Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 8 December 2023

The rail was out 8m for Entire. The track was rated a Good 4 and a Good 3 after Race 5. on race eve. Good racing with the track playing better away from the rail. Nick Olive took the training honours with a double. Jockey honours were shared.  

Race 1, 1200m Mdn

MISS STALWART $2.70 and ZAZEL $1.80F were backed to the exclusion of the others, and it was the former who prevailed by 1.2L. Zazel sat outside the leader and Miss Stalwart was rearward in the small field and at times was a little keen. Zazel was in front at the 200m but was immediately under pressure from Miss Stalwart who’d improved to be in range on the turn. The mare wanted to run in but after a brief tussle came away, and it was comfortable on the line. SINGLE BEAT $11 raced back in the field and finished on strongly beaten less than 2L. They spaced the others. Miss Stalwart won fair and square and can progress.  

Race 2, 1300m Bm 60

The race was decimated by scratchings and only four went around. DORAMI $2.30 and APPETITE FOR RISK $2F were clearly the best bet, but the former proved to be in a class of his own winning by almost 5L. The other two were further spaced. The above pair had a speed dual early with Dorami prevailing. The other two couldn’t keep up. They turned together but Dorami held a margin at the 200m and that point Appetite For Risk had given his all. It was a deserved win by the Gardner-trained Dorami following the close-up placing here prior in better grade. Another confident ride by Freeman, coming off a double at the last meeting here.    

Race 3, 1000m Mdn SW

Seven-runners faced the starter and three Sydney-trained gallopers fought out a tight finish. CRIMSON SKY $5 took the race out by 0.6L from MEDIA FRENZY $10 with a small margin to RESURRECTED $2.10F in third. The others were well beaten. Crimson Sky lead the chase behind a tearaway leader. Resurrected sat off them on the rail with Media Frenzy right behind.  The winner hit the front at the 250m and held off Media Frenzy who finished strongly along the inside. Resurrected looked like a hope inside the hundred but ran out at a crucial stage.  He came hard again when straightened. The winner had switched barns to Waterhouse Bott and came off a long break. All three will take improvement. 

Race 4, 2000m CL1 

The race looked competitive on paper but from market opening ACCEBER $1.90F was the one they came for and he managed the win by a nose from REET PETITE $6 and AUSTRALIAN HARBOUR $5.50, who was beaten 1L. As expect Australian Harbour found the lead and was a little keen in the early and mid-stages. Acceber sat just behind midfield one-off the rail and Reet Petite lobbed along further back. Australian Harbour was 4L clear as they turned for home, but Acceber had made good ground and was there to challenge at the 225m with Reet Petite on his outside and ALPINE KANDY $5 presenting on his inner. The latter went for a run between Australian Harbour and Acceber and was chopped out badly, costing her any chance. Nick Heywood the rider of Acceber was suspended as a result of the incident.  Acceber just found an edge in the shadows of the post.  FIREALARM $61 started at big odds but was only beaten 1.5L and was noticeably picking up at the business end. Gave the impression the longer the better for him. It did prove more open than the betting suggested. Alpine Kandy will keep. 

Race 5, 1200m CL1

BOLD TRIUMPH $2.80F and ONEFORIAN $2.0 fought out favouritism, but TAVOLO $5.50 was also given a show and it was she who prevailed by a nose from Bold Triumph with Oneforian 2.5L from the winner in third. Bold Triumph found the lead and steadied passing the 600m. Oneforian sat on the leader’s back and Tavolo was midfield with a wall in front.  Bold Triumph held a slim lead at the 200m, but the clear threat was Tavolo who’d been held up rounding the home turn. They fought it out all the way to the line. For some distance near the 200m Oneforian had some difficulty attempting a narrow run between the above pair but lacked the finishing dash required.  ULTRAGIRL $14 bombed the start and didn’t get into it after. 

Race 6, 1200m Open - Federal 

MISS OSTEND $2.40F jumped a clear favourite but failed to place. The Dryden-trained FANGELLA $7 delivered an overdue win winning by 1L from MITTATA $11 with DEEP SNOW $14 and TO THE NINES $7, close-up next. SMUGGLER’S BAY set a good clip and they were bunched some four wide. Fangela raced wide midfield and was the widest on turning. He was the one you wanted to be on at the 150m and held a margin to the line. Mittata finished it off okay closer to the inside, but the eye catcher was Deep Snow who powered home after being last turning for home.  Fourth-placed TO THE NINES $7 had no luck posted three-wide throughout. In a messy race MISS OSTEND looked to have for chance comparatively. 

Race 7, 1600m BM 65

FINAL COMMENT $3.10EF posted Nick Olive’s second winner for the day comfortably holding off NO QUESTION $13 by 1.6L with GEOSTORM next 2.2L from the winner. RELIABLE DUDE $3.1 EF was slow to begin and was well-beaten. Final Comment eased to sit behind the on-pace quartet that was headed by Geostorm. No Queston settled in the tailing pair off the rail. Final Comment improved before the turn and quickly asserted himself as they headed for home. He never looked like being beaten, but No Question’s finish took the eye. He had to be checked passing the 1400m and was well back and the widest turning for home.  Geostorm battled on in third.  Reliable Dude looked to have every chance. The right race for Final Comment and he didn’t let supporters down. No Question was coming off a 4-week let-up and is close to a win. 

Race 8, 1000m BM 50 

It was a tricky race to end the program and there was little separating the first five home. HEZ GOLDEN got the nod ahead of EPAULLO CREED $9 with HEAVENLY PROPHET $5 and HOLD $2.40F less than 1L from the winner next. The latter missed the kick and settled in the last pair on the rail. A roughie sped along with EPAULLO CREED parked on his flank, after crossing over from wide out. Heavenly Prophet settled midfield, with Hez Golden ahead of her. Hez Golden and Epaullo Creed paired off as they headed for home with the former just getting the upper hand. Heavenly Prophet hit the line well further out, and Hold railed all-the-way and it was a good effort to finish 0.9L from the winner. Epaullo Creed was coming off an 18-week break and had trialled well. He looks close to a win.