Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 9 August 2024

Race 1 1280m MDN

VELLA ICON $11 bounced back off two disappointing runs to win in good style. She railed behind the leading pair — the stablemates BUBBLE TEA $3.30 and SIR MAURICE $1.80F — and she chased hard and came away to win 1L in the shadows of the post. The stablemates pressured each other in front and went nose for nose down the stretch. Bubble Tea surrendered late. They were well clear of the rest. The Portelli pair played into the winner’s hands and are worth sticking with. 

Race 2 1080m MDN 

MAIKROW $1.50F looked well placed and justified his short quote. HAS HE GOT IT $7, and CHAMP DE MARS $4.80 were the only ones to be given some hope by the market and placed in that order. They were beaten 1.4L and 3.4L, respectively. Has He Got It crossed over and led with Maikrow on his flank. Champ De Mars railed just behind the pair. Maikrow found the lead at the 200m, and the nice mover came away to win comfortably. The winner was simply too good.  

Race 3 1080m BM50

Course specialist CHAMPAGNE IN LACE $.80F was backed into the short odds but was nudged out by Khaleed $9-$7 in a tight finish. The roughie ANAZONE $50 placed third beaten less than 1L. The third-best backed runner, HERMOSA ROSA $6.50 failed to place beaten 3L after leading. It was busy early with Hermosa Rosa finding the front. The favourite was caught three-wide on speed. Anazon railed behind the leader. KHALEEJ was rearward in an awkward spot but was manoeuvred to the middle of the track on the turn and found a clear passage through. Champagne In Lace found a narrow lead at the 250m but was outstayed late by Khaleej who finished stoutly. Anazone railed up and looked a hope at the 100m. KITTY KARINE $31 settled last in the run and flew home along the rail beaten 1.8L. A good effort. The favourite was given too much to do and was brave in defeat. Khaleej had been threatening on wet tracks and the win wasn’t unexpected.  

Race 4 1750m BM70

Most of these were given a chance and DEPARTING BULLET $6.50 prevailed by a half-length ahead of Cyborg $4.40F, with TIP TOP TIMING $7.50 and BURGUNDY GIRL $5.50 next home beaten 1.2L and 1.9L, respectively. Departing Bullet led them out of the straight, but LOOSE LOVE $10 shot across and took him on, and they sped clear. Cyborg and Tip Top Timing enjoyed soft runs midfield. Departing Bullet drew away again approaching the 1000m and was more than 3L clear as they straightened up for the run home. Cyborg and Tip Top Timing emerged from the pack but couldn’t run down Departing Bullet who had a clear weight advantage with Dalton’s 3kg claim. BURGUNDY GIRL $5.50 finished hard after being last and widest on the turn. It was some win by Departing Bullet, building on his narrow defeat at the prior meeting.  

Race 5 1260m BM60 

We pointed out BREAKING BAD was good enough based on his Gold Coast poly form. He improved sharply third up for the Nisbet yard, beating CONTROVERSIAL MISS $8.50 by 1L, with the next three home close, headed by ZAZEL $3.7F.  Controversial Miss led from the rail but there were a number wanting a share of the action. Breaking Ground had the soft run railing behind her. FERRARI GIRL $3.70F briefly hit the front, but she had been on-speed three-wide and was under pressure.  Controversial Miss kept going doggedly and there was a line-up out wider. Breaking Bad was boxed up behind horses but the rails split came at the 200m and he darted through to win nicely. Expect him to win again in the region.  

Race 6 1280m BM78 – TAB Federal

The winner PROPHET'S PRIDE $7 used the inside barrier as expected and the $2F favourite CHOP THE ICE settled forward but was caught three-wide. VELLA MAGIC was outside the leader and TULLA PARK $6 was in the next group, racing wide. Prophet’s Pride was clear at the 300m with Tulla Park the danger coming down the centre. The long strider closed to within a head on the line. Chop The Ice was beaten 3L in third and while he had work to do, so did Tulla Park. Prophet’s Pride rated well for the contest and after finding the lead was always going to take beating.  

Race 7 1750m CL1

Just 0.13L covered the first five home. It was a messy race. The Joseph Jones-trained roughie MADENYO $26 got the nod ahead of TAUMATA $12 with the $3 equal favourite BLIND DATE a whisker away in third. The other equal favourite CRAFT finished 10th beaten 3.8L. They weren’t going hard and there were various moves down the back from riders seeking on-speed action. Madenyo settled forward on the rail and wasn’t bustled. There were six across the track at the 300m with others searching for splits. It was Madenyo who found a margin on the inside having enjoyed a composed Krogh ride. The mare was having her third outing for the stable having switched from a leading Victorian barn. From a future viewpoint, it is a race best forgotten.