CRANBOURNE - 22 March 2021
MADAME LOUVRE was a $350k purchase and is a half-sister to Xilong, Roomooz and Pierro Belle, all above average horses (especially the first two). Looked to hit the line well and did it with a bit of ease to win Heat 1 on Mar 22 (yellow and red).
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SIMPLY OPTIMISTIC didn’t have much room in the straight in Heat 5 (blue), but once clear, the gelding really hit the line with pace.
For his third stable now, HARD PRESS looked impressive in Heat 7 (black) when going to the line with Larimer Street while ahead of the impressive Lindhout.
INVERLOCH won Heat 14 (yellow and blue with white sleeves) over 1200m under a hold, with CATEGORY FIVE (2nd) also looking handy under a hold with both of these gelding’s appreciating the wet ground with nice wet track records.
SOUTHERN FRANCE looked really nice winning Heat 15 (blue, green and yellow) coming from last down the outside rail following his 7th to Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton (an unsuitable distance). He’ll be peaking 4th up now stepping up to 2000m+.
BALLARAT - 23 March 2021
Following a Feb 15 win ahead of Sign Of Ussuri (since 6th in a BM78), the 2yo ISLES OF AVALON was 2nd to the recent maiden winner Yulong Sovereign in Heat 1 on Mar 23 (white and blue) and looked impressive in doing so. The 2yo filly settled 2nd/3rd throughout the heat, and closed well late under minimal pressure. Being a half-sister to Rainbiel, she looks to have some talent and will certainly appreciate racing against her own age group.
THE QUEENS RICHES won Heat 5 by a big margin in the fastest time of the day but looked to tire late as the rest of the field made up ground. She might be one of those run and jump types that over does it and dies late, so treading carefully and wanting to see another jump out to be sure, preferably with her settling better and not bolting to the lead again.
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We marked TRANSPLANT as a must follow after a Mar 10 jump out, and although ridden out, she was 2nd to a handy Lido Beach in Heat 2 on Mar 23 (green with white sleeves) where they gapped 3rd. Keen to follow.
CAMPERDOWN - 23 March 2021
We are waiting for the day WAITINGFORTHEDAY resumes… she’s now had the three nice jump outs on Feb 23, Mar 9 and in Heat 3 on Mar 23 (yellow). Expect her to lead / be on speed and she has to go close first up, she’ll be very forward fitness wise now.
ZAZSTER crossed the line with Wentwood and was 2nd to Night’s Watch in Heat 11 on Mar 23 (green with white sleeves). With career form of 4th, 4th, 2nd, 3rd and 3rd, he’s becoming a bit costly but this freshen up might be what he needed to get him peaking and breaking that maiden. Looking to see a 1200m country maiden, which we’d be happy to follow him into.
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NATIVE SOLDIER looks to be back… having not raced since December 2018, the 5yo had group horses Begoodtoyamother (2nd) and Bam’s On Fire (2nd) covered in his Heat 9 win over 1000m.
MORNINGTON - 24 March 2021
ILLATION is out of Pontiana, making him a half-brother to the $1 million colt Dragon Leap who has won multiple Group 2’s in NZ over 1600m and 2100m. In Heat 4 on Mar 24 (yellow), he went to the line with (and better than) El Rocko who was impressive on debut when 2nd to the Blue Diamond winner Artorius. He travelled beautifully throughout and was never asked for an effort from the jockey, an encouraging bit of work and one we want to follow.
MARINE ONE was clearly a class above, winning Heat 10 on Mar 24 (navy with cream spots). Having finished within 3L of General Beau in his latest two runs, he resumes off a 7-week let up with the BLINKERS going on here and they really got him going. He sat on speed and then just kicked away late to win by lengths with ease. Even though it was only 650m, this was still very impressive. Expect to see him in a metro 2yo race, but if we get a country mid-week maiden, he should just win.
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Nice win by HE’S A GOLD DIGGER in Heat 9, albeit over only 650m but in nice overall time.
KILMORE - 26 March 2021
A couple of Kym Hann BlackBook runner’s from the Mar 16 Bendigo jump outs re-jumping out here.
GLOVES ARE OFF was quietly ridden in Heat 2 when 3rd but looked to move really well. A 1000m Heavy jump out will bring him on for his first up run and we want to follow.
KING DICK won Heat 3 comfortably, sprinting away late and opening up a gap when asked for an effort. He’ll go close on debut off the back of his jump outs.
BOY BIG won Heat 4 well having been scratched from multiple races last week. Had Bismarc and Foxtrot Mo covered here, both of whom have won races but are BM58 horses. This will bring the colt on for his debut though, will be forward enough to win.
FLEMINGTON - 26 March 2021
ESTORIL PARK wanted to get it over and done with early in Heat 2 on Mar 26, streaming to a big lead early and over-racing as a result. She held on to win but looked to be tiring late.
Running over the top of her (and the likes of Celestial Sol, Dirty Deeds and Make Mine Hennessy) past the line after taking a sit for much of the heat was SWEET SIXTEEN (red). She was doing her best work late coming down the middle of the track, especially past the line with the ears pricked. She struggled to win in her first career prep but following another hard held jump out on Mar 12 just behind Sticking Point and Nerve Not Verve, the $310k daughter of Sebring looks primed to go close this time in.
The quickest heat of the day on Mar 26 was Heat 9, won by the un-named Lindsay Park galloper under the breeding CHARM SPIRIT x BIZZ (red). This runner’s half-brother in Bizzwinkle won the Group 3 NZ Cup over 3200m and was more recently 3rd to Hang Man in the Benalla Cup in September 2019. Might be a nice prospect for staying races over the spring so worth noting down the breeding and following - only the first jump out for this galloper too.
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VOWMASTER looked comfortable winning Heat 3 (light blue) despite those disappointing two runs. He might be improve (and get back to what everyone expected of him) coming back the Melbourne way in a BM70. Looked like Michael Walker was back on board too.
Following his Mar 16 jump out at Bendigo, the continually impressive TYCOON BEAU was 2nd in Heat 5 on Mar 26 (red) to the 4yo Fiery Red.
Very excited to see the return of BERMADEZ having finished 4th in this heat (pink). He was quietly ridden and finished a decent margin back but wow was his debut something special. We have a high opinion of this gelding.
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