Canberra Racing Review Friday 21 February

The track was upgraded from a Good (4) to a Good (3) after the first race. A training double to Team Snowden and riding doubles to Christian Reith and apprentice Tom Sherry.   

 

Race 1

 

There looked three winning chances on paper and the market reflected that. HAMOGANY ($3.40F) prevailed over DIP ME LID ($4.80), with CHARM MAKER ($3:50) disappointing in seventh. Dip Me Lid led a comfortable tempo with Hamogany trialling on the rail. They paired off on turning and then engaged in a titanic battle with Hamogany prevailing just short of the line.  OUR BAMBINO ($51) caught the eye closing in fast to run third, despite racing greenly early in the straight. SNOBBY SHORES ($17) battled on solidly in fourth. We can follow the top three finishers with some confidence. Hamogany was tough up to the middle third-up and will improve further. Dip Me Lid was also up in trip off a Maiden win and couldn’t have been more impressive trying to make all. Our Bambino is certainly one for the blackbook.

 

 Race 2

 

The Waterhouse-Bott-trained ABIDING ($1:55) was backed to the exclusion of all others and delivered leading all the way. ROND DE JAMBE ($21) raced comfortably near the back and was the widest on the turn. The mare belted home to just miss on the line and couldn’t have been more impressive on resumption. She wanted to run out a bit early in the straight and will be fitter and suited over further. Blackbook her. The other placegetters SORRIDERE ($21) and RIVERSTOCK ($7.5) battled on well and looked to have every chance. We’d given STAND YOUR GROUND ($6.50) and each way hope, but she was under pressure before the turn and showed nothing like the dash exhibited at her previous outing.   

 

Race 3

 

SHENANDOAH raced as a $3.40 favourite for a top local yard backed in from $4.0 and the money was spot on. He presented second-up off a near miss at the Sapphire Coast and sat outside the leader HIGHMASTER ($10.0). They engaged in a ding-dong battle in the straight with VOL PRIVE ($11) joining-in on the inside. Shenandoah prevailed under riding to beat BOOM AND ZOOM ($15) who came again late after enduring a wide run. She’s one to definitely keep onside. BRING IT BACK ($4.60) drifted from $2.70 and was inconvenienced on turning before powering home with DANAAT ($4.0). Connections advised that Danaat would be ridden quieter from his wide draw and that didn’t work out. He was reefed back and overraced before presenting wide at the top on the straight. She’s one to stick with.

 

Race 4

 

The favourite ELTHAM PALACE ($2.0) jumped well and sat outside the leader SHORES OF AVALON ($12) and was struggling to get past him at the 100m. At that point IMITATION GAME ($11) burst through in the centre and came away to win easily. He was last at the 600m and weaved a way through the centre and bumping another runner, before knuckling down to his work. There was plenty to like about his effort and he can win again. CHARLIE CHAP ($12) run on in second into second with Eltham Road holding third. JEWEL OF THE CLAN ($9.0) was three wide on the speed and best to forget.

 

Race 5

 

The cream rose to the top with Team Snowden producing the quinella. It was BARACUS who took it out defying a $3.60— $6.50 betting drift. In second, FIRST CROWN firmed from $5.50 to $4.20. Baracus lead with the stablemate on his outside and came away to win comfortably. BARACUS had been racing in Victoria and appreciated the former surface off a month freshen. It was a nice win. FLIGHT COMMANDER ($17) ran into a distant third in a solid second-up effort. BUZZ ‘N’ JOE ($9.0) ran on okay and will also be better next time. YOUR KNUCKLESHIP ($6.0) had no luck in the run and will keep.

 

Race 6

 

The three best-backed ran the trifecta with the firming $3.20 Team Snowden favourite AFTERMATH proving a bit too good. There was a stack of early speed setting it up for the finishers. Aftermath has trailed

comfortably and had LADY OF LUXURY ($3.90) on his outside after turning. After the 200m Aftermath brushed Lady Of Luxury as they both positioned for a run with the latter coming off worst. The debutant flew at the winner beaten a half head. This pair are worth sticking with. TUDOR MUSIC ($3.30) had to work on a pressured speed and did a good job sticking on for third. PRINCESS GLAMOUR ($5.50) tried to buck after the start and was wide and didn’t respond to riding in the straight.        

 

Race 7

 

SAUSEDGE ($3.20) ran a firm favourite, but had to settle for second behind another Canberra-trained galloper GOLD TOUCH ($12) after missing the start by 3L. MANANZA led a solid speed as expected with MAJOR TIME ($11) and I AM KALANI ($5.50) sitting comfortably behind.  The winner GOLD TOUCH settled comfortably behind the pace and presented at the right time down the middle of the track with Sausedge beginning to wind up outside him. Manzana was joined by I Am Kalani and Major Time at the 200m and they were all hard at it. In a thrilling finish Gold Touch and Sausedge come over the top of them with the former just prevailing. Gold Touch turned his form around on his preferred home track and Sausedge was always expected to be finishing hard and the tardy start wouldn’t have helped. FLORA BELLE ($15) improved again in third and looked a likely winner passing the 100m. I Am Kalani was brave and will improve off that run. The top three benefitted from solid tempo and expect this to prove a good form race.

 

Race 8

 

CINQUEDEA ($4.4) just ran favourite for Team Freedman over MAID OF ORE ($4.80) with a far gap to the big drifter SIR PLUSH ($8.50) and ALL TO SOON at the same quote. The speed worked out as expected to Sir Plush setting a strong tempo from Mercurial Lad and Supreme Polarity. Cinquedea smoked his pipe behind midfield in clear space and was well presented in the middle of the track on turning. Sir Plush hit the wall at the 150m and was soon gobbled up by the winner who came away from the quick finishing VALENTINO ROSSA ($17) and Maid Of Ore, with BOBBIE DEE ($13) coming through into fourth. Cinquedea brought a strong figure to this beaten just 1.6L the previous behind She’s Ideel at Randwick. And with the pace on the 400m distance dip was never a bother. Valentino Rossa enjoyed the class drop off a Group 3 and Maid Of Ore up in grade and distance second-up would have lost no admirers. The smart money was on Cinquedea and is was a good win.    

 

Race 9

 

It was a tricky race to end the day with the favourite GAELIC ($2.90) second-up off a heavy-track Canterbury Maiden win and two Sydney staying-types — FOXBOROUGH ((5.50) and SIRMAZE ($11) resuming off Group races, but capable of performing fresh in this grade. Foxborough was the firmer and the pair of them settled back on a steady tempo dictated by Gaelic. Foxborough made a lightning move at the 600m to and was four wide with them on turning, with Sirmaze last and widest. It didn’t take much time for Foxborough to get the better of Gaelic and come away for a nice win from Sirmaze who hit the line well. TRUST THE PROCESS ($13) was also making ground at the finish in third, from Gaelic. A confident ride by Sherry on the comfortable winner and the efforts of all of the above would have pleased connections.