Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 26 July 2024
Just one favourite saluted – Weeping Woman – who walloped a Maiden field for a sharp Sydney stable. The other dominant winner was the local Chop The Ice in a CL2. Jockey honours were evenly shared. Gary Portelli trained a double.
Race 1 1900m CL1 SW
Competitive on paper and the three best supported in the market formed the quinella. Third-placed UNITED FRONT $3 was ridden along to lead out of the straight. Raced a little keen for a time but wasn’t pressured. He kicked on the turn but was run over at the 75m. The winner FIREALARM $3.80 and BLIND DATE 3.90 both flashed home and only a whisker separated them on the line. Firealarm railed forward but was awkwardly placed before the turn. Found a split wider out and finished doggedly. Blind Date tailed the field and was boxed up on the turn inside the above. Finally got a split at the 200m and was only nabbed on the line.
Race 2 1206m BM50
An Open betting affair with DON'T THINKABOUTIT $5 jumping the $5 favourite. The victor RUSSIAN ROSE $6.50 jumped straight to the lead from a low barrier and ran them along at a solid clip. She was a big leader at the 300m and wasn’t knocked about to win comfortably by 1.4L. Second-placed FINAL SHOWDOWN $20 raced off the rail in a clump forward of midfield. Had nowhere to go as they turned and finally got a spit at the 150m. She finished hard from that point. SKEPTISM $5.50 ran into third. She was last on jumping and began a long forward move from the 900m. She made up a stack of ground, beaten 1.7L. PENCILED $5.50 caught the eye late. The favourite DON’T THINK ABOUT $5 didn’t get into the race. PAPAVER MINER $5.50 raced forward and looked to have every chance.
Race 3 1080m MDN SW
Joe Pride-trained WEEPING WOMAN jumped a prohibitive $1.45 favourite and flogged the Maidens by almost 9L. BUBBLE TEA $6.50 made second just ahead of DAICOS $9. This trio was bet well clear of the remainder. Weeping Woman went straight to the lead but was taken on by HEROPHILE $13 with Daicos three-wide outside them. As they headed for home Weeping Woman quickly put a space on them and extended the lead to win in a canter. Bubble Tea settled rearward and was back and wide on the turn. She finished well without getting close. Daicos boxed on. The others were run off their feet. The winner absorbed pressure but was a class above.
Race 4 1280m MDN
A tricky race with Sydney-trained EXOTIC DANCER $11 (drifted) winning on debut. She jumped well and led briefly on the rail before electing to trail behind second-placed DOLLYTHEDIVA $4. Dollythediva gave a kick, but Exotic Dancer came across her heels at the 120m and went to the line comfortably. Third-placed DRESSEL $12 raced wide and finished stoutly. Was having his second start for the yard and it was a much-improved effort. The favourite O’HELLYEAH $3.80 sat behind the speed and was three-wide on the turn. She had every chance. The Favourite COMB OVER CON $3.60 was beaten for early speed and had no luck seeking a clear run in the straight.
Race 5 1750m BM65
An even affair with just a half-length separating the first three gallopers greeting the judge. Sydney-trained TIP TOP VERDICT $7 got the verdict. He settled last but gradually improved his spot before turning wide but within range. He kept coming doggedly and outstayed them on the line. Second-placed DEPARTING BULLET $8 led them into the back but was immediately pressed by SUPER VIEW $18 on his outside. BREAKING GROUND $6 was also forward but was racing ungenerously and it told. BURGUNDY GIRL turned last on the rail but got a sweet run-through and was soon in a challenging position. Tip Top Verdict put his head in front at the 100m and held on. THREW $6.50 was doing his best work late.
Race 6 1280m CL2
The second-favourite CHOP THE ICE $4 led unexpectedly and made a mess of this field winning by 8L. He worked overtime crossing to lead from the wide gate and that would’ve undone many gallopers. He was cruising on the turn and then let down and pulled right away winning in a breeze. KENSEY CHARMER ran into second and there was some merit in the effort. He just nudged out ENCOMPASS $15, but as with the rest, they were run off their feet. The short-priced favourite HURRICANE ABLOWING $1.90 raced forward on the rail and looked a place hope at the 200m but lacked a finishing dash. The winner was much too good back to a firm surface and can go on from this.
Race 7 1206m Open – Federal
With LOVE SHUCK coming out it was a competitive betting race with Goulburn-trained TULLA PARK $26 delivering the day’s upset, third-up off a heavy track outing at Hawkesbury. Tulla Park pushed on to settle fourth off the rail and he straightened for home in the middle of the track. The long strider hit the front at the 200m and found a 1L margin late over MISS OSTEND $6. She’d been racing in town on heavy tracks and had been freshened. It was a good effort. She had to work to contest the lead three wide before easing into a trial. She challenged and gave her all. FANGELLA $7 and MERC $13 finished the race off okay. FERRARI GIRL $6.50 and STARLIV $7.50 shared the lead but were found wanting at the business end.