Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 19 April 2024

Race 1 2000m CL SW

PRESLEY $2.15 raced a clear favourite and got the job done just from the brave RUFF $12. Ruff led from the rails gate denying GOOFINATOR $4.80 that spot. Presley lopped along in fourth off the fence. Presley started a forward move at the 600m with third-placed LUMIERE $4.20 on his back.  Ruff kicked in straight and looked the winner passing the 200m, but Presley kept coming and under hard riding from Collett got the bob in. Luimiere tried hard 1.4L from the winner, nudging out GOOFINATOR $4.40 for third. Lumiere wanted to lay in for a good part of the run home. A good effort from Goofinator who couldn’t find the front and who was three wide on-speed at one stage. Ruff was primed up and Heywood nearly pinched it. He’d been beaten 10L here at his previous, so it was quite a form reversal. 

Race 2 1200m Bm50  

PAPAVER MINER $11 built on a nice effort at the Sapphire Coast to record a comfortable 1.6L win over another value runner we fancied SUPER RIFF $7, with DON’T THINKABOUTIT $9, 2L from the winner holding a clear third. A line of five horses were vying for the lead passing the 1000m with the favourite GREAVES $3.30 easing to tail before the 800m. Papaver Minor was on-pace but was caught three wide on place all the way and was less than 2L from the leader OAKEYS CHOICE $9 as they set sail for the judge. He took over at the 200m and hit the line full of running. Super Riff and Don’t Thinkaboutit raced together at the tail of the field. The former stayed on the rail and used the cutaway. The latter went wide and came down the middle of the track. They both made up lengths and hit the line hard. The finishing effort of CHIPSTAR $14 also had merit.  Grieves got a nice run through, but was cooked at the 200m. Papaver Minor recorded his second win in 57 starts but had put the writing on the wall with a good effort at the Sapphire Coast prior.  A tough win. 

Race 3 1400m Mdn SW

The easy winner CLUBMAN (5) was on debut for Sydney’s Neasham barn and had trialled at Randwick. They scratched the fancied stablemate and that was a decent lead. MY SHALOM $21 was beaten 2.3L in second and FINAL CRACK $3.10 some 3L in third. Again there were a number wanting to lead with Final Crack bursting clear after the 1200m. My Shalom settled forward of midfield and raced keen. Clubman had a soft run midfield in the clear. Clubman moved into it before the turn and was five wide within reach. He powered down the stretch and gobbled up Final Crack at the 75m to win running away. My Shalom used the cutaway and finished it well along the trial. BO BO BEWARE $4 and TAKEOVER ARTIST $6.50 were both found wanting at the business end. An impressive win by Clubman and he’ll be winning more races.  

Race 4 1200m Mdn

The Gardner-trained MESSAGGERO $2.50 was a well-supported favourite but was beaten nearly 3L in fourth. DOWNTOWN'S ABBEY T$8.50 improved again to take the race out by a half-length from BOUNTY KNIGHT $17 with BEDOUINE BEAR 2L from the winner in third. TABEI $5 missed the start badly and tailed them in. Four horses were vying for the lead at the 1000m. Messaggero worked to find the front as did Downtown’s Abbey who settled on his outside. They were joined at the 700m point three-wide by Bedouin Bear who had been pulling. Bounty By Knight had a nice run behind these. Messaggero was under pressure at the 200m and was passed by Downtown’s Abbey who fought off the challenge of Bounty By Knight. Bedouin Bear had a tough run and battled on well. The one that caught the eye late was OH WHAT A KNIGHT $17 who came down the middle of the track beaten less than 3L. 

Race 5 1300m CL1 

First-up IMASUPERSTAR $10 upset the fancied pair having his first start for Rob Potter after a switch from a Victorian yard. He beat SASS N’ Cheek $5.50 by 1L, with WORX $3.80 and the favourite ONEFORIAN $2.90 next home 1.7L and 1.9L from the winner respectively. Worx missed the jump but hurried along sat on the rail and was in an awkward spot as they neared the turn.  STOVET DANE $4 led with Oneforian off the rail on his hammer. Sass ‘N’ Cheek was caught three wide, and Imasuperstar was positioned midfield. Sass ‘N’ Cheek was thereabouts but caught three wide. In the stretch the leader gave a kick, but Imasuperstar was coming two-to-one and burst clear from the 100m to win comfortably. A tough effort from Sass ‘N’ Cheek to hold second. Worx flew late to nab third. The winner had performed fresh, and Potter had him spot on. He will win more races up here. 

Race 6 1600m CL3

This was wide open with three gallopers starting as $6 equal favourites and all were well beaten. The Olive-trained JUST GO BANG $9 beat RAPID OUTLAW $7.50 by 0.8L with HEROMANIA $7 2.2L from the winner in third. They were well clear of the rest. Just Go Back sat off the rial midfield travelling well. He made quick improvement from the 600m and was wide but within range, as they straightened up for the run to the post. Rapid Outlaw had a soft run behind the leading pair and was in front at the 200m with Just Go Bang challenging on his outside. The latter had his measure at the 100m and found a margin. Heromania didn’t have the easiest run and was the only one making ground. The winner relished the step up to the mile. He had to work to put himself in the race and his effort was full of merit.  

Race 7 1400m Open - Federal 

Eleven gallopers went around the Federal with a number given a chance. However, the favourite BALEDON $3 was to prove too good defeating TORETTO $7 by 1.4L with little between the next five to greet the judge — CHAMPIONS LEAGUE $21 (1.8L) and OWN THEM $26 (2.1L) the best of them. It was keen upfront setting it up for those behind. Baledon enjoyed a soft run just behind the leading trio. READY TO HUMBLE $17 held the rail and gave a brief kick at the top of the straight Baledon soon had his measure. Toretto missed the kick but railed along and came across Baledon’s heals at the 300m to make his challenge. challenge. They were across the track in the chase, but the winner held too many guns and won comfortably. All honours with him. 

Race 8 1200m Bm60

NOT THAT EASY $4 scored a commanding win here this grade and trip and went back-to-back holding off MONTEBELLO’S Charm $9 by 0.6L and CHASING A QUID $5.50, less than a length from the winner in third. The favourite LYRICAL BEAUTY $2.50 held fourth beaten 3.3L. The remaining runners were all well out of the market. Two runners cut at each other in front with Lyrical Beauty off the rail, one of them. Chasing The Quid railed just behind, with Montebello’s Charm also railing on his tail. Lyrical Beauty gave a quick burst to hit the lead at the 200m but was feeling the pressure from challengers on the outside and in. Not That Easy well off the rail showed the superior dash to find a clear margin. A good contest with the winner delivering fair and square.