Weekly Review - May 24 to May 30
CRANBOURNE - 24 May 2021
Have no doubt that VERANSKOVA will win some races. She jumped out super prior to her debut, but debuted in a BM70 at a Saturday Pakenham meeting where she still managed to finish 2nd to Written Miss (who won a BM70 at Flemington next start) while gapping 3rd by 2.5L. She was put away, returning in Heat 8 on May 24 (white with blue sleeves) in very impressive fashion. She was taken to the back but was way too good late, cruising past the field out wide under a hold to win with ease. She looked like she had a lot more to give late and this was the fastest 800m heat of the morning. She looks to be a really nice filly.
Going to follow the 2nd horse too in VELICINA, a 3yo maiden that has only had the 1 start. If she was in any other heat, she wins based on the time they ran. Only her first jump out too.
Mentioned after his May 10 jump out, POWER CRUNCH stepped up to the 1000m and won Heat 14 on May 24 (green) convinced, albeit ridden out in the straight but he did look to respond to riding well and did clock the fastest 1000m heat even compared to the open heats. Nice bit of work and don’t mind him being pushed, it will bring him on for that first up run.
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MOUNT ROKKO looks to be travelling well for Luke Oliver. A quiet May 10 jump out was followed up by a win in Heat 1 with the son of Frosted responding to some riding late to extend away and win.
BRUT STAR is a Zoustar half-brother of La Chevalee, winning Heat 4 in nice time.
JENNI ESPRIT has been poor in her two runs this campaign, finishing 11th of 12 in both of them. She’s now joined the Luke Oliver yard (ex-Matt Laurie) and this was a nice jump out. In Heat 6 she went back to last and had to wait due to traffic before cutting inside to find a gap. She made up good ground and only finished 1L off Away Game and La Zola. Form wise, expect her to be an okay price on the back of this work and hopefully in a BM58.
INKSLINGER super out wide to win Heat 9 in slick time.
From Heat 11, we’re not too keen to follow Joey Jaws again. We are keen to follow the un-named Enver Jusufovic runner under the breeding REAL IMPACT x MADISON PARK. First seen back on Dec 7 when 3rd, this colt hasn’t been seen since then but returned in this heat for a nice 2nd while gapping 3rd. Would expect to see at least another jump out before his debut so watch for him.
EXCELMAN an easy win over 1000m in Heat 12 ahead of MIRAGE DANCER. He had a fitness edge here.
MORTLAKE - 24 May 2021
ZUPAGROOVE closed super on Apr 27, backing that up with a hard held (quietly ridden) 4th in Heat 4 on May 24 (black with green sash). The 4yo was ridden with minimal urgency, sitting in behind the pace right from the jump and just cruising along with cover. He had a lot left in the tank here. Looks like he might have some ability.
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TARAKAN went straight to the front in Heat 5 and won well, but looked to do a bit wrong as well, getting the better of First Mate in the process. This looks to be his running pattern too, that run and jump style that is certainly jump out friendly. Won’t be diving in at single figure odds first up.
GLENFERRIE GIRL a super win in Heat 6. The 4yo mare jumped beautifully, immediately took up the lead and cruised to the line to win by several lengths without breaking a sweat with the 2nd horse Why Choose Her, an 85-rated 5yo mare. Following her May 11 jump out win in similar fashion (where the 2nd horse has since ran 2nd), she’s travelling super. Keen to follow her over 1000m first up, hopefully a BM64.
SWIFT SURE with an easy all the way win in Heat 7 over 1000m, backing up his May 11 win over 1000m as well. He got better over further, winning as he stepped up to 1700m third up. Suspect this prep to be similar as he gets to 1600m+.
DREAMBOUND ridden out but still won nicely in Heat 9. CULILY ACE was on the outside and looked nice enough in her first jump out back. Both of these had their first jump out and look to be ones to keep in mind.
PAKENHAM - 25 May 2021
It was a really nice win by MISS KEELER over the 1000m in Heat 9 on May 25 (white with yellow sleeves), she clearly handled the synthetic a lot better than the grass as her previous jump outs on May 5 and May 19 were poor. She jumped well, pushed forward and was pressured early but held strong and had too much pace early. The jockey even had a look over the shoulder at the 200m mark she was travelling that well and she won by a few lengths in sub-1 min. We’ll look for a 1000m synthetic maiden first up.
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MR QUICKIE had a classy win in Heat 1 over the 1000m, looking a class above throughout as he resume off a 6-week freshen up.
GERTANIE travelled better than a 3yo filly with 0 placings from 4 starts… leading up Heat 2 under a hold but was overran late as she was held back. Her dam was placed over 1600m at Caulfield in some Mares Handicap races - she might have furnished up a bit more now as an almost 4yo. Will be a big price to find out, can’t take anything close to $10 though.
OUR HEIDI won the open 800m heat of Heat 4, defeating the 3yo Always Sure quite easily in the end. She ran nice time for the day as well, despite being ridden out.
COVENT GARDEN looked really nice in Heat 5. Coming down from NSW having previously been with the Chris Waller yard, this 3yo filly is a half-sister to the superstar Winx. This is only her first jump out for the new Peter Moody stable, so just putting her on the watch list for now as she did look to move really well. Maybe the change of scenery will do her good.
Speaking of superstar mares, the daughter of Black Caviar in INVINCIBLE CAVIAR was way too speedy when winning Heat 6. This was quite different to her May 11 jump out when she was last, so not sure we want to completely dive into this jump out. She’s a good one to follow due to her breeding, not completely sold on her as a betting proposition yet.
CAULFIELD - 25 May 2021
EXTREME WARRIOR was a class above in Heat 3 on May 25 (yellow), winning comfortably and backing up his May 18 (yellow) jump out. He’s a handy colt with some really nice form on the board from his attempted Blue Diamond preparation. Expect him to be competing in metro races but he’s still one to follow. He might pop up in a mid-week…
This was impressive. RUBY MOCKINGBIRD clocked the fastest heat of the morning (comfortably too) and won Heat 4 on May 25 (green) by a huge margin. She had a very quiet May 18 jump out, but this heat was far from quiet as she exploded to the front and absolutely dominated. She has some nice form too, finishing 2.4L off Dosh on debut before finishing a 2.5L 3rd to La Rocque. Expect her to be competitive first up this preparation on the back of this very impressive work.
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I’M THUNDERSTRUCK super, winning Heat 2 (yellow). He was ridden cold, taken to the back and cruised around the field with ease to win. A very noticeable gear change for this gelding in his jump outs, with the blinkers going on for this heat and his previous May 18 jump out. He looks super - expect him to be competing strongly in some upcoming nice races.
He dropped out of his May 18 jump out, but DON’TBOTHERNOCKIN’ took out Heat 6 and has a very noticeable official trial win ahead of Ayrton from back on Nov 30 before that star 3yo’s debut… have to follow with that kind of trial form.
BENDIGO - 25 May 2021
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No surprises here, with DANA POINT running the fastest time of the morning whilst winning Heat 2 ahead of Dark Rapture. She did it quite easily, jumping straight to the front and winning under a hold. Fingers crossed for a BM58, she’ll be very hard to beat.
WODONGA - 25 May 2021
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SO RISQUE finished 2nd in an official trial on May 17 to Tectonic Shift (came out and won an Albury maiden) before taking out Heat 2 quite well but didn’t beat much in terms of field quality.
PIONEER RIVER is making his return as a gelding, taking out Heat 4 ahead of the 7yo Flying Cyril.
MORNINGTON - 26 May 2021
The grey, GREY AT THE READY backed up her May 12 win with another nice win in Heat 9 on May 26 (white with black sleeves). This was the third jump out for the 2yo filly, able to hold out those closing on her to win. She looked to move quite well and the form from that May 12 jump out is okay, she went to the line with Snow Dragon who has since ran 3rd. She can go well on debut.
GOLDEN RIDGE also looks quite handy. This 2yo filly looked super finishing 2nd in Heat 9 on May 26 (blue), closing well out wide after travelling wide throughout. Her May 12 also had her closing well, so she might have a nice turn of foot. Watching for a debut.
RANVEER super again. He took out Heat 10 on May 26 (blue) with ease over the 700m, backing up his May 12 win. The 2yo colt has a very friendly racing pattern, putting himself on speed in all his jump out and his sole race. Expect him to do the same when he resumes and he’s travelling super. Would be very surprised if he doesn’t go very close to winning first up. Talented colt.
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Group 1 sprinter RED CAN MAN comes over from WA, winning Heat 2 in his first hit out for David Brideoake.
BALLARAT - 27 May 2021
Fair run by the 3yo TRUE IMPACT, winning Heat 2 on May 27 (white with red) by a massive margin in the fastest 950m time of the morning on the Heavy track. This marked the gelding’s third jump out, following runs on May 11 and May 18 (alongside Halcyon Dame). He’s started double digit prices at all four career starts, his latest run only just losing to Holster at $31. He might be better over some distance, but should be forward enough to give a good sight first up in his second career preparation.
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MY BOY BIRMINGHAM was mentioned previously in our review, winning Heat 3 by a big margin in nice time for the day but he was hard ridden and shown the stick. This will really bring him on for his debut and he looked to handle the Heavy track well enough. Think he goes very close on debut.
In his first jump out this preparation, Cambourne’s half-brother HELEN'S BOY looked really impressive winning Heat 6. The son of Flying Artie jumped beautifully, immediately took up the lead and was never in doubt. Super first jump out and keen to keep an eye on this 2yo.
FLEMINGTON - 28 May 2021
We said we were very keen to keep an eye out for another jump out for the half-brother to Indian Pacific, FINANCE CHOICE did his credentials no harm when finishing 2nd to a pushed Gulf Of Aden in Heat 2 on May 28 (yellow), the fastest heat of the day. The gelding showed good gate speed and was under a strong hold as he pushed to the front. He was given a very slight push by the jockey at the top of the straight before the jockey let him cruise to the line. Probably would’ve liked to see him a respond a bit more but he wasn’t fully asked so it is hard to gauge and any other heat on the day he would’ve won. Looks to be a nice mover.
Think JUMP THE BROOM might go well. The 3yo filly won a May 21 jump out well held, backing it up in Heat 5 on May 28 (orange) where he was 2nd but once let go past the line, he really extending alongside Divine Diosa. Her work past the line being the most impressive part of this heat after she put herself on speed throughout. She was never asked for an effort and looked as though she had a bit of a motor under the hood that she hasn’t been able to show yet.
Following the winner of Heat 5, in ASHBURTON (white), as well. It was only this 3yo filly’s first jump out back having been to the races once before when starting $4 but finishing 4th. Watching for another jump out before resuming.
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Wanted to follow Oasis Girl’s little sister OASIS GOLD after a May 21 jump out, with her backing it up with a win in Heat 6 but in really slow time for the day. She had very good gate speed here and led from start to finish with relative ease and not asked for any effort, hence the slow time.
SESSIONS ROAD a nice win in Heat 9. The 4yo gelding took up the lead and just kept kicking despite being under a hold. It’s been over a year since we last saw him, with only 2 career starts and only 1 start as a gelding.
Need to follow HOCKENHEIM, a nice winner of Heat 11 in really slick time for the day. He was 2nd on May 14 to Gulf Of Aden when jumping out under his breeding, stringing together two nice jump outs now where he’s always worn the blinkers. Might go alright.