Weekly Review - September 28 to October 4
CRANBOURNE - 28 September 2020
NENEKA (white/red/black) has made a nice return ahead of her third career preparation, winning Heat 3 on Sep 28 ahead of some experience gallopers in Blazejowski, Mr Exclusive and Al Passem in nice time for the morning. The 5yo mare was super impressive last campaign, taking out her run at Caulfield and her last run (where she had issues) she won 3 races and placed in the other 2. A friendly racing pattern as she will be on speed, she looks in good order ahead of her return.
Blackbooked after a super jump out on Aug 31, the 4yo mare VERCHENOVA looked super again winning Heat 6 on Sep 28 in super time for the day. She had a fair bit on this lot and looks super ahead of her debut, following!
BANJO SHARK was very ordinary on debut, finished 11/12 by a massive 21.7L. Backed to the jump outs and the 4yo gelding took out Heat 9 on Sep 28 very comfortably in super time for the day. Am noting he did jump out well before a terrible debut run, so hard to read too much into this performance. Hopefully not just a jump out specialist.
BALLARAT - 28 September 2020
Not reading too much into it as she has been a usual eye catcher, but it’s hard to ignore the big win of MALLYUMKIN in Heat 5 on Sep 28. The 4yo mare clocked a nice overall time in her first jump out back and will be looking to get that elusive maiden win when she resumes.
COLERAINE - 28 September 2020
Again, OUTFLANK (yellow) was a top performer at the jump outs and is a must watch first up. In Heat 4 on Sep 28 she took up the lead with recent maiden winner Early Plea (who had a clear fitness edge), where they went on to beat the rest of the field by a good 3-4L with the 85-rated Savaheat in 3rd. They clocked 50.20s over the 900m, the only time under 51s and the clear fastest of the day. Following jump outs on Sep 15, May 5 and Apr 28, she is absolutely flying on the track and if she finds a country maiden, she will win first up.
Liked his jump outs with Brett Stanley before his debut prep. Now with Price & Kent, it looks like they’ve made the decision to geld MASTER BARTHOLDI (yellow) and the 3yo has begun with a very nice jump out win in Heat 7 on Sep 28. He clocked a nice time of 51.57s for the 900m and will take a stack of improvement from this hit out. Looking for another jump out before resuming but regardless, he looks a likely type.
Putting QUEEN ZYRAH (pink) in the blackbook as well who looked to finish well down the outside in this heat also.
Nice closing speed on the 3yo gelding BARCELONA ROCK (red/white) in Heat 10 on Sep 28. The son of El Roca settled 3 wide behind the leaders before peeling out around the bend and showing a nice turn of foot to come over the top down the middle of the track. He was asked for an effort, but looked to respond nicely to the riding of Declan Bates to win. Encouraging signs for only his first jump out and certainly one that has caught the eye.
CAULFIELD - 29 September 2020
The pick of the two 800m jump outs on Sep 29 was FAKE LOVE who finished 2nd in Heat 1. This filly wasn’t asked for an effort and looked to be held back by the jockey with a bit under the bonnet. The colt RED ROCKETSHIP was the clear standout of Heat 2 comfortably, also without being asked of an effort.
Good to see CAVE HILL back at the jump outs and not bucking when finishing 4th in Heat 6 on Sep 29 over 650m. In both career runs he has had to come from a long way back for various reasons and still almost won. If he can put it together, he will win but his manners are starting to become a problem. Worth one more chance, he’s above average ability wise.
BENDIGO - 29 September 2020
FLIP’S STAR (red) showed some nice closing speed in Heat 1 on Sep 29 to win and come over the top of It’s Kind Of Magic and Kiata. The 5yo gelding resumes for the new stable after 12 starts in the McEvoy yard and managed to clock the quickest 800m time of the morning at 47.30s.
Have to follow DRY CREEK ROAD (white). The 6yo gelding has had almost a year off, resumed with a quiet 3rd in a Sep 18 jump out before really showing what he’s capable of when winning Heat 2 on Sep 29 in good time and by a big margin. He might need the run first up so lets see where he pops up first.
Despite being overran late, thought it was a super jump out by GLOVES ARE OFF (purple / pink sleeves) in Heat 7 on Sep 29 to finish 2nd. The daughter of Toronado was a $110k purchase and comes from a nice family being a full to Sassy Salitage and a half to Lady Horseowner… Only the first jump out for this 3yo, but based on breeding along she’s a must follow.
Super jump out by LOE (blue) when winning Heat 8 on Sep 29. For the new stable, the 5yo gelding travelled nicely along the fence in a pocket before getting out at the 200m mark and showing a super turn of foot to spring away and win by a couple lengths. This follows a Sep 18 jump out where he got too far back but still managed to close well. Liked him sitting more on speed in this jump out and hopefully resumes in a bm58.
PAKENHAM - 30 September 2020
No surprise to see DONE BY ME clock the fastest 800m heat of the morning and look super in doing so, winning Heat 9 on Sep 30 on the synthetic.
MORNINGTON - 30 September 2020
Super jump out by LUNAKORN (purple) when 2nd in Heat 2 on Sep 30. The 4yo mare found the 1000m too sharp first up, but only went down by 2.8L and will be much better suited second up when stepping up to the 1200m+. Also loved TOUR DOWN UNDER (white/red/black) who jumped out well before getting the blinkers back on and running a nice 3rd in a bm58. This 6yo will be well suited and peaking third up, hopefully in another bm58.
Another super jump out for HILLCREST MOSES (blue) finishing 2nd in Heat 4 on Sep 30. This follows on from a Sep 16 jump out where the 4yo gelding had King Of Hastings covered. He’ll be forward enough first up now to be in the finish. Worth following.
Follow the un-raced 3yo HOT WATER (yellow) who was clearly better than the rest of the field in Heat 5 on Sep 30. He was also 3rd on Aug 5 over 600m behind subsequent winner Out To Win before winning jump outs on Aug 20 and Sep 2. The $125k son of Headwater has had several jump outs now and should be forward enough and well educated for his debut.
Have to put BLAZING REBEL (green & red sleeves) in the blackbook with the 4yo gelding being under a super strong hold in Heat 17 on Sep 30 when travelling very wide. He should’ve and certainly could’ve finished a lot closer, worth following as only his first jump out.
FLEMINGTON - 2 October 2020
The quickest heat of the day on Oct 2 was Heat 1, won by talented Group-1 placed sprinter Crystal Dreamer but we are keen to following the 66-rated DES MOINES (pink) from this heat who finished a close 2nd. In June 2019 at Flemington she was 2L off Gytrash, spelled and returned to finish 3rd in a bm84 to Diamond Effort and a bm70 to Jamaican Hurry before failing when pulling up lame. Her form is brilliant for an 11-start 5yo mare with only 1 win on the board… would love to see her in a bm64 first up.
All eye’s were on RANTING with the blinkers going on, winning Heat 4 on Oct 2 but thought the one to take out of this heat was YOUNG LIAM (red/white) who attacked the line very strongly despite being heavily restrained. The 4yo gelding can go on with it this prep and we know he will be leading, giving himself every chance.
After having no room to move in a Sep 18 jump out, WAR GENERAL (orange) went up along the fence in Heat 8 on Oct 2 to win ahead of some nice runners. The $130k 3yo looks a likely type and one worth following.
Can’t ignore the win of OURCONI (white & black sleeves) in Heat 10 on Oct 2. Big win in the third fastest time of the day. Impressive.
Following a quiet jump out on Sep 25, ORD (yellow/red) was an impressive winner of Heat 11 on Oct 2 and will certainly be one to follow into his debut. The 3yo gelding was a $320k purchase at the 2019 Inglis Sales.