Canberra Racing Review Friday 11 October

Tony Campbell Memorial Cup Day saw some excellent racing, with Sausedge a dominant winner of the feature event.  

 

Race 1 (2000m)

 

Not much to report on the Stewards front.

 

The winner TIME STAMP was a well-supported favourite and led without pressure ensuring he ran the trip right out. OLMETO sat on him and was content not to apply that pressure. He got close on the line, but the bird had flown. OPERA TICKETS suggested that he might go past them both at the 100m but his run ended. STREET CRED was running on again and looked to have every chance. It was a good return to form by Time Stamp, but he couldn’t have got it any easier.

 

Race 2 (1400m)

 

Insider Trading, Mr Costigan, November Morning and Duchess Of Windsor were all inconvenienced to an extent at the start, especially the former. Mr Costigan didn’t have the best of it in stages after.

 

NOVEMBER MORNING presented at peak with solid figures and won as favourite. HARAMAIN led early but was taken on by MR COSTIGAN at the 800m and he led clearly at the turn. ZOUMAZE trailed one out one out and November Morning emerged on his outside on turning and the pair looked threatening. Mr Costigan fought like a tiger but couldn’t hold off the hard riding finish of November Morning, with GIOCISO * flashing into third after being widest on the turn. The Dryden-trained mare is a coming winner, based on that. November Morning found the right race and didn’t disappoint and it was a good return to form by Mr Costigan.

 

Race 3 (1300m)

 

Bridges To Babylon, Boxing and You Hoffner were slow to begin and Gambler’s Quest laid out in the straight.

 

The favourite GAMBLERS QUEST had a bit of pressure early, but then settled into a comfortable lead and was cruising on the turn under Loy. The market danger and subsequent winner NAHAB * settled last from the negative gate and was the widest runner on turning, giving the leader six or seven lengths. Gambler’s Quest had it won everywhere but the post, unable to hold out a withering burst from Nahab, who was most impressive. Her stablemate BALLADEER was well in the market on debut and finished determinedly along the rails and connections would be well pleased with the effort. RUBAIYA was easy in the market and looked in need of the run.

 

Race 4 (1400m)

 

Pinetti, Readabeel, Chapelis and Taraahse all met some inconvenience on jumping. Ten Tigers races wide throughout.

 

The market firmed to SINGLE STORY and RHEINGAU, but they couldn’t hold out the finish of KARMAZONE * coming off a solid rating Orange Maiden win. Rheingau was keen to run along and hads a kick at the turn. Karmazone settled a clear last and was widest on the turn. He emerged at the 200m with Single Story — who had also raced back — and raced away to win easily. He will win more based on that. It was a good effort by Single Story and Rheingau was honest beating off the rest.     

 

Race 5 (1000m)

 

The rides of Freundian, No What to keep and Hard Core were all questioned over performance /rides apropos their mounts.

 

It was busy early as expected with DAMAGIC working keenly to lead at the 600m, off the rail. HARD CORE pulled early and worked through and across to tail Damagic on the turn. The winner BALLISTER sat back and was behind a bunch of horses on turning. The gap opened and he came hard under Penza to grab Hard Core just before the line, with Damagic not far away in third. All three runs had merit. ROMEO VELLA ran favourite (1) and was widest on the turn. He ran on okay under the 4kg apprentice. The rider of FREUNDIN was satisfied with the mare’s run given the grade rise.

 

Race 6 (1200m)

 

Te Ata was slow to begin.

 

A field of only six after scratchings. DENMISS was expected to lead, but had to give it away to IRISH LUCY, the outsider in the race. She was a couple of lengths clear on turning, racing kindly. She just had enough in the tank to hold out a gallant Denmiss, with Ons Vier finishing it off to pip Supreme Lad in third. TE ATA was a conspicuous last out of the gates and didn’t finish it off at all. All honours with Irish Lucy who resumed in good order and took the race by the scruff of the neck.  

 

Race 7 (1300m)  

 

Monte Majura was a notable drifter and raced wide throughout. Balonne hung rounding the home turn and on turning tightened stablemate Heaven On Earth  who also didn’t have the best of it late in the race.

 

There were five horses well in the market and it was the Dryden-trained BALONNE who prevailed.  CHABROL and IMITATION GAME both worked each other early, before the latter found a clear lead. LIBERTY BOY got a dream run on the rail with Balonne saving ground behind her. There looked to be a heap of chances on turning, but Balonne drove through under Loy to prove a bit too good. MONTE MAJURA * finished the race off well and will keep after a tough run and HEAVENS ON EARTH has excuses and darted late.

 

Race 8 (1400m) Tony Campbell Memorial

 

Sugar Bay Leonard and Who’s Knocking were slow to begin. I am Kalani race wide throughout. Sausedge and Bring A Secret had to be restrained at the 1250m and 950m respectively. The rider of Coup De Main considered his mount didn’t run out the 1400m journey.

 

The market said it would be a two horse race between the Matt Dale pair SAUSEDGE * ($3) and COUP DE MAIN ($2.6) and it was Sausedge who took out the Memorial Cup in super impressive fashion. There were three vying for the lead at the 1000m and it was Coup De Main who took over at the 800m, off the rail, from Bart. Sausedge was back 8L from the lead at the 400m. She came down the middle on turning and sprouted wings to come away by 5L, franking her dominant win at the venue prior. WHO’S KNOCKING worked her way through the field to finish it off well in second, as did BRING A SECRET. Coup De Main had to do work early and fell way, disappointing supporters. SAUSEDGE ran a clear career peak and is one to follow. And a win looks just around the corner for Who’s Knocking.     

 

Race 9 (1200m)

 

Inceptive began awkwardly and then was inconvenienced at the 150m. Diamond Class was checked just after the start and was held up in the straight. Down The River didn’t have the best of it from the turn. Modernity race wide throughout and raced greenly in the straight.

 

A few were given a chance with JOY AND MIRTH * and INCEPTIVE running equal favourites. It was busy early with BUDHWAR on the rail and GUILTLESS sorting themselves out at the front end. The winner Joy and Mirth was settled back one off the rail by McDougall and was behind a wall of horses on turning. She found clear air without losing momentum and flew home down the outside to win by a space, impressing. INCEPTIVE settled at the back and was widest on turning and raced greenly She did enough late to suggest she will win races when she’s learned the game. The placegetters put in honest runs though well beaten. Joy And Mirth can go on.