Canberra Racing Review Friday 24 January 2020
Race 1
Two debutants dominated the market and it was SUPERBELLAA ($3.4) who proved far too good, leading all the way from the inside gate. She’d come off a 2.8L Rosehill trial win and it was just a matter of if she could bring that form to the races. I AM BOLT ($2.3) had been well-trialled by Team Snowden for his debut and trailed the above throughout. He loomed at the turn but couldn’t quicken and was pipped for 2nd by CHARMING PAT who finished determinedly along the rail. Charming Pat deserves a win and will get his chance avoiding the Sydney yards. Superbellaa impressed.
Race 2
Heavenly Glory ($1.6) was backed to the exclusion off all others presenting off an unlucky run in better provincial grade. It was only her second outing for the Markwell yard and she relished the step up in trip. She settled behind a clear leader and took over after turning winning comfortably from SUPREME LAD ($9.50), who took the eye finishing on well when the race was over, and TRYING ($13) who was also good late. The 2nd favourite POWER LIFT ($7.0) was presented to win and only battled. Heavenly Glory is certain to be improved and can win again.
Race 3
Punters had trouble sorting this race out with ROCKETING TO WIN starting the favourite at $4.8. It was the light-raced Norm Gardner-trained CYBORG ($26) who took out the honours resuming off a 22 week spell. Ward got him into a nice spot off-pace and was perfectly positioned on turning. The gelding showed a good turn of foot to win from Rocketing to Win (who hung out in the straight and was tough) and MISS TWILIGHT ($5.0), who had a good run throughout behind the speed. SASSY ANNIE ($5.50) was pressured up-front and there was merit in her effort. OPPOSITE ($15) missed the start badly and ROCQUETTE ($7.0) didn’t see it right out. Cyborg will have taken plenty of benefit from the run and will win more races.
Race 4
FIRST CROWN (6.0) was 3rd up for a leading Sydney yard and got the job done, despite being an alarming drifter. There was a bunch of them on the speed before the 800 before the well-supported UPRISE ($4.40) ran to a clear lead. First Crown and PAHANG ($4.80) both got perfect runs behind Uprise and couldn’t have been better placed at the top of the straight. The favourite WANDONNA ($2.25) sat midfield on the rail and on straightening took a while to knuckle down to the task, finishing a close-up in 4th. The 2nd placegetter HAPPY CANDY ($9.0) has sat three wide midfield and put in a determined finish to be beaten a half-length. There’s a race in her very soon. There wasn’t much between the top four on the line, with the winner given every chance by Penza.
Race 5
NOSTRO RE ($2.05) started a heavily-backed favourite but couldn’t make the placings racing wide throughout. LOOK ONLY ($9.0) took it out easily building on this big first-up Maiden win at Queanbeyan. She sat behind the leading bunch and it took some clever riding from the apprentice to weave a way though. The filly showed a blistering turn of foot to win running way and looks to have a good future. VALACHI ($51) ran on well into second with the next three in the finishing order close by. The well-supported YOUR KNUCKLESHIP looked to have every chance but lacked finishing dash. Nostro Re loomed to win but the wide run told and she will keep.
Race 6
There looked three winning chances over the middle distance with the heavily-backed favourite SATIRICAL KNIGHT ($2.40) the only one to disappoint. The stewards inquired into the run and no abnormalities were revealed after the race. He will have to trial satisfactorily before racing again. LITTLE ARNIE $4.2) had disappointed at Kembla after a 4L win this track and grade and bounced back into the winners circle for the Sydney yard. He led comfortably and the 2ND placegetter HAVADUEL ($4.8) rolled along also in relaxed fashion in fourth. Satirical Knight made his move at the 800m, but was under pressure on turning. Little Arnie was much too good with Havaduel (every chance) running into second from COLONADES ($17). Another good win for the free-flowing Little Arnie.
Race 7
The Federal looked wide open and the market reflected that. KATHAIRE ran a $4.80 favourite with two $5.0 shots, Polyxena and the very disappointing ELM COURT, sharing the next line. The Ron Stubbs-trained Yousay Bolt ($21) caused an upset, making sharp improvement off the first-up Wagga run. There were plenty who were keen to share the early speed with Elm Court finally settling in front on the rail with two pressuring outside her. On turning the momentum was with those out wider with FLORA BEL (413) briefly looking the winner before Yousay Bolt emerged from the back to win by just over a half length. POLYXENA was good getting into second. The hard luck story was MOOKAREENA resuming and backed in from $16 to $11.0. She had no luck at all in the straight with plenty to offer. She’s the takeout. Stewards questioned the performance of Elm Court who gave little in the straight, and the mare will have to satisfactorily trial before racing again.
Race 8
Punters only wanted three runner in the final race and they duly ran the quinella. EVE’S MISS ($3.8) was best-backed of the Dryden pair, second-up off a run in town. MAJOR TIME (2.9F) led with some pressure. Eve’s Miss sat wide midfield and was cruising on the turn. Major Time fought hard before Eve got the upper-hand late. There was plenty to like about the finish of the other Dryden runner PERFECT PITCH ($4.20) in third. He ran on strongly at his first run for the yard and is one to follow over further. Another strong Canberra win for Eve's Miss.