Canberra Racing Review — Wednesday 30 September 2020

The rail was out 9m the entire and was initially rated a Soft 5. The rain came and it was downgraded to a Soft 7 after Race 6.  The outside ground advantaged later in the meeting. Trainer Like Hilton scored a winning double.  

 

Race 1 (1400m) Maiden

 

It looked like a two horse race on paper and that’s how it turned out. ZARZOU ran a heavily-backed $1.35 favourite with WANDONNA $3.60 a drifter. Wandonna led a moderate tempo and Zarzou sat one out one back. The former kicked at the turn with the latter perfectly positioned to pounce. Wandonna looked home half way down the stretch but Zarzou really pinned his ears back and flew to just get up. GREY MANTRA $17 was last on turning and ran on determinedly into third beaten 2L and is one to keep onside. Zarzou had switched from the Waller yard on a 13 days return for trainer Annabel Neasham and brought strong provincial form. He will win more races based on this effort. Wandonna was also very impressive having her second run for the Dryden yard and will also go on.

 

Race 2 (1000m) BM65

 

A race that was wide-open on paper with not much between five runners at the top of the betting. A couple of steward mentions worth noting. ELENARA $4.20F slipped on jumping and GALAXY FORCE $4.60 raced wide throughout. They ran along okay with Fat Gecko leading on the rail with REVOLVER $6 outside him and Galaxy Force facing the breeze three-wide. The winner MORNAY $5 got the perfect run trailing the leader and Elenara settled back after the mucked start. Revolver made the lead on straightening but was soon under pressure from Mornay. Charlie Chap looked a live hope on her outside but was swamped late by the Elenara and Galaxy Force and had to settle for fourth, just over a half-length from the winner. Mornay had everything go her way and there was plenty of merit in the efforts of the placegetters, especially Galaxy Force who was very brave and he will keep.

 

Race 3 (1400m) CL1

 

ARCTIC THUNDER $2.15F and CANYONERO $3 were clearly the best bet and fought the race out with the latter prevailing. Arctic Thunder was slow to begin. Canyonero didn’t get clear running until passing the 150m. FORGED IN STONE $7.50 ran last and the rider said his mount may not have appreciated the greasy track conditions. Forged In Stone held a clear lead passing the 1000m with Arctic Thunder sitting one-out behind him. Canyonero sat back on the rail travelling well. The leader looked to be going well on the turn but gave little and Arctic Thunder came away and looked like she had it in the bag before Canyonero finally got clear and sprouted wings to win a half length. DANCE TOO HARD $31 had been last all the way and powered home late beaten a length in third and it was an effort worth noting. All honours with the winner and Arctic Thunder also gave everything backing up off the debut win.

 

Race 4 (1600m) BM60

 

The market said three horses could win the race and two of them made the quinella with the well-bet $3.30 favourite BUCKLE UP BABY winning. Before correct weight the trainer of TEMOIN CHAUD $3.80 viewed a replay of the race concerning two incidents in the straight. He and the stewards were satisfied there were not sufficient grounds to lodge an objection again runner-up EAGLEHAWK $3.80. Eaglehawk and Temoin Chaud were both keen early with the latter allowed to ease and trail. The third placegetter AXION $26 sat a few lengths back in a clear third with Buckle Up Baby lobbing along at the rear. They turned in that order and Eaglehawk and Temoin Chaud came away and engaged in a ding-doing battle before Buckle Up Baby emerged wide out after being last on the turn. He made up lengths to just get up and Axion got a second-wind finishing strongly on his inside to pip Temoin Chaud out of third. There was 0.39L between all four. It was an impressive effort by the winner and the money proved to be spot on. The other three placegetters wouldn’t have lost any admirers.      

 

Race 5 (2000m) CL1

 

HIGH ADVICE $2.90 ran favourite and was beaten off. The surprising drifter MOHAHNA $4-$6 took out the race for the Olive-Ward linkage. The stewards queried High Advice’s disappointing run and jockey McDougall said the downpour before and during the race worked against his mount. He said the horse had previously performed poorly on rain affected going. Given the gelding was beaten 42.5L he will be required to trial satisfactorily before racing again. After the race the track was downgraded to a Soft 7. Mohahna worked to the lead and third-placegetter THE BOOMERANG $12 was sitting on him passing the 1200m. The third-placer JOPHIEL lobbed along midfield. High Advice was midfield on the rail but was pushed along and began to give ground after the 800m quickly dropping way. Mohahna held a clear lead on turning and never looked like being beaten, The two next placed battled on and TAN LONE $15 made up good ground in fourth. All honours the winner who has put two together and keeps improving.

 

Race 6 (1300m) BM70 — Federal

 

It was $4.80 the field in the Federal with EXPRESS COURIER prevailing first-up for the Dryden-MacDougall linkage backed in from $15 into $11. MOOKAREENA $5 finished third after being wide throughout. Dual protests were lodged by the connections of ROYAL MONARCH $14 (placed 4th) and Mookareena against the runner-up MNEMENTH $6.50 alleging interference after the 300m. Both protests were dismissed. We suggested in the meeting preview that Express Courier might be presented more forward today with McDougall booked and so it was. Four or five fancied their chances of leading with Supplyzing clear at the 800m from Mnementh getting a soft run from Our Finvarra. Express Courier sat back patiently ridden. There was a line across the track on straightening with Express Courier making quick ground to be the widest still two lengths off them. He powdered home making up lengths to win comfortably on the line from the three highlighted in the stewards report and connections would have been pleased with their efforts. Express Courier is a lovely striding galloper who will come into his own over further. McDougall may have cleverly found the better ground this time in the day but it was an impressive effort all the same.    

 

Race 7 (1200m) Maiden

 

SUPER ONE SUSIE 1.80F dominated the betting but had to settle for third. MIMESIS $15 won the race beating DANCIN’TIL DAWN $9. Promesa became cast in the barriers and was scratched. Apprentice jockey Paddy Scorse had to be transported to hospital with an ankle injury. The Banjo was a late scratching due to the downgrade of the track. Mimesis began awkwardly and ONE MAN BAND $4.80 raced keen and was three wide from the 700m. A bunch went hard early with BIG STEVE $7 finding the lead. Super One Suzie had a nice run behind them. Big Steve turned for home clearly in front but stuck to the inside and a few were keen to get outside onto the better ground. Mimesis was the widest and that was the advantage. He came hard swamping the placed pair who were brave in defeat given the race circumstances. Dancin’Til Dawn was hampered on straightening and the favourite was good given she was in the worst of the ground. Don’t give up on them.