Canberra Racing Review Friday 4 September 2020

The Canberra course proper raced well and was upgraded after Race 4 from a Soft 6 to a 5. It proved a tough day for favourite punters with only one saluting and that was in the last race. A better racing surface played a part in some of the form reversals. Winona Costin and Kayla Nisbet both rode doubles. Trainer honours were evenly spread.

 

Race 1 (1200m) BM60

 

Bid Of Faith raced three-wide throughout. Eden Vale was held up rounding the home turn.

 

The Dryden pair WILFUL SOUL $2.0F and TREASURE BOSS $3.80 were by far the best bet. The winner EDEN VALE $7.50 was a firmer. Wilful Soul flew the gates to lead comfortably. Treasure Boss trailed and FARTHING WOOD $7.50 settled much closer on his outside. The leader really picked it up after the 600m. She turned clear and soon burnt off the stablemate. First IMITATION GAME $20 threatened and then Eden Vale strode boldly into the picture and won the bob right on the line. He appreciated the solid tempo and Wilful Soul was gallant in defeat, maybe ridden a bit ambitiously. Imitation Game stuck on and the others were well beaten. Eden Vale came off heavy runs in town and clearly appreciated the better surface.

 

Race 2 (2000m) CL1

 

Final Showdown pulled hard for some distance passing the 1000m. Rider Matt Cahill was reminded of his obligation to ride his mount out fully to the end of the race. Club Legend was beaten 10L and when questioned his rider said the gelding was agitated in the barriers prior to the start of the race and raced flat throughout. OLMETO $1.75 was in the red throughout betting. The winner TREASURE OF LOVE $6.0 was a decent firmer and CLUB LEGEND $6.50 also had admirers. Olmeto set a strong tempo on settling. He was 3L in front on turning and looked to have it sown up before Treasure The Loved emerged from the back and ate up the ground to win on the line. The others were well beaten. The winner had given nothing in the Highway prior on a heavy track and fitter enjoyed the pace on a better surface. Olmeto was asked to do a lot and was courageous in defeat.

 

Race 3 (1400m) Maiden

 

Plenty featured in the Stewards’ report. Tezoff was slow off and rounding the home turn was hampered by Kid You Not which shifted out when not clear. The winner DANCE TOO HARD $18 raced keenly passing the 700m. The mare also had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight. When questioned regarding the improved performance of the mare, trainer Marc Conners said at her last start (at Goulburn resuming) she was trapped wide early and the rider was obliged to make some use of the mare going forward to lead on the heavy track. He said the more suitable surface and extra fitness was in her favour. Rebel Lady over-raced in the early and middle stages. Rider Brody Loy was suspended for his ride on All Too Rio who checked Kid You Not passing the 300m. MOHAHNA’s rider was questioned about the gelding’s disappointing run. He said he’d travelled well on the pace but was under pressure from the 600m. No abnormalities were found.

 

The market gave four runners a decent chance with ALL TOO RIO a firming $2.80 favourite.  AUTUMN FALLS $6.50 led a comfortable tempo and was still in front at the 200m. Dance Too Hard has trailed him and came across heals at that point and after a brief battle came away to win 1L. They were clear of the rest and forgive the run of All Too Rio who had no luck and finished it off well when finally getting a go. As the stewards noted, a number didn’t have the best of it, but the first two proved dominant.

 

Race 4 (1400m) CL1

 

Four were in the market with FRANKLY SAVVY $2F heading the betting throughout.

 

Only six horses went around after scratchings. Frankly Savvy led a slow speed restrained until LIBERTY FIELDS $5 and Saint Antonia Lad joined her after the 600m forcing more pace. KABU $7.50 got a perfect trail behind the leader and was cruising on turning. Frankly Savvy gave a kick but there was pressure on her outside and Kabu burst into it on the rail. The bold striding galloper looked an all-over winner before PROVEN CLASS $4.20 finished stoutly down the centre to get within 0.2L on the line. Frankly Savvy didn’t give in and held third beaten 1.1L. The winner is a former Kiwi in the Baker yard and had done nothing first-up for the yard at Hawkesbury resuming. By Dundeel he will enjoy longer trips and has a future. It was a good return from Proven Class and not sure that strangling the early pace suited Frankly Savvy.  

 

Race 5 (1000m) Maiden

 

Five in the market and none of them could make the top three. ANDREAS ran a $3F over ELVEENA $3.60. Stewards questioned the riders of both gallopers following their disappointing runs. Andreas was first-up and rider Jay Ford said his mount was slow to begin and to muster speed and didn’t finish off the race. He said the colt would now benefit from being stepped up in distance for its next start. Elveena was on debut and rider Winona Costin said her mount was agitated in the gates and was slow to muster speed and then did not travel in the early and middle stages. She recommended to connections that the filly be stepped up in distance for its next start.

 

There was plenty of pressure early with three vying for the lead passing the 600m.  COPS AND ROBBERS $11 found the front and turned with a clear lead and gave a good kick coming away to win by 5.6L. There were three in a line for the minors with the roughies Flying Grace and Papaver placing second and third setting up a big trifecta. The winner had improved into the placings at Moruya and his best prior run was here at this trip on a slow track. You’d have to say in retrospect that he ran over the odds. Not much more to say about the race with the well-bet commodities flopping.

 

Race 6 (1600m) BM65

 

SHENANDOAH was a solid even-money shot throughout betting and could only make fourth. The winner PECUNIARY INTEREST drifted from $6.0 or $8. Trainer Nick Olive advised stewards that Pecuniary Interest would be ridden more forward. He settled off-pace after being very slow to begin. Holy Sunday’s rider lodged a protest against the winner alleging interference rounding the home turn. After consideration it was dismissed. Shenandoah over-raced in the early stages. Ocean Walzer raced three-wide throughout.

 

BRASH SAMMY $6.50 led a moderate tempo with Pecuniary Interest railing comfortably in behind and HOLY SUNDAY $6 busying up behind him on turning. Pecuniary Interest hit the lead on the rail passing the 200m and sprinted hard to hold off the other pair by 1.2L. Brash Sammy never gave in and Holy Sunday finished hard with excuses. The favourite Shenandoah hit the line okay in fourth, but disappointed his supporters. Pecuniary Interest has placed behind him at his previous start in a worse part of the track and the $8 was surprising. He can go on.

 

Race 7 (1000m) BM 70 Federal

 

The winning drought for favourites continued in the Federal. CALESCENT started a $3.90 favourite from OUR FINVARRA and AMEARES both $6.50 on the next line. Our Finvarra and Exaggerate raced three-wide throughout. Passing the 750m Trumbo had to be restrained when tightened between Whycatchim and Stone Cold which shifted out when not clear. Passing the 750m Polar Star was hampered by Trumbo which shifted out after receiving interference. Passing the 750m Ameares was hampered by Polar Star which shifted out after receiving interference.

 

It was a mad charge for the lead with Calescent in front on the rail passing the 600m with Concrete and Our Finvarra on her outside. Calescent was feeling the pressure at the 200m and Concrete railing looked the winner until Our Finvarra kicked on and the ONTHETAKE $8 swooped winning on the line. ONS VIER $13 and POLAR STAR $7.50 also came home well beaten a half length and 1.4L respectively in a storming finish. There was plenty of merit in the runs of all these gallopers. The winner impressed but Concrete and Out Finvarra did plenty of work on the speed and were courageous. A terrific contest.   

 

Race 8 (1200m) Maiden

 

FORTUNE SEEKER was backed into a $2.30 favourite and was the only favourite to win on the day. HYPNOSIS $3.20 and LENNY LAD $5.50 were the only other runners given some chance by the market. Two runners were scratched after playing-up at the start leaving 8 to go around. Second placegetter AIDENABET $31 was difficult to load and a warning was recorded against the gelding.  

 

HALLIES COMET $20 led early but was joined by Fortune Seeker passing the 800m. Hypnosis raced a bit hot railing behind and Aidenabet settled last. Hallies Comet gave some cheek but the winner at her measure at the 200m. Aidenabet made up many lengths and hit the line hard to get within 1.6L. Hypnosis stuck on to hold third 3.1L from the winner and GREY MANTRA $17 caught the eye late with his fourth finish. The Waterhouse-Bott–trained winner was too professional on debut off sharp city trials. Aidenabet defied his odds on debut and certainly made an impression. Hypnosis raced keen and got a pass. .