Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Review – Friday 3 February 2023

The rail was out 9m the Entire and was upgraded to a Soft 5 prior to race 1. From Race 4 connections had concluded that the inside was not the place to be. Some caution is required from a future form perspective. Having said that there were some nice winners with Tavs in the 2yo and Whetu in the CL1 plate impressing, as did the promising Invertational taking out the Federal.

Race 1 (1000m) Bm65

The big money came for two runners, and they fought out a tight finish. AKAKA FALLS $4.20 - $3 got the chocolates having her first outing for the Widdup stable and coming off a 33-week break. OFF TO WAR $6 went hard in front and was 3L clear on the turn. They were lining up behind at the 200m with Akaka Falls one of the widest. The leader put up the white shortly after and it was Akaka Falls who finished best holding out a determined TITAN STAR $10 - $6 flag — and he’d raced 3-wide throughout. WILKSHIRE was only beaten 1L in third and it was a good effort in better grade. He was held up rounding the home turn and in the early part of the straight. ALL FORMIDABLE $13 and the big drifter LILY ELSIE $3.6 – $7 were next home, inches away. The Victorian EL SALTO $4 was beaten 5L. His apprentice jockey believed the big weight, and the fact that the was first-up, were the principal reasons for his disappointing run. No abnormalities were found post-race. The winner won fair and square in an even line-up and has upside.

Race 2 (1400m) Mdn SW

CARING LASS $3.10 - $2.40 looked one of the better bets on the program but was made to earn it by the second-elect FIERCE LEGEND $4.60. The only other horse bet under $10 was FREE CHOICE $6 and he was well-beaten on debut. No abnormalities were found post-race. Fierce Legend jumped handy and took up the running after the 1000m with Free Choice in the trial. Caring Lass sat rearward off the rail. Caring Lass made a sharp forward move at the 600m and with a sustained run was in sight of the leader and they headed for home. The pair engaged in a ding-dong battle for supremacy with Caring Lass just prevailing. There was a gap of three lengths to LA SAGRADA $10 who finished just ahead of ALIGN THE PLANETS $10. The former was passed fit to start after a barrier incident.

Race 3 (1200m) Mdn

INCANTATA $21 has been beaten a whisker at Queanbeyan at $100 for the new yard and put plenty of meat of that form recording a strong 1L win over RAIDER EIGHTYEIGHT $2.60 - $4.20 with PROMETIO MAS $3.50 next, beaten 2L and clear of the others. BULLEYES $2.60 was best supported but finished almost 4L back in sixth. His jockey said he raced like a tired horse and needed a spell. The trainer concurred and the gelding will be sent to the paddock. MARTINIONTHESIDE $21 led a reasonable tempo but raced ungenerously with the blinkers applied. Bulleyes sat outside her and was joined by Prometio Mas, who was positioned 3-wide after the 600m. Raider Eightyeight had a perfect run behind the speed and Incantata lobbed along at the back of the main bunch. Prometio Mas looked the winner at the 200m before Eightyeight swooped, and then he was gobbled up by Incantata in the shadows of the post. The latter was a mile back at the turn and had to come across heels in the straight. He found another gear in the dash to the line. All honours with the winner and doubt he’ll be underestimated next time out. Martiniontheside will need to barrier trial to prove her tractability before racing again.

Race 4 (1200m) Bm60

It was an open contest on paper and there was only 2L separating the first six home — and 1L the first four. CHARLEMAGNE $4.40 was a marginal favourite but couldn’t hold out PIECE OF TURF $4.60, with SAIKO $5 and RUBIWISH $5 next best. Charlemagne was the only one of these four to sit off the pace with Rubiwish leading. The main hopes were fanned across the track at the 200m and it was Piece Of Turf who broke the deadlock and held a slim margin at the post. Charlemagne came determinedly down the outside to make the quinella. LOOSE LOVE $5.50 - $7 was held up rounding the home turn and passing the 300m shifted out. MITTATA $8 met some trouble at the same point. The winner has now won 3/3 this preparation for the new barn and no knock on that.

Race 5 (1000m) Open 2

The Victorian CELUI $2.50 was a firm favourite but couldn’t hold out the Litt-trained debutant TAVS $10 who brought solid city trials. There was about 1L in it on the line with another length back to CHOP THE ICE $5.50 - $7 and CARNABY $6. They were well clear of the rest. The two best backed, Celui and GUN $3.90 shared a clear lead with Gun holding the rail. Gun tended to lay out and positioned well away from the paint on the home turn and Celui was also inclined to lay out and away from Gun. Celui hit the front at the 200m, but Tavs dropped on him displaying an impressive turn of foot. The colt had settled back and was the widest of the chances on turning. He pinned his ears back and raced as straight as a gun barrel, looking like a nice galloper in the making. Chop The Ice finished it off solidly to just nab the brave Carnaby. Gun travelled keenly but no excuses could be found post-race.

Race 6 (2000m) CL1 SW

WHETU $2.30F and JIMMY MANOLO $2.40 fought out favouritism with Melanin $6 the only other runner under $12. It turned out to be a space-job with Whetu delivering by 5L from INTI $12 and Melanin. In third 6L from the winner. Jimmy Manolo was next home with the rider reporting post-race that his mount raced more prominently and pulled hard with the blinkers applied first time; refusing to settle. Jimmy Manolo led and was 4L in front at the 800m. Melanin and Whetu sat off the rail midfield. Inti settled back and got going at the 800m. Jimmy Manolo turned a clear leader positioning in the middle of the track but the swoopers were coming, with Whetu flying down the outside rail to take the race in a breeze. Inti came with him and his was a decent effort. Melanin battled away in third. Whetu was due and it was a commanding effort.

Race 7 (1400m) BM70 – Federal

INVERTATIONAL $2.10F looked the bet of the day but it was heart-stopping for supporters with a half-length separating the first three home. I AM MAMWAAZEL $5 set a solid tempo with CYBORG $14 applying some pressure. They turned in that order and initially elected to stay nearer the rail — against the pattern. STRATUM PRIDE $9.50 was coming down the middle but the eye-catching action was out in the fast lane where Invertational and Twig were thundering home. The former did enough to pip Twig, who in-turn pipped the brave Stratum Pride. Expect this to be a strong-form race generally. Invertational made the hat-trick and bigger challenges are in store. Wins are close for Twig (raced three-wide throughout), Stratum Pride and Cyborg.

Race 8 (1200m) Cl1

KWIK AZ HELL $3.20 raced favourite in an even contest but was well beaten. The filly’s rider said she didn’t handle the shifty track conditions and raced flat. She was subsequently found to be lame in her near foreleg. The race delivered the first dead-heat at Canberra in a while with the judge unable to split REGION TIME $6.50 and WHITE LIAR $19. The McConville-trained pair ELLEVES $4 and BULLY FOR YOU $4 were next home beaten 1.82L and 2.35L respectively.  White Liar pushed on to lead the off the rail and went wide looking for the better going — as did most of the remainder.  White Liar looked the winner passing the 100m, but Region Time was flying down the outside rail and this pair couldn’t be split on the line. The next two home battled hard. Fifth-placed GALACTIC WARRIOR $6 raced three-wide throughout and didn’t have the best of it at the top of the straight. He finished it off okay. A nice first-up effort from White Liar and Region time found the fast lane which advantaged.