Canberra Racing Review Sunday 15 December 2019
Race 1 (1000m)
NITROUS started at prohibitive odds and lead comfortably. He was resuming off a Group 3 on debut and made easy work of it coming away to win for a leading Sydney yard. The Deep Field colt had lengths on these. It was a solid debut by COME GET ME and QUEENSTREET BOSS also battled on well.
Race 2 (1400)
BID OF FAITH ran favourite but raced more forward than expected and weakened over the later stages. He was vetted and no abnormally was found. THE SENATOR also had good support and worked to the lead before the 1000m. Bid Of Faith raced on his outside and Boston Ivy with Boston Ivy pulling in the trial. The winner SENNACHERIB was firm in the market throughout and the claimer worked the horse into a prominent position after the 800m. The Senator fought like a tiger on the rail but just failed to hold out Sennacherib and SUPREME LAD who was well back on turning. JUNGLE BOOK also finished it off well and didn’t miss by far. There’s not much between these, and there’s a race in The Senator shortly. Bid Of Faith will not be ridden so prominently next time and may be worth another chance.
Race 3 (1000m)
AFFINITY BOND was a slightly drifting favourite and the market was wide open behind. The filly duly delivered for the in-form Luke Pepper yard. She had trialled well for the resumption and made short work of the wide gate easily making the lead. The runs came from out wider after the 600m, but Affinity Beyond put a space in them winning by 5.5L and never looked like stopping. The Starspangledbanner filly looks to have a nice future. They were across the track for the place spots with SMART PROMISE making second under Tommy Berry, with ELTHAM PALACE and SPANISH BEAUTY next. A number were slow off including a couple in the market: MR ALOYSIUS who was also wide throughout from the carpark draw and Spanish Beauty. It was a good effort by Eltham Palace who raced wide throughout. The winner was simply too good.
Race 4 (1300)
The three who were by-far the best backed ran the placings, with the local debutant ROOM NUMBER splitting third. The Sydney-trained debutant and winner MONEY HEIST worked over to lead as expected and the second-placegetter Manila Thriller sat on the rail behind the filly. The favourite ROSEBANK raced off a leading bunch and was a bit keen in stages. Money Heist was a clear leader on turning with a fair bit of bumping and squeezing affecting contenders behind. She went on the record a narrow but solid win. Manila Thriller just made it through to just hold second from the dead heaters Rosebank and Room Number, who impressed on debut. A few in this didn’t have the best of it. The winner and placegetters all worked to the line well.
Race 5 (2000m) Federal
The Federal was an even betting affair with WAIHEKE running favourite backed from $5 to $3.80. However, he was not able to hold out SEPULCHRE who was a market drifter; $6.00 to 8.00. WHISPERED PRAYER ran second favourite but knuckled on jumping and was unable to lead as is her want. She was under pressure from the 600m and finished almost last. GREAT GLEN was firm in the betting and slow off and also received a checked in the early run. TAG AND RELEASE worked to a clear lead out of the straight for the first time. It was a solid tempo and Sepulchre sat back and then made a move around the field after the 600m and was widest on the turn, cruising. She got the better of Waiheke after the 200m and came away to record an easy win. Waiheke was honest and was given a good run through to contend, and he just pipped Le Cavalier for third; the latter battling on well on the rail. Sepulchre had just missed the placings at Newcastle prior and it was a decisive and encouraging with for the local yard.
Race 6 (1000m)
It was $6.0 the field and its was the $7.5 shortener WHO’S SHOUT out who recorded one of the best wins of the day after a slow start. Brussels missed the jump also and dropped out to last suffering lacerations. MAD AS ZARIZ and Redicon raced wide. There was a keen go for the lead with Jewel Of The Clan leading Flying Yankee with Mad As Zariz three–wide outside her. They were bunched behind on turning with nothing looking threatening. Who’s Shout settle second last and was widest on the turn balanced and winding up. She gobbled up the ground to get the measure of MAJOR TIME and a brave Mad As Zariz. Major Time jumped well and the rider was happy to sit on the rail behind the speed. He got a beautiful run through and looked the winner until Who’s Shout arrived in the seen. Who’s Shout showed plenty last campaign and will be winning again.
Race 7 (1200)
The winner HOWRA dominated the betting starting $1.80 with the runner-up BALONNE ($5.00) the only other runner under $10.00. Howra won resuming here at the last meeting bringing strong Sydney form. Territorial led from ROMEO VELLA with Tommy Berry giving Howra the perfect trail. He brought the filly out three wide on turning. She put a space on the chasing bunch behind and it was Balonne who emerged from the clouds proving the only threat. He was last and wide after turning and ate up the ground beaten less than a length. Stick with him. Romeo Villa toughed it our well for third. Another good win from Howra benefiting from the nice positioning ride.
Race 8 (1600)
Another good contest with the firmer GIOCOSCO taking it out from the favourite LADY KIRKHAM. There was a sizable bunch up-front from the jump racing at a modest tempo. Dejakkal made the lead passing the 1200m with The Dream Giver on his outside. Giocosco was three-wide midfield with Lady Kirkham close by. Giocosco went wide and Lady Kirkham came through the centre and they came away with the former just getting up in a ding-dong go. THEFANCYJONESGIRL was doing good work late placing third and that has to be noted. The winner and second-placegetter can be followed with confidence.