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Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Review – Friday 17 September 2021

With Covid movement restrictions Canberra raced at Queanbeyan on a Good 4 surface after Race 1.  It raced fairly. Nick Heywood rode a double. Training honours were equally shared.

 

Race 1 (1200m) Mdn

In the preview we suggested the betting would be instructive and so it proved with the winner ARAMIS EN AVANT who was backed into a $3.50 favourite.  He got a sweet run third on the inside. He presented along the rail and held a half-length margin on the line over the dogged BIG BAZ $9.  The local worked hard to lead - in a notified change of tactics. He set a steady tempo and really pinned the ears back in the straight. It was a tough effort. BORISLAV $16 was beaten 1.1L in third and caught the eye on debut. Settled back on the rail and got the run through and was strong at the line. As was AFTERSHOCK $4.60 in a promising initial run for the Joseph-Jones barn. She was a bit easy in the betting. Camp David missed the start badly.

Race 2 (1000m) Mdn

A few proved difficult to load and Papaver Miner was a late scratching. WHITE LIAR $6 was tuned right up for the resumption and just got there in a blanket finish. He led on the rail with JESTA DIVA $6.5 pressuring until the turn and just managed to hang on. Second placed ACCRUE $3.60F was the one the money came for.  He trailed one out behind the leading pair and was nicely positioned on turning. He kept at it and the line came a fraction too soon. A nice effort building in the first-up placing here after a switch from a Sydney barn. HAYYU $4.40 finished alongside him in a strong return for the Vella barn. He got a sweet run tucked behind the leaders. SERB ALERT $20 showed much better form third-up beaten under a length. She was urged along to settle midfield on the rail and tended to over race. She came along the rail and looks a coming winner. Jesta Diva was 3.8L from the winner in third. The debutant ZHUKOVSKY drifted to $7 and was well-beaten. No abnormalities were found post-race.   

Race 3 (2000m) Bm65

NOTHING COMPARES $2.70F looked one of the better bets on the program and proved far too good. She settled comfortably outside the leader and took the lead before the 500m. It was easy from there on. The run of the second-placed HILLTOP HOOD $9.50 was much better than the 3L beaten margin suggests. He was next to last at the first third and railed rearward until the 600m when he came out and made a sharp forward move. He was close-enough straightening for the run home gave everything. Stablemate PAHRULI $17 covered the others without looking like a winning hope. The second favourite INVINCIBLE DASH $3.70 was the one with excuses. He was slow off and settled three-wide for most of the race. Nothing Compares is in good hands and will go on.

Race 4 (1600m) CL1

MORE EXCITEMENT $5 raced third-favourite and obliged in a tight finish. There were plenty fighting for early spots. More Excitement sat comfortably forward of midfield in the rail. In the straight he managed to find a run outside the leader and kept coming to hold off the challengers. TORMENTA $9.5 had looked the winner. He had to do some work early to sit one-out behind the leading pair. He turned in the middle of the track and hit the front before the winner dashed late. POETIC POWER $4.20 started shorter than stablemate More Excitement and was beaten less than a length. She had a soft run and looked to have every chance. The rest were spaced. The favourite ROMAN CANDLE $3.60 tailed the field home but has excuses. She was slow to begin and after 100m clipped heels and blundered badly and the rider was almost dislodged. She raced wide after.  

Race 5 (1200m) Bm 75 (Federal)

It looked an open Federal and the betting reflected that. It was an Albury victory with the firming TAKISSACOD $8 just prevailing. She used the low barrier to settle on the rail behind the leading pair. She got a sweet run through and fought hard to win a head. The mare had switched barns and was resuming off a trial win. There was plenty of money for the runner-up EXAGERATE $5 who led at a good early clip from the paint. Under the urgings of the 3kg apprentice he looked the winner everywhere but the line. DELACOUR’s effort was big. Was beaten less than a half-length after settling back in the field and over racing. She had a wall in front of her on turning and ran around a bit when she saw clear air. She charged and you’d have to say unlucky. MILAMOO finished well along the rail, beaten 1.2L. Early favourite JAWWAAL $5 was a drifter and after a slow off was hard at it before the turn. PROPOSE A TOAST $7 was also a drifter and showed little.   

Race 6 (1200m) CL1

The two best-supported runners fought out a tight finish with all but one of the 10 runners finishing within 2.5L of the winner BIG STEVE $3.40. His was some effort. He’s sat three-wide throughout behind the leading pair and turned beyond the middle of the track. He powered home to just get up despite running in. The favourite SUPERTANKER $1.95 was beaten 0.3L. She led from the paint pestered, and they scooted along. She was cuddled early in the straight and Big Steve had gone by when the hoop got busier. BRING IT BELLA’S close-up effort in third was decent. She has trouble finding a run in the straight and her finishing burst impressed. FIRE SHADOW $61 looked a hope at the 100m and only faded late in fourth.    

Race 7 (1460m) Bm60

The Sydney-trained SKYRAY $2.90 was a well-supported favorite but was just pipped by MOTIME $17 in another blanket finish, with REBELLIOUS MISS $6 alongside. Motime led from the rail at a comfortable gallop. In the straight the placegetters did everything they could to get past him. It was a dogged effort first-up from a spell. There was some money for him at longer odds.  Skyray sat on the rail behind the speed. Heywood got a nice run through on the rail but the gelding just lacked a finishing punch. Ditto Rebellious Miss. She sat handy and also had every chance. The disappointment was MORE SHOTS $3.90 who sat outside the leader using the low barrier. She got her nose in front on turning and then faded away. Trainer Potter said she may not have been suited on the firmer track and reported later that the mare may have been in season. She will be refreshed.  

Race 8 (1000m) BM 60

The favourite Nephradiva was scratched at the barrier and that left the door open. DEVIATE $11 took out the race for the Goulburn trainer. She was contacted on jumping and was worked-along the rail before continuing her forward momentum three-wide. In the straight she switched to the inside and maintained a strong gallop to win by a length. It was an impressive effort. HONEYSUCKLE CHOICE $7 got a soft run midfield on the rail. She was handy enough on turning but lacked initial dash.  She really put in the work late closing the margin. The next three to finish were in a line 1.5L from the winner. Supporters of NO MORE CHICKEN $7.50 should hand strong. He settled last and then hung on turning and later had to come around heals. His finish was an eye catcher.