Weekly Review - July 17 to July 23

CRANBOURNE - 17 July 2023

HEDGED was very well backed on debut but failed to live up to those expectations, being a $2 SP favourite but finishing 3rd by 2.1L behind Tumbling who then ran 4th in a Group 3 at Randwick. He pulled up shin sore following that run so had excuses and was spelled while also receiving the key gear change of becoming a gelding. The now-gelded 2yo son of Capitalist bolted in his first jump out on Jul 10 and then backed that up by bolting in Heat 4 on Jul 17 while clocking the fastest time of the morning in the process. He’s got a stack of speed and is certainly talented, so if he’s over those little issues as a 2yo as he approaches his 3yo year, he’ll certainly win a maiden and likely some more races.

BRIER backed up his Jul 10 win in the fastest time of the morning (clocking 47.64s vs the second fastest of 48.44s by Masterful) when winning Heat 5 on Jul 17 ahead of Three Rings, whose got some talented himself. This 3yo gelding got to the front with ease in the early stages, travelling comfortably but the most pleasing part was the fact he did it at both ends, responding to riding late to win and put a margin back on the majority of the field that included several past winners. With this being his second jump out this prep and doing both in nice style in quick times, expect him to feature prominently on debut.

QUEBECK was in another postcode, bolting in Heat 14 on Jul 17 by a huge margin over the 1000m, clocking the second fastest time of the morning behind only the well performed 6yo in Cyclone Sally. The 2yo son of Rubick has now put together back to back 1000m jump out win having won a Jul 3 jump out as well, albeit without the margin as this jump out. He can’t do much more at the jump outs and looks primed for his debut now.

Another lovely jump out for AKROTIRI in cruise control, finishing 2nd in Heat 16 on Jul 17 over the 1200m having cruised in a previous Jul 10 jump out over 1000m where he closed really well late. As mentioned, he was purchased following a Jul 19 NZ trial, yet to be fully tested this prep in Aus but looks to be a nice mover that can go well on debut, likely eventually heading over a bit of distance.

MURTOA - 18 July 2023

We didn’t get any guide from SUNDAY FUN DAY’s first two jump outs this prep as he just cruised to the line out the back where he was never asked to extend or get out of first gear. Although he sat out the back again in Heat 6 on Jul 18, we certainly got more of a guide late as he was pushed out and asked to extend, in which he did and did so quite impressively to make up significant ground around the outside and down the middle of the track to win while clocking the second fastest time of the morning. Although against nothing with any form, he was very impressively to the eye so keen to following this 3yo gelded son of Reward For Effort into his debut.

PAKENHAM - 18 July 2023

PLANET MARS couldn’t make it 3 from 3 at the jump outs as he finished 2nd in Heat 4 on Jul 18, but he didn’t do his credentials any harm as this was a solid bit of work and most importantly, over 1000m having previous won jump outs over 600m on Jun 21 and 750m on Jul 4. They didn’t break any time records, but liked how he sat off them here and closed nicely late having led in both his previous jump outs. He’ll be ready to go on debut and can run a cheeky race.

BENDIGO - 18 July 2023

WANGARATTA - 18 July 2023

TRARALGON - 19 July 2023

AKICITA was a feature in our reviews following some slick jump out wins on Jan 9 and Jan 16, but he didn’t quite get to the races and was given more time. The 2yo colt returned in fine style for his second prep though in Heat 6 on Jul 19 where he finished 2nd, but was a superb closer late after settling behind the speed and cruising to the line under no pressure from Lachie King. This was a super return from this son of Grunt, a $300k purchase as a half-brother to the Group 2 placed stablemate Typhoon Titmus that they paid $200k for year prior and the stable recently purchased another half-brother by Brutal for $320k, so they obviously have a very high opinion of the family. It’s only his first jump out, but keen to follow him.

A 2nd in a Group 3 on debut followed by two more solid runs in Group races as an earlier 2yo, ZOUSUKO has some nice form on the board now and looks to be in good order ahead of her return. She had a quieter 700m jump out but was on full display in Heat 8 on Jul 19 with an impressive bit of work. She jumped superbly and wanted to run but Jamie Mott restrained her to sit off the leaders, which she didn’t like initially and over raced but once she got into it, she cruised nicely to the line to finish a very close 2nd where they clocked the fastest 950m time of the morning. If she heads to a maiden first up, she’ll run very well.

JENNIFERANCE showed some nice closing speed to win Heat 10 on Jul 19, settling in the second half of the field before getting the gaps over the concluding stages including an inside run along the rail where she showed a lovely turn of foot when asked to win quite nicely in the end, albeit in slow time for the morning. She cruised to the line in a previous 750m Pakenham jump out where this 3yo daughter of Inference looks a nice mover and one we can follow on debut.

Would be keen to back MOOLAH MOOLAH third up at a big price in a 0-58 having cruised to the line from the back of the field in Heat 11 on Jul 19, albeit with some race fitness but also without the blinkers she’s had on in those two runs this prep.

Keeping an eye on where STRUCK GOLD pops up for his first career run in Aus having had the 1x run in NZ for a 3rd only a few weeks ago in June. He’s had the two jump outs here now, the latest a win in Heat 11 on Jul 19 where he was pushed out late and showed that turn of foot he had in NZ, getting over the top late to win comfortably in nice time. Like the way he moves and expect him to run well first up here.

GEELONG - 19 July 2023

ALBANIAN WRESTLER had a solid debut prep of 3x runs for 2x placings, but resumes as a gelding in his second prep now and has strung together two solid jump outs, winning his latest in Heat 4 on Jul 19 where he did it nicely throughout. That gelding might have brought him on and be enough to get a maiden victory early this campaign.

BALLARAT - 20 July 2023

Another solid bit of work from IMAPAGETHREE GIRL, bouncing straight to the front in Heat 6 on Jul 20 and travelling nicely on speed when finishing 2nd to Rich Glow. She cruised in 3rd place in her Jul 12 return jump out behind Steel Jimmy (since 1st by 4.5L) and Brechen as she looks to be in nice order ahead of her debut. She hasn’t exactly set the jump outs alight this time in, but convinced she’s a nice filly and certainly has a maiden in her as she approaches her debut as a 4yo.

Lovely first jump out from the 2yo filly KEEP YOUR COOL, winning Heat 10 on Jul 20 in a canter as she led throughout with ease. Having her first jump out this preparation ahead of her debut, this Deep Field filly was a $190k purchase and has some noticeable names in the ownership including Mr W Bourne and Ciaron Maher Racing, so certainly a filly to keep a close eye on.

FLEMINGTON - 21 July 2023

RACKEMANN has had a slight name change from Rackermann by dropping the ‘r’ since his debut campaign that saw him finish 2nd in both runs, the latest to Shuffle Dancer who went on to win a Group 2 only three starts later. He’s been given plenty of time, returning in Heat 10 on Jul 21 (red silks) where he was out the back in the early stages but was able to get some room in the straight as he cruised to the line impressively. He’s a nice moving gelding so keeping an eye on him into another bit of work.

FULL BLOWN broke his maiden at his fourth start and then was tipped out where he was gelded as well. He returned in very ordinary fashion, finishing last by 13.2L and as a result was given a let up, returning after 9 weeks in Heat 12 on Jul 21 for a superb jump out win with the blinkers going on as well. He’ll run a much better race in his return.