Summary/ Forgive File – Sat 26th August (MV/ RHIL)

 

 

 

 

Racing was at MOONEE VALLEY on Saturday on GOOD-4 track and the rail was TRUE. It was reported pre-races that the inside lanes may hold the advantage which would, of course, buck the usual trend on this track with the rail True…. And the is exactly how it played out. Of the 9 x races held at MV there were SIX winners who were able to either lead, race very handy, or secure inside runs. It was a tough day to make a sweeping/ wide run.

 

Thanks to all who voted, and, well, the only Victorian in the poll was ALMANDIN… He clearly won said poll. Others on the podium for mine were KEEN ARRAY and SUNQUEST but we will get to those later… ALMANDIN’s return run was nothing short of sensational. He had 61kg fresh-up and was forced to cover ground from a long way out (against the inside pattern) and was run over late by match-fit one 6.5kg less.

 

Said match-fit one was PACODALI and what a record he is building! He was one of very few winners to come from the back and he was well off that inside section himself. The race was run a touch below average speed (for the class) 1st-800m then they built up, by the 1200m they were 3L above average and the one controlling the speed (leading) was FOUNDATION, yes, he had the pattern on his side but the run was a big improvement from that 1st-up effort and he is on track now. KILLARNEY KID was an OK fourth but did split the quinella in the run and HANS HOLBEIN did enough after sitting handy. SECOND BULLET had yet another flat run 2nd-up, that’s three preps straight now, the betting told the story as he drifter alarmingly. They ran 2-06.28 for 2040m here.

 

The Listed Carlyon Stks looked a ripper on paper and what a terrific return from MISSROCK who had the speed (at 1000m) to secure the rails trail behind HEATHERLY who did play up pre-race, she did miss the kick and had to be used up a bit but take nothing away from this classy winner who did match motors with Vega Magic at the end of her last prep remember. They ran along here (around 3L above average speed 1st-600m) and winner ran home 11.56 last 200m which was equal-fastest of the day, with, fourth horse KEEN ARRAY who was way back and forced very wide (tough day for that!) and yep, rushed home 11.56. Great run! LADY ESPRIT ran on from midfield, rail in best ground and her return was good. EL DIVINO was outsped a bit at the 1000m and ‘’at his top’’ the whole way but kept coming. They ran 58.16 for the 1000m here.

 

The two 3YO races held plenty of interest:

 

Race 3 for the girls was won by ROOMOOZ who had the gun run (one-one) off a solid (around average) speed and took over straightening, the question, could she hold off TULIP? The answer was yes! TULIP was very good here given she did have full penalty (2.5kg more than the winner) and did race a bit fresh/ keen coming wider and therefore against the general pattern of the day. TRUE EXCELSIOR led and just held third from LIMESTONE (cold ride/ followed TULIP and ran home well) with GARRARD right with them… It was a 3-way go for third. They ran 1-12.01 which was slowest of the four 1200m races, they were however .12 slower 1st-600m than the boys

 

Race 6 was that 3YO race for the boys and they ran 1-11.92 off 36.17 (.12 quicker) 1st-600m. Winner was OVERSHARE coming down from hot/ fast race in Sydney and he did look to settle better, he definitely had a more peaceful run than the Rosehill lead-up and he did have pattern on his side. Still, the win had merit as he held off well-backed BANDIPUR who had sat up second and had every chance. SUNQUEST was terrific, back and hooked out wide then ran home hard (home 11.84) Vs race and track pattern. AZAZEL raced a bit keen 2nd-up here, he didn’t quicken but did hit the line. FRANKEL MY DEAR wants further again, he looked at his top most of the race also. MURAAQEB’s run was better than it looked… Wary him!

 

Race 8 saw the match-fit and firing HERE TO THERE secure that rails trail run and run over leader MIHANY with quality animal BOOM TIME (also made his run on inside lanes) a good third fresh-up. HARLOW GOLD also went nicely fresh and she should have finished closer after being held-up a touch at a vital stage. ARTICUS (another freshie) did more than enough Vs race/ day pattern… Many forgive runs this race! They ran 1-31.04 off solid clip (3.4L above average 1st-800m)

 

Good depth in Race 2 and FRAGONARD had that rails trail run and ran over leader HEAR THE CHANT with 2.5kg less off the back of some nice trial form, bookies didn’t miss her, alas. O’RACHAEL did look a touch unlucky after losing momentum at a vital stage. GIVE US A GO ran home well (in best ground) recording top-10 last 200m split for the day. Both PURE PRIDE and TYPHOON MONACO went really well, ignore those finishing positions! Time here was quite good: 1-11.84 off 35.82 1st-600m (some 2L under average 1st-800m I noted).

 

CHARLEVOIX (shuffled back again), CRAFTY CRUISER (wide), PERCY HENRY (lame), O’RACHAEL (hmmm), MERRIEST (wide with cover/ race won inside), PURE PRIDE (not much room/ wrong race), DIVINE CHILLS (raced tight key stage/ ran well), TYPHOON MONACO (back and wide), LOVANI (wide no cover), RADICAL (may have won!), LORD TENNYSON (held-up key stage), GOULDIAN (wide), FRANKEL MY DEAR (1200m too sharp), LONE EAGLE (checked 500m/ nice late/ 3rd-fastest last 200m), SIRCONI (back/wide), JUNGLE EDGE (wide/ wetter!), SUNDAY ESCAPE (wide also), RAW IMPULSE (pattern against), DUKE OF BUNSWICK (pattern against), GREY LION (ditto), I’M FEELING LUCKY (got lost), TASHBEEH (wide run), SMACKDOWN (forced wide Vs pattern), TADDEI TONDO (no room) and SOVEREIGN DUKE (sat wide).

 

 

 

In Sydney it was ROSEHILL and track was GOOD-3. It was certainly no disadvantage to be handy but there were quite a few who were bale to make ground (wide and saving ground) from midfield and beyond.

 

With 34% of the vote you went with PARIAH on top from ASSIMILATE (13%) and ADDICTIVE NATURE (9%). A strong early speed (29.03 1st-500m – so, around 3L quicker early than speedy Tango Rain on day) set things up nicely for PARIAH who was not bustled early and well back, he made a move mid race when pace slackened a little;e and was within 5L, saved ground, edged off rail and ran over leaders, it was a very good ride.

 

Horse (PARIAH) ran home 33.21 last 600m (10.88/ 10.95/ 11.37) in San Domenico Stks and ran a slick 1-3.2 overall (same time as Menari here two weeks back for 1100m I note). CHAUFFEUR was just off the winner mid race, also saved gourd, also ran home hard (33.15 last 600m / 11.30 last 200m) and JORDA was third after being held-up a touch behind, he should have finished (a bit) closer for mine, he was 33.7/ 11.43 home. They all went super! MADEENATY was a solid (every chance) 4th and TAKING AIM worked home (ran 33.66 last 600m) but was no match for runner-up than last 125m or so.

 

The other 3YO race was over 1400m and they also ran slick time. Was 1-22.59 off 48.09 1st-800m and ADDICTIVE NATURE did work a bit early and was a bit keen then didn’t get much peace from RUNAWAY (who dropped off to be beaten 4L), he broke clear and held off ASSIMILATE who absolutely rocketed home! He is a great talent, he ran a 33.38 last 600m and splits home were: 10.96/ 10.91/ 11.5. Third was ASTORIA who had good run in 5th and had clear air, he kept closing (11.78 last 200m), good. MAHALANGUR was touch tight turning between 2nd and 3rd horses and kept closing also (11.74). Bot these 3Yo races rate highly for mine!

 

Quality mare BONNY O’REILLY had good run in the last behind the leader and secured inside run. She was not well served at relative weights and had 59.5kg so the win certainly had merit and held off NO DOUBT (closed well with every chance – home 11.71) and SUPREME EFFORT was a gap away in third. SELITA led in 35.28 1st-600m and had no answer for winner despite big 8kg weight swing. MOGADOR (yawn!) was ok. GOT UNDERS had sound late splits and wasnt a bad 7th. They ran 1-9.77

 

Back to Race 2 and MARQUITA who had been a sectional star of late finally landed knockout and the win was good given she made an early move wider out, splits home were 11.2/ 11.7 and she ran by the unlucky AWOKE who was posted wide then worked up outside the speed with her 61kg, big run!! CHATUCHAK led and held on ok but was no match for the quinella who both had it tougher. ELOQUERA had sound late splits (home 12.10) for further.

 

Should mention TANGO RAIN who went quick early then studied, he was 29.29 1st-500m and ran 1-3.48 overall and was 2nd-up off a long break. All honours him. MARSUPIAL came wide no trail and kept coming 1st-up, as a 3YO it is easy to line him up with the Pariah race (given they are 3yos and it was also 1100m). Good run. ISORICH was an honest third after trailing the winner and they had a gap on 4th, PUMPKIN PIE. Couple of sneaky good runs from sectional point of view: IMPROVEMENT (11.38), COSMOPOL (11.32) and SKYLIGHT GLOW (11.37).

 

LEVEE BANK (blew start), MENNEKE BELLE (wide), AWOKE (stiff/ huge!), SKYLIGHT GLOW (too far back/ 1100m was too slick), SALERNO (covered ground), VAUCLUSE BAY (never fully clear), MORE THAN FABULOUS (went early/ wide), BROADSIDE (wide/ worked), HOGMANAY (blew start/ race over), KNOW HOW (ran on in on-pace race), ROCK MYLADY (wide), GOT UNDERS (got lost), BE LIKE DAD (wide run) and SIR BACCHUS (obviously amiss).

 

 

 

– Gator