Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Review — Tuesday 3 November 2020

The Canberra course proper came up a Soft 7 and was upgraded to a Soft 6 after Race 4. As the program unfolded it was clear the better ground was wider than centre and this determined the outcome of a number of races. It was a big day out for veteran Canberra jockey Brendan Ward who booted home 4 winners for 4 different trainers.   

 

 

Race 1 (2000m) BM60

 

Dark Alibi was held up rounding the home turn and impeded passing the 300m. Stewards inquired into Appetizing’s disappointing run and trainer Austin said the gelding might not have been suited by the moderate tempo as he doesn’t have a sprint.

 

The winner HAPPY HUSTLER (1^st) $3.2 was backed into favourite over APPETIZING $3.3. Appetizing set a modest tempo and they basically raced in pairs. Passing the 600 Appetizing attempted to kick away but BULWARK (3^rd) $6 stuck with him on his outer. The winner sat back but worked into the race before the bend and presented the widest. Bulwark got the better of Appetising at the 200m but Happy Hustler soon had their measure and held off a determined finish from GEORGE TWO (2^nd) $20. It was a good tough effort from the victor who was close-up at Kembla Grange the run before. There was plenty of merit in George Two’s effort for the Rolfe yard enjoying the middle distance after a plain run at the mile. Lady Kirkham didn’t see it out.  

 

Race 2 (1000m) BM60

 

Attuned was tailed off and the stewards inquired. Jockey Miller said the gelding raced keenly in the middle stages and didn’t appreciate racing between horses. Trainer Potter said he would consult the owners to determine the gelding’s immediate racing future. Hard Core, Fountain Of Youth and CHARLIE CHAP (3^rd) all met some trouble on jumping or in the run. Charlie Chap was a solid $3.20 favourite. INTERCONTENTAL (2^nd) $4.20 and Hard Core were good firmers.  

 

The Queanbeyan – trained BIBLOS BOY (1^st) $21-$17 caused an upset beating the two best-bet contenders. There was a stack of pressure up front with three horses vying for the lead passing the 800m with Intercontinental holding the rail from Attuned and Fountain Of Youth three-wide. Biblos Boy sat off the hectic speed and presented widest at the turn getting into gear. Intercontinental still held a margin at the 200 but they were coming. Charlie Chap finally managed to extricate a run and the winner was finishing determinedly out-wider getting up by a whisker with Charlie Chap less than a half-length in third. Plenty of merit in all three runs and that of fourth place-getter Fountain of Youth (beaten 1L) who was three-wide on-speed throughout. Biblos Boy has failed on a good surface at Canberra off the first-up 50 win on the soft and clearly like the sting out. The three behind him are all knocking on the door. Hard Core was good late and will be better with the  run under the belt.

 

Race 3 (1300m) CL1

 

Mimesis was not tested over the last 80m when the jockey thought the mare may have an issue. No abnormalities were found post race but she will have to trial satisfactorily before racing again. Costa Chin Chin was slow away and bumped soon after. The rider of Mendonsa Kiss (Freeman-Key) was advised she must ride her mounts in a more competitive manner in future to ensure they are given the best possible chance of winning the race. 

 

The big money came for WANDONNA (1^st) $1.70F with AEROBATIC WARRIOR (3^rd) a drifting $3.70 and Mimesis $7.50 the only other runner given some chance. COSTA CHIN CHIN (2^nd) was $9-$14.

 

Sucrose used the rail and led from Aerobatic Warrior on her outside and Wandonna one-off trailing behind and Mimesis caught deep. Wandonna came through after turning and quickly gobbled in Aerobatic Warrior running away to record another big win.  Costa Chin Chin has been last all the way and finished it off well 3L behind with another 2L to Aerobatic Warrior who couldn’t find the speed required when the pressure went on and gave the impression he’d be suited over longer. Wandonna has now won her last two by spaces and keeps getting better.  

 

 

Race 4 (1300m) Mdn SW

 

We thought DAKSHA (1^st) $3.50 looked one of the bets of the day and that’s worked out. KERMATIN (2^nd) raced the $3 favourite backed in from $4. Namarari $4.20 was the only other one under $13.

 

Namarari 5^th was bumped on jumping by INVINCIBLE ONE (3^rd) $30 and rider Heywood was fined for failing to ride his mount out of the last two strides. Feeling Friskee and Five Star Miss were both slow off and the latter was a bit green and over-raced in the middle stages. 

 

Another sprint with pressure early and it was Invincible One who made the lead with Namarari parked outside him. Daksha was three deep behind them with Kermatin in the next line on the rail. Daksha presented for deep on turning travelling well with Kermatin behind him also looking for better going out wider. The winner held a 1.4L margin at the line from the determined Kermatin who improved sharply off the debut run and has a future. Invincible One stuck on well on the rail and there was merit in that. Expect all three to go on.

 

Race 5 (1000m) Mdn

 

Hayyu was slow off and then raced three-wide throughout as was DEEPSTAR (3^rd) $10. Samasay was beaten a mile and rider Cahill told stewards the filly was agitated at the start and required the re-fitting on the tongue tie and said she was under pressure from the 600m. No abnormalities were found but an endoscopic examination will be required and a satisfactory barrier trial before she can race again.

 

STOLTZ (2^nd) $2.20 was backed to the exclusion of all others but had to settle for second behind FEELING MIGHTY (1^st) $12 in a blanket finish.

 

They flew along with Stoltz holding the rail and Deepstar three wide.  Stoltz still held the lead at the 100m but they were coming hard out-wider in the now preferred part of the track headed by Deepstar and with Feeling Mighty flying home with Poetic Power further out. Feeling Mighty got up from a lip and there was just a half-length back to Poetic Power in 4^th.  Feeling Mighty has won a Hawkesbury barrier trial and improved sharply resuming having switched to the Robl yard. Stoltz impressed at her second-run after a long break attempting to make all and in inferior ground in the straight. And the finishing effort of Poetic Power also caught the eye fresh at his first run for the Dryden barn.  

 

Race 6 (1600m) CL1

 

DETERGE (3^rd) raced three-wide throughout. Second-favourite Auburn Boy $6 ran 7L last and rider Ward told stewards his mount was under pressure from the 600m. Trainer Price said he felt the gelding raced in inferior ground on the inside and may have choked down. He will now be spelled.

 

RIVERSTOCK (2^nd) $1.80 was a heavily-backed favourite and it was $6 + the rest. The winner CLEM FANDANGO (1^st) $9 took the race out building on his distant placing behind Wandonna. 

 

I Like Toucans flew the gates and was a clear unexpected leader. He raced keen and the rider worked restrain the filly with the favourite parked on her.  Clem Fandango lobbed along at the tail of the field smoking his pipe before being revved up after the 600m. Riverstock took over from Deterge after the 200m in the middle of the track but Clem Fandango was putting in the giant strides on the outside and gobbled the pair up at the 100m to win nearly 2L coming away. Jophiel had to switched to the inferior inside and did a good job in fourth. Clem Fandango is a nice moving galloper from the Matt Dale yard and will win again and over further based on that effort.

 

Race 7 (1300m) BM70 — Federal

 

Girls Are Ready and Royal Monarch were slow away and the latter raced three wide throughout. LOLITA GOLD (2^nd) $11 over-raced in the middle stages.

 

MOOKAREENA (1^st) $3.60 was a firm favourite throughout and MR KYLIN (3^rd) $5 was the only other runner under $9.

 

Mr Kylin led as expected and Mookareena was worked up outside him at the 800m. Lolita Gold settled down back in the field. Mr Kylin skipped clear on turning with Mookareena chasing hard – both down the centre of the track. It was a ding-dong go between this pair at the 100m with the winner drawing a length clear in the shadows of the post. The finishers all came down the outside of the track with Lolita Gold flying to just pip Mr Kylin out of second and Away She Goes and On Vier both finishing within a length of the half from the winner. The winner won fair and square improving again off the win at Kembla Grange. She has always been well-regarded by the local yard and looks capable of winning more races. Mr Kylin was very brave and just faded late after giving his all from the front in tougher grade. The swoopers were all advantaged in the better ground nearer the outside rail, but no knock on their runs.

 

Race 8 BM65 (1600m)

 

Very little to bother the stewards during the race.

 

Keith Dryden-trained DIP ME LID (2^nd) was backed $6.50 into a $3.70 favourite and was just pipped by MY EMPIRE (1^st) $9. There was money for most runners.

 

A clean break with Axion leading at a good tempo from Austreet racing keenly on his outside and Dip Me Lip getting the perfect run sitting behind them. My Empire sat one-out rearward with VIA CONDOTTI (3^rd) $10 lobbing along at the rear. Passing the 800 the leading pair were really running along. It was a keen contest at the 200m when Dip Me Lid got the better of those inside him but the better ground out-wide was in-play again with My Empire coming hard and swamping Dip Me Lid in the shadows of the post. Via Condotti also came late even further out to make third. Things worked out nicely for the winner and it was a tough effort by the runner-up who will strip better for the outing. Austreet didn’t have the best of it and there was merit in the 4^th placing beaten 1.6L. Another race where the track bias worked in favour of some and not others.