Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 6 September 2024

After the break during the winter, the course proper played extra well. The rail was in the True and it was rated a Good 4. Jean Van Overmeire rode a double and training honours were evenly shared.  

Race 1 1600m Bm 70

The two best bet, LOUIE'S LEGACY $3.70, and STAR BUYER $2.90F, were narrowly knocked off in that order by the Dryden-trained OFFSPRING $10 who was a drifter. They finished clear of the rest. Star Buyer sat outside the leader on a slow pace. Louis Legacy was close-up but three-four wide and Offspring positioned rearward racing well within herself. Star Buyer took over at the 350m, but Louie’s Legacy kept coming and got the nose in front before being swamped in the shadows of the post by Offspring, coming down the middle. She was last on the turn and simply outstayed them. She wasn’t wanted on the poly first-up (SP $61) beaten 7L but responded back on the turf over the longer distance. A tough effort by Louie’s Legacy. 

Race 2 1000m Bm 50 

It was an Open race despite CHAMPAGNE IN LACE $2.70 being backed into clear favouritism. She finished eighth, beaten 2.8L. DON’T THINKABOUTIT $10 prevailed by 0.45L from PAPAVER MINER $18 with SKAIFEE $4.40 a further half-length away in third. DOLLYWOOD missed the start by 6L putting him out of business. They burnt along early. Skaifee sat outside the leader IRISH BRIDE $16 with Papaver Miner out wider. Champagne In Lace couldn’t cross the field to lead and before the 800m was eased out to settle second-last. Don’t Thinkaboutit was off the rail but positioned right behind the speed. There were plenty of chances at the 200m and at the 100m Skaifee found the front but couldn’t fend off Papaver Miner and the winner who finished too saft down the middle. Less than 3L separated all runners. A big effort from Dollywood and he’s worth another chance. 

Race 3 1000m Mdn

Another minor upset with the local debutant XCEPTIONAL FELLA $10 just getting the verdict over the hit favourite TEYLU $1.80, with SERIAL OFFENDER $7 and SEEKING TO WIN $12 the next pair home beaten 1.2L and 1.7L, respectively. Seeking To Win quickly found the front to win and Teylu settled out on his flank. Behind, Xceptional Fella sat four deep and Serial Offender was even wider further back. Seeking To Win and Teylu were fighting it out at the 200m, but Xceptional Fella had them in range further out and came away on the line. Serial Offender also hit the line boldly to nab third. Exceptional Fella is a nice galloper in the making. The next three home went well and are all open to improvement. 

 Race 4 2000m CL1 SW

Our best of the day CEREMONIOUS $1.85F delivered the first win of the day for favourite punters and did it in emphatic style beating TAUMATA $4.6 by 4L with a further 3.3L back to CRAFT $8 in third. The rest were also beaten easily. Ceremonious sat on the leaders and the field were strung out. Taumata sat forward of midfield and Craft was further back, as was DIAMOND DISCOVERY $4.60. The latter began a sharp forward move at the 800m and was threateningly close to Ceremonious on the turn. At the 250 the winner has put a space on them, and they never looked like catching him.  An easy kill for the Waller-trained galloper who brough strong city and provincial form. Taumata kept trying and Craft finished on best of the rest. 

Race 5 1200m CL1  

The three best supported runners ran top 3, with NARRATIVE $4 defeating SATIN $4.80 by a half-length with the local DUPLI KATE 3.80F, some 3L from the winner in third. Satin Shimmer found and easily lead with JUST WAI $26 working to cross over and sit outside her. Narrative found a nice spot fourth on the rail. Dupli Kate settled down last a mile from the speed. After the 800m Just Wai went on to lead clearly. He was gobbled up shortly after straightening by Satin Shimmer, who in turn couldn’t fight off Narrative who’d pushed up on her inside. A big finishing effort by the favourite Dupli Kate who claimed third. She was last and widest on the turn and a win is close in the right company. Think the form will hold up generally. 

Race 6 1300m Bm 58

The Nick Olive-trained MISS STALWART $8 drifted in the betting but got the verdict by a short head over the favourite HOT BANDIT $3, with the next best-bet STEELY GIRL $6.50 1.2L from the winner in third. The fourth-placed LEVIS CRIMINALIBUS $15 came out of the pack to lead NOBLE ATTACK $7.50. Steely Girl railed behind in a good spot. HOT BANDIT was further back and awkwardly place on the turn. Ditto Miss Stalwart. There were five across the track at the 200m.  Hot Bandit looked the winner after that point, but Miss Stalwart had finally found a way clear and finished powerfully to finish over the top. She was third-up and it was a nice return to form. Hot Bandit lost nothing in defeat.

Race 7 1400m Open – Federal. 

The Federal looked wide-open is wide open, but BELLEISTIC KIDS $4.40 was bet into favouritism, and defeated LAUREL HILL $5 by 0.7L, with BEST INTENT $7.50 next home, 1.3L from the winner. FANGELA $8.50 and STONE COAT $17 paired off in fort early with Best Intent three wide on their hammer. Belleistic Kids railed behind them in a sweet spot. Laurel Hill settled near last three deep with cover. Fangela was a clear leader has they headed for home. Belleistic Kids had been shuffled back but was emerging on the inside, and despite the wide run, Best Intent was finishing well down the middle.  The Kid found the lead at the 100m and held a margin on Laurel Hill who powered home on the outside, and there was a stack of merit in her effort. Ditto with Best Intent who got no favours. Fangela folded up at the 200m. A much-improved effort by Charlemagne $18 who ran a good race finishing fourth.    

Race 8 1400m Mdn SW

LONGINUS $4F looked the one to beat in the last and comfortably beat the Neasham-Archibald-trained KAFFIR LILY $21, with another Sydney-trained galloper, MY PHAR LADY $5, 2.6L from the winner in third. There was plenty of action early with Longinus finding the front at the 1100m with ICEMAN $7 on her flank. RISSHUU $6 was forward but wide. MY PHAR LADY was fifth in running on the rail. Kaffir Lily was further back and the widest on turning.  They tried to test Longinus before the 200m, but she found 1L at that point and found the fast-finishing stablemate at bay. BLACK BUGATTI caught the eye late in fourth and keep him in mind going forward. The winner was too good, and it was a terrific debut from the Kermadec filly Kaffir Lily.