Racing and Sports Canberra Racing Review - Friday 18 August 2023

DASHING ELGEE $5 was nearly 4L too good for POKER DICE $3.20 with BEOGRAD BOY making third 7.5L from the winner. The disappointment was the favourite WHO'S IN WINNY $2.1 who finished a long last. Who’s In Winny had established a big lead passing the 1200m under the 3kg apprentice. The first three home were all happy to sit back. The leader put up the white flag at the 300m and Dashing Elgee shot by after accelerating through the turn. He never looked like being headed. Poker Dice tried hard but couldn’t make the inroads required. Dashing Elgee got in well with the 3kg claim and was dominant. Stewards informed Who’s In Winny’s rider that she has erred by allowing her mount to travel too fast in the middle stages. 

Race 2 (1080m) Mdn

Two horses were bet to the exclusion of all others with CHOP THE ICE $3.30 prevailing by just over 1L from the debutant GUNDY GUY $1.65.  LITTLE BE KNOWN $13 and LEGRIS $18 were the next two home beaten 1.6L and they spaced the others. Chop The Ice settled on the leader’s back and Gundy Guy was parked three wide and made the turn even wider. Chop The Ice was 1L clear as they straightened for home from the leader Little Be Known with Gundy Guy giving chase. The latter got the better of Little Be Known in the shadows of the post but couldn’t pick up the determined winner. Legris had sat midfield and was doing his best work on the line. It was a nice return from Chop The Ice and he will build on this effort. Things didn’t quite work out for the favourite and he’s a promising type who will take fitness and learning. No knock on the efforts of the next two home. 

Race 3 (1750m) BM65 

It was $4.20 the field and SHAFTY got the money firming from $13 to $8.50. He delivered by more than 2L from BRINGBACKTHEBEARS, who was a big drifter ($3 - $6). There was a further space to DEPARTING BULLET $4.20F and ALMAHERO $4.40 in third and fourth. Shafty sat midfield on the inside and improved his position to be prominent on the turn. He took the split early in the straight between the leader Departing Bullet and Bringbackthebears, who’d improved wide from midfield prior to the turn.  They were in a line at the 150m, but Shafty outstayed them late to record a comfortable win. He’d been racing in Sydney, and it was a welcome return to form. It was a sweet ride from Owen. 

Race 4 (1280m) Mdn SW

The money came for Peak Contributor $5.50-$3.30F and he delivered by 1.35L resuming off longer races. There was less than 2L separating the first five gallopers home. PROPHET TIME $3.40, PRINCE GAMBLE $31 and TEXAS OPEN $14, filled the minors. It was busy early with Texas Open finding the front and Peak Contributor sat on him. Profit Time sat midfield on the inner and has a wall in front of her and they approached the turn. Prince Gamble settled last and was well back on the inside as they headed for home. Peak Contributor got the better of Texas Open at the 150m. Profit Time was pushed wide at the turn and gave away a big start. He was motoring on the line along with Prince Gamble on his inside. The latter had no luck early until the 100m and there was a stack of merit in that effort.  The next two home also hit the line well. Peak Contributor has obviously been pleasing and got all the favors in the run. 

Race 5 (1080m) OPEN - TAB Federal 

We suggested that WHO BUT ROO $9 was going better than the numerical form indicated and he took out a strong Federal from MISS OSTEND $5 and DEEP SNOW $26. SISTER MOON was backed to start the $2.15 favourite but was beaten 3.4L in fifth. She missed the start and was last at the 800m before starting a wide forward move. Who But Roo sat outside the leader and the other two placegetters were positioned forward off the rail.  Who But Roo grabbed the leader SHORES OF AVALON $11 at the 150m and held on well to beat Miss Ostend who powered down the middle. She didn’t find clear air until the 200m and it was a big effort. Deep Snow also hit the line well further in. Sister Moon has too much to do and will keep. Who But Roo got the favors for the new barn. 

Race 6 (1080m) BM 55

TITAN STAR ran a firm $4.40F after the scratching of Cash Is Queen and just one from LOVE OF AIR $14 and GEMINIDS $7 in a blanket go. TITAN STAR (5) has been threatening all campaign and this was easier than the 64 at Kembla Grange beaten just 2L. It was busy early and the fourth placed at HAMISH THE SWIFT led on settling from Titan Star who worked to sit outside him. Hamish gave a great kick, and it took Titan Start to the 100m to get his head in front and he fell in from Love Of Air who flew down the middle, and Geminids who powered home on her inside. This pair settled beyond midfield. Love of Air took the outside route and was wide on turning with a stack of ground to make up. The latter took a more economical route. They both look like coming winners.  A deserved win by MISSILE LEADER Titan Star and there was plenty of merit in that given the work he did early.  

Race 7 (1280m) CL1

MISSILE LEADER $1.45F was backed as if unbeatable and recorded an easy 2.5L win over QUINLAN $7.50, with CHASING THE QUID $14 a whisker away in third. They spaced the rest. Quinlan led with Chasing a Quid on his flank and Missile Leader took the sit. As they headed for home Missile Leader was badly held up but found clear air and balance at the 200m and by the 100m has quickly asserted his dominance. The other pair battled well but were no match for the promising gelding. He can go on from this for the premier local barn. CES SOIREES LA $10 was a big drifter and began slowly and had to be checked in the straight.