Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Review - 15 September 2023

Race 1 (1200m) OPEN 3

CHOP THE ICE $3.90 led the small field with no pressure. Turned clear and never looked like being beaten. INSANE VOLT $2.70 trailed but lacked a knockout punch beaten 2L fair and square. DESTRUCTIVE DIVA $2.15F was outsprinted early in the straight but put the big one in late beaten 2,6L. Next time over 1400m looks her go. The winner can progress from this in the right company. 

Race 2 (2000m) BM 65

The muddling tempo and that didn’t suite the 3.60F WHETU who was left flat-footed passing the 600m beaten 4.5L. RADIOHEAD firmed into $3.90 and was much too good delivering by almost 3L off a 6-week freshen. In was a good training effort.  He settled at the back with the second-placed POKER DICE $4.20 before the latter (who had pulled hard due to the muddling tempo) made a sharp forward move mid-race. Poker Dice established a clear lead from the 1000m and was 2L clear on turning. Radiohead improved his position after the 600m and was the widest on turning. He got the better of Poker Dice at the 100m and powered away. MR LUKE $6.50 took time to get going and battled away in third beaten 4L. BRINGBACKTHE BEARS $5 was passed fit to start after getting both legs over the front gates after being loaded into the barriers and prepared to forgive his run. A messy race but all honours with the winner.   

Race 3 (1000m) MDN 

The Dryden trained EVERIDO $5 debuted off a soft trial and won by 1.57L from the $101 outsider HEDWIG and TAYTAY BAY $41, 1L further away in third. Everido found the lead after 200m and was 1L clear has they headed for the judge.  A number chased hard but were no match. Hedwig had a wall in front of the turn, but the gaps opened, and he was still closing on the line. A big form turnaround. Taytay Bay raced rearward on debut and caught the eye late. He has a future. The $2.15F MISSILE MAIDEN stalked the lead on the rial. She was gone at the 200m and on debut didn’t live up to her trial effort. The fourth placed JAZZ ALL KNIGHT $14 was also on debut and raced greenly throughout. Everido looks a nice type in the making. 

Race 4 (1600m) CL1 SW

A blanket finish with the Neasham-trained pair MORITZ GIRL $3.10 and VADAMOS QUEEN $5 just nudging out the $2.30F MISS GHENT. The next two home were beaten less than 2L. There were a bunch wanting the lead and as they settled Vadamos Queen sat behind the leading pair with Miss Ghent not far away but caught three wide after being steadied out of the rush for the lead. Moritz Girl had a comfortable run midfield. The first three home had the race between then at the 100m, with Moritz Girl down the middle a touch too good. Miss Ghent had nothing go her way and was gallant in defeat. Nice efforts from HARRICAN CONI #31 and BOOSHANG $101 defying their long odds.  

Race 5 (1300m) MDN SW 

Favourite punters were on the mark with MISSILE SEEKER $2.2F beaten CANDLELIT $3.20 by a nose in a notable finish. The next three home were beaten around 2.5L headed by VADERZAN $11. Candlelit went straight to the front, while Missile Seeker was slow off and settled behind midfield. The former held a 3.5L lead as they headed for the judge with a bunch behind already struggling. Missile Seeker worked to the middle of the track and had lengths to make up. The chase looked impossible at the 200m, but she sprouted wings to win right on the line in a deceptive finish. Candlelit gave everything. Vanderzan raced wide throughout so there was some merit in his placed effort. Missile Seeker is well-named and will be winning more races. 

 Race 6 (1300m) CL2

OFFSPRING $2.35F delivered heavily-bet but there was only a nostril in it form BELLEISTIC KIDS $17 and ALLGEMEINE $3.70. They were 2L clear of the rest. There were six in a line at the 200m with VAAROOM $7 briefly looking likely on the outside. OFFSPRING and was held up at the turn before finding a nice run through to just get up in a ding-dong go. A nice effort from Belleistic Kid which was taken wider rounding the home turn. Allgemeine was held up rounding the turn and until passing the 300m and shot up the rial to just be denied. 

Race 7 (1400m) OPEN – FEDERAL 

MANDERBOSS started a $3.20 favourite and finished third beaten 1.33L. The Dryden-trained TROOPER KNUCKLE $6.50 recorded an overdue win finishing a neck ahead of NIECES AND NEPHEWS $19. It was a relatively cleanly run race. OPTIMO $16 bombed the start and Manderboss was held up for some distance after the 600m. Nieces and Nephews found the lead and EASY ROSIE sitting on his flank. Trooper Knuckle rail behind the leader. Manderboss sat behind midfield and was one of the widest on the turn. There were a few chances approaching the 200m. Trooper Knuckle had the sweet run and that was the difference. Manderboss was going his best work late and may have been a touch unlucky. Easy Rosie looked to have every chance but lacked finishing dash.

Race 8 (1000m) BM60

BEST INTENT $2.50 finished the day off well for favourite punters with an effortless win. There wasn’t much between the next three hope beaten more than 3L and headed by the drifter ZELAGO $6.50. fourth placed CHAMPAGNE AND LACE $3.80 found the lead but couldn’t cross to the rail. Best Intent was close-up but caught three-wide. Best Intent hit the front at the 200m and first-up the promising mare raced away for the easiest of wins. Zelago settled back on the rial and finished it off okay. The eye catcher was the third-placed ON SETTLING DOWN $81 who was well back turning the widest and put in the long strides late in the piece.