Weekly Review - August 17 to August 23
CRANBOURNE - 17 August 2020
TAGALOA has absolutely bolted in in Heat 1 (1:02.49s) on Aug 17 over 1000m. As good of a jump out as you could possibly have, he looked like he was in a near walk and still won. CLARICE CLIFF’s the other that has bolted in in the quickest 800m heat of the morning, taking out Heat 5 on Aug 17 in 47.00s, over 1s quicker than the next best time.
ALOVELYBROWNHORSE looks like she has a bit of closing speed. The 4yo mare closed well from the back in an Aug 3 jump out on Vancouver Lad (came out and won a MDN) and also in Heat 7 (49.01s) on Aug 17 when ridden with a little bit of urgency to come through the middle and run past Moi Choux. She is a full-sister to the handy metro winner Red Heeler, so she might appreciate some distance but certainly looks like she has some ability.
Heat 5 on Aug 17consisted of a few spring mares including CLARICE CLIFFS taking out the heat comfortably with a big win, beating SPANISH REEF and FIDELIA in fast time.
TATURA - 17 August 2020
RAINBIEL went to the line with superior horses in Rubisaki and Kaarchi in Heat 2 on Aug 17. Two placings from two career runs to date, this filly looks to have come back in good order for her 3yo campaign after another quiet Jul 28 jump out.
COLERAINE - 17 August 2020
The third jump out now since her first up run for PICCADILLY STEET (which is unusual) as she went to the line hard-ridden alongside 79-rated Royal Performance and a quietly ridden Kazio in Heat 1 on Aug 17. Will need to see where she pops up second up now as there are some question marks surrounding her.
ARTIE SCHILLER x BEIJING BOUND (grey silks) looked to be bolting for a run in Heat 3 on Aug 17. Putting this un-named Wilde runner on the watch list to see what it could do if given some room… This runner has then jumped out again at Warrnambool on Friday in Heat 9 on Aug 21, winning in the grey silks. Unusual week of two jump outs for an unnamed runner (potentially bc of how little space he had on Monday) so watching this space.
ST ARNAUD - 18 August 2020
An impressive win by SURECAN, the $220k half-sister of city winner’s Persan and Peirrless. The 3yo daughter of Not A Single Doubt looked luckless around the bend in Heat 2, on Aug 18, before angling off the fence and coming through the middle with a bit of toe despite her head being sideways as she hit the line. After a quieter jump out on Jul 28, she’s certainly one to follow as she holds a Thousand Guineas nomination and her sibling’s certainly have some ability.
Blinkers on for KUMANA in Heat 3 on Aug 18? The 4yo gelding had a jump out on Jul 25 without any head gear, which looked to be on in this heat and he has absolutely brained them in this jump out (albeit not beating much but the time of 56.8s was slick for the day). Comes down to VIC after three runs for Kris Lee’s in NSW, one to watch and check those gear changes.
Great return by AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, taking out Heat 7 on Aug 18 as easy as you like. The Group-1 placed mare was full of running to and through the line and looks in for a big spring campaign.
BENDIGO - 18 August 2020
THEMOONSABALLOON looked well held together to finish 2nd in the quickest heat of the day, Heat 2 (49.67s) on Aug 18. The 3yo gelding is solely owned by his trainer in Paul Banks and jumped out well enough here to suggest he could win a maiden.
He was given a little push to keep up, but thought A REPORT did quite well to go across the line in Heat 6 (1:02.74s) on Aug 18 just behind the handy Monetizing and in front of 11-time winner Mr Gustavo who are both rated well above him. He is unplaced in 3 career starts, having not finished closer than 7L in any of them which makes the form worrying but the jump out was certainly encouraging. He’ll be a big price too.
CAULFIELD - 18 August 2020
SAPPHIRE CROWN took off late in Heat 3 (49.95s) on Aug 18 to win and make the likes of Global Gift, Parlophone and Starouz look like they were stuck on a treadmill. Impressive bit of work by this gelding who looks progressive.
RINGFORT cruised to the win in Heat 5 (50.11s) on Aug 18 and looked very comfortable in doing so, albeit in the slowest time of the day. The 4yo mare was a $100k purchase back in 2018, but has been very disappointing in 3 career runs to date. Only her first jump out this prep so watch for a second one to see if she has returned in better order.
The $80k Inglis Yearling purchase under the breeding Toronado x Dane Sense (CAPTAIN SPUD) made up a lot of ground in Heat 6 (48.79s) on Aug 18. This 3yo gelding was a clear last by over 5L, was given a reminder to keep up and then looped the field with ease over the concluding stages. Hard to see in the Jul 21 jump out, but this galloper looks to have a bit of late toe.
A big win by SEA WITNESS in Heat 7 (48.12s) on Aug 18, backed up by the clock running the quickest time of the day and well below the benchmark. The 3yo colt has compete in some handy races without placing, starting at no less than $17 so a good starting price profile. He had a nice soft first jump out on Aug 5 with Mozzie Monster coming from this and winning well on debut. Keen to follow him into a mid-week maiden off the back of this work.
PAKENHAM - 19 August 2020
Another super jump out from WHIPCRACKER WAY, this time over the 1000m and taking out Heat 2 on Aug 19. As a comparison, his time was 0.19s quicker than the Heat won by Mr Quickie… a good way to line up his jump out form as he looks super ahead of his return.
DESIGNED TO RUN was very impressive late in Heat 8 on Aug 19, kicking away with ease when asked for an effort. The 3yo filly handled the synthetic track a lot better than the Soft track in her other jump out, so will definitely need to see a synthetic debut to follow.
The most impressive win of the day was TYCOON RAFF taking out Heat 9 on Aug 19 over 800m. You couldn’t miss the grey 4yo as he cruised along leading, continually extending and hitting the line with pace, albeit under no jockey pressure. He looked to have a very nice action and the most keen to follow from this meet.
SANDOWN - 20 August 2020
Lovely jump out by LUNAKORN in Heat 2 on Aug 20. After a very impressive campaign winning 3 of 4, the 4yo mare will be looking to go on with it. She would be very competitive in a bm70 first up before going on with it this spring so hopefully we can catch her in one.
WARRNAMBOOL - 21 August 2020
EARLY PLEA (red) looked super when going to the line with the 66-rated 4yo Better Harden Up in Heat 3 on Aug 21. The 3yo gelding was under a strong hold for much of the heat and matched motor’s late to just get over the top and win. Most recently he was 1.45L off Miss Divine Em (since won her next 2 races) and Diesel ’N’ Dust (since won MDN and placed in town) with a big 2.25L gap back to 4th. Look for him first up after this 9-week let up, he shouldn’t be a maiden for much longer.
FLEMINGTON - 21 August 2020
We said to watch out for CIRCLE OF MAGIC after a nice Aug 14 jump out last week. In good company, the 3yo filly finished 4th to runners with ratings 82, 74 and 87 in Heat 4 on Aug 21. Throughout the jump out and past the line she looked to match motors with this field, albeit in the second slowest heat of the day.
Slowest time of the day, but the winner WILD ROVER looked very relaxed throughout Heat 10 on Aug 21. The 3yo colt looked to have an effortless stride and after debuting at Caulfield back in May, suspect the stable have an opinion of him but he just needed that bit more time. His half-sister gets out over 1600m-2000m so expect his best to be over a similar trip.
GIFTED MISS looks a smart one and super keen to see her resume. The 3yo filly took out Heat 11 on Aug 21 with ease, just in front of a pretty handy galloper in PHOENIX GLOBAL (who we are also keen to watch in hopefully a bm64 first up). Follow her, she won’t be a maiden for much longer and expect her to be competitive early this prep.
Another one that we liked last week, BAT PAD looked super leading the field along the fence in Heat 12 on Aug 21, only to be overran late by the 71-rated (and undefeated) Aidensfield. The heat was ran in super time for the day, the 48.08s being the third quickest of 17 800m heats this day. She looks handy and very keen for her debut.
THALA showed a nice turn of foot when asked for a bit of an effort at the top of the straight in Heat 13 on Aug 21. The 3yo filly really attached the line in this heat and hit it with pace, going on with it past the line. Unplaced in all 3 career runs to date, she could be one at a nice price first up on the back of some nice work here.
The 3yo Zoustar filly AMURI travelled in restricted room early in Heat 17 on Aug 21 with the jockey restraining her for much of the back straight. She was shuffled back but managed to find some room along the fence in the straight and showed a nice natural turn of speed to come up and take the lead and win. Have no doubt if she was allowed to jump and run she would’ve won by more in better time. Only her first jump out too so encouraging signs early.