2nd Agueda Hugh Bowman
3rd Ichihara Corey Brown
Ichihara didn’t jump as well as it has previously and that proved costly today. Oh Barbie led with Agueda up outside of it and Dances On Stars sitting on the fence in third, actually holding Oh Barbie one off the fence. Ichihara found itself between horses in fourth. In the straight Dances On Stars used its inside advantage to rail through and hang on for a narrow victory. I thought there appeared to be room for Ichihara to persist for an inside run but Corey Brown preferred to stop it in its tracks and come across heals. Ultimately this was costly but I am not convinced it would have won anyhow.
None to follow
Race 2
1st Fat Al Nash Rawiller
2nd Now You Know Craig Williams
3rd Galah Kerryn McEvoy
Now You Know led here from the favourite Fat Al. The leader seemed to set a fairly good tempo here, with about 12 lengths first to last. In the straight it always appeared Fat Al had the measure of Now You Know and he claimed the lead at the 200m and went on for a fairly strong victory. Gallah ran a pleasing race in third and will probably appreciate a bit more distance. Nothing else did much.
Follow: Gallah
Race 3
1st Full Of Spirit James McDonald
2nd Plumm Glyn Schofield
3rd Secret Liason Michael Rodd
Jim Cassidy was keen to lead here on Drinks All Round. Tavernelle and Scram raced in second and third, whilst Full Of Spirit got a nice run, one out, and one back. Secret Liason had some trouble finding a spot so moved to the position outside the leader. Secret Liason made its bid for victory as they topped the rise but no sooner had it hit the front, Full Of Spirit was on the scene with a good turn of foot. That acceleration proved the winning advantage here, with Plumm running on and trying to pick up the leader, but realistically was never going to do so. Secret Liason was good after being wide early.
Follow: Plumm, Secret Liason
Race 4
1st Master Of Design Craig Williams
2nd Rain Affair Corey Brown
3rd Hallowell Belle Tom Berry
Rain Affair showed his brilliant speed again and did lead but he did have to do a little bit of work from the outside gate after knuckling at the start, which in the end, was probably what cost him victory. Foxwedge raced in second but was very disappointing today and you wonder whether his last start was his “peak” for this campaign. Hallowell Belle got a nice run, third on the fence, where as Neeson was three deep the trip. In the straight, Rain Affair kicked and Foxwedge was quickly beaten. Hallowell Belle looked a danger to Rain Affair and then Master Of Design swept home from last to get up for a narrow but good victory. The winner has been looking for a group 1 victory to enhance its stallion prospects, now he has it! Neeson kept trying hard depsite the wide run.
Follow: Neeson
Race 5
1st Pierro Nash Rawiller
2nd All Too Hard Dwayne Dunn
3rd Limes Kerryn McEvoy
The Sires Produce was set up as a great clash between The Golden Slipper champ Pierro and the boom horse, All Too Hard. Given All Too Hard has shown no pace in his runs and Pierro has some tactical speed, you had to be mad to want to take $1.65 about All Too Hard. Raceway, Tatra and Ashokan went hard in front but it would have been surprising to see them keep going. Pierro was coasting on the turn and All Too Hard was just niggled ever so slightly to get onto his back. I thought Pierro’s sprint from the 300m was ultra impressive, where as All Too Hard ground home to only just beat Limes for second. I’d imagine they will now spell All Too Hard, where as Pierro will go on and complete the triple crown.
Follow: Pierro will complete the triple crown
Race 6
1st Atlantic Jewel Michael Rodd
2nd Mid Summer Music Luke Nolen
3rd Ladys Angel Craig Williams
If Pierro was great, Atlantic Jewel was unbelievable. Obviously, on paper, she had lengths on this field but being first up of a lengthy break had to present that little question mark. She then sat three wide for the entire race and unleashed an effortless sprint in the straight to win by 4 lengths. Did Michael Rodd even move a muscle? I think I saw him shake the reins at her once. The race for second was a good battle, with Mid Summer Music showing the fight she often does and I think that suggests she is in for a good campaign. Parables again ran well but I question whether she is a professional placegetter. I will be very interested to see what Atlantic Jewel’s ultimate distance range now ends up being as an older horse.
Follow: Mid Summer Music
Race 7
1st Ethiopia Rhys McLeod
2nd Polish Knight Dwayne Dunn
3rd Laser Hawk Nash Rawiller
Polish Knight began terribly and was ridden hard for the first 100m but still settled a mile back. Sangster found the front here, with Laser Hawk working around to second. Strike The Stars got a good run, third on the fence. They basically stayed in that order for a long way. At the 800m Polish Knight was a gain being ridden along and the eventual winner Ethiopia, had just started to make its run from last. This left Silent Achiever back last at that point of the race. When they straightened, others had tried to save ground, which meant Ethiopia, which had come 10 wide, found itself again last. Polish Knight was one who saved ground and desipte being ridden a long a long way from home, looked the winner at the 100m, but Ethiopia had now wound up, and deserved its narrow victory. Others tried hard but I think the first two home proved to be the superior stayers at the stage. I have been a long time fan of Strike The Stars but he now goes into the “gunna” category.
Follow: Ethiopia
Race 8
1st Permit Corey Brown
2nd Older Than Time Tom Berry
3rd Nextanix Peter Robl
I think there is only one horse in this race with much upside, and that is the winner, Permit. This was his second impressive victory in a row. He got a fair way back but looked to be trotting on entering the straight. Solid Billing set a fairly good tempo in front, which helped the fact that Permit was going to be giving them a bit of a start, it turned out he had them covered on the home turn and I really can’t say any of the others could turn the tables on him any time soon. Perhaps Chris Waller has slightly bigger things in mind for this horse, starting with the Sydney Cup?
Follow: Permit
Race 9
2nd Speediness Craig Williams
3rd Alma’s Fury Peter Robl
Fast Clip found the lead clearly here and that proved the difference between winning and losing. Raspberries sat second and Speediness was third, three wide, getting a tough run all the way. Alma’s Fury had a nice run in fourth on the fence. Speediness was a great run to only go under narrowly and still looked like the winner 100m from home. Two runs that stood out here from the unplaced brigade were Happy Trails which rocketed home into fourth and Foreteller that got home very nicely also and could be a chance in The Doncaster at big odds.
Follow: Speediness, Foreteller
Specials from the meeting: Permit, Mid Summer Music, Speediness
MALUTI DEAN YENDALL 2nd $5.50
PILLAR OF CREATION CHRIS SYMONS 3rd $8.50
2yo race that was won by the favourite Maury. Shivers crossed them early to lead but was unable to keep going. Maury just settled off Shivers and got away from them at the 200m before powering on to record a nice win. I like the way he was able to settle and then just leave them with a good turn of foot. Maluti got back and ran on and Pillar Of Creation didn’t have the best of luck and worked home well also.
Worth noting: Hard to knock the winner, like the way he goes about it.
Race 2. 2000M Lort Smith Animal Hospital Handicap
PLACEMENT KATELYN MALLYON 1st $4
EPINGLE DEAN YENDALL 2nd $4.80
MANILA JEWEL BEN KNOBEL 3rd $17
Placement won again and continued her good run of form. Mallyon settled her fourth with cover whilst Invincible You and Ally The Great set the tempo. Manila Jewel enjoyed a good sit in behind the leaders and was good enough to hold on for third, she looks to be back in form. Epingle wasn’t suited by the slow tempo and she worked home well for third.
Worth noting: Epingle needs to be followed, her run was excellent and she had the best sectionals from the 1000m to the 100m.
Race 3. 1400M Melbourne Citymission Handicap
CITY OF SONG JARROD FRY 1st $16
QUICK RETORT CRAIG ROBERTSON 2nd $51
PLUCKY BELLE LUKE CURRIE 3rd $15
City Of Song ended up well back and she did an excellent job the way she was able to finish off. Had a little query on how she would go at the 1400m against some of these but she looked to relish the extra ground. She can go on with it now and keep winning. Quick Retort and Plucky Belle got home pretty well. Houston Benefactor just didn’t have much go right for her in the run and Blue Ribbon worked home well, she is better in a smaller field as she gets back.
Worth noting: Houston Benefactor had no luck, forgive.
Race 4. 1100M Taralye Gets Deaf Kids Talking
TRES VITE CRAIG NEWITT 1st $4.60F
VATICAN BILLY EGAN 2nd $12
PLATELET MICHELLE PAYNE 3rd $8
Form stood up well here through the race at Moonee Valley with Tres Vite and Vatican running one/two. Really nice filly Tres Vite, she won well at Werribee on debut and hit the line well at Moonee Valley last start. Newitt had her up on the speed and out of trouble and she was way too good for them. Vatican did really well to fight on and Platelet rocketed home from behind and had some very fast sections.
Worth noting: They ran good time here, should be a very solid form race.
Race 5. 2000M National Jockeys Trust Handicap
PLAYWRIGHT DAMIAN LANE 1st $10
CHASSE MARK ZAHRA 2nd $6.50
MODULE ANTHONY DARMANIN 3rd $9
Playwright landed on the fence and in the lead and he stayed there. Module put him to the test rounding the turn but he was unable to run down the winner. He doesn’t win a great deal Playwright but he can always pull one out. Module ended up finishing third and did well, he is having a great campaign. Chasse hit the line well and his effort was good but he was unable to bridge the gap.
Worth noting: Laristan hit the line really well and looks like he is in for a good campaign over further.
Race 6. 1600M Muscular Dystrophy Australia Plate
MAWINGO DANIEL MOOR 1st $2.80F
ERASET BEN MELHAM 2nd $10
BOOKLET DARREN GAUCI 3rd $10
Mawingo was heavily backed and it paid off. Moor let him settle a little worse than midfield and let him get going around them heading to the 600m. By the time they hit the 400m he was in front and he kept going to the line well. Big wrap on this horse and would expect him to come right on from that run. Eraset and Booklet worked home well from behind as did Turnitup. Thought the run of Mr O’Ceirin was super and he held on well, a win is very close.
Worth noting: Follow Mawingo and Mr O’Cieren.
Race 7. 1200M Thoroughbred Riding Club Handicap
ADAMON BEN MELHAM 1st $26
GRAN SASSO DANIEL STACKHOUSE 2nd $15
SOPHIE’S SPIRIT DAMIAN LANE 3rd $8
Liveandletdie was well backed coming off of an excellent run in the Newmarket but he was gone by the 200m and faded out of the race to finish 8th. It was a pretty disappointing effort but he is a good straight horse so he can be forgiven. Adamon was just too good for them over the concluding stages. He camped pretty close to them In the run and has a great turn of foot. Gran Sasso is going well and he ran on well for second and Sophie’s Spirit did well for third.
Worth noting: Not sure what to make of that race.
Race 8. 1400M Riding for the Disabled Association Plate
MAGNIFIQUE SOLEIL DEAN YENDALL 1st $10
BEREFT MARK ZAHRA 2nd $9
ZABISCO NICHOLAS HALL 3rd $4.60F
Weir came to town and got a win with a really nice horse. He had been beating them up on the provincial circuit and was able to lift another level and do the same on a Saturday. Yendall gave the horse a gun ride and he pulled away for a strong win. All other horses that were on pace were unable to keep going with him. Bereft rocketed home late as did Supremacy and Cabeza. Zabisco got going well also, I think they are still trying to work the horse out and he has a win in him soon.
Worth noting: The winner is pretty good, that was an excellent run.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
As David Nolan’s piece on Betfair was issued at the same time as Todd’s review I can see no other place other than here to leave a comment to that article.
Another dangerous point about the t/o tax and Betfair’s unique way of doing business is the very common trade at $1.01 inrunning. Here thousands of dollars are turned over near the conclusion of every race with the outcome that Betfair (roughly) makes $0.04 of every $1 won by a successful backer. That dollar won is based on a $100 bet. Thus Betfair seemingly has to pay $1.50 offset by the $0.04 they earn. There’s no future in that!
Unless David’s point of being able to nullify the tax by balancing lay against back bets is valid under this decision an unscrupulous body can now place as much on as they want at this price level (or even a few cents higher) to drive Betfair onto substantial loss.