Weekly Review - February 15 to February 21
CRANBOURNE - 15 February 2020
Nice win by THE GENERAL in Heat 8 after being a little disappointing first up and finishing 10th. 5-week freshen up and he’ll be improved.
FRENZY LUNE travelled beautifully along the fence in Heat 9 on Feb 15 (orange) and then showed a nice kick late to win ahead of some okay gallopers in Fast ’n’ Deep, Dogmatic and Finesse Tess. The 47.11s time was the second quickest 800m heat of the morning too, so she’s done so in good time after travelling quietly out the back in her first jump out on Feb 1. One to watch, expect (and would want) a double digit price.
The 3yo SUSSEX ROYAL did a really good job to finish only 1L off the winner in Heat 16 on Feb 15 (orange and brown), with that winner being Play Me Now and she travelled a lot better and they gapped 3rd here too over the 1200m. She was last on Jan 11 over 1000m and faded in a Jan 25 1200m jump out. The big improvement a result of the blinkers going on for this heat. She’s a half-sister to Antagoniser, so expect her to be best over 1400m/1600m.
AVOCA - 15 February 2020
Massive win (margin wise) by GIMME THE GOSS in Heat 8. In saying that, the time was below average for the day so not much substance behind the win besides a huge margin - tread very carefully as she also had race fitness.
SIGN SEAL DELIVER a big winner of 1200m in Heat 16.
SURECAN travelled just behind or alongside Celestine throughout Heat 3 on Feb 15 (light blue) before being superior late and hitting the line with some pace. We had her black booked from a nice Aug 18 jump out last year but she never got to the races. She is a half-sister to city winner’s Persan and Peirrless and looks to have some talent. Quite keen on this filly - she’ll be very competitive in a maiden despite potentially needing some distance.
BOLD MANNER travelled 3-wide throughout Heat 6 on Feb 15 (navy) and then let down like a nice horse late, albeit against weak company. This 3yo daughter of Pins is out of a Savabeel mare, so we certainly will see the best of her as she gets out over a mile or so. Regardless, the way she moved and let down while hitting the line with pace under minimal riding pressure gives the impression she goes alright. Only her first jump out too.
Following a nice Feb 4 jump out behind California Sunset, THINK WINNING has now taken out Heat 9 on Feb 15 (green). He showed good gate speed here to lead and was given a push around the bend to get going but looked to travel nicely late over the 1000m, with Irish Playboy and Smokin’ Pierro in 2nd and 3rd while gapping 4th - he looked better. Happy to forgive his two career runs on Heavy9 and Soft7 tracks, he’ll be better back to a dry track after being given more time to mature.
The full-sister to Affair To Remember was the only runner without a maiden win in the group of four that crossed the line in Heat 11 on Feb 15 (green). UNIQUELY didn’t look out of place against Copper Fox, (the race-fit) Setanta and Blood Sweat Tears where she travelled beautifully throughout the 1000m and is definitely the one we want to follow. She shouldn’t be a maiden for too much longer if she finds a country 1200-1400m maiden first up.
CAULFIELD - 17 February 2020
The 2yo’s to follow here are the Maher & Eustace duo of REALISED who won Heat 4 when leading comfortably (gapped 3rd) and PORT LOUIS who rounded the field really nicely to win Heat 3. Both worth keeping on the watch list.
BENDIGO - 17 February 2020
DIAMOND THORA was a massive winner of Heat 7 over the 1000m.
Nothing else stood out as any to follow with confidence or intrigue.
PAKENHAM - 18 February 2020
SANSOM won Heat 1 over 1000m in the quickest time of the day coming off a 2.1L loss at the Magic Millions in Gold Coast 5 weeks ago.
O’Mahlo won Heat 2 by a nose but was very hard ridden and the outside in RISING SPHERE loomed up and travelled beautifully into it having been posted wide for much of the heat.
MELISMA was under a ridiculous strangle hold in Heat 5 on Feb 17, finishing 2nd to the grey TYCOON RAFF (yellow) who travelled the clear widest of the field but had plenty left in the tank left as he closed super down he middle of the track. The 4yo gelding started $3.10 on debut but could only manage 5th. Expect a much improved performance first up in his second career preparation, this was a nice bit of work.
MORNINGTON - 18 February 2020
HASSTOBEGOOD looked nice running over the top of the field and winning Heat 4 but they ran slow time for the day.
WOW! MADAME BOLLI has completely destroyed the field in Heat 5 on Feb 17 (yellow). The 3yo filly was a quiet 4th on Jan 27 (but travelled wide throughout) and very quiet in a Feb 10 jump out, but it was today’s heat where the blinkers went on and she really took it up a notch. She jumped beautifully from the inside, took up the lead and then it was simply all over from there. The jockey looked back twice in the straight thinking “where is everyone else?”. To add to it, she ran the quickest 1000m heat of the morning too at 1:00.89s. Last prep she finished 4th three times and 3rd twice, so she always seems to be there abouts and with the blinkers on now, she can improve and go very close in a maiden first up.
SCREWDRIVER won Heat 6 on Feb 17 (blue with white sleeves) quite well in the end. Resuming for the new C Douglas stable after previously being with Hayes and Dabernig, he sat midfield whilst wide and then let down really well down the middle of the track without ever really being asked for much of an effort. He didn’t beat much at all here, so not a stack of confidence there but a nice bit of work none-the-less. Has always been there about and expect that to be no different first up for the new stable.
They clearly had an opinion of DON’T DOUBT NIC as a 2yo, running in two stakes races where he failed to place and was then tipped out for a big 1 year + spell, returning to finish 2nd in Heat 7 on Feb 17 (red) and splitting China Affair (1st) and Lyre (3rd) with Twains Express in 4th. He travelled reasonably wide throughout over the 750m and looked to close well, especially for only his first jump out back.
TIGER MUM was black booked after a Sep 9 jump out and has been just as impressive since in jump outs on Sep 16, Jan 27 and now a win in Heat 11 on Feb 17 (blue) on the outside of stablemate Out To Win. She’s yet to jump out over a distance above 750m, which is a slight query but she does look to have some talent and looks to move well in the jump outs. One to follow.
FLEMINGTON - 20 February 2020
CHARM SCHOOL did it well when winning Heat 5 comfortably. Looks to have returned well as a 3yo.
PLEIN CIEL looked a class above in Heat 9 despite not winning. He travelled wide throughout under no pressure.
COMPARDY’s record is a bit worrying at 5 starts for 5 placings and 0 wins, but really think if they can place him in the right race this preparation he should be winning. He jumped out well on Feb 12 to finish 2nd to one we think is smart front he Hawkes yard and he put in another nice performance here to win Heat 12 on Feb 19 (blue with orange sleeves) when defeating Iconoclasm and the Group-placed Star Of Eden. Having ran into Ocular, Just Folk and Mozzie Monster so far in his career, he brings great form lines and should be winning a mid-week maiden. Want 1000/1100m as well.