Weekly Review - February 1 to February 7
CRANBOURNE - 1 February 2020
GOSSITINO looked nice when 2nd in Heat 6, probably the most impressive of the 2yo’s.
VONGOLE a nice winner of Heat 8, RICH HIPS also super in the same heat coming from the back.
STAREDOWN was in cruise control when 2nd in Heat 2 on Feb 2 (white) over the 1000m. The 4yo gelding sat just off the leader with the jockey a statue throughout the whole heat. Last preparation he ran well over 1600m first up as a gelding before failing miserably over 2000m second up as a $1.50 favourite - the track was rated a Soft7 that day and suspect he will appreciate being more on top of the ground. Look for another jump out and then 1400m first up - if he’s odds on though, wouldn’t recommend.
Hopefully we see THE RUNNING MAN in a BM58 first up. After a quiet Jan 25 jump out, the 5yo gelding was able to hold off the usual jump out star in Write Enuff to win Heat 10 on Feb 2 (pink and white). Last preparation he was 2nd in a BM64 at Flemington at a massive $81… He’s only once raced in a BM58 for one win so really hoping we see that first up. Stable is flying as well.
CAULFIELD - 2 February 2020
SCREAM DREAM looked mightily impressive winning Heat 5 on Feb 2 (blue and green). She took a sit at the back of the field before her super turn of foot in the middle stages to push up through the middle, take the lead and win comfortably in the end. With only 3 career starts for 1 win, she might pop up in a CL1 before going onto some more classy races as she certainly has class. If we can get one of those CL1 or BM64 races first up, keen to follow.
A huge win on Jan 19 for SHARNA STAR, backed up by a huge win in Heat 7 on Feb 2 (green and white) in the fastest time of the morning. The lightly raced 5yo mare looks to be flying at the jump outs, but we are treading with caution in case she is one of those one paced jump and run types that always wins jump outs but fails to bring it to race day. In saying that, she didn’t do this in her Jul/Aug 2020 jump outs so she may have come back improved in her second prep for Colin Scott. Want a 1000m MDN first up.
BENDIGO - 2 February 2020
WANTED SPARK won a couple jump outs in Nov and Dec last year before a 2-month break and returning to win Heat 2 on Feb 2 (brown with yellow sleeves) quite well in the end. He took up the lead in this heat and looked to have a big stride, the 800m clearly short of his best as he took a bit to get going when the jockey did ask for an effort. Keeping an eye out for another jump out, but could be worth following this 3yo gelding into a 1200m or so maiden.
TERANG - 2 February 2020
KHOEKHOE kicked away well to win Heat 15 over 1200m comfortably.
Big eye catcher of Heat 3 was the Mitch Freedman runner in BOBBY’S KITTEN x AQUALUNA (purple with white sash). This runner was beaten for speed early, but once shifted to the outside of the field closed really well under their own steam with no pressure from the jockey. Keeping an eye out for a name, believe this is a 2yo runner.
Nice turn of foot by FIGHTING HARADA, winning Heat 11 on Feb 2 (green) by a decent margin and backing up her Jan 12 win. She hasn’t raced since Sep 2018, so expect her to potentially need a run first up but regardless, she’s worth following in a BM64 first up as she certainly had talent as a 2yo/3yo.
MORNINGTON - 3 February 2020
As expected, PIPPIE ran the fastest time of the morning and won comfortably in Heat 1.
JENNIWANDJIN closed well from the back in Heat 4 to finish 3rd (black). Probably the most eye catching performance in an ordinary set of jump outs for horses to follow.
MAGNUS A GO GO won easily in Heat 6 over only 700m after a 7-week let up. A debut win can’t be far away!
PAKENHAM - 3 February 2020
THE BLUEBAGGER on on Jan 20 and again in Heat 8 on Feb 3, both wins coming quite easily for the 2yo colt.
BALLARAT - 4 February 2020
UNDER OATH has bolted in to win Heat 2 over 1100m in very slick time.
IDEAL MISS won Heat 3 well but slowish time and her race record doesn’t read too well at all. One to keep in mind as we watch for another jump out.
Pushed out late, but really liked how the 3yo ADALEENE extended late away from Emperor’s Star with Haileybury Miss a couple lengths back in 3rd in Heat 5 on Feb 4 (brown) over the 850m. She sat just off the speed, a little wide throughout before finding the middle of the track in the straight and showing that nice turn of foot. Only her first jump out too, so plenty of improvement to come. Watching.
FLEMINGTON - 5 February 2020
LAVERROD looked super winning Heat 5 when travelling very wide throughout. Super jump out by this 4yo.
Coming off a freshen up and for the new Moroney stable, the blinkers went on for THE COMMONER and really worked a treat, the 5yo mare winning Heat 9 in the fastest time of the morning.
FOREVER FREE a very smart win in Heat 2 on Feb 5 (orange, white and black), defeating the likes of the G1-placed Dom To Shoot and recent Magic Millions winner Aim. She jumped super, went straight to the front and looked super when hitting the line under a very strong hold. Feel sorry for the jockey on board, certainly got an arm work out here trying to hold on! Very impressive.
Price tag wise, STARDARMESTA is certainly near the top having been a $1 million purchase at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He had a couple of jump outs as a 2yo in May/June, but didnt quite make it to the races and now returns as a gelding where he looked quite nice when 2nd to the handy Yes Baby Yes in Heat 11 on Feb 5 (orange). He sat on speed in this and they ran nice time for the day too - it was an encouraging bit of work. Look for another jump out before he debuts, he’s got a lot to live up to price tag wise!
Super bit of work by RAAZOU, taking out Heat 15 on Feb 5 (black with white sleeves) in his first jump out back. He jumped out well prior to his debut where he ran well behind a smart one in Frederick The Dane, but was disappointing in two subsequent runs. He travelled super wide in this heat and under a strong hold, still managing to win quite easily in the end despite covering a lot of extra ground. He’s been given time now and he looks to have come back in good order.
Big fan of this filly. DE BE ELEVEN was previously with Tom Hughes where she won jump outs on Dec 11 and Dec 24 and a 2nd on Jan 8. Heat 16 on Feb 5 was the first jump out for the new Mike Moroney stable where she travelled wide throughout and when given a slight niggle late, she looked like she was really going to extend on Brasada. She looks a real smooth mover and keen to follow.