BlackBook - Thursday, 12 August 2021
Please see below for our #BlackBook runner comments for Thursday, 12 August 2021. The runner's highlighted are our #BlackBook runners (the key runners of focus), while those included in the 'other' section of each race are additional runner's that have jumped out well enough to be worth noting. All NSW #BlackBook runners are 'other' runners.
SALE - Race 2
#3 GROWL (8) - C Maher & D Eustace
The well bred 3yo colt GROWL is travelling well at the jump outs, being by Written Tycoon out of the mare Vergara, a Group 3 winner that was also 4th in the Group 1 Doncaster over 1600m. He was very hard held on Jul 20 (orange), being allowed a little more room in Heat 6 on Aug 5 (light blue) as he took up the lead and travelled super throughout to win. He looks to have a bit of talent having also previously trailed well on Mar 9.
#5 THE DUKE OF DUBAI (4) - M Moroney
Very impressed by the 2yo THE DUKE OF DUBAI. He jumped beautifully from out wide to push forward in Heat 14 on Jun 25 (white and blue), but the jockey wasn’t letting him take off that resulted in him over-racing for a stretch. Once he settled, he look to have a nice big action and went to the line untested just ahead of Stalking who was 2nd on debut only 3 weeks ago so had that extra race fitness. It was only the geldings first jump out back after a jump out back on Dec 24 when 2nd to Translation. He looks to have some talent.
Previously mentioned after his Jun 25, THE DUKE OF DUBAI put in another super bit of work in Heat 13 on Jul 23 (pink) after being very slowly away, he was a class above. He was given a push as they rounded the bend but the jockey quickly put it away as he made up lengths with ease to come over the top and win. He had a quiet jump out on Jul 9 (pink), and now looks primed for his debut. Keen to follow.
OTHER
#4 RED HOT NICC looks to have come back in really good order. He was quietly ridden in a Jun 24 jump out when 2nd but has then demolished the field in Heat 8 on Jul 7, winning by 7L in the third fastest time of the day and only 0.15s off the quickest. He was extremely hard held until the bend and then he opened up as he was revved up, showing he had a bit on this lot. He started $3.20 on debut but had bilateral shin soreness, so forgive that run and look for him to return now in better order.
We're a big fan of THE DUKE OF DUBAI - think the big Sale straight will suit him even more and expect him to win this and go onto bigger things. It's good to see Jordan Childs back racing, heading to Sale for one ride on this gelding for the stable he mostly rides for - he is Moroney's 9th most used jockey ever with 250 starts (and he's only 25 years of age).
GROWL is an obvious big danger and looks worthy of a saver if something is to beat him (can get $8 on TopSport). RED HOT NICC ran well first up and has the benefit of race fitness here second up, but don't think he's got the class of the other two.
EXTREME FLIGHT won a jump out on the same day as THE DUKE OF DUBAI, clocking 50.63s in comparison to Duke’s 50.08s. ONIKA moved alright at Cranbourne, finishing behind Rue Lepic who has since finished 5th of 11 and 8th of 8.
SCONE - Race 6
#13 MASCHERATA (NZ) (10) - John O'Shea
Jul 27 (Randwick) - sneaky good trial - sat in the back half of the field along the rail, was searching for a run in the straight but held up considerably until the ~200m mark when she went back inside and found space and made up good ground to finish 3rd under minimal pressure - needs to improve on first two career runs, this is a good start.