Weekly Review - August 9 to August 15
FLEMINGTON - 9 August 2021
LAFARGUE started $3.50 on debut at Flemington, managing a disappointing 6th but pulling up with a slow recovery in a forgive run. He’s been given 12-weeks since that run, returning up the straight in Heat 2 on Aug 9 (navy) and winning impressively in slick time with the addition of blinkers. As this was only his first jump out back, expect another bit of work before he resumes but he already looks to be improved after that break and with the gear change.
OTHER
RIGEL STAR could be quite talented. He jumped out on Aug 2 when 2nd to Found Our Thrill (fresh off a MDN win) before taking out Heat 3 on Aug 9 (red) under a strong hold. He was a super first up winner last prep before getting too far back (especially at Mornington) when rocketing home to finish 2nd in a CL1. He’s out of the mare Two Blue who was a Group 1 & 2 horse herself and think this Zoustar gelding can add to his win tally in this third career prep.
LUCKY CANUCK probably wasn’t ready to get to the races after her pair of jump outs in March and April, but her jump out return in Heat 4 on Aug 9 saw her go to the line with some nice horses in Seradess and Heresy. She’s out of the Group-placed mare Satin Robes and didn’t look out of place here.
WIDAAD (white) went to the line with OUTRAGEOUS (orange) in Heat 6 on Aug 9 and they pretty much dead-heated.
This was a really nice return by INEBRIATING for the new stable, taking up Heat 7 on Aug 9 up the straight in her first jump out back after finishing 10th of 10 on debut back in April at Sandown when with Scott Cameron. Excelida and Treporti were making ground late but she travelled comfortably throughout regardless.
SLIDERS was extremely speedy, taking out Heat 9 on Aug 9 by a big margin with absolute ease. She has a stack of speed.
SOVEREIGN AWARD was absolutely superb in her Heat 11 win on Aug 9 (navy). She’s probably not quite Group 1 quality, but certainly is more than capable of winning some more Group 3 races. This jump out was super.
Nice dual between MILFORD (pink) and FARETTI (white and red) to take out Heat 12 on Aug 9, clocking the fastest time of the morning in the process. Would love to see FARETTI in a BM70 first up while MILFORD will go to the distance races having ran in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and ATC Derby (2400m) last preparation.
Keeping our eye on TELEPORTER. He was a beaten $2.25 favourite on debut as a colt, coming down to VIC and returning as a gelding where he finished a distant (but untested) last on Aug 2 before bolting for a run in Heat 16 on Aug 9 (orange) while he had a similar run to Djukon. This was a nice jump out without giving too much.
CRANBOURNE - 9 August 2021
Expect INVINCIBLE CAVIAR to go very close first up. The daughter of Black Caviar was 2L off the smart Argentia on debut before being put away for the spring. She was slowly away in Heat 12 on Aug 9, but quickly mustered some speed to push forward and was too good late, winning by 2L in above average time for the morning. Moody said she’ll go to a provincial maiden and expect her to go well there before competing in town over the spring.
THE QUEENS RICHES bolted in a jump out back on Mar 23 ahead of Pintoff who then came out and won 3 of his next 4 runs including BM70, BM78 and BM84. She didn’t make it to the races, heading to the paddock before returning in Heat 15 on Aug 9 where she travelled beautifully on speed under minimal pressure from A Kelly to win ahead of some nice runners such as Maybe The Best. Think the Kelly’s might have a nice 4yo mare on their hands on the back of her jump outs.
OTHER
PLACE OF GOLD was the pick of Heat 1 on Aug 9, travelling under a hold to the line after being untested in a Jul 20 Pakenham Synthetic jump out too.
RATTLE AND BANG, albeit race fit, clocked the fastest time of the morning as he just defeated Group 1 star PORTLAND SKY along with FREE TO MOVE moving well in 3rd. If he pops up in another BM64, he’ll go very close to making it 3 wins in a row.
Massive arm work out for Craig Newitt aboard ZERELLE as the 3yo colt finished 2nd in Heat 5 on Aug 9. He ended his first career preparation with a win ahead of Three Kings where they gapped 3rd by 4L, that runner went on to win his next two starts including the Listed Anzac Day Stakes.
ARGENTIA clearly a class above, taking out Heat 8 on Aug 9 but did so in the second slowest time of the morning.
COMMANDS THE FIELD a very impressive winner of Heat 10 on Aug 9 in the second fastest time of the morning, with XTRA GEAR in 2nd, a previous feature after finishing 2nd to Generation on Jul 12. One to keep in mind ahead of her debut.
MISS SOLUCA didn’t have much room throughout her Jul 19 but was travelling just as well as Zerelle and Forgot You (since 3rd BM70). In Heat 14 on Aug 9 she had plenty of room, pushing forward and although being given a bit of a push, she still closed well to finish a narrow 2nd to Six Bells.
THE GENERAL clocked the fastest 990m heat of the morning, extending away to win Heat 18 on Aug 9 by 2.5L ahead of the smart Ancestry.
Hope to see HOLSTER in another CL1 second up after a 9-week let up. He was a close 2nd to Kermy first up but was given a break with a nice 2nd to Impecunious in Heat 19 on Aug 9 over 990m to tick the legs over before resuming. He won second up over 1600m last preparation, being his first for the Yargi stable.
MORNINGTON - 11 August 2021
OTHER
They had the benefit of race fitness, but Top Arctic and DUNALLEY were easy winners of Heat 2 on Aug 11 in the quickest 900m time of the morning. DUNALLEY in particular closed well over the top of the leader Top Arctic to record a nice victory having finished 7th on debut a couple weeks ago.
RIDDLE ME THAT super in his return jump out win in Heat 4 on Aug 11.
The winner of Heat 5 on Aug 11, MELANIE, was under a strong hold to the line to win in nice time.
STAWELL - 11 August 2021
OTHER
HRUNGNIR was $201 on debut at Flemington against Ingratiating and Gimmie Par but pulled up with shin soreness. Won a Jul 14 jump out before a very easy all the way win in Heat 4 on Aug 11. Simon Foster clearly had an opinion of this colt based on the race he debuted in - keep an eye out for his resumption.
NIGHT PASSAGE bolted in Heat 6 on Aug 11, clocking a very nice 1:01.70s.
This was a super return by HENDRIKA, taking out Heat 7 on Aug 11 very comfortably as the 5yo mare led throughout before coming down the middle of the track and closing very well. She has had the two first up runs for 1x win and 1x placing (2nd), so she goes well fresh and would love to see her pop up in a BM58 first up now. Watching for another jump out before resuming first though.
Very nice jump out return for ATOMIC GOLD having had previous jump outs under his breeding. The 4yo gelding clocked the fastest 800m time of the morning in a win in Heat 9 on Aug 11, getting a nice run up along the fence after sitting just off the pace. It was quite arrogant in the end, with the jockey looking over his shoulder to see where everyone was before easing down late. Keen to see another bit of work to get a really good gauge on how he’s travelling.
FORTUNATE KISS ran 3rd to Enthaar and Ingratiating on debut, only going down by 3.5L and gapping 4th (Frostin’) by 3.5L with that runner coming out to finish 2nd, 1st and then 2nd in the Bendigo Vobis Gold Rush - fair form. The 3yo filly returned to win Heat 10 on Aug 11 in nice fashion and looks to have come back in good order.
BEACHHAVEN was super in his first jump out for Maddie Raymond, leading all the way in Heat 14 on Aug 11 as he went to the line with the 4yo Abandiman. Clocked a nice time in the process too, so a must watch into another jump out as he’ll certainly need to improve on his previous form when with Chris Waller.
Want to follow the horse that goes to the line with Tydeus in the second fastest 800m time of the morning. Says it is PLAYING IT SAFE, which is incorrect as that runner actually won Heat 12. Awaiting a response to get the right runner.
UPDATE (Aug 16) - the runner is Mystery Shot.
KERANG - 11 August 2021
OTHER
CATEGORY FIVE bolted in Heat 2 on Aug 12 following a disappointing latest run in a BM78.
COLSRIDGE with a nice 1000m win in Heat 13 on Aug 12 following a 3-week freshen up after his very impressive 3.5L debut win. He clocked the clear fastest time of the morning - suspect he got freshened up as he prepares to tackle some harder races this spring.
FLEMINGTON - 12 August 2021
OTHER
STAR WALTZ is a Snitzel half-sister to Group 2 winner Starelle and after a pair of jump outs back in April, she was given a little more time and had the blinkers applied that saw some nice improvement as she took out Heat 1 on Aug 13. She’s got nice breeding and this was a nice bit of work in her return, one for the watch list.
DRAFT DAY was under a ridiculous hold as he went to the line in 2nd in Heat 8 on Aug 13 (black with white sleeves), but think he could’ve easily won this and clocked a quicker time if he was allowed to fully stride. He had 3x jump outs in June/July, which were probably just okay so with the winkers going on in this heat, we saw some nice improvement but he would’ve had some extra fitness with this being his fourth jump out.
NSW TRIALS
ROCCAFORTE - Richard Litt (Robbie Dolan)
Aug 9 (Warwick Farm) - the colt needed to trial again after being very green on debut when finishing last - couldn’t of done much more, winning over 1175m here by 8L - looked a bit green again, was racing with the mouth open but was much better in the straight as he extended away - had race fitness but still impressive.
GYMNASTICS - James Cummings (Rachel King)
Aug 11 (Kembla Grange) - was going stride for stride with Doctor Gav before being given a small rev up where she just took off to win by 6.5L - had a quiet first trial on Jul 27 over 735m - well bred filly, out of Aerobatics, a 2x Group 3 winner over 1200m/1300m - went well in his first prep and looks to have come back improved as a 3yo.
I AM BRAZEN - John Thompson
Aug 11 (Kembla Grange) - nice win in really nice time, defeating Kallos who has some nice 2YO form on the board- watching for another trial.
MASKED CRUSADER - Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Aug 13 (Rosehill) - trial of the day - absolutely super in his return.
ACHIRA - Lee & Cherie Curtis
Aug 13 (Rosehill) - this was really nice - the grey sat last on the fence under a hold before finding a gap up the rail in the straight and exploding to the lead to win over the 1030m - was an alright 3rd over 900m on Jul 30 as well - her last start 3rd in the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) reads alright - can win a maiden early this prep.
MA AND PA - Chris Waller
Aug 13 (Rosehill) - another super bit of work - small field but jumped super, straight to the front and never looked in doubt but did clock a slower 1030m for the day - should be hard to beat first up.
WRITTEN BEAUTY - Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Aug 13 (Rosehill) - super trial, clocking the fastest 892m time of the morning in a 4.6L win.
DALCHINI - Lee & Cherie Curtis
Aug 13 (Rosehill) - super - jumped super from barrier 1 and could’ve led, but elected to go back to sit last not he fence under a strong hold - exploded through the gaps in the straight to the front to win comfortably - super bit of work - did the same in a Jul 30 trial, winning ahead of Sirius Girl (since 4th) and Group runner Mallroy - keen to follow.
FIRE - Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Aug 13 (Rosehill) - this was super in a time that was only 0.08s slower than Written Beauty - jumped beautifully, straight to the front and put up a massive margin around the turn - they were making ground late but he was put under no pressure at any stage - was just overran late but Remarque in Jul 30 trial and should be very competitive first up.