Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 24 November 2024

The Rail was out 3M the Entire, and they raced on a Good 4. The feature $200,000 Community Chest was taken out by the Maher-trained Chorlton Lane courtesy of a slick ride from Ashley Morgan. Training honours were shared, with the Dryden and Snowden yards the closest to recording doubles. Louise Day rode a double.  

Race 1 2000m CL1

The scratching of Telecom took some of the interest out of the race. The best-supported pair quinelled the race and finished well clear of the remainder. DIVINE CONCLUSION $6.50 led a slow speed and it was a compact field behind. The race began in earnest at the 500m, when TAUMATA 2.60F and MARKS ICON $3.40 presented on his outside and immediately applied pressure. Divine Conclusion had put up the white flag at the 300m and after a brief tussle Marks Icon sprinted clear of Taumata and held a 1.5L margin on the line. BELLANGRY $21 battled into third 4L from the winner.  The winner was clearly best and hard to make any excuses for the remainder. He hadn’t been beaten far at Goulburn prior over 2145m and was on the quick backup.

Race 2 1000m CL1

The early favourite Zealously was scratched and that left the heavily supported PERIGEAN $1.75F the one to beat. There was solid support for HELL OF A SHOW $3.50 and he formed the exacta. It was a keen go for the lead with Hell Of A Show holding the rail and Onigiri parked on his outside. Perigean positioned behind the pair and enjoyed the run of the race. Onigiri was feeling the pinch at the 250m, and Perigean found a split and drove through to challenge Hell Of A Show. He got the upper hand late and held a half-length margin on the line. A terrific effort also from Hell Of A Show, who was given no peace in front and fought on like a tiger under the 3kg apprentice. The eyecatcher was the third-placed CONSTANTINOU $17 who was beaten just 1.16L. Perigean was first-up following a switch from the Gollan stable in Brisbane. The import Onigiri was also first up and will be much better for the 2L defeat. 

Race 3 1000m MDN

The Snowden-trained INVINCIBLE MADISON started at the prohibitive odds of $1.50 and jumped straight to the lead. HIGHWIRE FLYER $4.80 had been caught wide and improved at the 600m to sit on the leader’s flank. The latter was immediately under pressure and Invincible Madison skipped away to a 2L lead at the 375m and she had expended it to 3.4L on the line. MASTER OF DISGUISE $7 finished well clear of MISS INDI $41 in second place. The latter raced keen and almost stumbled at the 800m. Invincible Madison was first-up and two-back had raced at Group level on debut. The high-priced filly raced like a seasoned pro, and it was easy work. 

Race 4 1400m MDN

The Snowden barn almost made it two on the trot with CALIFORNIA BLUES $5 beaten just 0.3L by the local SO MAGNIFICENT $7. The clear favourite LOUISBURGH $2.25 finished just shy of 2L from the winner in third. Fourteen runners faced the starter and Louisburgh jumped straight to the lead. California Blues sat behind the leaders between runners. So Magnificent settled beyond midfield. Louisburgh fought off the immediate challengers at the 200m, but California Blues was working into it strongly. So Magnificent was well back and wide on the home turn, and despite wanting to lay in, began putting in the big ones down the centre. At the 50m he was fighting it out with California Blues and just got the upper hand. The colt was having just his second start, having placed at Wagga on debut. The form from the race should work out well.  

Race 5 1600m BM70

The three best supported gallopers filled most of the trifectas. ICEBREAKER$3.80 got the job done by 1L from RONNY ROCK ART $5.50, with the well supported MISS GHENT $3.10F and FERRARI MAN $11 both 1.6L from the winner in third. Several others finished within range. Ferrari Man jumped from the inside gate and went straight to the lead. Miss Ghent pressured him before the jockey retrained her at 1100m. Ronny Rock Art sat off the rail behind. Ice Breaker was rearward until starting a forward move at the 600m. He turned the wides but within range. There were plenty of chances approaching the 200m, but shortly after the long striding a fast-finishing Icebreaker took over and it was reasonably comfortable at the line. The placed runner looked to have their chance but lacked a finishing punch.  PRETTY EYED $12 was luckless in the straight. She was squeezed out of it approaching the 200m and hit the line smartly when in the clear, beaten 1.7L. Icebreaker gave them a start and a beating. He’d switched stables, won first-up at Canberra and built on that effort. 

Race 6 1400m QTY - Canberra Community Chest

CHORLTON LANE $5.50 capped off another big weekend for the Maher yard winning the $200,000 Community Chest. It was a bit messy early before they settled into a pattern. ELETTRICA $3.70 worked to a clear lead at the 900m. SUPER HELPFUL $13 and BATTLETON $3.60F sat comfortably midfield. Chorlton Lane missed the jump and was still rearward on the rail approaching the turn. Electra held the lead at the 225m from Battleton who’d got a nice run through. Chorlton Lane saved plenty of ground sticking to the inside and was finishing strongly along the paint. Super Helpful was strung up early in the straight and then had to come off heels at the 200m before motoring home late. Unlucky. Chorlton Lane was doing it well on the line and full marks the rider Ashley Morgan who couldn’t have ridden the gelding any better. 

Race 7 1200m BM75

MIGHTY MYRTLE was backed in to start a $2 favourite and just got up from ANNOUNCING $9 and SISTERS PICK $7.50. They gapped the others. The second-favourite TOES IN THE WATER $3.20 missed the start and was then taken forward and raced very wide. The effort told at the business end, and she will keep. Sisters Pick crossed over to lead clearly at the 900m. Mighty Myrtle had a soft run fifth on the back of the leader. Announcing railed last but close-up. As they headed for home Sisters Pick held a narrow lead. Mighty Myrtle had to shoulder her way through, and she ran out after. Announcing burst through on the inside to set up a cracker finish. Mighty Myrtle settled back into a rhythm and found a margin in the shadows of the post. Mighty Myrtle has now won 4/7 and looks to have more to offer.  

Race 8 1300m BM60 – Federal 

The Dryden yard was seeking a race-to-race double, but the heavily-bet BRAZEN CRIME $1.60 was beaten 0.6L by MOUNTAIN CHATTER $7.50, with FIFTY FIVE MUSTANG $7 next home, 1L from the winner. RANGATIRA $20 was beaten 2.4L in fourth. It was busy and bunched up front. MOOSHAKA $10 led but wasn’t going quick. Brazen Crime sat on her flank and Rangatira moved up three wide after over racing. Mountain Chatter and Fifty Five Mustang were in tight quarters behind the pace. They were across the track approaching the 200m. Mountain Chatter had turned for home the widest runner and pounced late down the middle of the track, getting the better of Brazen Crime who has looked the winner at the 100m. It was a messy race, but the hot favourite looked to have every chance.