Australian Racing: Buckets has it in spades at Bunbury

There are nine meetings for punters across Australia to enjoy on Sunday, including at Bunbury, where an eight-race card is scheduled.

They also race at Grafton, Hobart, Kilcoy, Mudgee, Port Augusta, Sale, Townsville and Warrnambool.

Race 7 Bunbury

Buckets Ridge @ 2.20

Race 7 Sale

Crystanadao @ 8.00

Race 8 Grafton

The Astronomer @ 4.60

Ridge to deliver for Williams stable

The feature race on the Bunbury card is the penultimate race of the day, the 2200m Listed South West Cup.

A soft 6 track is expected for the race, with Simply expected to have his supporters when stepping up in grade.

While the four-year-old contested Ascot Listed races in his final two starts last prep, he has been racing at a lower level in two outings this time around.

The first of those saw the gelding beaten just over three lengths in a 1400m Benchmark 78+ handicap at Pinjarra Scarpside just under a month ago.

The son of Domesday took a step forward when fourth over 1600m on heavy going when racing on the main track at Pinjarra subsequently.

While he has a top jockey up and has gone well over this distance in the past, BUCKETS RIDGE is preferred when dropping in grade.

The Pride Of Dubai gelding has made two starts this time around, including when finishing in mid-division in the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes last month.

The 2.20 selection raced over 1600m on the Scarpside course at Pinjarra on that occasion and he demonstrated improvement when racing second up just over two weeks ago.

The four-year-old placed second when stepped up to 2000m for the Group 3 Strickland Stakes held on a heavy surface that day.

The pick boasts an inside barrier for this contest and he has both the distance and forecast underfoot conditions to suit as he chases his second win at this venue.

Grant & Alana Williams know what it takes to win this race, having taken it with Casino Seventeen two years ago and their representative is selected to return to winning ways.

Crystanado can score at Sale

A heavy 9 track is expected at Sale, with the seventh race of the day a 1400m Benchmark 64 handicap.

Top weight Private Jumbo is expected to start favourite as he bids for his second victory of the season.

The gelding’s first win saw him triumph by nearly three lengths when contesting a 1600m Benchmark 64 handicap at Bendigo in November.

The five-year-old was spelled following a fourth at Caulfield subsequently and he resumed with a fifth over 1300m at Sandown last month.

Michael Huglin’s representative drops in grade and steps up in distance here and he holds obvious claims under Emily Pozman.

However, Noni Shelton’s CRYSTANADO is another seeking his second win of the season and is the pick on this occasion.

The five-year-old came home nearly two-and-a-half-lengths clear of his nearest pursuer when taking out a 1600m Benchmark 0-58 handicap at Bedale in March.

The 8.00 selection won on a wet track that day and went on to place third over 1736m at this venue when back racing on a sound surface.

The son of Toronado was spelled following that effort and returned with a close-up third, having jumped from a wide barrier over 1415m here last month.

Regular rider Sally Wynne is again set to ride and racing on a heavy track for the first time her mount looks up to recording a win from barrier five.

The Astronomer looks like a Grafton star

The eighth race of the day at Grafton is an 1190m contest expected to take place on a soft 6 surface.

Stephen Lee’s THE ASTRONOMER ended his last prep in good form, completing a hat-trick of victories in scoring by a narrow margin at Gold Coast in December.

The 4.60 selection won over 1200m when contesting a Benchmark 78 handicap held on good going on that occasion.

The son of Zoustar has won on soft ground in the past and, with that in mind, the wetter conditions here shouldn’t pose too many issues.

The pick has gone well fresh in the past, while he has also performed well previously at this venue, winning once and placing second once from two starts here.

Mollie Fitzgerald takes the ride and, arriving here on the back of a trial second at Ballina last month, he is taken to resume with a win.