Canberra Racing Review — Friday 9 October 2020

The track was rated a Heavy 8 and they looked for better ground out wider later in the day. The fields held up reasonably well after scratchings and four favourites won on the day with two just going under. Blaike McDougall was clearly the rider of the day with 3 winners and 3 seconds. Matt Cahill got a double. Training honours with Garry Kirkup who trained a double.    

 

Race 1 (1600m) BM60

 

Only three runners went around and it was AXION $3.10 who prevailed, improving off the placing at the last meeting. TEMOIN CHAUD $1.95 began awkwardly and was inclined to over-race outside the former in the early stages. Axion was well-rated in front and was always travelling well under Cahill and came away to win comfortably clearly enjoying the surface. ZAROMATIC $6.50 battled on and never looked likely.

 

Race 2 (1600m) CL1

 

SUMDEEL $1.95F and ROSHAN $4.00 were the only runners to start under $10 but it was ASTROBLEME who prevailed at $13. Roshan was ridden more forward in a change of tactics and raced wide throughout and was inclined to hang in. He dropped away when the pressure went on. ZARAFAH $10 had difficulty obtaining a clear run in the straight. Sumdeel found an easy lead and Roshan settled on her flank. Astrobleme raced comfortably on the rail back on the field. The leader was pushed along before turning and JOPHIEL $12 who had trailed emerged on his outside. Sumdeel wasn’t looking an even-money shot but was fighting hard under McDougall’s urgings and it was Astrobleme who finished best further out. There was less than a half length between them on the line and there was merit in all three runs. Astrobleme has now won both heavy track runs in 7 race starts and was at peak fitness for the tough grind.    

 

Race 3 (1000m) CL1

 

We’d alerted to the credentials of QUIDEEM $3.60F and he was the one they really wanted throughout betting off the close-up effort in the Moruya CL3. Four other were given a hope with MAS DINERO $4.80 the best supported of them. He raced wide after the slow start missing the placings. Quideem duly won the race but unfortunately was found post-race to have bled from both nostrils and incurred a Mandatory 3 month ban from racing. Ditto Miner. There was no money for WATCH ME SIZZLE $13 resuming for the new yard and he was slow off and inclined to run-in when racing under pressure in the straight. AROHA DIAMOND $8.50 missed the start badly. It was a keen go for the lead with FULL OF FIRE $6 settling in front from Mas Dinero who was wide. There two were fighting it out on turning before Quideem — who had trailed the lead on the rail — came across heels at the 200m to wear down Full Of Fire winning by nearly a length. COPS AND ROBBERS $6.50 battled on okay nearly three lengths from the winner in third, but never looked like a winning chance. Good efforts from the top two but we won’t see Quideem for three months at least. Full Of Fire was resuming for the new yard and can build on that.

 

Race 4 (1300m) Maiden

 

It looked like a two-horse race on paper and the market agreed. The favourite ASTERO $2.20 brought up a race-to-race double for McDougal beating Wandonna $2.30 by 2L with LEGAL CHALLENGE $11 running a clear third. There were a number of mentions in the stewards’ report but they doubt they any made a difference to the race outcome. Howgoodisvegas made the lead and was very keen with Alpha Lane behind out wider and a bunch behind. Legal Challenge made a move before the turn and on straightening the two favourites emerged on the better ground out wider. The leader gave a good kick but was gobbled up at the 200m. Astero came away and won comfortably from the brave Wandonna. The winner had come off a city run and strong trial and all honours with the Zoustar colt.

 

Race 5 (1000m) Maiden

 

McDougall made it a treble when the heavily-bet debutant TO THE NINES $2.10F won the Maiden by a space. A sharp trial and McDougall’s booking was the lead. INDIGNANT $9.50 pulled up with signs of colic and will need a vet clearance before racing again. GAMBLER'S QUEST $4.80 began awkwardly. Ruby Factor led BUDDEROO BLITZ $4 with Indignant behind on the rail. That’s how they turned with To The Nines improving from back in the field to be the widest runner. Budderoo Blitz soon got the upper hand but the winner was coming with giant strides in the better ground to come away by nearly three lengths. The Epaulette 3yo gelding couldn’t have been more impressive and will go on for this. Gambler’s Quest caught the late finishing it off well on resumption and he will be much more competitive next time around.

 

Race 6 (2000m) BM65

 

It was $4 the field with the well-seasoned Sydneysider and favourite HOLY SUNDAY prevailing from FOX BEAT $4.80. MOHAHNA $4.40 was expected to feature in the finish but disappointed. When questioned by stewards post race the jockey said that the gelding raced flat and may not have handled the 9-day back-up. No abnormalities were found. HELLO CHINA $5.50 was slow to begin and also disappointed. No abnormalities were found. The third-placegetter APPETIZING $18 began awkwardly. Mohahna was four wide into the first turn before working to sit outside the leader Appetizing with EAGLEHAWK $9 sitting behind. Holy Sunday sat fourth off the rail travelling well.  They held their positions passing the 800m. After the 600m Ward was starting to get to work on Mohahna and he’d had enough on turning. Eaglehawk took a clear lead in the stretch and was shaping like the winner, but they were coming in the better ground further out. Fox Beat took over in the shadows of the post but Holy Sunday bravely fought back and stuck the head out on the line. Tough efforts by the pair. Appetizing gave everything beaten just over a half length after trying to make all.    

 

Race 7 (1000m) Open

 

There was only one upset one the day and it came in the Race Caller Cup with DEMONSTRATED ($51) prevailing in a close finish. PERFECT PITCH raced a $4.80 favourite and was beaten 8L. The rider said her mount travelled only fairly on the shifting ground and believed the mare didn’t handle the heavy conditions. No abnormalities were found post-race. BOTHERED $6.50 raced wide throughout. Whycatchim sat wide as per the trainer’s instructions when there was an opportunity to go to the fence passing the 700m. Stewards advised the apprentice that she should where possible avoid covering excessive ground when opportunities exist to save ground and race closer to the rail. Whycatchim led from Bothered with EVE’S MISS $7.50 and POLAR STAR $13 in behind. Whycatchim held the lead on turning, moving out wider but they were starting to line up across the track and at the 100m there were a number looking likely. Demonstrate had sat back and emerged through the centre to hit the front and stave off the fast finishing run from REVITUP REDNUT $7 down the outside. Polar Star and GUNGA DIN $17 stuck on well in the worst ground. There was less than 2L between the top five and it was that sort of a race. No knock the winner. Revitup Rednut impressed off the 18 week break and the connections of the next three would have taken plenty out of their performances.       

 

Race 8 (1400m) 1400m Federal

 

EXPRESS COURIER $1.80 was in-the-red throughout betting but proved no match for PEYTON PLACE $6 with BLACK WAND $17 a clear third. Express Courier was slow to begin and didn’t have the best of it between the 450m and 200m. ROYAL THUNDER was backed from $7.50 to $5.50 but was beaten more than 7L. Peyton Place found an easy lead and was joined by Royal Thunder passing the 1000m. Express Courier settled second last on the rail. The leader upped the tempo passing the 600m and Royal Thunder was soon under pressure. The winner held a clear lead down the stretch with McDougall on Express Courier desperately looking for a way though. The split came at the 200m and he closed, but had far too much to do. Black Wand toughed it out well in third with a gap to the rest. A well measured ride in front by Lever. Express Courier definitely had excuses and will keep for next time.

 

Race 9 (1200m) 1200m

 

IL PROFESSIONALE was backed into a $2.70 favourite but had to settle for second beaten just over a half length behind ZELAGO $7.50. CAPTAIN SOLO also had good support starting 4.60 but ran a well-beaten last. The rider said post race that the gelding had travelled well in the run but did not let down when asked for a finishing effort. The vet exam revealed no abnormalities. Dip Me Lid was slow away and raced wide throughout. Freaky Freckles was disappointed for a run passing the 200m. It was a good go for the lead with Trumbo in front passing the 1000m with El Professional sitting on him and the winner trailing one off the rail behind. El Professionale looked to be cruising on turning but only got the better of Trumbo at the 150m but Zelago was finishing hard to deliver the win by nearly 1L with LATINA BEAUTY $10 finishing it off well a clear third. ZELAGO got a peach of a ride but had been good in stronger the one before and was spot on for this. El Professional faced the breeze and is ready to win.