Mike Dillon: Weight advantage gives Booming sound chance

Mike Dillon

Excellent betting races at Hastings and Tauranga today. Booming looks a great each-way bet in Race 5 at Hastings.

If weight counts for anything he should have the measure of the horse that beat him home at Manawatu two weeks ago, Golan Star.

Booming drops .5kg this time, to 57kg and Golan Star rises from 55.5kg to 58kg. Golan Star also has the added disadvantage of a wide gate, almost certainly ensuring that she has to drop back in the early stages.

Booming's form has been excellent. He finished a good third to Valhalla in the St Leger at Trentham two starts back when he was forced extremely wide on the home bend before finishing a close and good fifth in that Manawatu race. A wide gate that day forced him to race back and he has drawn better here.

Difficult to know what to make of the effort of Aintree at Trentham last week when beaten into fourth as the $2.50 beaten favourite. He is worth one more chance given his bad luck in two starts before that and he could be the danger to Booming.

Booming's stablemate Charlie McBride (No 1, R1) looks a good way to start the day. He was tipped out by His Royal Highness at Manawatu a couple of weeks ago and that's good form in what looks to be a slightly easier race. He has a nice draw and should get the run of the race. Baloo (No 4) has drawn No 1 and should get the perfect drag along, or even lead.

Maidens don't have great records against winners in special conditions races, but Neon (No 8, R3) is going to take some beating. He sat three wide without cover in a similar race this track last start and still fought strongly to the finish to be narrowly beaten by Cherry Express. They ran that race in electric time, which prevented Neon from crossing the leaders to get to the rail. If he can get across and lead this time he'll take pulling back. Even if he gets cover he'll be strong late in the race. This is a lot stronger than the maiden race Pinot Grieve (No 5) won at Woodville, but there was a bit to like about the effort.

Dawson Falls (No 1, R4) is dropping back from R90 to R80, which always attracts attention. Two starts back in this grade he was beaten into second by a smart one in Tsonga. He has to carry 58kg here, but he might just be up to it. Flavio (No 3) had no luck at all last time and his third at Ellerslie was terrific.

Roger James and Paul Mirabelli have a great chance of producing a Miss Etoile (No 1, R6) - Oakmont (No 5) quinella in the 3-year-old race. Miss Etoile looked good scoring an easy win after a soft trip at Manawatu a couple of weeks back and looks the obvious favourite, but don't disregard the stablemate. Oakmont looked exceptionally smart winning two on end then struck an unsuitable wet track in the Lowland Stakes at Trentham and was wiped out on the home bend after a luckless run at Tauranga last time. Lauaki (No 4), now back in form, is the danger.

You can pretty much forget the beaten run of Saheel (No 3, R7) at Ellerslie on Monday. Horses all day had difficulty sprinting off the slightly gluey surface and Saheel looked to be affected when she finished sixth. She looks to be improving.

There are plenty of chances in the $100,000 Hawkes Bay Cup, but it's probably going to come down to Stand Tall (No 6, R8) and Vosne Romanee (No 4). Stand Tall was brilliant in winning over a too-short 1500m at Trentham last week and this is more his sort of race. The wide barrier looks daunting, but he's a back runner and they should get along at a good clip to spread the field out. It might have been a while since Vosne Romanee won, but take little notice of that. There has been plenty to admire about recent placings and although he has to stretch to 2200m for the first time, he should cope.

If they're winning on the inside rail - and they often do on a dry track at Hastings - Jazzella (No 1, R9) is going to be suited for the first time in a while. Off tracks have hampered her and she's been looking for conditions like she should get this time.

The last is the best betting race all day with plenty of chances. Vonusti (No 11, R10) gets his chance this time. He was close up to the likes of My Astron and Sir Slick two starts back and things just didn't go right at Ellerslie. He looks better placed here.

At Tauranga, Ginga Dude (No 1, R5) is going to be hard to keep out despite his 58kg topweight. He made up a lot of ground from the back to finishing sixth in the Easter last week and this is an easier option. Taking The Mickey (No 6) is improving.

Santpio (No 3, R2) was backed and beaten on debut, but it was a terrific third. That was a strong maiden line-up and this looks a touch easier.

Calatrava (No 2, R8) can atone for her defeat at Ellerslie last week. She had little luck and with a 3kg claim today looks a great get-out bet in the last.