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Canberra Racing Review Friday 29 November 2019

Race 1 (1000m)

 

Distinctive Glory and Last Quest both missed the start badly. BRASH SAMMY debuted off a 5.8L Randwick trial win and delivered by 5.8L as a $2.1 favourite. He sat just behind the speed in the small field and overcame some trouble on turning to win comfortably. SOLE HEIR (7) wasn’t able to lead on debut as intended, but ran on well after extricating himself from a tricky position behind the leader Endorse near the 300m. DISTINCTIVE GLORY caught the eye running home well. ENDORSE was well-supported and gave nothing at the business end. Co-trainer Peter Snowden advised that the colt would now leave the stable. The winner is a nice horse who can go on.

 

Race 2 (1600m)

 

UPPER HOUSE overcame a slow start to win, backed from $5 into a $3.9 favourite. It was a very even market after that, with Canford Calling the only runner given little chance. APPETIZING led DUCHESS OF WINDSOR at a steady gallop, with Upper House sitting midfield on the rail. He worked to sit behind the leading two on turning and got the split to just get-up in a four-way go, Duchess Of Windsor and WAIHEKE, who put in a big effort, after being last and widest on turning. MAIBEASY also finished it off well. Not much between these and another good ride from McDougall may have proved the difference.   

 

Race 3 (2000m)

 

ZARAFAH raced a $2 favourite, but had to be content with the quinella spot behind the Mick-Smith-trained STREET CRED, who presented off a strong placing at Gundagai at the 1800m. The public were advised pre-race that Street Cred’s rider had been instructed not to use the whip as the gelding resented it. The second favourite BENDETHERA led comfortably, while Zarafah was eased back to sit one off the rail. At the trip for the first time, Bendethera looked to be doing it well on turning, but had nothing to offer when Street Cred sprinted hard down the centre, holding off  Zarafah. COLONNADE and the bold striding LITTLE ARNIE, both hit the line well.  Most in this race seemed to get their chance.

 

Race 4 (1000m)

 

Only six runners remained after the scratchings with two coming out after a rare false start. The two best backed of the final starters ran the quinella. The rank outsider Café Terrace led a good clip with the favourite BALLISTA sitting on his flank. The winner GOLD TOUCH sat middle three deep and was the widest on turning. She showed the first-up win (at odds) was no fluke, by finishing determinedly to just nudge out Ballista on the line. The former looked an all over winner at the 200 and also gave everything. The others looked to have their chance. This pair were clearly superior and Gold Touch will certainly go on.   

 

Race 5 (1300m)

 

FUNKY MUSIC had good support and improved as expected to give McDougall his second winner for the day. In an even betting affair the favourite SUPREME LAD race wide without cover throughout, missing the top four. The third placegetter ROMEO VELLA sat close-up and made the lead at the 1000m. TOBERMORY was given a perfect sit by the apprentice. Funky Music had sat midfield the rail and was eased into the clear after turning, and just ran-down Tobermory, with Romeo Vella sticking on well from THE SENATOR who lacked finishing punch. Supreme Lad caught the eye late and is definitely worth another chance after the tough run.

 

Race 6 (1400m)

 

A very competitive race on paper and so it proved. OVERFLOWING started favourite but there was also plenty of support for the Maher-Eustace resumer I LIVE LUCA, who rand a close-up fourth after racing keenly in the early and middle stages. The Snowden representative AMBER’S JOY ran wide without cover disappointing. In a change of tactics, Litchfield led with the favourite on his flank. The winner LADY KIRKHAM sat behind the leading bunch and on turning was cleverly extricated by Guymer to claim the leading pair at the 100m. GIOCOSO flashing up on the rail on the rail to claim second in a bunched go. The favourite OVERFLOWING was back and widest on the turn, and ran on well into fifth. HARD EXPECTATIONS had difficulty obtaining a clear run from the 400m until near the 200m.

 

Race 7 (1200m)

 

A stack of scratchings and Team Snowdens’ HOWRA was backed deep into the red and won accordingly. He was resuming off two good trial efforts and had strong Sydney Maiden form in the CV. She led comfortably as expected and was kept going to beat the second-favourite STOKED, with MANILA THRILLER also running on well into third. It was a good effort by the latter given the filly was slow away and raced wide without cover throughout the event. Stoked trailed the leader and had her chance. All three are worth following.

 

Race 8 (1300m) Federal

 

A number met some trouble in the Federal which was taken out by LEVEE BANK at $7.50 won fair and square from the favourite UP TRUMPZ who raced wide and without cover throughout. Irish Lucy led as expected from the well supported BALONNE sitting outside her with Up Trumpz three wide next. LEVEE BANK had been bumped heavily by Up Trumpz after the start and was the widest on turning, before powering home under the apprentice to beat the brave Up Trumpz on his inside. GUNGA DIN caught the eye flying home from the rear and the run had ‘back me next time’ written all over it. It was a welcome return to form by Levee Bank.

 

Race 9 (1400m)

 

MILAMOO caused the day’s upset winning after a tardy start from the second favourite READY’S GIRL. Lever was keen to lead on the public-elect INCEPTIVE who had been an impressive Maiden winner here 24 days earlier. Ready’s Girl sat on her, with a bunch three and four wide, pressuring. Passing the 500m Inceptive was eased out of the race and was found to have bled from both nostrils. A number of runners were inconvenienced at this point, including stablemate The Dream Giver who was severely checked to avoid the heals of Inceptive and DOLPHIN WATCH who was hampered and shifted out also to avoid the heels of Inceptive. TYPHOON MAX who had raced wide throughout made a forward move at this point and led on turning. Ready’s Girl got the run through at this point on his inside and soon took over. However, she had no answer to the finishing burst of MILAMOO who has sat comfortably back throughout, and was widest on turning. He scored by a length with SATIRICAL KNIGHT running on nicely to just miss second. The Inceptive circumstance played into the hands of some and not others, and the stewards’ report needs to be noted from a future viewpoint. It was a good effort by Milamoo and rider Scorse, with the mare’s form belying the starting odds.