Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 17 May 2024

Race 1 1080m Bm50

CHAMPAGNE IN LACE $3.50F led winning her Maiden here by 3L and again demonstrated her liking for the circuit with an easy all-the-way win. PAPAVER MINER $6 built on his win here 4 weeks earlier running into second beaten 2.8L. LOVE OF AIR $4.40 made third, beaten 3.5L. It was a comfortable watch the winner. Several runners may have had excuses and be wary of the form generally. 

Race 2 1280m Bm65 

CHASING A QUID started a $3.50 favourite but had to be content with second placing behind CRAVING MAGIC who drifted to start $4.20. The beaten margin was 2.5L. GET SHAFTED $8.50 made third finishing 2.8L behind the winner. The remainder were spaced. A couple burnt turf early with KISSING SUPIDO $6 running to a clear lead after the 800m. SAIKO $5 enjoyed a soft run in fourth on the rail. Chasing a Quid and Craving Magic were in a bunch behind him. The former had been slow away and was hustled along to find a handier position. Craving Magic claimed the leader at 200m and held a 2.5L margin on the line. Chasing The Quid didn’t have the best of luck and there was merit in his effort. Ditto that of Get Shafted who settle rearward and was one of the widest on the turn. 

Race 3 1080m Mdn

Vella-trained GOOD PRIZE was backed off the map to jump as a $1.55 favourite but fifth was his lot beaten 5.3L. The local GRINS $7.50 made the improvement we anticipated holding 2L margin over MESSAGGERO $7.50. DOLLYTHEDIVA $19 was beaten 3.3L in third just ahead of SAKIMARJUEL $13. Grins sat off the rail behind the Dollythediva who shared the lead. Messaggero enjoyed the trail. Good Prize sat midfield and was under pressure after the 600m (vet cleared). Grins and Dollythediva were neck and neck at the 200m but soon drew away. Messaggero was bottled up on the turn but finished it off well once in the clear. Sakimarjuel made up good ground. Grins raced well off the rail, and she can find another win in the right grade. 

Race 4 1080m Bm70 - Federal

CHOP THE ICE firmed to start at $1.60 but as with his fancied stablemate in the previous he was well beaten (4.5L). The local Kelley yard made it a race-to-race double with the outsider STARLIV $31 holding off BATTLE ABBEY $11 by a half-length, with DELIGHTFUL DREAM $21 a clear third, finishing 2.9L from the winner. Chop The Ice tried to lead from the rail but lacked sufficient dash and at the 800m drifted out to be one of the last pair on the rail. At that stage there was five horses in the leading division. Starliv managed to hold the rail and has a 1L margin at the 200m. Delightful Dream shot up along the rail at that point looking likely, but only battled after. It was left to Battle Abby to mount the most meaningful challenge. He powered home from back in the field and goes into the blackbook. Starliv endured pressure on speed, and it was a tough effort to see it out.  

Race 5 1280m Mdn

The Money came early for ALLEGRO MISS $3.30, and she proved 1L too good for OH WHAT A KNIGHT $21. The gapped the favourite SIR MAURICE $2.60 and KATA KAPI $7.50, who were beaten 4.5L and 4.8L respectively. They were bunched in the early and middle stages. Oh What A Knight was midfield and wide and began a forward move after the 800m. Allegro Miss and Sir Maurice were rearward behind him. The leading division was under pressure passing the 200m with the swoopers looking to hold all the cards. Oh What A knight burst clear at the 100m but couldn’t hold out Allegro Miss, who flew home on his outside. Sir Maurice got clear in time but didn’t have the necessary finishing dash. GRADI was beaten off and no excuses were offered (vet clear). Good efforts the first two to greet the judge, particularly the winner who finished full of running. 

Race 6 1206m Cl1

Scratchings left SIOVY DANE clearly the horse to beat, but there was money for a couple of others, and she drifted out to start a $3 favourite. She found the lead and was cruising clear of her rivals as the turned for home. From that point she gave them a galloping lesson winning as she liked by 8L. LADY REVOULTION $8.50 had sat in the leading division and was next home, 1L ahead of FAR TOO HOT $3.70. ENCANTO $3.90 finished fifth 11L from the winner and raced three-wide throughout. Siovy Dane had been kept on the fresh side and simply ran them off their feet.