Weekly Review - June 22 to June 28

CRANBOURNE - 22 June 2020

This un-raced 3yo filly closed super out wide in Heat 6 (49.17s). The daughter of Foxwedge was always at the back in a Jun 9 jump out but also looked to close well in this heat that had more experienced horses. Coming from a less reputable stable, she might even open some value for punters on debut. Watching very closely.

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

The top 3 in Heat 2 (48.98s) all hit the line under light riding and will be worth having in the black book. The winner SAINT MAHJONG had the benefit of it being her second jump out and looked the best winning. But FLORENCE OF ARABIA in 2nd and TYCHE GODDESS in 3rd both looked well held so keep an eye out for another jump out.

SHEVROLET stood in the gates and missed the kick by a long way in Heat 4 (48.06s). He was a clear last and not a good sign as he heads to a return. This was the quickest heat of the day and was won impressively by CHASSIS who settled on the fence behind the speed before pulling out and extending late. She was only 2L off a Group 2 at Caulfield last prep and will be looking to go with it in her third career preparation.

Jun 15’s black booker DRUELLA very ridden with a lot more vigour than last week to win Heat 8 (48.94s). The extra riding will bring her on and it’s good to see her respond to some riding to give more confidence she can handle race day pressure. Loved the debut of LANI BANG BANG about a month ago where she ran 0.3L behind Dimaggio (since 1st bm66 at Morphetville) while gapping 3rd by 4L. She ran the meetings fastest last 800/600/400/200 sectionals that day so very keen to see her second up. She was quietly ridden in 3rd in this heat.

BLINDER and APPROACH DISCREET were runaway winners by 3-4L in Heat 9 (1:04.06s) over the 1000m. In 3rd place was a quietly ridden 2yo in TARANTELLO. She’s well bred being by a stakes placed mare but suspect she will need a bit of distance (1600m+) being by Dandino. None-the-less, an encouraging jump out in good company.

The blinkers went off for HE EKSCELS last start but back on in Heat 11 (1:04.13s) for a nice win in testing conditions.

TATURA - 22 June 2020

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

Easy win by TOOLBAR in Heat 3. He was only 3.2L off a bm78 three starts ago but has been very disappointing in his last two starts, losing by a combined 24.9L. These two starts were when he had the blinkers put on... and this jump out the blinkers were off... could that be the reason for his poor last couple starts? He’s 61-rated so may pop up down in class in a bm58 next where he would be much better suited and very competitive. Look out for blinkers off!

HOT SIZZLE closed well over the top in Heat 5. She raced in tight space in a bm64 last start and became unbalanced - she was only 4L off them at a big $51 SP. Would love to see her back in a bm58 next start.

Thought GLASS CEILING closed well in Heat 7 over the top of ZIZZIS. The 4yo mare is coming off a 5-week freshen up following a bm64 win at Casterton. Hopefully she pops up in a bm64 next start again.

BENATARI had an easy time in front when winning Heat 9. You know he’ll be up leading or on speed when resuming and be in it a long way.

OUR LONG SALI made a big swooping run over the top of the leaders in Heat 11, which included a quietly ridden MOUNT ARCHER.

CAULFIELD - 23 June 2020

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

ELEGIST won Heat 2 (48.44s) in the quickest time of the day with a big run when coming from behind. He went to the line with RECKONING (70-rated gelding) where they made up an easy 7-8L in the concluding stages. Both these runners had the benefit of a run this prep, but this 4yo was under lighter riding and looked good hitting the line. She was slow away first up and flew from last (12th) at the 400m to finish 4th. She’s a definite watch second up.

Heat 7 (50.95s) was ran in slow time but thought that AYAHUASCA was not allowed to run at all and while the 2yo filly didn’t even place, she looked as though if let go she could’ve won and in a quicker time. She was slow out, settled near last and over-racing over the first half of the heat with her head up and fighting the jockey wanting to run. She caught up to the field with ease and was very well held compared to the rest of the field. Bit skeptical but she’s worth having on the watch list.

PAKENHAM - 24 June 2020

LOVING GRACIE - R Cunningham (wins the heat in the purple/yellow silks)

Super win by this 3yo filly in Heat 5 (46.64s) on Jun 24 over the 800m. She left the gates about midfield but made a run out wide to get to the front and really kick away late under not much riding at all to win the heat by a good 3-4L. She was only a $3k purchase from the 2019 NZB Karaka Sale’s and that looks a bargain buy, especially after dissecting her Mar 3 official jump out when 6th to the likes of Knowles, La Chevalee, Sizzlefly and The Mobot. It’s only her first jump out back so would expect to see another before her debut.

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

AQUAGIRL had a fair bit on the field in Heat 1 (1:00.2s) on Jun 24 over the 1000m. The smart 2yo filly led from start to finish and never looked like being caught.

SIZZLEFLY the most impressive runner of the day. She stalked the leaders and then powered over the top of them to show she was a lot more than a class above them. She won Heat 6 on Jun 24 over the 1000m in 59.1s, the quickest of the day.

Couldn’t see much in her Jun 11 jump out, but the un-raced 5yo mare ISOLATING was a nice winner in Heat 8 (59.41s) on Jun 24 when leading from start to finish over the 1000m. She looked to be full of running and a 1000m maiden with a low barrier draw could be a good starting point for her career (and possibly a nice price).

MORNINGTON - 24 June 2020

CHARMING ADELINE - R Coombes

Very hard to miss the win of this 2yo filly in Heat 7 (34.19s) on Jun 24. She absolutely destroyed the field and the longer the heat could’ve gone on (considering only 650m) the more she would’ve won by. She is the full sister to Hong Kong gelding Nice Fandango who has amassed over $3.5m HKD in earnings so her family certainly has some talent. She won a jump out over 600m on Jun 17 as well but looked like she might have a bit to learn still, which is exciting with the improvement to come. Looks a talented filly.

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

Was good to see Jun 10’s black booker SOUTHERN LIGHTS putting a gap on them in Heat 2 (1:08.77s) on Jun 24. He was ridden with intent today and quickly opened up a gap when asked. He was nominated for a 1100m maiden at Moe on Thursday (tomorrow) but drew barrier 18. This jump out will bring him on and expect T.Noonan to be looking to place him well with a decent barrier. He was $18 so a good each-way price would be handy.

It was only a 650m heat and she only finished 2nd, but the little-sister of the stakes winner Brooklyn Hustle in BROOKLYN HEAT looked pretty nice in Heat 5 (35.01s) on Jun 24. She was super hard held out wide and never let off the bridle to full run and get into gears. If she’s got half the ability of her sister, she’ll win some races.

BALLARAT - 25 June 2020

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

Fastest time of the 4x 850m was Heat 3 (51.54s), won by the 2yo THE SISTINE TALES. The $80k Headwater gelding was asked of a little at the 200m mark and opened up a couple length lead when winning.

Big run down the middle of the track from the back in Heat 6 (52.28s) by HONORABLE MENTION. There weren’t too many impressive jump outs today, this 5yo gelding probably the most impressive of an ordinary lot.

DUKE CABOOM looked quite nice in Heat 2 (1:06.88s). The More Than Ready 2yo gelding finished well down the middle of the track over the 1100m with the older horses. He's out of a Group 3 winning mare over 1300m who was also Group 1 placed over 1600m. He might need a little bit of distance.

FLEMINGTON - 26 June 2020

I’M THE BUSINESS (NZ) - D & B Hayes & T Dabernig

This gelding was unlucky not to break his maiden earlier in his first preparation, finally getting the win over 1500m before going for a spell. He ran into the likes of Ocean’s Thirteen (won 2x bm58’s since), Oasis Girl (won 4x since including a Listed race) and Zayydani (4th in G1 derby since). In his first jump out back, he was hard held to win Heat 8 (49.01s). He looks a good sized horse and pretty keen to follow him into his second career preparation as he showed good ability in his debut campaign, and showed ability in this jump out. He's in the red and white vertically striped silks.

ROYAL OBSESSION - L & T Corstens

Loved the jump out of this 2yo filly in Heat 10 (48.44s). Under light riding she pushed to the front and had 2nd and 3rd off the bridal chasing her. The daughter of Written Tycoon is a half-sister to the Group-placed Superhard, Group 2 winning Twilight Royale and multiple other winning horses so she comes from a handy family and she looks like she might have some of this ability too. Keen to follow as only her first jump out. She's in the orange, black and white silks.

OTHER NOTABLE RUNNERS AND JUMP OUTS:

Loved the work of FIREFIGHT once he got going and past the line in Heat 1 (48.96s) on Jun 26. A very lightly raced gelding with only 1 win and 0 placings from 4 starts. Although, at $31 he was only 3.25L behind Meuse last start who then placed in a Group3 next start.

The Freedman 2yo colt CRIMINAL would’ve been a lot closer in the finish had he of had room at any stage in Heat 2 (49.90s). Even past the line he had trouble getting some clear room and was bumped, which doesn’t happen often in jump outs. He was equal with the leader by the end of the video… imagine if he had some room?

SOVEREIGN AWARD won Heat 3 (48.35s) with the ears pricked under a strong hold. Would be no surprise to see her go well first up after this bit of impressive work.

Quickest time of the day was ran by the 2yo MISS VENEZUELA in Heat 6 (48.16s). She failed in a potential Blue Diamond prep in January and was subsequently put away for a spell. Looked like the winkers went on today and they’ve given her some improvement as she won in nice time. One to keep safe when she resumes.

UNBLUSHING looks to be travelling well ahead of her return. The 2yo filly took out Heat 7 (48.18s) in good time being only 0.02s off the quickest of the day. She wasn’t sighted past the line though as she was pulled up by the jockey. Would’ve liked to see her really go through the line and continue on with it in the heat.

While we are focusing on I’M THE BUSINESS in Heat 8 (49.01s), think we should also put JACOB into the black book who was arguably just as hard held. He doesn’t have the races on the board though and was very disappointing in his first two career runs. Expect some improvement and could be a nice price.