Weekend Racing Reviews Saturday 4th August

Moonee Valley review compiled by Rick Williams

Race 1.     1200M    Sportingbet Handicap  

Money here was very heavy for the Price runner King’s Pardon. He defeated subsequent sity winner Planet Voyage on debut and looked suited to the 1200 but unfortunately had an issue and finished last. Rusambo won and he looked much better suited on a firm surface and was able to settle off of them and finish too well.

Worth noting: Not sure Carringbush Jack handled the tight turn of the Valley, forgive.

Race 2.     1200M    Make-A-Wish Sprint  

Looked a race with not many push forward horses and it turned out that way. Gods Window who is flying took up the running here and he did really well to fight on for third. Lord Of Brazil ran on into second, it was a good run from him and he looks like he can continue to perform at this stage of his prep. Tokugawa is a very promising horse who has had some issues. Finished off very well and is well worthy of following.

Worth noting: Bombalatomba was very good first up and can be forgiven. Ideally back him over 1400 on a big firm track, just had no luck.

Race 3.     3000M    Become a MVRC Member Handicap  

All the talk here is about the finish. It looked all over half way up the straight but under the riding of Damien Thornton Wells came with a really strong run and was able to narrowly defeat Gotta Take Care who felt the pinch late. King was fined for not riding his mount out but we will never know if it cost Gotta Take Care the race, unless you backed it of course.

Worth noting: Two hurdlers finished one two and thrashed the rest of them.

Race 4.     1600M    Production Resource Group Handicap   

Sassy Bay jumped well here and was able to get a good sit in behind the leading group. She had shown in the past that her absolute best was good enough but she had never been able to repeat that performance. When they hit the turn she got the gun run through and was just too good for them. Roccin Jo was heavily backed and caught three wide in the run after young Wallace appeared to struggle to make a decision. The Long Road hit the line really well late.

Worth noting: Sassy Bay wasn’t a fluke, she can win again in a similar race and will probably be a good price again.

Race 5.     1600M    Belinda Jane Verco McLeod Mile   

Philda led as expected and ran really well. It was a really good ride by Willaims but Philda just couldn’t hold off the winner Streets Away. Boss on Streets Away defied the ‘mappers’ and decided to push forward and sit outside the leader, it was a great decision and paid off with a win. Oregon Spirit and Cosmic Causeway both Moody runners attracted strong support at different stages and both failed to run a place.

Worth noting: Streets Away will go on with it and needs to be followed closely. Oregon Spirit can be forgiven, never got into the race.

Race 6.     2040M    Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy

The two Tassie horses ran the quinella here. Banca Mo was the winner and continued to race really well and the 2040m was no issue. He is building a really good record and the stable have set some lofty targets for the Spring carnival. He looks like he continues to improve. The Cleaner was up on the speed and did a good job to hold on for second. Buxted was very strong to the line on his Aussie debut and is well worth keeping very safe next time.

Race 7.     1000M    William Martin Harvey Sprint

Freereturn continued his love affair with Moonee Valley. The speed was good as it should be in a 1000m dash and he was able to come at them late with a strong finish. They tried him over more ground early in his campaign and it didn’t work out and a good training effort to freshen him up and get him going so well again. This was a pretty decent field and he has a good future in these types of races. Unanimously bounced back well after his first up failure on the heavy. He is a better 1100m horse and looks ready for next start.

Worth noting: Canali and One Last Dance were poor and well backed.

Race 8.     1200M    Telstra PhoneWords Handicap   

Good win by Glows. Was impressive at her first campaign and impressive here resuming. She was able to do it at both ends of the race and looks to have a good campaign ahead of her. Total Attraction had to overcome her get back style and an inside gate and she did that as well as she could to finish second. Looks like she will be much better suited on a bigger track and over more ground. The rest ran well enough but the first two are the class.

Worth noting: The rest ran well enough but the first two are the class. Follow Glows and Total Attraction with confidence in suitable.

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Canterbury review by Todd Burmester

Race 1

A small field in the first, and Clever Boy was sent around favourite.  Last start we suggested his racing pattern would always be a risk, today he missed the start!  Rampaging led from Queen’s Elect, with Diamondsinthenight moving up three wide before the turn.  Soapy Star got a suck up behind them and was the fresh horse in the straight and claimed the win.  Clever Boy tried to go with it but didn’t really finish off.  Overall it was a bit of a sit and sprint affair and the form might be patchy.

Follow: None to follow

Race 2

Havana Rey proved the mile was within its range at its last 2 starts, but the 1900m was a different story here, and was a big drifter in betting.  He took off on the jockey and led by 7 or 8 lengths mid race, which was always going to tell on him.  Lethal Arrow had the job of chasing all the way, whilst the eventual winner Stout Hearted had a very nice run in fifth on the fence.  When Nathan Berry weaved him through once they straightened, he bolted away from them.  I thought the effort of Lethal Arrow to beat the rest was very good though.  Don’t write Havana Rey off as a quality horse, just forget this run.  Stout Hearted looks to have more potential as a stayer, particularly when the pace is on.

Follow: Lethal Arrow, don’t sack Havana Rey

Race 3

Relaxed And Happy pinged out to cross and lead these from De Shamekh.  Albrecht on the other hand went back to about third last, and Taxmeifyoucan was behind it.  Zin Zan Eddie was out wide all the way here.  Around the turn, Relaxed And Happy was going pretty well and established a break once they straightened.  Albrecht worked home ok with White House, but realistically neither were ever going to threaten the winner.  De Shamekh was disappointing after any easy run behind the leader.

Follow: Zin Zan Eddie

Race 4

Another 1900m event, and Madam Nash showed its intent to lead early in the race.  She in fact stayed there for the entire race, making a lie of her last start failure.  Umatain was ridden with some urgency to take up a forward position.  It was a well rated ride by Adam Hyeronimus on Madam Nash, who had them rolling before the turn with many off the bit struggling.  In the straight, she had them covered easily, and it was a race for the minors.  Hollywell and Money Never Sleeps did the best of the beaten brigade to claim second and third.  Umatain was very disappointing.

Follow: Money Never Sleeps

Race 5

Girls Go Racing and Urgent Bells will be the hard luck stories of the fifth event, and arguably, either could have won with some luck.  Before the race however, everyone knew they were the two that would get back and they drifted in betting accordingly.  Ultimately, it was their racing pattern that cost them.  On the other hand, Vantage Point and Onecatstoomany got to the front and stayed there.  They seemed to cut at each other the whole way, but just kept bobbing all the way dowh the straight, with Vantage Point getting a narrow victory.  Make up your own mind whether you wish to follow Girls Go Racing or Ugent Bells, both can win on their day.

Follow: Onecatstoomany

Race 6

This race looked to have a bit of pace on paper, and it was Welkom Gold that headed them off.  Said Com on the other hand, the well backed odds on favourite was always going to go back.  He ended up three lengths behind the second last horse.  Around the turn he was still last, and at the 200m still had about 5 lengths to make up on Welkom Gold that had skipped away.  In the end it was a very soft win to Said Com by over a length untouched.  I think this was flattered a little bit by the fact Welkom Gold was stopping big time, however there is no doubt the winner has some class and was just too good for this lot.  The run of Skytrain under a huge weight was good to run third.

Follow: Said Com

Race 7

Plenty of them disputed the lead early in this with Flight Command and General’s Sniper stuck wide early.  General’s Sniper worked around to second outside of the leader Queenian eventually, with Flight Command still three wide.  Queenian still looked to be going ok on the turn, but the last start winner Kaypers had been enjoying and easy run in transit and sprinted well again today for to win easily.  The run of General’s Sniper to be used up early and not beaten far into fourth was good, and Al’s Gold worked home ok for third.

Follow: Kaypers, General’s Sniper

Race 8

Big Bonanza has proven to be a good horse on its day and was ridden with intent to lead here.  He had a clear lead all the way, and went further in front when they came into the straight.  Of the beaten brigade, Spinhro and Pitt Street worked home very well but were never going to challenge the winner.  Underthetuscansun might be amiss as he was a long last in this event.

Follow: Spinhro, Pitt Street

Specials from the meeting: Lethal Arrow, Kaypers, General’s Sniper