Weekly Review - August 24 to August 30
CRANBOURNE - 24 August 2020
Mentioned in several of our reviews from 800m wins on Jul 20 and Aug 10 under his breeding Zebedee x Zest A Second, the 3yo gelding BIG FLASH stepped out over 1000m on the synthetic and again was an easy winner in Heat 3 on Aug 24. He beat some nice horses here too included the 79-rated Easy Beast in 2nd and 71-rated All Hard Wood in 4th. Super keen for his debut, he’ll be breaking his maiden early.
CAULFIELD - 25 August 2020
The handy filly SCIENTIFIC looked super in Heat 3 on Aug 25, going to the line with Thought Of That. Her debut run saw her win very impressively, running her final 600m 7.6L above the class average off a slow tempo - the 2nd horse (Zacouver) has since won at Sandown. This is a spring filly and keen to see what she can do.
BLACK OPAL will jump and lead when he resumes and be in it a long way if his jump out win in Heat 4 on Aug 25 is anything to go by. He is yet to miss a placing in three first up runs and likes the wet (7 starts for 2 wins and 4 placings) so he is a big watch first up on a wet track.
RIVER TWAIN was a very easy winner in Heat 7 on Aug 25. The 3yo gelding cruised to the lead but needed a reminder mid-way through the heat, but very quickly put a gap on the field to show he was a class above. He’s still a maiden and yet to have a SP below $10 so we might get a nice price first up. Also won an Aug 18 jump out.
Was good to see WISE COUNSEL take out Heat 8 on Aug 25 after a disappointing debut performance, although he did pull up lame so can definitely forgive the run given he start $4 and comes from a handy family. Looked like the blinkers went on too… which would be a big welcomed gear change so he’s a big watch second up.
An interesting galloper was a very easy winner in Heat 9 on Aug 25, the 5yo gelding TRUMPHOUSE. This follows a very nice win on Aug 11 under a big hold (noting in very slow time), while the last time we saw him before these was when he took out an official trial over 2 years ago in April 2018 under the guidance of Craig Williams. Very interesting runner but the jump outs have been super… keep an eye out.
MORNINGTON - 26 August 2020
The 3yo filly’s ALLMYLIFE and MISS CONDUCT went across the line alongside each other on the synthetic in Heat 4 on Aug 26 and looked in good order doing so. Both are still maidens so worth keeping safe on a day where the jump outs were iffy.
The un-raced 3yo filly PRIDE OF JENNI gave them a galloping lesson when winning Heat 6 on Aug 26. She looked very comfortable leading on the synthetic and won in good time, clocking 57.12s for the 900m compared to the benchmark 57.95s. She was only overran late when leading a Aug 12 jump out too (finished 3rd) and looks to be a likely type. The Jenni’s go alright also…
BALLARAT - 27 August 2020
Nice run by SHADOW PREY in Heat 1 on Aug 27 who didn’t really get going till later in the heat but hit the line well. Obviously better over a bit of a distance and he is still a maiden after placing at Flemington last start. A 3yo to watch as spring approaches.
DREAMS AND SCHEMES has absolutely bolted in in Heat 5 on Aug 27 over 850m (in the clear quickest time of the day too) after going to the line with Salome (since 2nd bm58 first up) in a 1000m Aug 12 jump out when they gapped 3rd. The 4yo gelding has only had the one career preparation, going unplaced in all 5 starts with his best runs (4th and 5th) coming on good tracks. He’s had two good jump outs now though so a synthetic race first up would be ideal, hopefully drawn low to allow him to get a nice lead. Worth following.
Only two sub-52s 850m heats on Aug 27, one of them being Heat 9 won by INCREDULOUS DREAM who is coming off a nice 5th at Sandown at a big price of $26. Stable obviously has a good opinion of this 3yo filly having already contested Group level in only 3 career starts, worth following second up.
FLEMINGTON - 28 August 2020
YOSHI TORANAGA has bolted in to win Heat 4 on Aug 28 in fast synthetic time. The big grey 4yo is unplaced from 5 career runs and looks a real jump and run type. Would need to see a 1000 maiden first up, hopefully at a nice price after another jump out to give some more confidence.
Super bit of work by HEY DOC winning just form FROM WITHIN in very quick time in Heat 6 on Aug 28. Both travelled super throughout when leading a very handy field.
In a jump out where the lowest rated horse was the bm70 winner Westbrook Park, the un-raced 3yo gelding SILLY POINT travelled very nicely to finish 2nd in Heat 7 on Aug 28 but was in front past the line, albeit with a couple of reminders from the jockey. This follows an Aug 21 win and will be a gelding to follow into his debut.
SWATS THAT is jumping out like a very good filly. She took out Heat 9 on Aug 28 under a very strong hold following on from her Jul 31 and Aug 10 jump outs. Think this is a group class filly and will feature in some very nice races this spring.
SCIPIO looked very well held when winning Heat 12 on Aug 28, but it was the un-raced 3yo RELIABLE DUDE who made very good late ground out wide and hit the line strongly, going past the winner past the line. He is by the stayer Reliable Man from a Viscount (3rd in cox plate) mare so will get over a trip, potentially a derby type?
FIXATED was another who made up a lot of ground past the line in Heat 14 on Aug 28 after settling at the rear of the field for a majority of the jump out. A 3yo colt that had an alright first campaign as a 2yo, he’s one to follow now as he looks to have come back improved.