Canberra Racing Review Friday 21 August 2020

They raced on a Heavy 10 and with rail out 10m and the winners all came down the better ground out wide. Finding the sweet spot was the challenge. Training honours to Keith Dryden with two winners and eight different riders shared the jockey spoils.

 

Race 1 (1200m) 3YO

 

The winner Little Krakatoa knuckled on jumping. Mr Maharaj was slow away and later had to be checked resulting in jockey Aaron Sweeney’s suspension. Different Time eased a little to start a $2.70 favourite.

 

DIFFERENT TIME led at the 800m with LITTLE KRAKATOA $4.80 sitting on her. They worked out wide on turning and Little Krakatoa found the coveted outside rail. Different Time was labouring on his inside at the 200m and the winner came away to score easily from LENNY’S LAD $26 running on and MR MAHARAJ $8 who was building up a head of steam before being checked by Different Time who was laid out under pressure. Little Krakatoa improved off the heavy track Maiden win at Gundagai and was well-served by Guymer’s ride. Different Time didn’t find the best spot in the straight but didn’t get the extra 200m in these conditions.

 

Race 2 (1600m) CL1 SW

 

BOLSON started a $1.55pm favourite and was beaten nearly 15L. The rider was questioned by stewards and stated that in his view his mount didn’t handle the Heavy 10. The post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormality. The winner HALLO POPPET $7 was next best bet from second placegetter TAN LINE $8.

 

They were five wide at the 1400m searching for a lead or sit and it was the winner who eased out of that battle settling last one off the rail. Bolson found the front from BRO $8.5. The third-placegetter JODIE IRENE $41 settled one-out-one-back. The leading pair elected to straighten inside the fast lane at their peril. Hallo Poppet took that spot making up good ground before the turn and raced away at her second run for the new yard. Tan Line came down the centre and looked a hope momentarily. His was a good effort in the circumstance.  A smart ride by jockey Paddy Scorse who seized the initiative.   

 

Race 3 (1300m) Maiden

 

Celestial Warrior was slow to begin and met trouble after the 900m over-racing and raced wide after that point. Ditto Treasured Jewel. This was a good betting race with NAMARARI $3.1 starting favourite over CELESTIAL WARRIOR $3.40. The winner FRANKLY SAVVY $4.80 and second placegetter MOHAHNA $5.0 were next in line. There were three vying for the lead at the first turn with Namarari holding the rail with Frankly Savvy on his outside. They packed up before the turn and Frankly Savvy was first to the better ground and despite hanging out came away to beat Mohahna by 2L The latter finished it off well and the others were well beaten. It was a promising effort by the Waterhouse-Bott-trained debutant and she will have taken fitness and leaning from that.

 

Race 4 (1000m) Maiden SW

 

Sonny was slow to begin and held up over the final 150m and went to the line untested. Ella Jane began awkwardly and was then badly hampered by Tsunami Army which shifted in. Tsunami Army was steadied to avoid heels passing the 250m. Hallies Comet was inconvenienced rounding the home turn. When questioned regarding the mare's disappointing performance rider Blaike McDougall said his mount had raced greenly throughout and was also disadvantaged being first up on very heavy conditions.

 

The winner ARIZONA NIGHT was backed into the red to start at $1.85. HALLIES COMET and INDIGNANT were the only other races under $10. It was busy upfront again with Arizona Night sitting outside the leader over the short sprint. O’Hara worked her over to the outside to sit just inside I CALL JUNEE HOME $26 and they looked as if they would fight it out until JESTA DIVA ($19) loomed on their inside and was making ground on the winner beaten a half length. SONNY $31 couldn’t see a way through and was eased in the latter stages and his run was much better than the formline suggests. Blackbook him. Arizona Night was just beaten at the previous meeting and improved off that. It was a very professional effort and ride.

 

Race 5 (2000m) BM 70

 

Sweet Knuckle disappointed beaten 16L. In explanation the rider said the mare may have been disadvantaged by leading and failed to run out the distance on the heavy track conditions. Most were given a chance in the Federal and HILLTOP HOOD jumped a $3 favourite. They were three-wide making the first-turn and Sweet Knuckle pushed on to lead comfortable at the 1400m with the second-placegetter FOX BEAT $4.40 settling well in third. CHARLIE ROYALE $16 moved up inside Sweet Knuckle at the 800m and applied pressure. The winner GARROS $4.80 improved sharply before turning and positioned against the outside rail with Fox Beat on his inside. After a brief tussle Garros strode away belying the suggestion he wouldn’t see out the middle distance on the heavy surface. It was a dominant win with Fox Beat battling hard in second and the rest well-beaten.

 

Race 6 (1000m) CL1

 

A number were slow away or met trouble at the start. Strapping Conquest was held up passing the 100m. Near the 200m Dalmatinka had to be shifted to secure a clear run. Sisters Esteem was found to have bled from both nostrils.

 

The market got this almost right with right with WILFUL SOUL backed into $3 beating LAST CHANCE DANCE who started just in the red. TIZ WAR BRO $21 led at a good clip but it was Wilful Soul who’d sat just off the speed who was cleverly manoeuvred into the fast lane on straightening. Last Chance Dance trailed the leader and it took awhile for her to work over to sit inside Wilful Soul but couldn’t go with the in-form mare who came away to win by 3.5L. Tiz War Bro stuck on in third beaten 6.3L. Wilful Soul built on the Maiden win at the previous meeting where she found the outside rail from the back. She can win again on these surfaces.

 

 

Race 7 (1000m) BM65

 

The Unknown Factor was slow to begin and bumped with Treasure Boss. Imitation Game was also slow to begin. American Salute was held up until near the 200m and then near the 100m was disappointed for a closing run between Vinci Lady and Prince Jacko which shifted in. Heaven On Earth was held up until inside the final 100m. MOORE EUROS $6 disappointed first-up and the rider said his mount raced too keenly and was also not suited by the heavy track conditions coupled with its big weight.

 

An open betting affair with SNITZAGIRL $8 winning from the two $5 equal favourites THE UNKNOWN FACTOR and OUR FINVARRA. It was again busy early with a line of four on-speed at the 500m. The ones who’d sat back made their  moves on the outside before the turn. However it was Snitzagirl well-ridden who arrowed over from an inner spot to join The Unknown Factor who’d mustered plenty of tow to find the outside lane. This pair engaged in a great battle with Snitzagirl carrying 2kg less getting the bob-in. Our Finvarra had trouble finding a way through and finished a good third and the runs of TREASURE BOSS $9 and DAMAGIC $31 also had merit. 

 

Race 8 (1400m) BM60 

 

Kapaonik began awkwardly and Buckle Up Baby was slow off. Stewards questioned a coupe of disappointing runs. Away She Goes $9.5 didn’t handle the heavy ground in the view of the trainer and will be given a let up. The rider and trainer of Larmour $9.50 also believed the mare didn’t handle the heavy conditions.  

 

SHENANDOAH was well-backed into a $3.10 favourite giving Keith Dryden his second winner of the day. BUCKLE UP BABY $7 was next in line. SESTINA 8.50 led with Shenandoah on her outside. They were joined by KAPAINIK 18.0 who made the outside rail after turning. Shenandoah on his inside still held an advantage and relishing the conditions came away to win with the resuming middle-distance performer PECUNIARY INTEREST ($15) finishing the race off in good style just beaten out of second. As the market suggested, Shenandoah was too good and can go on with it. Brave efforts by the other two placegetters.  

 

Photo credit: Bradley Photos