Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 29 December 2023

The Rail was in the True position, and they raced on a Soft 6. Training honours were taken out by Peter and Paul Snowden with a double, including King Of Roseau’s win in the feature 2yo sprint. They almost made it a treble with Getty beaten a nose in the last. Promising apprentice Jake Barrett rode a double. 

Race 1, 2000m Bm5

Comment: Flic En Flac $2.10 ran a firm favourite but was beaten in a blanket finish. The Beer-trained Old Gregg $4.20 won by 0.13L from Super View $14 with Flic En Flac just 0.28L from the winner in third. Super View led at a canter, with more pressure applied after the 600m. Flic En Flack turned three wide and immediately challenged, with Old Gregg further afield with work to do. The latter came hard inside the 100m to get the decision on the line. Super View stayed on bravely to just hold down second.  Les Goh $3.40 took rails run and had his chance beaten 1.1L in fourth. Old Gregg stayed best and Flic En Flac didn’t make the improvement required. 

Race 2, 1000m Bm 45

A wide-open betting affair with the top weight. Jacob Joe $9 winning comfortably by 1.5L from Morezmo $5.50. The evergreen Newtown Is Coming $5.50 filled the third spot 3.3L shy of the winner. There was 3L back to fourth. There was a charge for the front with six runners contesting and you could have thrown a blanket over most of them as they turned for home. There was a line as they approached the 200m. Jacob Joe had sat off the leading bunch and cleverly found a split at this point and came away to record a nice win. Morezmo was widest on turning and was brave in defeat. Newtown Is Coming railed behind the leader and was in front at the 375m. Appeared to have every chance. Some were caught wide in the leading division and overall, it was a messy affair.   

Race 3, 1600m Cl1

There were three clear chances on paper and the betting reflected that. Autunno $2.60 firmed into favourite and couldn’t have been more impressive when winning almost 4L from Walk Up Start $20 with Burgundy Bubbles $2.80 and Clendenning $14 the next two home around a half-length further afield. Walk Up Start sat on the flank of the leader with Autunno securing a soft run just behind. Burgundy Bubbles railed at the tail and was the last on turning. Autunno sprinted hard and took over at the 250m and was eased down on the line. Walk Up Start was no match for the winner but held the determined finishers Burgundy Bubbles and Clendenning at bay. Zabellsareringing $3.70 sat back in the field and was wide on turning. But lacked finishing dash. Autunno had won here three back at the mile and bounced back with a vengeance. More wins are in store on that effort. 

Race 4, 1400m 2000m Open - Federal 

A number were evenly matched on paper, but punters came for Dorami $3.70 - $2.60 and missed the mark. With a nice weight drop Champions League $11 made it two wins on-end winning comfortably by 2.7L from the drifting early favourite Tap ‘N’ Run $4.40, with Dorami managing third 2.3L from the winner. Dorami sat outside the leader I’m Not Leaving and had to be restrained at the 1000m when keen to go harder. Tap ‘N’ Run had a soft ride behind the leading pair, and after briefly contesting the early lead Champions League was allowed to drift back and settle midfield. They bunched as they set sail for home and both Onya Lional $12 and Stratum Prode $9.50 denied runs. The latter was then squeezed out and lost all momentum. Dorami was in front and out of trouble but was no match in the closing stages for the winner and for Tap ‘N’ Run who caught her right on the line.  After having no luck at all, Stratum Pride’s finishing burst caught the eye. She should have finished much closer. 

Race 5, 1200m BM 60

The three best supported ran the trifecta with Mischief In Dubai $4.80 holding off She’s Jessie $3.10F and Gutsy $4.40 by a half-length. She’s Jessie sat outside the leader and Gutsy trialled on the rail. Mischief In Dubai had a soft inside run beyond midfield but had closed up as they turned for home. At the 180m, there were four in a line, but the field had opened up nicely for Mischief In Dubai and the filly proved a touch too strong. The placed pair fought on strongly, and the leader Press Lightly $12 was only 1L from the winner in fourth. Mischief In Dubai looked a horse destined for better races when winning on debut at Bathurst. She capped that form with a hard-fought first-up win. She’s Jessie keeps improving and Gutsy just missed making it four wins on end. 

Race 6, 1300m Maiden SW

The exposed form looked rather plain and that provided the Nick Olive-trained Exceedingly Hot $4.20F a decent opportunity on debut. He obliged but it was a close thing with Flying Impala $8.5 and Bledisloe $9 barely a half-length shy in second and third. There were a number keen to lead but Exceedingly Hot took over at the 1000m with Flying Impala on his inside keen to go harder. Bledisloe sat comfortably midfield off the rail. Flying Impala railed inside the leader and led them up in the stretch. Exceedingly Hot was taking time to wind-up and didn’t help himself by running out. He really knuckled down in the sight of the post to nut Flying Impala. Bledisloe also finished strongly and spoiled his chance by laying out at the 200m off the heels of the winner.  This trio will all have taken fitness and learning.  

Race 7, 1000m 2yo Handicap 

Three runners were backed to the exclusion of all others in the feature sprint for 2yos and they delivered the trifecta in market order.  It was the impressive debutant King Of Roseau $1.70 (Peter and Paul Snowden) who prevailed by 0.84L from Madrina $3.40 (Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott), with Tokyo Lady $5.50, more than 3.5L from the winner in third. King Of Roseau led from Madrina on his flank. They had cleared out at the 200m and while both raced new, they were a class above. At the 50m Madrina was hampered when brushed by King Of Roseau which ran out abruptly. A warning was recorded against the latter. Both horses represent top juvenile stables and are sure to progress on to better races. More than likely, the Black Opal in March will be target for the Snowden-trained King Of Roseau given the stable’s affinity with the race.  

Race 8, 1000m Open

The Snowden-trained Secret Revolution $1.90F looked one of the better bets on the card and was 1.5L too good for the local Major Time $12. Another local Incentive $4.20 placed third, 2.5L from the winner. Incentive led and Major Time railed on his tail. Secret Revolution raced behind the speed and had a wall in front of him as they headed for home and was held up until near the 200m. Once clear he sprinted quickly, and it was comfortable on the line.  The placed horses had their chance. King Gutho $13 caught the eye finishing hard late beaten 2.9L. Keep an eye out for him in the right race. 

Race 9 1300m Cl1

Dark Vador $2.50 was heavily bet to win but was beaten by almost 1L by relative outsider Robin Sparkles $15. There was a further 1l back to Dundas $11 in third. It was busy up front and Robin Sparkles enjoyed a nice sit on the rail. Dark Vador worked up on her outside, while Dundas was content to sit back in clear air.  Tolima $5.50 held the lead to the 200m, but Robyn Sparkes had her measure and held off Dark Vador’s determined finish. The latter was held up rounding the home turn and until passing the 200m and was unlucky. Dundas finished well but without the gusto of Dark Vador. Ginjari $6 was beaten off. She may have choked down and a tongue tie will be applied for her next start. A nice effort by the winner who was ridden a treat by Bensley.  

Race 10 1000m Mdn

The Snowden-trained Getty $2.20F was heavily backed to win the last but was beaten a nose by the Dryden-trained local Zazel $6.50. The other galloper with reasonable support, Meghan $5.50, was a clear third beaten 1.7L. Getty led and had to be restrained in places pressured most of the way by Rosie Sue $15. Megan found a nice spot forward on the rail with Zazel on her flank. Getty held a 2L lead at the 200m, but Zazel was getting into his work out wider and made up lengths to just get up on the line. Megan also finished well but lacked a knockout punch. Getty didn’t get it easy up front and it just told in the end. Zazel made amends for his heavily bet second here on 8 December and enjoyed the pace on. All three gallopers have upside.