Weekly Review - July 18 to July 24
CRANBOURNE - 18 July 2022
OTHER
CAVELLITA had no right to be near the finish of Heat 2 on Jul 18, let along winning the heat. The 3yo filly was having her first jump out back this prep, noting that she didn’t have the blinkers on here, jumping well but being very (!) slow into stride as she drifted ~5L off the second last horse as they rounded the bend. She came out wide and rocketed home to get up and win over the 990m. Monitoring where this filly heads to, especially with her blinkers back on as she certainly appreciates the head gear.
The Price & Kent 2yo colt in WHAT YOU NEED certainly moved well enough again to be one to follow. After his 3rd placing in an official trial on Jul 4 behind Shalaman and Tolpuddle (since 3rd MDN), the son of Supido went to the synthetic track and just cruised into 2nd place in Heat 4 on Jul 18. He travelled super wide throughout, going through the motions and really attacking the line. Like the way this colt moves and did everything under his own steam.
TATURA - 18 July 2022
This was impressive. The un-raced 2yo gelding FAST SERVE won Heat 16 on Jul 18 by 5.5L in the second fastest time of the morning, clocking 53.44s vs the days average of 54.57s across 16x trials over 850m. This trial was over very quickly, with the son of Swiss Ace bouncing out of the gates to lead and having superior speed throughout, opening up that huge gap in the straight with ease while under a hold from Tahlia Hope. He was 2nd in a previous Jul 7 jump out where it is very hard to make out how he went due to the fog, but it looks as though he was purchased from NZ following a Mar 22 trial over 800m where he also looked super. Very hard not to like this bit of work, it was super.
OTHER
Always thought CASTILLIAN had some talent but he hasn’t quite shown in on raceday yet, making the switch to the in-form Patrick Payne stable now and he looks to be moving beautifully. He closed super in a Jul 7 jump out and likewise again in Heat 12 on Jul 18 where he was taken the the back of the field and asked to work home in the straight, going down by only 0.7L when 3rd. First up he was 4th to He’s Essential with I’m Innocent (2nd) since winning by 4.2L ahead of Viking Rebel, who was 3rd in the same race. He was a $300k buy, so his owners will certainly be hoping he can capitalise on the talent he’s shown at the races soon.
Ridiculous 8L win by MISSED THE MARK in Heat 20 on Jul 18, clocking the fifth fastest time of the morning in the process. A BM58 first up will be more than ideal for this lightly raced 4yo gelding resuming for his third career prep.
MOE - 18 July 2022
OTHER
Liked the way WRITTEN SWOOSH closed down the outside of the track in Heat 6 on Jul 18, winning in 1:06.52s which was nice time for the morning and only slightly below the fastest time of the morning at 1:06.05s ran by Ancestry. The 2yo filly drifted to the rear of the field, just cruising out the back a good 2-3L off them before showing her class late as she rounded them up with ease to win without ever being asked for an effort. A $340k buy from the MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale back in 2021 as a half to ex-stablemate Brazen Boy where Phillip Stokes recently bought the half-brother by Trapeze Artist for $850k… so he clearly has a big opinion of the family. She was 2nd on debut at Caulfield to Miss Roseiano, who’s a talented filly and on the back of this slick 1000m jump out, she should be going well first up this prep.
PAKENHAM - 19 July 2022
OTHER
SPRING VALLEY should feature prominently first up, his lovely win over 750m in Heat 11 on Jul 19 when coming from the back a nice bit of work to top him off for resumption. He was 2nd in a previous Jul 12 jump out over 750m as well, but settled a bit closer to the speed there whereas in the latest heat he settled a clear last and closed from the back. Last prep he failed to break the maiden but was placed in all four runs. He needs a bit of distance, likely 1200m to 1400m to really show his turn of foot and full potential.
BURRUMBEET - 21 July 2022
BEOUR BAY was a very clear last throughout the entirety of Heat 12 on Jul 21, absolutely cruising throughout until they approached the straight where she was asked to extend and closed superbly. She made up a lot of ground easily, finishing 3rd by only 1-2L but if you watch past the line, she was in front of the leaders. In typical Archie Alexander fashion, her first jump out on Jul 7 over 900m saw her very quietly ridden to finish 5th behind Port Louis. Her debut run was ridiculous, missing the start by some 5L+ and closed in the meetings second fastest L600m/400m/200m to finish a 0.4L 3rd even when held up - she should’ve won this. She was then 4th second up to Devout Hero with the likes of Bon’s A Pearla finishing 3rd and nice form reading from the race. Expecting her to go well first up, we just need her to not be a clear last and having to do too much.
OTHER
The 700m jump outs weren’t much of a guide, with every runner just cruising to the line and looking good without being asked for an effort.
It was nice to see the McEvoy colt NEW LEVEL close well from the back to win Heat 8 on Jul 21 over the 1000m. He was ridden with no urgency early, taking a sit behind the leaders before making his move just prior to the turn, coming out wide and closing well over the top. His previous jump out on Jun 29 saw him restrained to take a sit, which he didn’t like, before cruising up the the leaders and going to the line untouched in 2nd place. Looks a nice enough moving Almanzor colt and like how he has taken a sit and closed well while also showing some nice early speed.
FLEMINGTON - 22 July 2022
OTHER
BISTRO put together an absolutely superb jump out in her return, taking out Heat 4 on Jul 22 by several lengths as she ran away from some talented 2yo’s in Hell Hath No Fury and Crosswinds. She’s clearly a talented filly be featuring throughout the spring in some nice races. It looked as though Jamie Kah was on board as the filly clocked the third fastest time of the morning in the process. One to monitor ahead of her return.
That’s two nice jump out wins now for PRADO, taking out a Jul 1 jump out before another nice win in Heat 8 on Jul 22. He’s got a friendly racing pattern, having led in both of his jump outs and being clearly too strong late. He was a beaten $1.40 SP favourite on debut where he had every chance, which isn’t confidence building ahead of this prep but he does look to have come back improved. Worth following to see where he goes.
HAWKESBURY - 18 July 2022
A few (that aren't maidens) worth noting from these trials, but no real 'stand outs' that we really want to follow:
Trial 5 - DIAMOND FOREVER - won by 3.05L in slick time (59.97s) but his L600m was below average (34.35s vs 34.20s average), so slight worry that he was tiring late and may be left wanting late on debut as well.
Trial 7 - VA VIA - won by 3.13L in the fastest 1000m time of the morning (59.55s), showing a tremendous turn of foot in the straight once he found clear air down the middle of the track. He cruised in his previous trial over 845m on Jun 29 at Wyong.
Trial 13 - ANGEL FUND - won over 785m in the second fastest time of the morning.
Trial 15 - SWEET RIDE - nice looking colt that won by 4.79L over 785m in the fourth fastest time of the morning, leading from start to finish along the rail and doing so with ease. Dominant.
WARWICK FARM - 22 July 2022
OTHER
OCEAN SHORES work past the line in Trial 2 on Jul 22 over the 1175m was superb. James McDonald had the 3yo gelding just jogging midfield on the fence but once they got into the straight, he really got going and was doing his best work late. He was a second up record of 2:1-0-0, that win being his only career win which was over 1550m. He raced over 1400m first up so now likely steps up and improves. He’s worth monitoring.
CONQUEROR is moving like a really smart colt. His trial win on Jul 8 was smart, cruising at the rear of the field before coming up the rail to win and going on with it past the line. In Trial 9 on Jul 22 he went forward and sat off the leader under a strong hold from Hugh Bowman and just cruised to the line. He’ll feature in some nice races this Spring.
BAYEZID, IGNACIO and SCORCH are all worth monitoring from Trial 11 on Jul 22.
SCORCH is a half-brother to In Her Time that was a $240k purchase, his second trial having finished 4th in another 740m trial last week where he was super past the line.
IGNACIO was coming late and was clearly the best past the line, a lovely first trial for the Redoute’s Choice colt.
The head gear went on for BAYEZID and he looked to settle a bit better but still wanted to get on with it.