Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 29 March 2024
The Rail was out +9m the Entire. They raced on a Good 4. There was a cutaway and the track played fair. Jason Coyle took the training honours with two winners. Heavelon Van Der Hoven rode both of those and booted home the impressive Code In Time for Annabel Neasham in the first.
Race 1 1200m Mdn SW
An outsider led by a big space and the short-priced favourite CODE IN TIME $1.40 had to lead the charge. He had cruised up and was on terms as they straightened for the run home. He maintained a strong gallop to win easily by 3.3L. STEELY GIRL $12 finished second after railing all the way and running out under pressure inside the 200m. Third-placed WILLIAM $31 was beaten 5.7L. He sat off the rail midfield and ran in at the 300m squeezing the second favourite — and notable drifter — QUEEN OF CALANTHE $3-$4.60. She lost some momentum and wasn’t pushed out after. Doubt she’d have been winning regardless. Code In Time was first-up and was much too good for a field of this calibre.
Race 2 1600m Bm 70
The well-supported favourite SIZZLING CAT $4 -$3.10 used the rail but was allowed to take a sit behind MERISI -$3.50-$5.50 before the 1200m. It was a dawdling tempo and Sizzling Cat elected to improve to sit outside the leader at the 800m. Merisi kicked and held a clear lead at the 300m but was flat as a tack and REGION TIME $16 and CYBORG $4.40 were finishing strongly down the middle. Merisi held a 0.23L margin on the line from Region Time and Cyborg, who was beaten less than 1L. Region Time sat rearward and was the widest on the turn. She finished it off strongly. Cyborg was caught wide all the way and there was merit in his effort. Merisi managed the tempo to good effect.
Race 3 1200m Bm 50
The Wodonga-trained NAUTICO $3.70F resumed for the new yard and won narrowly (0.82L) from FINAL SHOWDOWN $16, and FORBIDDEN GEMSTONE $4 who was 1.6L from the winner in third, a whisker ahead of the rank outsider CHEZ SYMPATHY $101 Nautico sat midfield on the fence in sixth. She turned wide some 4L from the leader and sustained a strong run to the line. Final Showdown settled off the rail behind the leading division. He came hard with Nautigo and wanted to run in. Forbidden Gemstone led with some pressure and was only headed at the 100m. Chez Symphony railed behind the leader and was strong to the line. The next home was the Dryden-trained FACTORING PROFIT $5.50 who caught the eye late. He was last most of the way and had far too much to do. Stick with him. Nautico was spot-on for this, and it was a tidy effort.
Race 4 1300m OPEN
The judge couldn’t separate LIGHT PRESS $2.60 and READY TO HUMBLE $11 and they finished 1.6L clear of NAPOLEON SOLO $14, with MITTATA $12, 2.3L from the winner in third. There was a tussle for the lead before Light Press took over at the 900m and Ready To Humble was content to take the trail. Napoleon Solo positioned one off the rail on the above’s flank. Light Press was 1L clear at the 200m, but Ready To Humble was eating into the margin along the rail. They couldn’t be separated on the line. Napoleon Solo battled on well, as did Mittata who was wide on the turn. The eye-catching finishes came from LOOSE LOVE $13 and the favourite TROOPER KNUCKLE $2.35. This pair were last in the run and widest of the turn with a mountain of work to do. The former hit the line particularly well. There was some late money to suggest Ready To Humble would make sharp improvement following a very plain run at Albury first-up.
Race 5 1400m Mdn - Federal
The $3 favourite TEXAS OPEN got the chocolates in one of the closest finishes you’re likely to see. The fifth-placed horse was beaten by just 0.28L, with 0.1L separating the first three home. Texas Open took the sit behind NO ESCAPING THIS $7. They raced in pairs after, with TANTALUM $8.50 tailing the field before commencing a sharp forward move at the 700m. Texas Open and No Escaping This were nose-for-nose in front at the 200m, but in the shadows of the post, the swoopers pounced, lining up five across the track. IMPENDING HARMONY $8.50 sprouted wings down the outside to nab second ahead of Tantalum, with BEOGRAD BOY $5.50 right there as well. Impending Harmony was slow away and wanted to overrace early. He was last on the turn and was coming two-to-one at the post. Another Dryden-trained galloper to stick with.
Race 6 2000m Mdn SW
Waterhouse-Bott-trained ADAGIO $2.15 dominated the betting and was much too good winning by almost 3L from JIMMY NAILS $6.50, with TWIN TURBO $9, 3.6L from the winner in third. They spaced the remainder. Adagio led as expected and they raced mostly in pairs following. Jimmy Nails was tucked away on the rail in third. Twin Turbo sat midfield but worked forward from 600m to be five wide and in tough on the turn. It was easy picking for Adagio who cruised to the line. Jimmy Nails enjoyed the step up from the mile.
Race 7 1200m CL 1
Trainer Jason Coyle can accept and scratch at Canberra but started two gallopers today and won this and the race after. NOT THAT EASY $6.50 had been knocking on the door in stronger races and took this out easily after missing the start badly. The next two home, WORX $4.60 -$11 and the $2.20 favourite CABLE EXPRESS, also settled back in the field. FIELD AGENT led at a solid clip which played into their hands. Not That Easy was behind a wall turning but the splits opened, and he powered home down the middle to win easily from Worx, who came through the field further in, and Cable Express who caught the eye late. A dominant win and an excellent piece of riding by Van Der Hoven.
Race 8 1400m Cl2
The Van Der Hoven-Coyle linkage went back-to-back with IMPRESSIERO $7.50 winning, although a lot less decisively than the stablemate. KIMONO $10 made second, beaten 1L, with the two best bet gallopers ATOMIC FORTY SEVEN $3.60 and DECISIVE LASS $3.70, next home 1.5L and 1.8L from the winner. Kimono led the small field but none of the runners were too far away except LEGAL CHALLENGE $7 who was effectively put out of business with a bad start. Impressiero hit the front at the 300m, but Kimono was fighting before capitulating at the 100m. SYCAMORE $4 looked to have his chance but lacked a finishing dash. A tidy win.
Race 9 1000m Bm 60
The day’s upset came in the last leg of the quaddie with the local STARLIV $26 recording a strong 1.6L win. The favourite BENTLEY BROOK $4.60 just held out TITAN STAR $8.50 for second, with SAIKO $8.50 and VADERZAN $4.80 next home, 2L from the winner. It was keen early with Starliv on the rail sharing the lead with sharing the lead. She held a clear margin down the stretch and, try as they might, they couldn’t make up the ground. Solid efforts the next four home. A complete form turnaround from the winner. ZIPPY ZOO $5 was slow away.