SUMMARY/ FORGIVE FILE – 2nd Sept

 

 

 

 

Racing was at CAULFIELD on Saturday on GOOD-3 track. The track played well however there was a strong headwind down the side and it was tough facing the breeze. Only two winners faced breeze on-speed and won on the day. Overall times were affected (read: slower) given said wind factor.

 

 

Well over 1000 votes and you went for VEGA MAGIC with 40% of the vote (get involved each week on Twitter @gatorgately).

 

He was quite dominant was VEGA MAGIC in the best race of the day (G1 Memsie) so hard to argue! He did get away with murder up front running a 49.7 1st-800m (almost 7L below average for the class) and sprinted home in a slick 33.62. He ran 1-23.36 for the 1400m however had little hope of ‘smashing the clock’ even slow speed/ wind etc. Obviously the late scratching of Charmed Harmony affected the race (tempo!) but as stated, he was dominant and had proper G1 horses chasing him…

 

Of the others: Well, it was a bit of a ‘’Grand Prix’’ race where not much changed. BLACK HEART BART sat 1-1 and moved up 3-wide to the turn, he gave his all and just held off TOSEN STARDOM who closed very nicely through on the inside, in fact his last 200m split of 10.92 was equal-fastest of any runner on the day. HEY DOC was a bit keen early, he battled well all the way to the line and was a length off Black Heart Bart so he passed the test. LE ROMAIN followed Black Heart Bart, all the way, his sectionals home were near identical. JON SNOW sat up handy and was clearly unsuited on sit/ sprint tempo, he was beaten off but battled very well for further. Loved the run of HUMIDOR, he was staying at 1400m 2nd-up and unsuited by the tempo yet ran equal-fastest 10.92 home and 100m past the line was climbing all over their backs! He can win a big G1 this Spring. YANKEE ROSE ran home 10.94 so she did more than enough off long break.

 

Race 6 was The Heath at 1100m run at SWP and winner VOODOO LAD was terrific here keeping his great fresh record, his great Caulfield record and his unblemished 1100m record in-tact. He was keen early (typically) but joined in quickly and put the race away. Stable openly said there would be significant improvement in him off this also. SO SI BON was my vote for Run Of The Day, unsuited at the weights (1.5kg off Voodoo Lad despite 21-rating points difference) he was back last then flew late making very good ground on Voodoo Lad (not many do that!) his last 200m, his last 200m was clear race-fastest )11.12) and his last 800m of 44.24 was the day’s fastest. CRYSTAL DREAMER kept closing and pipped SHEIDEL for third. Most expected Sheidel to lead but RUNSON went quick mid-race, they ran 29.08 1st-500m, the early split was around 2L above average for the class but then sped-up mid-race. Given day’s pattern, it did suit the run-ons. ROYAL TUDOR was OK for easier and MALUBU STYLE, well, marked him inconclusive given he did fave that breeze. They ran 1-3.6 for the 1100m.

 

Tough not to be impressed with MERCHANT NAVY in McNeil (R4). He went back, he improved to the turn then quickened very nicely 400-to-200m and sustained the run to grab BOOKER who was up handy facing that breeze and fought hard, her run was excellent. Winner is still learning (rider said he ‘’switched off a bit’’ when he hit the lead) and he did give runner-up, filly, 3.5kg. MURAAHIB was back with the winner midway and stayed inside playing for luck, none come until about 150m from home, he hit the line sweetly. TREKKING sat off speed inside and battled well with mixed luck, obviously he ties in that (fast) Sydney form through Menari and last week’s winner Overshare. These four had a bit on the rest for mine, they had those from the Vain Stks well covered. Time was good for the day: 1-10.84 off 36.02 1st-600m

 

ORGEON’S DAY won Race 2 here second-up jumping 1100-to-1400m, she too quickened like the good horse she is. She ran 22.32/ 11.24 home with more to come this prep. SWAMPLAND looked a touch unlucky at first glance, she had to wait for winner to go then eased over her heels and ran home hard (22.32/ 11.08) but have to say, right on the line, the winner was holding her AND, is earlier in the prep carting 1kg extra. They beat third clearly, that was PRINCESS OF QUEENS who is handy but an inferior athlete, simply. She did face the breeze in fairness. SCHISM was well-backed but gut feel is punters were looking (falsely) for leaders early given wind and pattern of last meeting, she didn’t lead, she ran quite well. Nice run from TAHANEE (wide) and FIRENZE (made good ground late). They ran 1-24.49 off 49.45 1st-800m (around 4L below average for class).

 

A strong BM78 was Race 3 and died MR SNEAKY look good! Yes he had the nice suck run out of the wind and speed built nicely for him but he burst through and ran away from a good one in THEANSWERMYFRIEND who is ticking over beautifully, he was up second facing the breeze and clear best of those on-speed in any of the first few races. HANDSOME THIEF was much better, he worked home well with every chance. Great return from VIOLATE who rushed home down the centre. SMART AS YOU THINK was a bit more ‘hidden’ but just as good, she came wide before the turn so had no trail into it yet also attacked the line. Top return runs these two. Time: 1-10.48 off 35.66 1st-600m. They were tick over average for class that early split.

 

Beter mention The Heatherlie (R8) and HELL OR HIGHWATER who was one of the two who faced the breeze and won, she did it up on a strong speed also. Yes she had fitness on-side given so many rivals were 1st-up/ 2nd-up but the win was super. GUARDINI sat off-speed with cover and ran home well into second. AMELIE’S STAR is ticking over beautifully and can also win a big G1 this campaign. TALLY was further back than most mapped him, his last 200m split was race-fastest 11.10 and 9th-fastest for the day. VENTURA STORM (home 11.18) was very good also after coming wide. VENGEUR MASQUE made good ground from hopeless spot. HARLEM (good/ see forgive file). Time: 1-43.53 for 1700m here.

 

TAHANEE (wide), FALIKA (not much room), RISQUE (not right), SAINT VALOREM (missed kick/ got lost), HALLELUJAH BOY (sore), POSEIDON’S POOL (little luck vital stage), MURAAHIB (held-up until late! Good), SWORD OF LIGHT )wide), JENNIFER LYNN (not much room), FUHRYK (oh dear !), MISS COVER GIRL (wide run), LYUBA (bled), WE’VE GOT THIS (amiss), Anything/Everything from the back in the Memsie!, HARLEM (found strife/ hit line), TIAMO GRACE (badly blocked!), SNITZSON (hooked out wide/ home 4th-fastets last 200m of day), HARDHAM (no luck key stage).

 

 

 

In Sydney it was RANDWICK on GOOD-3 track with Rail 6m. It was certainly no disadvantage to be up handy on the inside rail, 6 of the 9 winners led or saved ground.

 

It’s always WINX when she races! Talk that she is not going as well as last prep is baffling to me. She chased from a long way out and again ran amazing sectionals to arrive and was eased-up late. Looking back at her last 2nd-up run, she cruised to lead on wet and beat Lasquieti Spirit by 2L, that (average) girl was actually coming back at Winx on the line, this is not a peak run from the freak !!

 

WINX ran 1-34.11 off 59.42 1st-1000m set by RED EXCITEMENT who is flying this prep and gave a huge sight. What a daring ride J.Parr! He ramped speed up to 800m (over 5L above average) and he thrashed everything else. Winner ran 11.08/ 10.92/ 11.22 home! CHOCANTE was an honest (distant) 3rd and have to like how ANTONIO GUISEPPE and LIFE LESS ORDINARY are going, they actually recorded quicker splits than WINX 600-to-400m then got left for dead from about the 300m, they are flying for right race(s).

 

The Tramway was Race 8 and ECUADOR did a bit of work to lead but was not travelling well straightening and was collared by TOM MELBOURNE who had been wide and had made an early move, he was only grabbed late by HAPPY CLAPPER who had the good run, winner ran home 11.18 last 200m which was equal-fastest of the day. Top return. Huge run TOM MELBOURNE, he deserved to win it. INVINCIBLE GEM was a good third after not seeing a ton of room early in the straight. HEAVENS ABOVE worked home (11.48) with MACKINTOSH (11.40). They broke 1-22 for the 1400m (1-21.97) off 47.92 1st-800m (early speed was around 4L below average for class).

 

Disappointing field in Concorde Stks with just four runners but it was a genuine contest. REDZEL with 60kg went straight to the front and scooted home 32.9 to hold clear margin over SPIETH who had to spend some mid race juice to get within striking distance, didn’t like him hanging (he did this in trial too) and didn’t pull up overly well so, he has probably gone brilliantly!? NIETA battled well behind REDZEL this class. THE MONSTAR is still flying…. Just needs the right race. Time was slick 56.23 so around 3L off track record.

 

The Furious Stks was Race 6 and FORMALITY was too tough for them again! She sat 2nd on 36.13 1st-600m (just under 3L below average) so she had her chance but kept kicking to hold off CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES who, ridden colder, rattled home in 11.18 last 200m (equal day fastest) with I AM EXCITED (had good run) and ALIZEE (had chance/ others bit stronger late) both close-up. There was just .5L over these four girls. SEANNIE didn’t quicken, was quite good late, she wants further than 1200m !! Time: 1-9.9 here.

 

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS won the last with rails trail and with inside run, doubt the slow mid race speed was much help to him but he was strong through the wire, he went from 16-fastets last 400m to 5th-fastets last 200m of day. DAWN WALL was a ripping return, given the tempo (and mostly pattern) she had little right to charge home, bit she did, she ran 22.16 last 400m (3rd-fastest day) then 11.44 home (7th-fastest) so fancy just peaked. Nice stuff!! ROCKET COMMANDER was solid but has little upside to her. BERRY DELICIOUS is going very well for wetter. They ran 1-22.46 for 1400m off 48.03 1st-800m (near 4.5L below average early here).

 

ALBUMIN (wide), PLYMOUTH ROAD (led then little peace), ROMAN SON (early work), MY GUILIANO (also worked early), JAMINZAH (no luck key stage), MORE TO GAIN (bad start hurt !), SUPER STAR BOB (covered ground), SCHEDULE (luckless vital ate), LAST TRY WINS (got lost), INVINCIBLE GEM (should have finished closer), SPEITH (blood one nostril/ poor recovery), VELADERO (wide no cover).

 

 

– Gator