Betting tips / Gary Crispe / 07 February 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Gary Crispe of 'racingandsport' is sure that handy mare Huon Cry can turn her form right around as she drops well back in class for today's Scott Petroleum Handicap (race 6) at Stawell.

The former Tasmanian mare was beaten out of sight last time but has been racing in far superior events in town and will appreciate today's RB72 handicap over 1100m.

Prepared by Jason Clifford at Cradoc, Huon Cry has raced just nine times for four wins. Three of her wins came in Tasmania when racing through the grades around Hobart before winning her mainland debut over 1100m on the All weather at Geelong.

That was last May where she settled near last but made a long run to score a half length win. She returned there next start and ran below her best, finishing sixth, before heading for another break.

Resuming in December over 100m at Caulfield, Huon Cry settled midfield before working home steadily for a 1.7 length fourth behind The Minister. She then raced up the 1000m straight at Flemington and from a low draw settled midfield again before again working home soundly, this time finishing sixth when beaten 2.5 lengths behind Ravenous Lass.

Last start, over 1200m at Caulfield in an RB89, she settled well back and tended to run off the track on the turn before easing out of the race with a 25 length last. The mare was vetted by stewards and no abnormalities were found but something was clearly not right on the day.

Today she drops many classes and after the claim will only carry a few kilos more here. The small field suits and she'll be camped just off the speed. Forgetting last run, her ratings, especially the Flemington run, have her on top and she looks hard to beat.

The Terry and Katrina O'Sullivan stable have two runners engaged in Haluva Storm and Confederate Lass, and the latter looks the biggest danger.

New to the stable, the mare has two wins and two placings from 13 runs and is generally thereabouts. She kicked off for this yard over 1100m at Werribee where she raced just off the speed before working home steadily to finish a four-length fourth. Her second-up record is sound and she has drawn well for South Australian rider Chad Lever.

She rates highly and is expected to be improved on her fresh up run.

Stablemate Haluva Storm is resuming and is likely to find this a shade sharp. The gelding is best placed at a mile and will probably be beaten for speed but warming up late.

The Geoff Smith trained Rammutt turned in a solid run last time and should give a sight at each way odds.

The gelding tried to lead throughout over 1100m at Kyneton last time and went down by a length, finishing runner up. He drops in weight today after the claim and has drawn ideally in barrier two. From there he is expected to take up the running and in the small field will take catching.


GARY'S TOP PICKS FOR RACE 6@STAWELL
(1) Huon Cry
(2) Confederate Lass
(3) Halluva Storm