Weekly Review - July 25 to July 31
CRANBOURNE - 25 July 2022
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VERANSKOVA was a superb winner of Heat 3 on Jul 25, an absolute class above this field. The 4yo mare ran 2nd first up at Flemington behind Squid Game, coming from last in some slick closing sectionals to go down only 0.1L. Follow her second up, the first up run and this mid-prep jump out were super.
SOCIABEEL showed a lovely turn of foot over the concluding stages of Heat 7 on Jul 25, winning well over the 1000m. The 3yo filly sat midfield while 3-wide with cover throughout this heat, before peeling out and coming over the top to win. She showed a lovely turn of foot in her 800m jump out on Jul 11, closing super down the very outside of the track to win comfortably, albeit not beating anything of quality in either of her jump outs. A $330k daughter of Savabeel, connections will be hoping she can live up to those expectations in her second career prep.
TYPHOON TITMUS will certainly have a maiden win in her. After finishing 2nd in an official trail at Tatura on Jul 18 ahead of subsequent winner Castillian, the 2yo filly came out and won Heat 11 on Jul 25 as she ran over the top of previous maiden winner Soju Session over the concluding stages. She travelled beautifully just off the leader here and responded when asked to extend in the straight, a real encouraging performance. Having had 2x jump out wins in a previous campaign, connections have been patient with her and as a $200k buy and a half-sister to Hokolesqua, they’ll be hoping she can capitalise on some nice track work and bring it to raceday.
Nice win by G’DAY GORGEOUS, leading from start to finish to take out Heat 13 on Jul 25 comfortably. She went straight to the front here while sticking off the rail, where she was then put under pressure at the top of the straight and opening up a nice margin before being eased down late. Treading very carefully though as she did get out to a big early lead in her previous jump out on Jul 11 as well, so she might just be a genuine jump and run horse that struggles over more than 800m, but regardless, she should be a nice price first up and would be worth a bet in a 1000m maiden.
STORMBOLT is another from Heat 13 on Jul 25 worth noting, with the 3yo gelding somehow finishing 2nd alongside Black Ivory despite missing the kick by a reasonable margin. He made up significant ground in the straight and looked big and raw. A 3yo son of Foxwedge, worth keeping an eye on him.
Hard not to be impressed by the Kiwi RAETIHI, with the 3yo Savabeel gelding winning Heat 14 on Jul 25 as comfortably as you would like. Unlike his jump outs in a previous prep, he wasted little time here heading straight to the front and doing it easy, handling the Heavy conditions with ease and did so under his own steam. It was a lovely first jump out.
GREECE has made her way down from Sydney to avoid the Sydney wet, but she couldn’t avoid a Heavy Cranbourne track as she finished 2nd in Heat 18 on Jul 25. Her trials prior to her debut were absolutely super and they ended up having to run her on a bottomless track in order to make the Golden Slipper, but she didn’t like the conditions at all and was immediately tipped out. Now back in work, they’ll be gearing her up for a Spring campaign on some nicer tracks and this was a lovely return to the track. A full-sister to Loving Gaby, we’re excited to see where she goes.
CASTERTON - 25 July 2022
It was good to see MATAO MA ridden out and responding, coming over the top of the 70-rated The Stager in the concluding stages to win Heat 4 on Jul 25. Dissimilar to his quietly ridden Jul 14 jump out win, he was ridden 3-wide without cover before being put under significant pressure in the straight but showed that want to win as he got over the top late. As mentioned after his previous jump out, he has some lovely form from last prep where first up he was 2nd to Treporti before then finishing 2nd to the talented Pascero, 3rd to next start winners in Arktika and Hesket and then 2nd in his latest run behind Plagiarized where 3rd, 4th and 5th all won their next start. He shouldn't be a maiden for much longer, but he also won’t be much of a price.
PAKENHAM - 26 July 2022
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No surprise to see OXLEY ROAD clock the clear fastest time of the morning, winning Heat 5 on Jul 26 over 800m. This was a mid-prep jump out, having finished 7th first up in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes after being a $2.80 SP favourite. It should be no surprise to see a Group 1 horse jump out well, but look for him to bounce back second up.
MURTOA - 26 July 2022
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AEECEE PRINCE made the switch to Andrew Bobbin mid-prep last prep, failing to fire in all five runs with two of those with Ciaron Maher and the latest three with Andrew Bobbin. Given a spell, the 4yo Pride Of Dubai gelding returned to win Heat 1 on Jul 26 comfortably at Murtoa over the 900m, clocking the second fastest time of the morning behind Just Folk in the process. We want to see another jump out, but this was an encouraging return.
We mentioned GAMADALE NIP after his May 24 jump out where he was restrained, finishing 1L back in 2nd but easily could’ve won the heat. He then went dropped back to 700m in a Jun 15 jump out where he was instead allowed to run, leading throughout as he was then put under pressure in the straight to extend and win well ahead of Magic Chloe (since 5th and 1st in MDN’s) and Itchy Powder (since 4th in a BM58). Now stepping up to 900m, the 2yo gelding showed that turn of foot again to come off the speed from midfield and get over the top and win Heat 4 on Jul 26. Paul Preusker looks to have a nice mover on his hands, he’s one worth monitoring.
MORNINGTON - 27 July 2022
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LA ZUCCA took out Heat 2 on Jul 27 in the fastest 900m time of the morning, clocking 55.09s vs the days average of 56.41s, and clearly handled the Heavy track well. She cruised to the line in a previous Jul 13 jump out as well and lokos to be in good order ahead of her resumption.
VINCERE bolted in a 700m jump out on Jul 13, backing that up with a nice win over 900m in Heat 5 on Jul 27 and clocking the third fastest time of the morning in the process at 55.67s (vs the days average of 56.41s). She jumped cleanly here but had the wide barrier so drifted back before slowly edging herself up to the speed out wide where she was then put under pressure and looked to respond, finding enough under hands and heels to get up and win. This will really bring her on for her debut and being only a $12k buy as a daughter of Charge Forward, connections could be recouping that early.
All eyes would’ve been on the winner of LITTLE MISS KUBI’s Jul 13 jump out, but if you watch back in the field, this filly closed super from the back of the field to finish 2nd. This was not dissimilar in her 2nd placing in Heat 6 on Jul 27, cruising just off the speed and closing well late, all while quietly ridden and doing so very comfortably. Keeping an eye on where she pops up.
It’s hard to ignore LAGO’S DAUGHTER now, winning Heat 10 on Jul 27 comfortably as she sat on speed and sprinted away from the field to record an easy ~3L victory. This marks her third jump out having finished 2nd on Jun 15 behind a breakaway leader and 1st on Jun 29 ahead of Mango Tango Wine (since 1.5L off a MDN first up). With these 3x 900m jump outs under her belt, she should be forward enough for her debut and she handles the wet well. A 3yo filly to monitor.
FLEMINGTON (INSIDE GRASS) - 29 July 2022
ASTELENA finished 2nd to subsequent maiden winner Islero in a synthetic Jul 1 jump out, this filly under less pressure than that gelding though in good signs. Given a few weeks, the 2yo filly came out and put in a super performance in Heat 9 on Jul 29 where she went forward out wide and was very quietly ridden until she really got into her work the last 100m or so and powered to and through the line. She was 2nd on debut in a 955m race at Moonee Valley, but looks to have really come on from that performance. Expecting her to go very well this prep.
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The Hayes boys look to have a speedy one in OVER ’N’ OUT, the 2yo filly going to the line under a ridiculous hold in Heat 3 on Jul 29, winning comfortably but she did clock the second slowest time of the morning (50.96s vs days average of 50.19s). In saying that, have no doubt if she was allowed to fully stride out that she would’ve clocked a faster time. She was well held in a quiet Jul 15 jump out when 2nd as well. She’s by Overshare out of the mare Ava’s Delight, who did her best work over 1600m+ but was also Group 2 placed over 1400m. Lovely jump out, a filly to follow.
Potentially a really nice filly for Caroline Jennings and Kennedy Racing, with their 2yo Hellbent filly in HONEYCUP putting together another nice jump out performance. We noted the filly down following her May 13 jump out alongside Exonumia in the second fastest time of the morning, with that runner since running 2nd, 3rd and 5th in maidens. Quite a similar style of jump out in Heat 7 on Jul 29, with the 2yo filly going forward and cruising to the line outside a horse, this time outside the un-raced colt Full Blown, where they clocked the third fastest time of the morning. She’s just cruising in her jump outs and looks to have talent. She’s a must follow into her debut.
The ex-Hong Kong runner in NABOO STAR was the pick of Heat 8 on Jul 29, closing well out wide to finish 2nd to the 1-start maiden EXTREME STEP, who also put in a lovely front running performance. Finishing alongside them was Not An Option and Palani, both of whom have won races and this 3yo filly was still going on with it past the line. Liked her return jump out on Jul 15 where she just cruised to the line behind subsequent maiden winner Fast Star, and liked her debut run when 2nd to Jack Of It, who has since won a BM58 and BM64. She’s better than maiden grade.
Others worth mentioning include:
Super win by LADY OF HONOUR in Heat 4, she’s returned in very good order.
The Extreme Choice colt, SHIPSTERN, moved well in his win of Heat 5 to warrant being one to follow. He led and travelled beautifully throughout in only his first jump out in the Rosemont Stud colours.
The Group 1 placed import PAS MALOTRU is a very interesting runner, having won a Jul 18 trial over 1100m by 2.5L prior to his 2nd placing in Heat 10 on Jul 29 (red) where he was behind Joseylin (white) and extremely hard held, going on with it past the line.
SALE - 29 July 2022
FLEMINGTON (POLY TRACK) - 29 July 2022
RANDWICK - 26 July 2022
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DIAMOND FLARE is just taking the piss at the trials now. He’s now had 6x trials for 5x wins and a 2nd this preparation, his latest a win in Trial 4 on Jul 26 over 1080m on the Synthetic at Randwick in the clear fastest time of the morning as he clocked 1:04.04s, which was 1.16s quicker than the next quickest and well above our average of 1:04.57s. He was 4.71L off In The Congo on debut back in May 2021, which is over a year ago now, but we have seen 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th and 9th from that race all win in either of their next two starts. He’s got poor race day manners, hence the trials, so he’ll be one to monitor in the yard to see if he’s behaving but there is no doubt that connections will be hoping he can bring his trial form to the races.
If you keep an eye on past the line in Trial 4 on Jul 26, LEFT REELING is in front by lengths and really going through the line, which was similar to his first trial on Jul 8 over 780m where he also was in front past the line. Last preparation he was 2nd in his first 3x runs before finishing 4.75L off Never Been Kissed in the Group 1 Flight Stakes. If she heads to a maiden first up this prep, she’s a huge watch and should go well.
Keep an eye on JUNQUEIRA, her work past the line in Trial 7 on Jul 26 was absolutely superb - she was a clear last at the top of the straight but flew home down the outside rail and if you watch past the line, she’s in front.
SCONE - 27 July 2022
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Though ANGEL SHE AIN’T did a super job to check off heels and close over the top to win Trial 15 on Jul 27. The 3yo filly was under a strong hold from Aaron Bullock and forced to take a sit behind the two leaders, with no room to move until she peeled out at the ~200m mark and then cruised over the top of them, both of whom were ridden a lot harder but are also both unraced, so not much quality. She was a very disappointing 12th of 13 on debut, hanging out around the bend before being pulled up - she didn’t handle it at all. This trial was an improvement and she may be worth a small spec second up.
GOSFORD - 29 July 2022
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SCIENTIST was a $600k colt from the 2021 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sales, being out of the star Group 1 winning mare Global Glamour of which Gai Waterhouse trained and even bought his half-sister by Justify for $900k at the more recent 2022 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sales, so the stable clearly have a huge opinion of the family. The 2yo colt won his first trial over 780m on Jul 8 by 9.33L in the second fastest of the morning, backing that up with a slick win by 3.23L in Trial 6 on Jul 29 over 1000m on the Heavy8 track at Gosford, clocking the third fastest time of the morning at 1:02.89s vs the days average of 1:03.08s. He’s done everything right at the trials and looks ready to head to the races now where we’d expect him to go well.
ROSEHILL - 29 July 2022
We mentioned LOMANDRA following her 700m Jul 6 trial where she went to the line with Snitcat. She was a $900k Inglis Australian Easter Yearling purchase being by Not A Single Doubt and a half-sister to Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa, so there will be plenty of expectations for this filly when she does make it to the track but she’s trending in the right direction at the trials. Backing up that first trial, she stepped up to 900m in Trial 11 on Jul 29 and finished 2nd to the Group performed Lady Laguna where she was going on with it past the line. She’s travelling super and with her breeding, expecting her to go super on debut.
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ANG POW’s win in Trial 7 on Jul 29 was clearly the top performance from these trials, winning over 900m in the fastest time of the morning at 54.61s. The way in which he won was certainly the most impressive part, sitting at the back of the field and powering home in the straight under minimal pressure from Rachel King to run straight past the Group 3 placed Yes Baby Yes. It wouldn’t surprise to see the Flying Artie gelding feature over the spring.
IGNACIO has flown late in both trials so far, the first over 740m on Jul 22 when 3rd and again in Trial 14 on Jul 29 where the 2yo Redoute’s Choice colt came from last and hit the line with a lot of pace. He was pushed out by Nash, but showed a nice turn of foot and no doubt if he settled closer that he would’ve finished closer. Hopefully he doesn’t settle too far back at the races as he does have a motor.
