Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Review — 8 March 2021

The track was downgraded from a Good 4 to a Slow 5 after race 1. It was further downgraded to a Soft 6 after Race 5. Following Race 2 the rail was moved out a further 3m from the 650m to the 280m where a cutaway applied entering the straight.

 

Despite various interruptions the racing was keen with the highlight Equation’s win in the strong Guineas. Mr Marathon Man delivered an upset in the Cup beating home the three best-supported runners. Jason Collett rode a double. Four of the races were taken out by local stables.

 

Iron Jack $150,000 Canberra Guineas (1400m)

 

The market got it pretty right with the firm favourite Equation ($1.90) getting home from High Supremacy ($8.50) and Kermanding ($6.50) in a close finish.

 

The disappointment was the local Molly Nails ($6) who was beaten 6.5L. The rider (McDougall) felt the filly may not have been suited by the more genuine tempo of the race today and ran home only fairly. Trainer Matt Dale agreed and noted that the race was a significant rise in grade for the filly. No abnormalities were found.

 

 

The winner raced midfield one-off the rail and the two placegetters raced side-by side behind him. Equation improved to be widest on turning 5L off the leader Black Duke ($26). He got to the leader at the 100m and stayed solid holding off determined challenges from High Supremacy on his inside and Kermanding, who’d been last on turning and flew down the outside. Equation posted the highest rating for a Canberra Guineas in at least 15 years and the Press Statement colt is sure to go on. High Supremacy was noticeably inconvenienced by Black Duke passing the 150m losing momentum. A big effort from Kermanding and the Team Snowden galloper will now go on to the Queensland Derby. 

 

TAB Canberra Cup 2000m

 

The veteran Mr Marathon Man ($17) caused the upset getting home by a lip from Dadoozdart (6.50) with Aussie Nugget ($6) and the favourite Entente (3F) close at hand.

 

Hush Writer led at the first turn and He’s A Given who was five-wide pushed forward and clearly took over before the 1400m and was steadied. The Waterhouse-Bott pair Entente and Hush Writer ($8.5) trailed as a pair. Dadoozdart sat beyond midfield and Mr Marathon Man was well back and Aussie Nugget tailed. They were spread across the track on turning. Entente briefly took over but without a kick but Dadoozdart was coming out wider and despite running in under pressure looked to have enough momentum to be winning before Mr Marathon Man burst through the centre to get the prize by a half head. It was a top notch ride by Robbie Dolan finding the gaps. The eye catcher was Aussie Nugget who stormed home from the back, beaten 1.7L. Stay with him. A good finish as well from the local Balansa ($61) and there’s a win in store from him in easier company. He was cantankerous at the barriers delaying the start considerably. 

 

Support Races

 

Race 1 (1000m) BM65

 

The local Washington Towers ($2.10) was a well-supported favourite and proved much too good for the second-elect Dalacour ($4.60) who was held up rounding the home turn and could not obtain clear running until after the 200m. Royal Monarch ($21) and a close-up third, also found trouble at the same point and prior had dipped on a couple of occasions from the 600m until straightening.

 

Nobody’s Puppet sat outside the leader and took over on straightening but McDougall has given Washington Towers the perfect sit and he bided his time before coming off heels and emerged at the 200m and it was never in doubt from there. 200m. Good efforts in the circumstances by the other pair, but all honours with the favourite and there’s more wins in store for him.

 

Race 2 (1600m) BM75

 

The race may have been influenced by a worn section of the track between the 600m and 400m. This section of the track was deemed unsuitable for racing and the rail was later moved out an additional 3m where a cutaway would apply.

 

Exotic Deel raced a $3.40) favourite but dropped away, beaten 2.66L and last home.

 

Another local Propose To Me ($4.80 saluted winning 1L from Silent Agenda ($4.60) with a gap back to Nieces And Nephews ($11) in third. The latter pair hustled for the lead early before Silent Agenda took over and lead a moderate gallop and Exotic Deal got into trail one-out. The leading pair came to the middle of the track on straightening but were put away by Propose To Me who had sat last and didn’t go around a horse.  His burst along the rail proved decisive. Silent Agenda fought hard and was clearly the best of the rest. Doubt the soft track conditions suited all and Rockarosa ($3.7) and Exotic Deel are worth another chance. An intelligent ride by Collett and Propose To Me has now won 4/7 for the Matt Dale yard.  

 

Race 3 (1400m) MDN

 

The Nick Olive-trained The Deepest Secret ($10) built on the two close-up efforts at Wagga to record a decent win. The favourite Phearson ($2.20) could only make third behind Jack The Brumby ($7) making it a stable quinella.

 

The disappointment was Zouflu ($3.50) who was well-beaten. The rider (King) believed the filly did not run out the 1400m and the stable representative concurred. She will now be sent for a spell.

 

The winner held the rail but elected to take a trial handing up to Zouflu passing the 1000m and she in turn was passed by Jack The Brumby at the 800m. The Deepest Secret was shuffled back to near last with Pearson on his outside. Jack was on his game and took over on straightening but they were coming and in particular The Deepest Secret who used the cutaway and Phearson out in the middle. The Deepest Secret did best on the line. Doubt there’s much between the top four.  

 

Race 4 (1200m) CL2

 

Another local saluted with Hezredhot ($8.50) delivering a deserved win from the well-bet Shenandoah ($4) and Embeller ($7). The (just) favourite Hasty Duchess ($3.70) was beaten 1.6L in fourth after a slow start. The disappointment was Blazing Mac ($3.70) who was tailed off. The rider believed he didn’t handle the soft, rain affected and shifting track conditions after travelling well to the home turn.  No abnormalities were found post-race and she will have to trial satisfactorily before racing again.

 

After a busy tussle Hezredhot came away to lead clearly with the two placegetters beautifully positioned behind the speed. Hasty Duchess was further back and wide. That’s the way they finished with the winner never really threatened. Good efforts the others, especially Hasty Duchess who still hit the line after the disadvantageous run.  

 

Race 5 (1000m) MDN

 

Formeinaway ($2) ran a clear favourite off a Newcastle placing and just fell in over the local Grand Lusitano ($7) with a gap to She’s Super ($41) and a space to Miss McGregor ($5.50). It was a change of tactics from the runner-up who was ridden more conservatively from the wide gate, settling worse than mid-field.  A number were slow to begin (Mr Plucka the most obvious) or raced wide throughout.

 

A bunch of them went like the light brigade early with Formeinaway emerging the leader at the 550m leading before the home turn against the rail. She held a clear advantage at the 200m and just held off Grand Lusitano who came around them and flew home. She’s Super sat behind the speed on the rail throughout and fought on in third. A commendable effort from Miss McGregor who settled a clear last and finished it off okay using the cutaway. All honours with the first two home. The winner had every excuse to give it away and hung tough.

 

Race 8 (1400m) CL1

 

The two best supported runners made the quinella in the right order. But it was Impressive Lass ($3) who really stole the limelight bolting in by nearly 3L from Formadec ($3.50) and Manila Thriller ($7.50) made third after a slow off and having to shift out near the 350m to avoid heels.

 

The disappointment was Sisseck ($4.40). He was slow off and ran into some difficulties after. The rider was questioned about some decision making but no action was taken by stewards in the wash up.    

 

Recruiting To Win ($101) was all fired up and established a clear lead with Impressive Lass settling a clear fourth racing on her own. The placegetters were well back. The winner positioned beautifully on turning in the middle of the track and always looked like saluting. Formadec briefly looked a threat but had no answers holding third over the fast finishing Manila Thriller. Impressive Lass was given a nice ride but had a bit on them in the conditions easily justifying favouritism.