Daily Mail: Buddy’s ‘Paua-packed’ Warragul return

Great anticipation surrounds the return to racing of exciting prospect Paua Of Buddy at Warragul on Tuesday night.

Trained by Steve White, Paua Of Buddy (5 from 8 – 4 from 5 Warragul 460m) hasn’t been seen in action since July 30, when he ran a close second to two-time G1 winner Qwara Bale in a heat of the G3 Warragul St. Leger.

That’s an excellent form reference for tonight’s Grade 5 event, albeit over the 400m short-course, with The Watchdog tagging the half-brother to Warragul 400m record holder Paua Of Oscar’s battle against the clock as the Must Watch ‘race’ of the day.

Warragul will also stage an enthralling duel between Sweet Petit (10 from 28 – 3 of past 4), multiple feature winner of the Snow Queen last start at The Meadows and Blue Diamond Princess series in June, and classy youngster Sir Harley (4 from 10 – 3 of past 4).

Another captivating clash will pit Perfect Colour (17 from 48) against superbly-related youngster Jet Like Rico (3 from 5), a half-brother to Melbourne Cup hero Hard Style Rico, and Massimo (11 from 34).

The consistent Sneaky Mojo (14 from 39 – 5 from 13 Trk/Dst) looks a strong chance, as does the resuming Stack (9 from 31 – 2 from 3 Warragul 460m), making his first appearance since May 30.

Sean and Melanie Lithgow will produce 3 interesting first starters in Gotham Diva, Gotham Baron and Gotham Baroness, well-bred half-relations to Group finalists Dream Wizard and Gotham Duke.

The headline event at Horsham is a three-way tussle between King Of Glory (7 from 17 – 3 from 4 Box 1), Handsome Jack (15 from 49) and the regally related Aston Flame (7 from 12 – 2 from 3 Box 7), a litter sister to Australia’s fastest sprinter Aston Rupee.

Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

MUST-WATCH RACE: The Oaks Function Centre

PAUA OF BUDDY The Clock

Warragul Race 9 460m 9:25pm

Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538962/race/9

The Watchdog says : PAUA OF BUDDY (8) is one of the most electrifying talents in the game at present and he is expected to fire after a short spell. Last time out, he was enormous when finishing second here to sprint Queen Qwara Bale in a heat of the Group 3 St. Leger, so he should find this event significantly easier. This is his first go over this track/distance but his four wins here over 460m have been in scorching times and with a clear passage early, a sub 22.20sec run could be on the cards. The only concern tonight is that he has wide running JORDANVILLE JET (7) drawn directly underneath, so he may have to work hard in the initial stages to get across. Fingers crossed he can step well, cross easily and put a time on the board and he could be in for a big couple of months with plenty of feature racing ahead. NICE AND EASY (2) appears to be the danger, if any tonight. She has been racing well in strong company of late and has a good turn of foot soon after box rise. There is not a lot of pace drawn in the red, so she should be able to find the rail early and she can fill the quinella spot behind ‘Buddy’. ELLIOT NESS (5) and JORDANVILLE JET (7) are both talented types and can duke it out for the minor end of the money.

Selections: 8 – 2 – 7 – 5

THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT
Tuesday 14 September

$1 Win – MT. VIEW EMMA
$1 Win – TAI PAN AGOGO Lucky Longshot
Geelong Race 8 Boxes 7 & 8 460m 2:02pm
TAB fixed odds: $3.90 Win (Mt. View Emma)
TAB fixed odds: $8 Win (Tai Pan Agogo)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539022/race/8

The Watchdog says : MT. VIEW EMMA (7) showed a return to form at Warragul last time and she looks very well graded today. If she can step on terms, she should have enough pace to cross early and she will prove hard to reel in. If ‘Emma’ can jump well, TAI PAN AGOGO (8) also comes into calculations, she owns a handy 25.96sec PB here and she will get a nice cart across in the initial stages. She is clearly better than her form suggests and may be the value runner.

$2.50 Win – BLUE REDEEMER
Horsham Race 2 Box 5 410m 3:37pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.70 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538961/race/2

The Watchdog says : The race features a couple of well-bred first starters, however they are going to have to be pretty good to beat this bloke. BLUE REDEEMER (5) showed a tremendous turn of foot after missing the kick on debut at Warrnambool and he was far from disgraced when finishing second. With the empty draw on his outside, he should get enough room to balance up and he will put them too the sword as they head through the bend.

$2 Multi

First : Win – BETT’S BLUES
Shepparton Race 6 Box 8 450m 4:04pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.80 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/708251680/race/6

Second : Place – CRACKERJACK DIRT
Shepparton Race 7 Box 2 385m 4:24pm
TAB fixed odds: $2 Place (Top two finish required)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/708251680/race/7

Third : Win – MAYHEM LASS
Shepparton Race 12 Box 6 385m 5:52pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.75 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/708251680/race/12

The Watchdog says : BETT’S BLUES (8) has shown a return to form in recent weeks and he looks ideally drawn out wide. CRACKERJACK DIRT (2) is better than his past few runs and should be able to follow the red through in the initial stages and figure in the finish. MAYHEM LASS (6) sizzled in a trial here recently and is expected to fire fresh. Her box manners are solid but her biggest asset is her turn of foot once balanced and she will get a nice cart across from ASTON GENESIS (5) initially.
Multi price: $6.30

$2.50 Win – PERFECT COLOUR
Warragul Race 6 Box 2 460m 8:25pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.40 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538962/race/6

The Watchdog says : PERFECT COLOUR (2) will appreciate the drop in class tonight and with the lack of pace drawn inside, he should have no trouble crossing and finding the rail soon after box rise. He has some blistering wins to his credit and is a different chaser when in front, so if he does everything right at box rise, he should be scoring.

$1 Trifecta – 8 / 2,7 / 2,5,7 (25%)
Warragul Race 9 400m 9:25pm Must Watch Race
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538962/race/9

The Watchdog says : PAUA OF BUDDY (8) is going to need an ounce of luck initially, but he should blow them away. NICE AND EASY (2) and JORDANVILLE JET (7) can settle on the speed and one of them should hold on for the quinella spot, whilst ELLIOT NESS (5) is better than his form reads, so we have included him for third.