Weekly Review - June 14 to June 20
CRANBOURNE - 15 June 2021
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JIGSAW took a sit behind the speed in Heat 1 on Jun 15 before getting a gap along the inside to come up along the rail and win. Defeated ROCK ARTIST (2nd) with a huge (!) gap to 3rd.
Impressive by NICK’EM in Heat 5, on Jun 15, jumping straight to the front and leading the whole way to record a nice 5L+ win in the fastest time of the morning. A 1000m BM58 or BM64 will suit this gelding first up (and second up), but don’t jump off him if he doesn’t win as he looks to go best second up, and also appreciates the wet with 6 starts on soft/heavy for his 2 wins and only 2 placings (5 starts for 0 wins and 0 placings on good/synthetic).
HELAVABEL was good from the back in Heat 7, making up a lot of ground to finish 2nd having settled at the rear of the field throughout.
Massive win by GREAT DUCHESS in the clear fastest 1000m time of the morning, clocking 58.29s for the 1000m in Heat 10 on Jun 15.
MORNINGTON - 16 June 2021
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The mare BEATRIX clocked the clear fastest 900m heat of the day on Jun 16 in Heat 1. Handled the heavy beautifully here, but not much of a surprise with her 2 Heavy starts being 1 win and 1 placing. Classy win.
DUKE OF NEWORLEANS absolutely bolted in Heat 2 on Jun 16, running nice time in the process on the Heavy track. Looked like a potential addition of blinkers here, which we’ll keep an eye out for when he resumes. Can win a CL1/BM64 first up.
Another huge win, with ZAKURAK bolting in Heat 3 on Jun 16. The time wasn’t available, but we hand timed ~56s without the start so the time would’ve been around the ~57s mark and putting the heat as one of the quickest of the day. He’s untested on the Heavy race wise, but seemed to handle it well enough here. Hopefully a 1200m BM58 first up, he’ll go close.
VAN ROY has put together some nice jump outs now, winning a trial on Jun 7 over 950m and Heat 4 on Jun 16. He is a half-brother to talented 3yo Next Step Berrima, who has notched up 2 wins and a 3rd from only 3 career starts. He looks to have a friendly racing pattern, sitting on speed in his work and expect him to do similar on debut. Can follow him.
BRUJA attacked the line and closed super to win Heat 6 on Jun 16, a nice improvement on his Jun 10 jump out on the synthetic.
BABA VANGA was poor first up but was returned to the jump outs to be a nice winner of Heat 8 on Jun 16. She’s becoming a jump out specialist, so treading carefully second up - want $10+ and only a small bet if so.
Thought ECLIPSE SOLAR looked to be a nice over, finishing 2nd in Heat 11 on Jun 16. The 5yo import has 10 starts for 3 wins and 4 placings, so he clearing goes alright and will be one to follow in Aus.
TATURA - 16 June 2021
WILGA HILL has a fair turn of foot. Jumping out under his breeding (FOXWEDGE x LUCKY KITTY), he displayed this turn of foot in a May 11 (2nd) and on May 28 over 1000m when he was pushed but opened a gap on the field late when leading. He jumped the clear best of Heat 3 on Jun 16, but was restrained to take a sit behind the speed. Given a push as they entered the straight, he didn’t have much room for a bit but once he got clear, he really let go and attacked the line hard to just miss. Liked his turn of foot.
The time wasn’t great, but visually TERN AND GO was very impressive as she skipped away to win Heat 8 on Jun 16 by 4L. It’s hard to get a guide on the P Payne runners at the jump outs, but she was first over the line quietly ridden on May 18 and was pulled up in a nothing jump out on May 27. She sat on speed in this heat though, given a slight niggle at top of the straight and put a space on them with ease. Certainly want to follow this 2yo filly.
JOURNALESE was way too good when winning Heat 13 on Jun 16 by 4L in nice time. Following on from her May 24 jump out when 2nd to a ridden out Don’t Forget Dad (since 5th MDN), she didn’t give anything a chance here as she jumped well to take up the lead from the inside and then kicked away around the bend. Those behind her were given a bit more of a push but weren’t making up any ground, so she seemed to have a bit more to give late. Can win a maiden first up.
OTHER
CLAP is probably stiff to still be a maiden, and was stiff to just miss in Heat 4 on Jun 16 when closing super from the back. Can win a country maiden if he goes that way first up.
D’AGUILAR very impressive in his Heat 5 win on Jun 16. He’s only raced twice since 2018 and was last seen in 2019, so a big spell but he’s talented when right.
BLAZERRO won a Jun 10 800m synthetic jumped out before skipping away to win Heat 10 on Jun 16 by 4L in nice time, albeit ridden out and pushed. The 2yo gelding led the whole way along the rail here, a nice win.
DELTA TANGO is one to keep safe. A half-sister to Bravo Tango, she was hard held when 4th in a May 27 jump out before having to make up a stack of ground in Heat 12 on Jun 16. She jumped well, but was beaten for pace early and found herself pushed to keep up early before coming wide and making up a lot of ground to finish only 2L back in 4th. She clearly needs a bit of distance, so might be one to follow second up as she gets over a mile (or further).
DIAMOND THORA in Heat 16 and MONETIZING in Heat 17 were both the fastest 850m times of the day.
PALACIO MUSICO was 2nd in Heat 17 behind Monetizing, resuming for his new stable with Belinda Dunn in impressive fashion. He was away well but ridden cold to settle last, before showing a super turn of foot when asked by the jockey and then being eased up before the line. He easily could’ve won this if allowed and it was a very quick trial. Expect a BM64 first up.
BALLARAT - 16 June 2021
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CACTUS KING was a bit green in the straight, but was ultimately too good and took out Heat 4 on Jun 16 with ease in the end. He sat in behind the speed before coming down the middle of the track with a fair turn of foot. Only the gelding’s first jump out back.
BALLE D’OR led from start to finish in Heat 6 on Jun 16, clocking the fastest 850m time of the day while holding off a fast finishing The Difference.
DEEP SPEED was a class above in Heat 7 on Jun 16, but it was COSMIC RHAPSODY who cruised to finish 2nd ahead of Mayan as he resumes after his fourth trainer change. He followed Deep Speed throughout, but that gelding was ridden out and extended away late while this gelding just cruised along - he was even past the line too. Watch for a BM64 first up.
MEEHNI looked really nice when taking out Heat 8 on Jun 16, the 4yo stayer just cruising down the middle of the track to win (albeit in slowish time). She’s very consistent - 11 starts for 1 win and 7 placings, with her other 3 runs being 4th, 5th and 5th - and bolted in first up last preparation over 1400m. She can do similar this prep…
FRENCH STAR has a habit of winning jump outs. Heat 10 on Jun 16 was no different, with the 4yo mare leading the whole way to win well.
The 2yo DEFINING tracked her the whole way, sitting quiet along the fence before getting a gap late. She was in front past the line was she found clear galloping room. A reasonably well bred filly out of Seduced (a Group 3 placed mare over 1600m), this was a nice jump out debut. Expect to see another bit of work before debuting.
COME ON EILEEN got better as she stepped out over further distance in jump outs last preparation, with a nice 1200m jump out on Oct 20 following a poor Oct 7 jump out. This time in, her first jump out - being Heat 13 on Jun 16 - was a win over 850m. Follow for a second jump out as we expect her to step up over a further trip, probably 1000-1100m.
Have to also follow the 2yo Coolmore filly ROYAL DRESS. She is by I Am Invincible and is a full-sister to Chianti and a half-sister Sweet Rockette (Group 3 placed) who cruised to the line in 2nd here in Heat 13 on Jun 16. One her first jump out, but it was super.
FLEMINGTON - 18 June 2021
BIXILON went straight to the front in Heat 5 on Jun 18 and bolted in, winning by a big margin in a very slick time (only 0.03s off the fastest of the day). He didn’t have his blinkers on in his Jun 11 jump out, finishing 4th to Skiddaw, but certainly had them on here. Last preparation he resumed at Flemington without the blinkers before they went on for his next two runs that saw him finish a 0.4L 3rd and a 2.4L 4th to Sensationalisation in his latest where 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th have all won since. He has some nice form on the board now and a pair of nice jump outs to go with it, he can break his maiden early this prep.
The 2yo filly SWERVING was under a ridiculous hold through the entire of Heat 6 on Jun 18 as she hit the line with the ears pricked. She closed super in her first jump out on Jun 4, really picking up and extending as she was given a slight push towards the end - she was in front past the line and had a really nice stride on her. This heat was similar, except she wasn’t given that push yet she still won and had heaps left in the tank. She looks talented.
OTHER
TOO VIENNESE (orange) went alongside DICKIN MEDAL and ABSOLUTE FLIRT in Heat 3 on Jun 18, just getting the win in the quickest heat of the morning. Following on from his Jun 11 jump out when 3rd, this 3yo gelding comes down to VIC from the Sunshine Coast having broke his maiden over 1400m. Worth following if he goes towards a mid-week BM64, or a BM58 (if we’re lucky).
TEA MASTER was the best of a slow lot in Heat 8 on Jun 18. They ran very slow time but this gelding was easily travelling the best.
ESASHI really got going and opened up a big margin late to take out Heat 12 on Jun 18 (white) in slick time. No blinkers on in her Jun 11 jump out, the 2yo filly really switched on here with the blinkers on and responded. She didn’t look overly big but did attack the line.
NSW TRIALS
SILENT TRYST - Matthew Vella (James McDonald)
Jun 15 (Hawkesbury) - quickest 1000m heat of the morning and a real nice L600m - sat wide but up outside the leader throughout - nice win.
MISS LENORR - Matthew Smith (Kathy O'Hara)
Jun 15 (Hawkesbury) - jumped well, pushed forward to lead along the rail and won pretty easy in the end - was eased down late, ran nice time that was only 0.13s off the quickest for 1000m.
LOVICK - Matthew Vella (Rachel King)
Jun 15 (Hawkesbury) - REALLY NICE - huge 7L win over 800m in the second fastest time of the morning (L600m was good too) - jumped well on inside, straight to the front and never looked like being beat.
CALIFORNIA PRESS - Peter & Paul Snowden (Adrian Layt)
Jun 15 (Hawkesbury) - jumped as one of the best out wide but was restrained heavily to last, came off heels out wide in the straight and really wanted to get going - powered to the line to just miss (2nd) while hard held - overall time and L600m was clear slowest of the day though.
TOCOMAH - Garry Frazer (Rachel King)
Jun 15 (Hawkesbury) - SUPER - 4.4L win in the clear quickest 800m time of the morning (and quickest L600m so wasn’t tiring…) - wasn’t away the best but mustered some speed to lead the whole way and kick late under minimal jockey pressure.
STROMBOLI - Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes (Tommy Berry)
Well bred colt - full-brother to Outreach out of Bahia (4 wins from 4 starts) who’s a half to Reward For Effort and Annie La Vie.
Jun 18 (Rosehill) - straight to the front, had the better of outside horse and won well in the end.
SIR CRACKLE - Bjorn Baker (Jason Collett)
Jun 18 (Rosehill) - first jump out back - big 5.25L win in average time for the day - worth watching.
RUPERTAAR - Bjorn Baker (Rachel King)
Half-sister to Isotope.
Jun 18 (Rosehill) - too speedy - straight to the front and easy win - one of only two times that were sub-55s and won by over 5.5L + L600m was second fastest of the day too.
SUPERBELLAA - Lee & Cherie Curtis (Jason Collett)
Jun 18 (Rosehill) - fastest time of the morning - got out to a big lead and held on - similar to first trial on Jun 4 when led but was just overran by Diamonds’n’stones, expect similar first up.
COBIA - Brad Widdup (Jay Ford)
Jun 18 (Rosehill) - fastest time of the morning - made up a lot of ground on Superbellaa in the straight from break away leaders and was under very minimal pressure.