Canberra Racing Review Friday 9 August

Race 1 (1206m)

Brennaman, Taken To Manhattan and The Guru all met trouble on jumping. Silver Nook attempted to buck and a warning was issued.

GIRONDE ($4:60) put the writing on the wall on debut and led up in trip and was never headed, holding them comfortably at bay. THE GURU ($8.0) and BRENNAMAN ($2.30F) both met trouble at the start and were last in a pair at the 1000m. The Guru stuck to the rail and finished it off strongly, while the heavily-backed Brennaman took the wide route and was storming home when it was all over. Stick with him. BUBBLER ($12) was wide all the way and his placing has plenty of merit. TAKE ON MANHATTAN ($3:50) sat outside the winner and had every chance. 

Race 2 (1280m)

Choice Harvest was bumped at the start. Zuzzudio was held up until passing the 200m. Emerald Fortune was taken in by the winner at the 100m. Justice Honor bled.  

The word was out that POLYXENA ($2:50) was the one and she was backed accordingly. She was just beaten resuming at Grafton and sat midfield in this working into it strongly at the turn. She proved far too good with the benefit of the 4kg claim beating EMERALD FORTUNE ($5.0) who did a good job carrying the big weight, and ZUZZUDIO ($12) who couldn’t get a clear run in the straight. CHOICE HARVEST ($5.50) had good late support, but had to work to make the lead and it wasn’t a bad run in the circumstances. Polyxena is a nice galloper and can go on from this.

Race 3 (1080m)

Rum Cake, Amiens and Done Right all met some trouble at the start. Persistence Pays ran wide throughout.

FLIGHT COMMANDER ($4.20) and AMIENS ($2.90) looked the two to beat and so in transpired in that order. Flight Commander improved as expected back home and was given a race-winning ride sitting outside the leader. Amiens overraced past the 900m and worked up behind Flight Commander. He kept coming and made it a close thing. Amiens will improve over further. There was plenty to like about RUM CAKE’S third placing. He railed and ran out of room at the 150m and there’s a win in her. COSTA CHIN CHIN ($7.0) caught the eye late on debut and is certainly one to keep a close eye on.  

Race 4 (1280m)

Vellichor was crowded at the start and that made it tough from then on. Single Zero, Successful Day and Ariake all raced wide.

GUNGA DIN ($5.00) was firm in the market on resumption and McDougall’s booking provided a strong lead that the gelding was ready to perform. He sat back and improved to be widest on the turn before powering down the outside to nab SUCCESSFUL DAY ($2.70) in the shadows of the post. The lightly-raced gelding will win more. It was an excellent effort by Successful Day who sat wide and had to fight off LADY TYCOON ($6.0) before the winner swooped.

Race 5 (1900m)

Good Verdict raced three wide throughout. Dezzy’s rider believed his mount didn’t appreciate the synthetic surface. The favourite Imanacheeva was disappointing and no excuses could be found.

DRAGON’S SHADOW ($5.50) was had to have on paper, but the market suggested otherwise and he was a nostril too good in a competitive race beating YEPPOON ($16). This pair sat together midfield and were both at the rear and wide on turning. Yeppoon looked the winner, but Dragon’s Shadow wouldn’t be denied and lipped him right on the post. OLD TRAFFORD was wide at the 800m before making a lightning move to sit wide on speed. He led until just after the 100m and won’t have lost any admirers. The apprentice was reprimanded for excessive use of the whip.   

Race 6 (1280)

Youthful Lad was slow to begin and raced wide throughout, as did Chandon Kisses. Whiskway was also slow away and Black Star Bowie was bumped on jumping. Secretary General was in the market. but raced too keenly in front.

This looked a nice assignment for EUROSAY ($4.40) and that’s how it proved. Ward got him into a sweet spot on pace and GLENLEIGH LAD ($5.50) was also given every chance. The latter was surprisingly on a 4-day turnaround and slipped to the rail and led on turning. It was a ding-dong battle down the straight with Eurosay scoring by half a length. The favourite BLACK STAR BOWIE was back in the field with a fairly slow tempo and had too much to do making ground down the centre into third.

Race 7 (1750m) Federal

S Guymer was overweight and was substituted with an apprentice riding without the claim. Miss Farloo was not tested in the straight with the jockey believing something was amiss. The mare will be required to barrier trial to the stewards satisfaction before her next run.  

O'PRINCESS ($3.30) stepped-up off an impressive win this venue two weeks prior and again proved too good carrying a light weight. She say one-out behind the speed in a truly run race and was four wide on the turn challenging. She made the lead before the 100m and came away from the favourite GENTLE ANNIE ($3.20) who was given every chance on the pace. SWEET KNUCKLE ($4.00) had to give them a start and hit the line well to claim third and is also one to stick with.    

Race 8 (1080)

The even money favourite Eokalio blundered on jumping and failed to respond to riding. After the race he was found to have speedy cuts to his off–hind leg.

The market sorted out the resuming ACTON SHALE ($4.20) as the one-most-likely outside the stablemate EOKALIO ($2.05) and he won well. SKY MISSION ($6.50) led as expected with the 4kg claimer aboard and Acton Shale settled handy in clear space. He switched to the rail at the 200m and proved too strong for a brave Sky Mission who just held off the fast finishing ADDCHAN ($20) for second/third. Addchan was last on the rail on turning and it was a bold first-up effort. It was an impressive win by Action Shale who has scope for further improvement.