Tipsy's top pick, but can she stay? (inc what our tipsters say)

Stan Bates concedes he has doubts about Miss Tipsy Topsy’s staying ability ahead of the $110,000 XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup (2200m) this afternoon.

Miss Tipsy Topsy won the Belmont Oaks (2000m) and the Belmont Classic (2200m) as a threeyear- old, but has since failed in five feature staying races.

The Spinning World mare’s best return was in last fortnight’s traditional Bunbury Cup lead in, the AHA Cup (2019m), when runner-up to Barnsley Lad.

Miss Tipsy Topsy challenged strongly but fell agonisingly short by a nose, the fifth consecutive time she has run a minor placing this campaign.

“I thought she had every chance to get past Barnsley Lad but just wasn’t quite good enough,” Bates said.

“I absolutely have to question her ability to run the trip and I do have my doubts.

“She just hasn’t been able to carry over her three-year-old form into open company.

“But on a more positive note I have not seen her look any better.

“Her recent form indicates she could be an autumn and winter horse.

“She has the job in front of her but deserves to break through.”

Player installed Miss Tipsy Topsy, drawn in barrier four for jockey Jason Whiting, as the $3 favourite, ahead of Moonlight Bay ($3.80), when markets opened on Monday.

Firming in from $26 into $13 is the Jeff Noske-trained Destroy.

Noske is seeking to claim a second Cup after riding Exit Lane for Megan Midgley in 2002.

Noske’s son Jarrad will partner Destroy from barrier five.

TAB Player fixed odds betting manager Ben Pomatti said they had taken bets of $500 at $26 and $21 and $500 each way at $16 on Destroy.

The Mark Bairstow-trained Toned had attracted a bet of $500 each way at $31 and had been another big mover in the market, backed into $21.

Last year’s winner Lords Ransom, who started as a $26 chance, shortened to $17 yesterday.

“It’s been interesting. Punters have backed three of the roughies but the four fancies have all been pretty easy,” Pomatti said.

“Everyone is saying the race will be a pick out of the top four in Miss Tipsy Topsy, Moonlight Bay, Dreamaway and Double Barrel, but no one is backing them yet.”

A $1000 was put down on the Grant Williams-trained Dreamaway yesterday at $4.50.

What our tipsters say

Our regular tipsters, and some high profile South West figures including The West's Steve Butler and Sports Star of the Year Brad Scott, and other who know about these things, have given us the good oil on today's Bunbury Cup.

We asked them for their first four past the post, in order, and a well-priced outsider who might surprise.

Here's what they came up with:

Julio Santarelli, RWWA

Moonlight Bay; Miss Tipsy Topsy; Hibernian; Toned

Roughie: Vieira Da Silver

David Smith, Mayor of Bunbury

Lords Ransom; Dreamaway; Moonlight Bay; Double Barrel

Roughie: Toned

Riley Stuart, South Western Times

Moonlight Bay; Miss Tipsy Topsy; Reprisal; Dreamaway

Roughie: Vieira Da Silver

Fiona Hinds, www.swtimes.com.au

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Double Barrel; Reprisal; Moonlight Bay

Roughie: Destroy

Paul Luzi, Lighthouse Realty

Dreamaway; Miss Tipsy Topsy; Moonlight Bay; Defy Me

Roughie: Destroy

Ashley Dillon, Spirit 621 South West

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Double Barrel; Viera Da Silver; Moonlight Bay

Roughie: Toned

Flighty Filly, Greener Pastures

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Moonlight Bay; Dreamaway; Toned

Roughie: Vieira Da Silver

Brody Russell, Bunbury Turf Club

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Lords Ransom; Dreamaway; Toned

Roughie: Defy Me

Nola Marino, Forrest MHR

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Dreamaway; Moonlight Bay; Vieira Da Silver

Roughie: Hibernian

Ian Jones, WA Regional Newspapers

Double Barrel; Miss Tipsy Topsy; Dreamaway; Moonlight Bay

Roughie: Hibernian

David Shortte, TAB Player

Dreamaway; Vieira Da Silver; Defy Me; Miss Tipsy Topsy

Roughie: Reprisal

Steve Butler, The West Australian

Lords Ransom; Miss Tipsy Topsy; Hibernian; Toned

Roughie: Lords Ransom

Valerie Ogoke, SW Slammers

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Double Barrel; Moonlight Bay; Dreamaway

Roughie: Toned

Noel Brunning, GWN7 News

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Double Barrel; Moonlight Bay; Toned

Roughie: Fa’Em

Craig Chadwick, Bunbury Turf Club

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Moonlight Bay; Lords Ransom; Double Barrel

Roughie: Toned

Brad Scott, Sports Star of the Year

Miss Tipsy Topsy; Moonlight Bay; Dreamaway; Double Barrel

Roughie: Lords Ransom