Weekly Review - September 14 to September 20
CRANBOURNE - 14 September 2020
She led and won a Flemington jump out on Mar 30 when with the old stable, defeating Icantoo who came out and ran in a Group 3 before winning a 2yo HCP race at Warrnambool. Given more time and a change of stable to the Dunn yard, VALJETA looked super again when leading and winning Heat 6 (yellow) on Sep 14. She clearly needs to lead, as shown by both these jump outs and here debut where she didn’t lead and the jockey said he expected to be forward. She then lead in her second career start but weakened late. Look for another jump out before resuming, but she will lead and be competitive in a mid-week country maiden.
CREDLIN jumped midfield in Heat 9 (white/red) on Sep 14 but pushed forward to be a clear leader after 150m by several lengths. Pulled back closer to the field rounding the turn, the 4yo mare was able to hold the lead under a strong hold along the rail in good time. She travelled wide and always midfield in an Aug 31 jump out, so would like to see her drawn in over 1200m or so first up where we think she would be well suited in a forward position.
ASTRAEUS absolutely cruised to the win in Heat 10 (green) on Sep 14. The 4yo never looked like being caught and did so in the quickest 1000m time of the day.
The Enver Jusufovic galloper, TIME FOR WAR x MY RANSOM missed the kick by 3-4L in Heat 10 (white/red) on Sep 14 and even had to be ridden a bit to keep up. Quickly made ground on the field and held a one-back position on the fence under a hold before finding clear galloping room and storming over the top of the leader to take the lead and win by over 3L. Also missed the kick in a Sep 7 jump out (which is a worry) and couldn’t keep up over the 800m, to suggest that this runner needs a bit of distance. Keeping an eye out for a name.
Another nice jump out by Cindy Alderson’s runner with the breeding REAL IMPACT x ROSE BAY. Following on from jump outs on Apr 20 and Aug 31 (white & blue sleeves), this runner made good ground down the middle of the track in Heat 12 (pink) on Sep 14 and looks to have some ability. Will be watching for a name and the debut.
CASTERTON - 15 September 2020
An as easy as you like win for the 9yo BIG REEL (pink) in Heat 3 on Sep 15, leading from start to finish.
Despite finishing 3rd, if OUTFLANK (yellow) was allowed to run in Heat 7 on Sep 15 she would’ve certainly won the heat. The grey 3yo filly looked a class above this lot that included some runners who had already broken their maiden such as Renouf. We loved her jump outs as a late 2yo against the older horses. On Apr 28 (when clocking the fastest 700m time of the day) she had Over The Sky (since won), Miss Guggenheim (since won) and the 70-rated Good Therapy covered easily. Her May 5 jump out was even more impressive, winning by a big big margin when running super time again. She’s been given more time (would have improved even more) and suspect that she was saved for the spring. She will jump and lead and be very competitive this campaign so hopefully we catch her in a maiden first up before going onto better races.
FRONDEUR (yellow) hit the line very strongly to win Heat 8 on Sep 15 to show a huge turn of foot. The 4yo mare had a forgive run first up after starting a short $2.25 in a bm70 but pulling up with a slow recovery and the thumps - she jumped well but was restrained and pulled all the way back to near last, ordinary race. A 6-week let up now to get over the small issues and expect to see her again in a bm70 where she’ll be ridden conservatively and showing that super turn of foot late, much like this jump out.
CAULFIELD - 15 September 2020
EXPRESS PASS (blue/yellow) can make it three in a row when he goes to the races third up. The 4yo has been very good since being gelded, winning two of two and now an impressive jump out in Heat 1 on Sep 15 where he finished 2nd, but was making a lot of late ground after being held together just behind the leaders.
DR SCHULTZ (white & blue sleeves) won a jump out on Sep 1 (featuring in our review) well after a Aug 18 jump out where he was always to the back of the field with the winner since coming out and winning a maiden. It was his 3rd place finish in Heat 2 on Sep 15 that really caught the eye as he travelled wide in the quickest heat of the day but looked very comfortable in doing so. Believe he is a gelding, which may be the gear change he needed to really switch on so check to see if he is now gelded. A country maiden would be a perfect kick off point.
FLEMINGTON - 15 September 2020
The most impressive of the 2yo trials was GENERAL BEAU (orange/white & black sleeves) taking out Heat 2 on Sep 15 up the straight. The 2yo Brazen Beau looked comfortable and was well held in comparison to all the other 2yo’s in either heats. We saw him finish a close 2nd in a Sep 4 jump out as well to suggest that this could be a handy early 2yo…
GEELONG - 16 September 2020
The 6yo THE ALIENATOR (blue & white/red sleeves) went to and through the line strongly over 1000m in Heat 2 on Sep 16. She was always a very clear last in a Sep 2 jump out, but was a lot more forward in this heat and looked comfortable. She’s started huge prices in all 3 career starts so expect similar first up, and she’ll have to be for us to be on her.
MORNINGTON - 16 September 2020
ALFA ORO (blue) is back and over whatever little hiccup he had when scratched a few weeks back. He has won Heat 1 on Sep 16 comfortably, like he does most his jump outs, and has done so in quick time again. An exciting gelding this one and very keen to see him over the spring after this 12-week let up.
The impressive maiden winner LA MEXICANA (grey) led them up in Heat 2 on Sep 16, but it was the 6yo mare CARIBBEAN PEARL (black/pink) who was a big eye catcher coming home strongly over the top. She doesn’t have a friendly racing pattern as she does get back, but will be well suited in a 1300-1400m bm64 race after her 9-week let up. Would expect double figure odds on form.
Following TWIST OF FURY (green & red sleeves), the all the way leader and winner of Heat 3 on Sep 16 ahead of some handy gallopers. The 3yo filly has the form on the board as well, having just been run over of on debut before finishing 5L off a Listed race in Morphetville. She was 2nd in a Sep 2 jump out as well and is certainly one to watch first up where she will most likely lead the field, so hoping for a low barrier.
Dean Binaisse’s runner under the breeding UNENCUMBERED x WRITTEN IN TIME (black) showed plenty of early speed in Heat 5 on Sep 16 to take the lead before being restrained and told to ease it. This runner still managed to hold on and win by a couple a lengths, an impressive first jump out and could be on with some ability.
HILLCREST MOSES (black/yellow) looked to match the talented King Of Hastings in Heat 14 on Sep 16. These two runners were side by side for much of the synthetic heat, a good indicator for this 4yo gelding considering he is still a maiden. His last run was ordinary with Jake Noonan saying he didn’t handle the wet and was at the end of his prep, so happy to forgive this run as his two runs before that were very good when 4th and 2nd. He was never tested over 600m on Sep 9 and is one we will follow.
YULONG COMMAND (purple) looked in very good order finishing 2nd in Heat 16 on Sep 16. The flashy colt just cruised to the line in his first jump out back. After debuting at Flemington as a 2yo in May, he’s been given more time to strengthen up for the spring and could be one worth following.
PAKENHAM - 16 September 2020
GLENFIDDICH (red) ticked the legs over 1000m jumping out impressively since his third placing in the Memsie. He ran the fastest time of the morning over 1000m clocking 60.89s in Heat 1 on Sep 16.
GUNDOWN (salmon/navy blue) jumped out well over 1000m in Heat 2 on Sep 16. He wasn't asked for an effort, the leaders got away from him as they were pushed out but he made up a stack of ground late in the jump out. He could be worth following as he gets out towards his preferred staying trip. Changed trainer to.
THE SPANIARD (blue) for Peter Moody jumped out very nicely over 1000m. He didnt break the clock, winning Heat 4 on Sep 16 in 62.24s but he wasn't asked for an effort either. All Moody's horses are flying as he has a small team so you can follow his runners with confidence. The Spaniard's form reads well running 2L off Itzhot and Flying Award.
ZIAVERA (white) has the form to back up her nice 800m jump out when 2nd in Heat 6 on Sep 16. She jumped well and sat positive being under strong hold the whole way. Her form reads super as she ran 1.4L of Splendoronthegrass along with a 5th to Jolly Sailor before being spelled.
FLEMINGTON - 18 September 2020
CRIMINAL CODE’s (black/white & purple sleeves) work past the line in Heat 3 on Sep 18 was super! Being only an 800m heat, the 4yo stayer was beaten for pace early but once he got going in the straight when asked for an effort he went straight past the field over the line. He won first up in his first career preparation over 1250m that ended in a Group 2 placing over 2400m, so certainly versatile and might be stayer worth following in VIC.
WAR GENERAL (orange) has had absolutely no room to move in Heat 4 on Sep 18. If this was an actual race, it would’ve been a butcher of a ride. The 3yo gelding was trapped behind some handy horses including the 4L maiden winner Endanger and Ellis Park, but once he finally found a bit of a gap past the line, he looked like he was certainly going to go on with it. This heat was also only 1 of 3 sub 49s heats for the day, and this $130k purchase looks like he might have some toe.
A sizzling win by the 3yo gelding STILL BE FRIENDS (navy blue), winning Heat 9 on Sep 18 in the fastest time of the morning. Following on from an easy 2nd on Sep 11, he showed a ton of speed and talent to take up the lead and win by a big margin. Disappointing in the two career runs and preps to date, we expect he has taken some improvement into this 3yo campaign and based off the jump outs, we would expect him to be competitive this prep.
ECHUCA - 18 September 2020
Big win in slick time over the 900m by HUGO LOVES VEGAS in Heat 15 on Sep 18. The lightly raced 4yo was a close 2nd to the 78-rated Mount Horeb on Aug 31 as well, and looks to be trialling up well ahead of his return. He was 3rd at a massive $101 SP after two ordinary runs to start his career, could expect a nice price first up so a big watch.
The un-raced 3yo KANIVA sprinted away from the field in fine fashion to win Heat 19 on Sep 18. She looked to close quite nicely in a Sep 4 jump out to finish 2nd as well but the quality of the fields she’s jumped out against is the query on how she has been travelling. Regardless, one to keep safe.