Racing and Sports - Canberra Racing Review Tuesday 7 November2023

They raced on a Good 4 and the Rail in the True. Another big day for the Dryden yard with three winners and a second. Brendan Ward, Nick Heywood and Billy Owen all rode doubles. 

Race 1 (1200m) Bm 60

CRUCIAL WITNESS ran a $2.40F and raced wide following an awkward start. Finished well back and the stewards inquired. We fancied SUPER SPROCKET $3.60 – a leader nicely placed with the 3kg claim. Led from start to finish and held a 1L margin on the line. GEMINIDS was our exacta horse and duly obliged hitting the line hard after settling off the speed. PAPER DAISY was beaten 4.4L in third after a slow off, but never looked likely. 

Race 2 (2000m) Bm 60

The connections of AUSTRALIAN HARBOUR $6 advised stewards they would attempt to lead in a chance of tactics. That he did and he burnt turf before being eased off a little before the 1000m. He turned for home 2L clear of the tiring Booshang but was a sitting duck for one of the back markers. It was BURGUNDY GIRL $5.50 who began to eat into the margin and nabbed the gallant leader right on the line. Stablemate POKER DICE $7.50 settled last after a slow away and was widest on the turn. Looked for an instant he’d finish it off but he only battled beaten 5.7L. It was set up for Burgundy Girl who raced up another home win for the Dryden yard. We predicted improvement from Australian Harbour and there is a race for her ridden more judicially. 

Race 3 (1000m) Bm 45

Although still a Maiden ARTIEBETT $3.60 won as predicted and delivered by 3.6L in style. You could have thrown a blanket over the next three home, NEWTOWN IS COMING $9.50, LOVE OF AIR $3.80 and ISLAND RETREAT (6.50). Four runners wanted to lead, and they were abreast passing the 1000m. Only one of those survived (Newtown Is Coming) to find a place.  Artiebett was slow out and was held up rounding the home turn. Once clear he shot through on the inside and never looked like losing. Newton Is Coming just haled second and it was a tough effort by the veteran after being pressured three-wide on speed. The other places never looked likely. Artiebett was first-up and was far too good.

Race 4 (1600m) Bm 65

OFFSPRING $2 appealed and got home by 1L from an outside SHADDY $18 with LATIN LYRIC 2L from the winner in third. The well-supported STRATUM PRIDE $3.80 was slow to begin and over-raced in the early and middle stages. DEPARTING BULLET missed the start by 2L. Shaddy led and Offspring sat on his flank off the rail. They were in a line turning for home but Offspring found a length at the 175m point and held that too the line. Latin Lyric was clearly the best of the chasers closing fast. A tidy win by Offspring who was given every chance.  And another win for the Dryden stable.  

Race 5 (1300m) CL1

Dryden-trained PROMETIO MAS $3.3F and BREAKAWAY WEEK $3.80 were best supported but it was fellow Canberran DORAMI $9 who took out the honours for Norm Gardner. WHERE IS KEN was a close-up in third, with MISS GIVINGS next home beaten 2L. CONTANTI $6.50 bombed the start and then was used up to find a more forward position. Prometio Mas set up a big lead and was 5L in front passing the 600m.  Where Is Ken was one of a pair heading the chase. Dorami sat midfield biding her time. Dorami turned the widest and put in the big strides to swallow up the tiring leader in the shadows of the post. Interestingly, the overall time was moderate against the rest of the card. Not sure we can take too much out of the contest, although it was a pleasing return to form by the winner. 

Race 6 (1600m) CL1

There wasn’t much between the top four home with FERRARI MAN $6 getting the decision by a half-length over JIMMY NAILS $3.80 and AHEAD OF THE GAME $7.50 close together, with the favourite COUNTY KILKENNY $2.25 next, 1.6L from the winner. Ferrari Man found the lead and every horse following had their chance in a relatively compact field. Under hard riding Ferrari Man held a margin down the straight and although it slimmed the best of the chasers lacked the required knockout punch. Doubt there’s much between the first four runners to finish with Ward leading on Ferrari Man the point of difference.  

Race 7 (1300m) Mdn

KEYNES TIME $2.70F delivered for the in-form Vella barn but there was little separating him from the lightly raced TOES IN THE WATER $9 and GATCHAN the $31 rank outsider. Keynes began well and Budler elected to lead. Keynes Time was 2L clear as they straightened for the run to the judge and the other contenders were across the track chasing. The next two home closed in fast in the shadows of the post. HOTLIPS HOULIHAN $3.80 disappointed. She was slow to begin beaten 3L. The winner made his own luck but there was a stack of merit in the performance of the lightly raced Toes In The Water from the Nick Olive yard. She raced keenly in the early and middle stages and was three wide throughout. She’s a nice moving filly. Gatchan fresh-up was also good and is much improved. 

Race 8 (1300m) TAB Federal

We gave a good hope to RATHLIN $10 and he showed more like his Queensland best getting up in blanket go from Chairman’s List $21 and Vella Magic $3. There was less than 1.5L covering the first 6 home. It was a messy race and they were still bunched up front passing the 1000m. The race was set up for the back markers and as the speed folded down the stretch Rathlin burst through. Chairman’s List finished it off well on his inside with Valla Magic brave in-between after hitting the front at the 100m.  The favourite TROOPER KNUCKLE $2.45 looked to have every chance. Not much between these but Rathlin has the back-form to progress further.  

Race 9 (1000m) Mdn 

The Dryden-trained VADERZAN $2.10 had race form and fitness and was 1.5L too good for the Sydney trained newcomer CODE IN TIME $2F. The next best supported Tolima $11 finished third 3.8L from the winner. The remainder were at long odds. Vaderzan sat outside the leader and Code In Time trailed him. The later issued a challenge at the 200m but was unable to bridge the gap. Of the rest ALLEGRO MISS $41 was doing the best work late. The first two home can both go on. Code In Time will have taken fitness and learning.