital with multiple injuries with at least six months on the sidelines.  The inquiry is run and done and the offending jockey has received a six week disqualification.  A manifestly inadequate penalty for the transgression – even getting the full penalty of a 3 month holiday is inadequate.  Racing can shoot itself in the foot regularly – this is a case where it has done so again and authorities should appeal the penalty to genuinely discourage such incidents in the future.  Now it is track time and to Moonee Valley we go to open the season with all the horseys now a year older.

 

Reckon we can get the favourite knocked over in the opener with El Galayel (R1, #2), has a good record at the Valley.  Sticking with Maher-Eustice and Tanker (R2, #2) who has a good first up win on the CV.  They could win the opening three with favourite Peggy Selene (R3, #8) but a wide open affair and the Payne-Egan combination is on fire so an each way go at Miss Divine Em (R3, #4) might be the bet.  Brooklyn Hustle (R4, #4) is Group 1 competitive so can win this.  Arctic Shock (R5, #2) will appreciate the weight relief, doesn’t win out of turn so each way might be the go.

 

We nailed the quaddie last week, let’s hope we can do it again and this time with a profit!  Always go wide early, but suggest we might have a double up with Wilmot Pass (R6, #10)  a very impressive winner last start and can go on.  Reckon Bedford (R7, #5) can back up his win at Caulfield 3 weeks ago.  A bit torn in the next have been for Winning Partner (R8, #2) to turn up in Melbourne and also Tatunka (R8, #5).  The apprentice claim might swing it to the former.  Proper Rogue (R9, #9) was aptly monickered last start – like the engagement of Jamie Kah, good chance in an open race.

 

Quaddie

 

Leg 1 – 1, 5, 7, 9, 10 (plus another 10 only)

Leg 2 – 1, 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 3 – 2, 5, 12

Leg 4 – 2, 9 (19 if it runs)

 

Go Blues,

 

Cheers, Sal

 

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