In-form Casey team staring down another headline win in Friday’s $100,000 Boxing Day Dash at Pinjarra

The in-form Sean and Jake Casey team are well placed to continue their hot run with Angel Undercover when she starts favourite in the $100,000 Boxing Day Dash (1300m) at Pinjarra. The five-year-old daughter of Harry Angel sustained a long, looping run to win going away three starts ago before sitting too close to the speed at her next appearance, weakening to finish out the back. Again ridden cold last start, the bay recaptured her previous form by producing a terrific late burst which carried her to a nose runner-up placing behind Without Reg. All three of those runs were over 1400m and although she does drop marginally in distance, the small field could be very useful, meaning she can obtain a position closer to the pacesetter. Chris Parnham has never ridden the mare and will make his maiden mount on the prolific earner, taking over from Zephen Johnston-Porter, who handled her in all three of those aforementioned appearances. She’s the $2.05 TABtouch favourite and one other mare will take the starting line in the day’s feature, with Wubin Gold ($3.40) looking to provide the stiffest resistance. Wubin Gold, a six-time winner from 17 starts, made the beginning to her preparation on November 29 when near the end of the field throughout and never competitive over 1200m. Despite this, hopes were high for her next start given her immaculate second-up starts having never been beaten in four runs at this stage of her preparation. Although suffering her first second-up defeat, she was decidedly unlucky, and a case could be made that she might have won with better fortune. Squeezed at the start and still near last upon straightening, the daughter of Shooting To Win let down powerfully over the late stages and got within a length and a half of victor Timeless Gem. She rises from 1200m to 1300m, though she has been tested on several occasions (with one success) over 1400m and even up to 1600m. No other jockey has partnered the Colin Webster-trained five-year-old besides Troy Turner and that will not change this weekend. She has a small weight advantage over her fellow mare, burdened by only 54kg opposed to 55kg. Should there be any chinks in the armour of the fairer sex, four able geldings will be there to exploit them. Following an encouraging trial, Sky Duke commenced his preparation on October 18 but beat only two runners home after working three wide without cover. Given a cushy steer by Steve Parnham in the one-out, one-back position at his next start, he returned to the winners’ list at $51. A weight penalty saw Cessation turn the tables on him at their next meeting when Sky Duke finished three-quarters of a length behind in fourth. Most recently, on December 13, Sky Duke was drawn wide and after being unable to muster meaningful pace, he was trapped four wide and near the back of the field. As a result, he was never any hope and finished in last placing in a run that will pay to put a line through. Back down to 54kg and from gate two, he seems destined for a far better transit but will meet a journey longer than 1200m for the first time. Almost all of his early racing was over 1000m and although he’s proven capable at 1200m in recent times, the extra 100m is another bridge to cover. Luke Campbell, who has ridden the six-year-old to three placings from four rides, returns to the saddle on the Playing God gelding. He is a $5.50 chance after easing from $4.60, reflected by the move from $2.60 down for Angel Undercover. Triple Jay shot to prominence in the 2024 winter, running riot through the grades with four successive victories. His winning run eventually came to a halt with a narrow defeat in the 2024 Farnley Stakes behind ownermate Saloon Bar before being spelled. Brought back at the beginning of this year, the gelding was soundly held in the Scenic Blast Stakes and was again turned out for a break before his May return in the Northam Stakes. After getting the right run, he loomed but was no match over the late part when a four-length eighth to West Star. 17 days later, he participated in the Belmont Sprint (at Pinjarra) when travelling two positions back in the three-wide train. Pulled out, he could find no extra and wilted to finish last before again being spelled. In the lead-up to this, he trialled at Lark Hill over 950m on December 15 when sitting three wide on the speed. Beaten for a turn of pace on the home bend, he was galvanised into action by Clint Johnston-Porter halfway up the running and closed off well to be only a half-length astern of Simply Thinkin’. Drawn the inside barrier, the $7 shot will be steered by Steve Parnham in what seems a choice over regular partner Sky Duke. Boots Like Bruce - like Angel Undercover, Sky Duke and Triple Jay – has earned just shy of $400,000. In fact, only $12,000 separates the career totals of the four, with Boots Like Bruce accumulating $382,000 to Triple Jay’s $394,000. Even a runner-up showing from any of the quartet will see them break the $400,000 barrier, meaning we could have multiple milestones on Friday afternoon. Boots Like Bruce, a noted on-pace runner, couldn’t get near the top in his resumption over 1000m on November 1 and the same occurred second-up over 1100m next time. Third-up over 1400m he was closer to the speed but raced three wide without cover and withered late to be beaten eight lengths by Cosmic Crusader. Finally, fourth-up, he was able to occupy the lead role again over 1400m but was found wanting over the final stages when stopping to be a four-length seventh. The eight-year-old also experienced the apotheosis of his racing tenure in the 2024 winter, scoring both the H G Bolton Sprint and Belmont Newmarket. This does appear his most likely chance for the campaign, however, and he is a $9 hope. Jelly Can Run ($21) is clearly the lowest-rated competitor in the race and is eligible for much easier races. She does appear much better suited by the rise to 1300m rather than the 1000m first-up where she was burnt off and never figured. She has won over the journey and her second-up stats read marginally better than her first-up ones, but she would surprise if she won. The Pearce brothers, who train Triple Jay, will start the shortest-priced favourite on Friday’s card when A Summer Fling ($1.45f) goes off a hot elect after a promising second to Like Clockwork on debut.