Summary/ Forgive File 14th Feb

SUMMARY OF LAST WEEK:

Racing was at CAULFIELD on Saturday on the ‘new’ track, it was raters Soft-5 early but quickly upgraded to Good-4 then Good-3. Track played quite well, it was certainly no disadvantage being on-speed, in fact, only two winners came from further back than 5th at the 600m mark, they were SMOKIN’ JOEY and CHATAUQUA.

Run OF The Day: Stack of good runs so tough job today but runner-up prize(s) go to 2yo’s FONTITON and PRIDE OF DUBAI however, going with CHAUTAUQUA who won narrowly, but very well fresh-up here in sizzling time (1-2.39) and ran home his three last 200m splits in 10.96/ 11.49/ 11.19 and his last 200m sectional was the fastest all day.

The quinella here ran away from third, runner-up FLAMBERGE was terrific on-speed on strong 28.6 1st-500m and made the winner really dig to beat him, 3rd was ATMOSPHERICAL (keen early/ good return) some 3.3L away, just ahead of MISSY LONGSTOCKING (good for easier) and RICHIE’S VIBE hit the line ok (better effort !).

The G1 was the Orr Stks and DISSIDENT was dominant! He had the right run but just love the way he winds into his work and becomes so strong sustaining his closing speed, he beat ENTIRELY PLATINUM who led at a slo-o-ow 49.71 1st-800m, to put that early split into perspective, 3yo San Nicasio who won the race prior (over same trip) led in 48.96 so Entirely Platinum would have been some 3.5L behind him with 600m to travel. Anyway, he battled well to keep second from MOURINHO (good again but had same task as winner). JAVA loomed a bit but didn’t quite finish off, he just held 4th from SPILLWAY he did not quicken when race went on but over the line was good. HAPPY TRAILS covered ground and stuck on super, he ran an 11.28 last 200m (winner was 11.23), did like his return! REAL LOVE made the ‘forgive file’ from back/wide Vs tempo, note, his 11.28 last 200m split, just 5/100ths off that of the winner. They ran 1-23.38 for 1400m.

Speaking of SAN NICASIO, he won Autumn Stks, as mentioned, leading in 48.96, overall time 1-23.66. He was well-rated. Runner-up ZEBULON sat up second and gave his all, good return him first run as a gelding. FIREHOUSE ROCK was a sound 3rd and is probably looking for mile now. PROFIT SHARE is a goose, but very talented. AFFIRMATION was the best of those from the back here, forced wide he reeled off an 11.24 last 200m (3rd-fastest all day) in the on-pace dominated race and can win soon.

To the 2yo’s:

Fillies: FONTITON sits off a mad speed (28.22 1st-500m, or, near 3L quicker than Rubiton Stks field) came to the outside and won very well, she stopped the clock at 1-2.83 so was just 1.1-secs off a course record, and she is a 2yo. Obviously the hot speed set by HEATHERLY set up the fast time. MISS GIDGET did well chasing that speed, she held a clear second from FLAMBOYANT KLASS (sound/ no match 1-2), AIR APPARENT was one of the better closers, her 22.94 last 400m was race-fastest, QUEEN OF WANDS 9hit line late – 11.85 last 200m – 3rd-fastest of race) from HELL OR HIGHWATER (11.73 last 200m – race-fastest). Winner ran home 22.97/ 11.87.

Boys: OF THE BRAVE was equal leader between line of three so hardly had softest of runs yet gave a huge kick and just lasted from PRIDE OF DUBAI who was excellent, he is still very new, he looked to be on his wrong leg then changed stride and flew, these two got away some 2.7L to 3rd-horse SAMPEAH who also made up very good ground late, note, PRIDE OF DUBAI ran 11.62 last 200m, SAMPEAH 11.68. Others of note: CALL ME ANYTHING (good late – 11.97) and GREDINGTON (showed ability! Home 11.98 with mixed luck). The boys ran slower overall time, 1-3.66 however that early split 28.91 1st-500m was over 4L slower early, overall time near 5L slower than fillies division.

Back to Race 2 and SABATINI made a top return, she was able to sit just off them given moderate early tempo (35.77 1st-600m) and was bolting on turn, when the split came she burst through and rolled fave ROYAL SNITZEL who kicked-up inside leader FONTEIN RUBY, it’s never a great spot to be (inside leader given you have to work most of the race), anyway, she kicked, but had no answer winner who will be fitter too. FONTEIN RUBY gave her all, just missed second, these three had decent gap on 4th AFLEET ESPRIT who was, OK. Time: 1-9.59. Note: Fillies race here ‘rated’ about as well as older mares in the last, TYCOON TARA won the last in 1-9.48 off a slightly quicker 35,5 1st-600m.

THE FORGIVE FILE: THINKING OF YOU (too close?), SECRET AGENDA (injured), ANTELUCAN (bad check early), PURSUITS (ran in in limited room), GREDINGTON (mixed luck!), EXTRA CHOICE (limited luck/ has ability too), BLACK VANQUISH (needed more room), BANTAM (wide on-speed), DEMONSTARTE (baulked in straight/ faded), CHESTER ROAD (missed run 200m/ did hit line!), AKZAR (good lay back to 1600m), ELOPING (didn’t pan out early), PROFIT SHARE (goose/ brings it on himself), REAL LOVE (tempo against), PETROLOGY (ditto), BAGMAN (ditto) and SPIRITS DANCE (back and wide).

In Sydney it was RANDWICK and track was rated GOOD. Rail was TRUE. Pattern was clear, quickly, the inside lanes were NOT the place too be… Forgive anything that ran on that inside section!

Run Of The Day: Lovely return from DESTINY’S KISS and thought NINTH LEGION was terrific but, the winner this week, and clearly, was CONTRIBUTER. Breathtaking return win given 1400m is not his go, he just exploded when asked and ran a sub-11 second split 400m-to-200m (10.96) then sustained 11.3 last 200m (still quickest of race) and could win anything this prep, his trials prior were as good as anything in the country!

Runner-up NINTH LEGION was super here given he had to work to lead on a better track for run-ons and ran a sub-47 1st-800m (46.99 to be precise), great job to keep second. WEARY took sit and dashed when asked, just found winner too old. LUCIA VALENTINA (home 22.36/ 11.48) weaving between and SILENT ACHIEVER (22.4/ 11.40) down outside (best ground) were good fresh. HE’S YOUR MAN had no answer winner but pleased fresh himself. BOBAN, well, he was better…. They ran 1-22.09 for 1400m here.

Race 5 for 3yo Fillies looked a cracker on paper but bookies took the dose here, winner was ADRIFT who sat off pace, outside (best going) and responded very well when asked, she held off FIRST SEAL who just raced tight at a vital stage, she ran home hard, winner was holding her late though. No knock! SLIGHTLY SWEET did not quicken like runner-up but was strong late, her 11.50 last 200m was race-fastest, PEGGY JEAN (4th) recorded an 11.54 weaving between runners, FIRST SEAL was home 11.62 for the record. The first four here were all off-speed runners. ONEMOREZETA best of those on-pace but she was too keen/fresh early. Time: 1-9.48 off 34.46 1st-600m

Race 3 for 2yo’s saw HAPTIC lead at a strong 28.3 1st-500m pace, he left rail and kept going too well for a wall of them: FURNACES (sound), WOLF CRY (good late – 12.4 last 200m race-fastest split), GIULIETTA (never stopped trying), SEBRING SUN (ridden back/ went to line nicely/ home 12.44)… There was just 1.1L over the first five here. Time was 1-3.7 for 1100m.

HEART TESTA back in trip was able to win Race 4 sitting deep (best ground) in another busy finish, DRIEFONTEIN was beaten by her barrier when forced to race on inside section, thought she did an amazing job to run second! TERRITORY loomed/solid/3rd… Great return from DESTINY’S KISS who really charged and got very close! Him 11.8 last 200m was fastest of the race.
THE FORGIVE FILE: CHARMED HARMONY (cardiac arrhythmia), FIELD MARSHALL (worst ground), GEOREY AEROPLANE (not wide enough), FUERZA (poor recovery), KORIOBETE (went mad !), BULL POINT (ran out of room late/ fitter), HOT SNITZEL (worst ground), WINX (worst ground), MOSSFUN (poor recovery), MAHARA (good return/ should have finished closer), CHINTZ (pattern against) and BLACK REVOLVER (ran well VS race pattern).

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