Weekly Review - January 4 to January 10

CRANBOURNE - 4/5 January 2021

The rain was terrible for those early jump outs and then they went to the synthetic. Heats 1 to 7 were conducted on Monday and Heats 8 to 10 were on Tuesday…

Hard to get a gauge and follow any of these with real confidence. Couple we will watch but no stand outs.

BALLARAT - 5 January 2021

HARMONY NATION was completely untested on debut over 1354m behind Cambourne, sitting on the fence and held up for clear running throughout the entire race and straight. The son of Not A Single Doubt started $5.50 that day and is quite well bred, being a $800k purchase and a half-brother to Sassy ’n’ Smart (Group 2 placed over 1200m in NZ). In his jump out return in Heat 4 on Jan 5 (blue), he settled to the rear again before coming up the middle and looking like he could’ve put lengths on the field in a matter of strides. He looks like he has a bit of talent…

A 2yo worth noting, similar to that of Mr Scorefield for Nigel Blackiston, was MADAME SOLARIO who was away poorly in Heat 6 on Jan 5 (green and white chequers) but made up good ground along the inside and looked much better than the two 4yo’s on her outside. She nearly won this and the fact she is a 2yo in her first jump out only adds to how impressive it was.

TERANG - 5 January 2021

Impressive (and undefeated) 2yo GULF OF SUEZ won by a massive margin in Heat 1 on Jan 5 (black). He has come over from SA after winning both his career runs by a combined 8.8L…

FIRST MATE is going to be very forward on debut. Heat 2 on Jan 5 (black with green sash) was his fifth jump out since the start of December… not the biggest fan of having this many jump out’s before the debut but he won’t be short of education or fitness now.

This is how you want them to close off a jump out - HAI SUN (coming off a 3.8L 4th on a Heavy8 track at $61) closed super down the middle of the track in Heat 4 on Jan 5 (purple) to win. She ran the meetings 3rd fastest L400m and 4th fastest L200m on debut when coming from a very clear last and she’s out of a mare who was 4L off a Group 3 over 1400m. Impressive debut and impressive jump out since is a good combination heading into the second up run.

ECHUCA - 5 January 2021

CALLIGRAPHER bolted in the fastest time of the day at 52.12s for 900m when leading the whole way in Heat 4 on Jan 6 (white and green). Resuming from a very long spell but this was impressive. One to keep an eye out for in a BM64 first up.

Returning as a gelding, MYSTERY DANCER was a very impressive winner of Heat 2 on Jan 5 (pink) over 900m. Jumping straight to the front, the 3yo never looked like being caught and was under a very strong hold to the line - he had a lot more to give. He was beaten on the line by Pioneer River on debut at Flemington before leading but failing in a Listed race at Moonee Valley in his second start that then saw him spelled and gelded. He has some talent and will lead so he looks a good betting proposition first up in a maiden.

COLSRIDGE just beat Classy Gal in a Dec 18 jump out where they gapped 3rd, that runner went on to finish a 2.2L 3rd in a MDN at Mornington at a big $31. This gelding has now won Heat 6 on Jan 5 (orange) very impressively when given a push late but kicking away late nicely to suggest he might have some talent. Worth following this 4yo into a maiden at a big price.

CAULFIELD - 5 January 2021

Hard to get a real gauge on these - only fields of 3 or 4 over 650m on a Heavy9 track.

MORNINGTON - 6 January 2021

The top 2yo’s on the day were MIDWEST, who took out Heat 9, and TRANQUIL BAY, who took out Heat 11.

ARIGATO pulled up lame at her last start, but looked very comfortable throughout Heat 4 on Jan 6 (green) when finishing a very close 3rd to Dynamic Duo and Inside Edge but having the better of recent maiden winner Storming The Seas. Very noticeable gear absence of her blinkers so worth keeping an eye out for these as she had them on for her last two starts but she seems to go better without them. Nice return and one we want to follow into a 1200/1400m BM58.

The fastest 750m jump out of the day came in the last heat being Heat 14 on Jan 6, won by OUR LITTLE RIPPER in 47.55s (blue with yellow sleeves) with the ears pricked. This lightly raced 4yo mare jumped straight to the front and was way too good for them, with promising 3yo The Billionaire 2nd and a pushed out Judgement in 3rd (massive gap to 4th). Impressive return here.

PAKENHAM - 6 January 2021

SEEMINGLY DISCREET won Heat 9 by a huge margin, clocking the clear fast 850m time of the day with ease.

SAVANNAH CLOUD is a colt we have also had an opinion of, returning to win Heat 10 and looks to have come back in good order.

GALAXY KEEPER closed very very well from the back to finish 2nd (to Oxley Road) in Heat 11. She was an impressive debut winner in SA before being spelled.

The 3yo filly WATCH LIST looks to have some talent. She was 2nd in a Dec 7 jump out and 3rd in an official jump out on Dec 15 before taking out Heat 7 on Jan 6 (green) very impressively over 1000m. She pretty much ran the entire first half of her official trial with the head up under a hold and looks to do a bit wrong when she’s asked to hold back. The daughter of Star Witness does look like she has some talent though.

OXLEY ROAD beat home Swan Cap in an Oct 28 jump out, that runner has since ran 2nd, 3rd and 3rd in maiden’s. The 3yo colt hasn’t been since until he won Heat 11 on Jan 6 (red) very impressively when leading from start to finish with the nice debut winner in Galaxy Keeper finishing 2nd - they ran the second fastest time of the day easily. He is very well bred, being a full-brother to Exceedance and on the back of these jump outs, he’s a must follow. Looks a smart colt.

FLEMINGTON - 8 January 2021

Hard to miss the grey colt GOONDIWINDI for Danny O’Brien, who went to a clear last in Heat 11 on Jan 8 (navy and chequered sleeves) before coming the clear widest around the fiend and making up a lot of ground and no urgings from the rider. The son of Australia shouldn’t of been in the finish here and although the start is a worry, he showed really nice speed to catch the eye.

THOROGOOD looked green but jumped out super, winning Heat 13 on Jan 8 (black with white/red sleeves) comfortably with the ears pricked in okay time for the day. He had a lot left under the hood to give. He tired late in his first jump out on Dec 24, but this was a much better piece of work for the full-brother to Rapidora. He’s one to keep an eye on.