Weekly Review - August 2 to August 8
FLEMINGTON - 2 August 2021
TRAMONTANA looks to have made a nice return, winning a pair of jump outs on Jul 23 and Heat 1 on Aug 2 (white) where he sat on pace in both of these and was too strong late under minimal pressure. He was a little unlucky not to break his maiden already, finishing 2nd in his first two starts at short prices before going into town. Being a well bred colt as a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winning star Trust In A Gust, this time off before his early 3yo season might do him plenty of good and we expect him to be quite competitive first up on the back of this bit of work. Mindful of price with his record, but one to follow regardless.
He’s a 5yo with only 1 career start that was a 13th in Sha Tin back in 2020, but MARIMENKO looks as though he moves quite well. He was given a quiet time in Heat 3 on Aug 2 (orange), where he went back before coming wide and just cruising to the line as he made good ground in the straight and past the line. This follows nice jump outs on Jul 16 and especially on Jul 23 amongst good horses in Aysar, Harmony Nation, and Need New Friends with the winner (Adki) since winning a BM58. Must follow for his Australian debut.
CRANBOURNE - 2 August 2021
Super jump out by CREDLIN, the 5yo mare doing everything but winning when 2nd in Heat 15 on Aug 2 to one we have an opinion of in Rinnova. She jumped beautifully here but had to sit wide just off the pace because of the barrier. She ran into some trouble in the straight but once she balanced up and got some room, she hit the line super here under a strong hold. She broke her maiden first up last preparation and on the back of this, pretty keen to follow her first up here and hopefully she pops up in a BM58.
OTHER
TIZ MY BAY is still a poor beginner, but her finishing is super and she showed it again as she closed really well to finish 2nd in Heat 8 on Aug 2.
MISHIKA was a nice winner of Heat 8 on Aug 2 in the process, a returning 4yo mare who sat on speed and travelled nicely throughout.
SHILO LASS bolted in Heat 9 on Aug 2 in the fastest 760m time of the day, almost 1s quicker than the next best heat where she had the 66-rated 8yo Jesta Dreama chasing hard here. She had the benefit of some racing, having most recently finished 6th in a BM58 in July but she resumes here off a freshen up for Gavin Bedggood having previously been with Moroney. Follow her into a BM58 first up for the next stable.
AREYOULISTENING matched motors with Vongole as they crossed the line 1st and 2nd in Heat 11 on Aug 2 in slick time, the second fastest of the day. The 5yo gelding has switched over to Shawn Mathrick now where we’d expect him to resume in a BM58. Last prep he had 5x starts in BM64’s for no placings but 1x start in a BM58 for 1x win over 1000m.
After being a late scratching the other week from a BM64 despite still being a maiden, RINNOVA took out Heat 15 on Aug 2 where she led from start to finish along the rail. She was given a few reminders from the jockey but ultimately went to the line under her own steam. Still keen to follow her first up, hopefully in a maiden this time.
PROWLING looked to move nice in only his first jump out this preparation. The gelding travelled lovely under a hold as he cruised to a win in Heat 16 on Aug 2. He was never asked for an effort but was pulling away late as he hit the line comfortably. He’s out of the mare Great Dame who only had 4 career starts for 2x wins and a 4L 4th in the Group 3 Vanity. Keeping a very close eye on him.
BALLARAT - 3 August 2021
SASSY CHOICE has been showing some talent without being fully tested. She was 2nd on Jul 16 (red) to some more experienced runners, backing that effort up with another 2nd in Heat 3 on Aug 3 (red) as she stepped up to 1100m. Her late speed here was super impressive, sitting 4-5L off the speed before coming down the middle of the track under no pressure to pretty much all but win. She had a pair of jump outs on Feb 25 and Mar 10, winning the latest before being sent for a spell. Looks ready to go to the races now and be competitive.
A $260k purchase at the Inglis Classic Yearling sales, RED HAWK was mentioned after his Jul 16 win despite it being the slowest time of the day. The now-3yo colt showed that speed again to lead from start to finish in Heat 8 on Aug 3 for a big win in the end but this time clocking the second fastest time of the day (past the line he was in front by a long way). He will be leading or at least on speed on debut where we expect him to be very competitive. He looks to have a bit of talented and if he debuts at Ballarat no the synthetic, the McEvoy stable go to another level.
NO WAY EVER is a talented filly. She was a nice Caulfield jump out winner back on Feb 9 that was followed by a Cranbourne jump out win on Mar 15 and made it into our reviews. Given some more time, she returned to take out Heat 11 on Aug 3 over the 850m in nice time for the day without ever being asked to give much. John Allen had her under a strong hold but she still hit the line strongly with plenty more to give. Has talent.
OTHER
CHAMPS D’OR with another nice jump out win, taking out Heat 7 on Aug 3 over 850m in the fastest time of the morning. Will be well suited first up over 1000m or so, hopefully in a BM58.
After debuting in the Magic Millions 2YO classic back in 2019, OPICINA hasn’t been seen since until Heat 12 on Aug 3 where the now-4yo mare travelled quite well throughout to finish 2nd. Only her first bit of work back so one for the watch list.
Also follow NICCONI EXPRESS from Heat 12 on Aug 3 too. It was this gelding’s first jump out back after finishing a 2.5L 2nd (at $1.80 SP) to subsequent Group winner Beau Rossa.
SUPER JENNI KAY is a half sister to Tycoon Bucks and took out Heat 14 on Aug 3 in impressive fashion as she sat on the speed along the rail. She was pulling away late in an encouraging bit of work for her return in the first jump out.
GEELONG - 4 August 2021
OTHER
COME ALONG JEFFREY has put together two jump out wins following his nice in Heat 6 on Aug 4. He debuted back in December 2020, finishing 2nd to Was Written who has subsequently won a CL1. He’s also moved over to the Jamie Edwards stable during his break. One to keep in mind first up.
CAULFIELD - 5 August 2021
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.
PAKENHAM - 5 August 2021
TOBAYSURE was one of the standouts in Heat 4 on Aug 5, cruising to the win over the 1000m. The 3yo gelding jumped well, sat just in behind the speed throughout before getting room in the straight to just go through the motions and come over the top of the leaders with ease. He closed well in his Jul 20 and Mar 3 jump outs too and has shown he might have a bit of talent.
OTHER
Sneakily good jump out from SAINT MARTIN. In his return, the 3yo gelding travelled quietly under a hold bunched up in the second half of the field before coming wide in the straight with a bit more room and closing well. He was beaten by a decent margin but was never let out from a strong hold. He is a half-brother to Czarson, a handy 2YO that was Group 2 placed behind Dubious. One for the watch list with this being his first and only jump out in VIC this preparation.
If we’re following Tobaysure, we have to also follow ISLAND EDITION who was 3rd in Heat 4 on Aug 5 and probably just as quietly ridden but finished a bit further back. His Jul 20 jump out when going past Lightsaber was also impressive and he too looks like he was some nice closing speed.
OFFSHORE BANDIT jumped out super prior to his debut, but his first two career runs were disappointing. He had excuses on debut, beginning terribly where he dropped back to a very clear last and was held up around the bend. His latest run was poor though, spelled after and given a nice time off. Returning here as a 4yo, he took out Heat 9 on Aug 5 comfortably and is one to watch for and track how he is travelling prior to resuming. He’s always shown above average talent at the jump outs.
NSW
BIOLOGY - Bjorn Baker (Heavelon Van Der Hoven)
Aug 3 (Warwick Farm) - nice 3L+ win in nice time, only slightly slower than Laure Me In earlier - was away okay, taking a sit in behind the speed under a strong hold before he got a gap up the fence and extended to the lead and kicked away late - was impressive late after being held up - clearly appreciated the 1200m today rather than the first 900m trial - might need 1400m or 1600m?
WAY TO THE STARS - Matthew Smith (Koby Jennings)
Aug 3 (Warwick Farm) - this colt bounced out the gates, straight to the front and was way too good, didn’t look like being beat and even pulled away a little late - like the form from first trial on Jul 16 now too, Coastwatch (2nd) since a 2.5L 5th to Silent Impact and Jal Lei (3rd) won first up - friendly racing pattern, will be leading on debut and we’ll be following.
GREAT NEWS - Kim Waugh (Jay Ford)
Aug 2 (Wyong) - 5yo mare with 10 starts for 5 wins and 5 placings and on the back of this work, doesn’t look like that’ll change - fastest 1000m heat of the morning - this was really nice!
AZTEC - Kim Waugh (James McDonald)
Jun 25 (Wyong) - jumped well, went to the lead and was a nice win ahead of Silent Impact (since 1st MDN and 1st HCP at Rosehill).
Jul 5 (Gosford) - was away with them but didn’t have the same early speed (as first trial and those in this field) and dropped back to last - had no room in the straight and was running up bums to the line, untested - past the line found a gap and powered to the front.
Given a 4-week freshen up.
Aug 2 (Wyong) - showed that same speed he showed in the first trial to lead and just was a class above in the end - time was on the quick side for the day over the 1000m - has talent, no doubt.
EYEWITNESS - Kristen Buchanan (Jason Collett)
Aug 2 (Wyong) - only just beaten (and ran over) by Bring Glory late, but clocked the clear fastest time of the day over the 845m by a comfortable 0.76s - jumped to the front and led here.
OMNI MAN - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Tim Clark)
Aug 6 (Randwick) - half-brother to She Will Reign and Time To Reign - not much more this 3yo I Am Invincible colt can do - was a close 2nd in a Jul 5 Gosford trial over 800m before winning a trial on Jul 16 over 900m and here over 1050m - one to keep an eye on for a debut.
INVINCIBLE VISION - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (Nash Rawiller)
Aug 6 (Randwick) - he’s needed plenty of time, being a 5yo now but this might be the prep he finally gets to the races - he had two trial wins in Sep 2018, spelled for 2 years to return in Sep 20 for a 2nd and then spelled again before this - showed plenty of early speed, led and was good enough to hold on - a $1.05m purchase back in 2018 as a half-brother to the Golden Slipper star Mossfun - huge watch but expect to see another trial before he debuts.