Racing & Sports Canberra Racing Review — Sunday 15 November 2020
The track was assessed a Good 4 and this was upgraded to a Good 3 after the first race. The winners came from wider out the last few but the track raced well giving every horse its chance. Good competitive racing after a couple of small fields to kick things off. The Dryden barn again took training honours with two winners — the impressive Wandonna and the Federal winner Balonne who beat the favoured stablemate. The jockey honours were shared.
Race 1 (1000m) 2yo Open
All 2yo debutants and only five went around. MISS OSTEND took it out in a blanket finish with only a half length between the top three finishers. She had looked good in a Canberra trial and was a firmer starting at $5.50 with Cahill a key booking. She sat handy behind the leading pair IMPACT STAR $11 and I LIKE BIG PUTTS $3:80 and after being a bit wayward turning for home knuckled down in great fashion to win in the shadows of the post from the aforementioned pair. The $1.75 favourite BALLO gave nothing in the straight and no abnormalities were found. NEVER ASTERN $21 missed the jump by plenty and didn’t get into it. Expect the form to hold up and the winner will certainly go over longer.
Race 2 (3400m) BM 85
A disappointing field and four raced over the 3400m Frenzied can run them along over the 3400m with FRENZIED $1.65F and DA DEPUTY $2.50 the only two given a chance by the market and they finished in that order with the winner much too good. He led for the Sydney yard and Da Deputy raced on his flank and was a bit keen in the early and middle stages and was off the bit prior to turning when the leader applied the pressure. Frenzied maintained a solid gallop to win easily from Da Deputy who ground away but couldn’t quicken and THURMANATOR $14 sticking on okay beaten 4.2L. Easy work for the winner.
Race 3 (1400m) CL1
This was a competitive race with AZOUSTIC $3.70 ending up favourite ahead of the the winner FRANCISCO PIZARO $5 and THE FIRST RING $5.50. The latter weakend right out in the straight and no abnormalities were found. Azoustic was a little slow off and over-raced in the middle stages and close to the line was taken in slightly by the winner beaten 1L in fourth.
It was busy up front and on turning it was clear the runners-on would dominate the finish. OUTAHAND $7 presented like the likely winner at the 200m putting a length on them but Azoustic and Francisco Pizaro were coming, especially the latter and he came away to win a half length. DANCE TOO HARD $18 really got motoring late to get into third ahead of Azoustic who was brave in the circumstances. The winner showed his true ability and the market suggested this might be the day. Good runs from the other two placegetters and they will benefit from the run.
Race 4 (1400m) MDN
STRIXEN $16 was unsettled in the barriers and missed the start. GAMBLERS QUEST raced wide throughout. INDIGNANT $21 was tailed off and found to have pulled up with an issue.
MUCH MUCH BETTER (1) brought very strong form to resumption for a sharp Sydney-yard and won like a $1.60 favourite should. GAMBLERS QUEST $5.50 4th and JAC THE GREAT $9 2nd were the only other pair given much chance of topping the gelding. It was busy early with Indignant reaching the front but she was under pressure on turning. The winner got a sweet ride one-out-one-back and emerged ominously three-wide before they straightened. The nice striding gray came away to win easily from Jac The Great who finished it off nicely with QUEEN ZOFFANY $31 and Gamblers Quest next both boxing on okay well-beaten. Jac The Great was back and wide throughout and there was plenty of merit in his run and that of Gamblers Quest.
Race 5 (2000m) CL1
The three best-bet runners made the trifecta with the favourite MICRONA $2.25 winning by 1.5L from KIPPAX $3.30 with a big space to CLEM FANDANGO $4.20 in third.
The winner had come off a big Newcastle Maiden win and crossed over and led the field as expected. He set a steady tempo and they basically ran in pairs well strung out. Clem Fandango lobbed along at the back. Kippax enjoyed a soft run one-out-one-back. The bold striding winner had them under pressure on turning and came away to win comfortably from Kippax with Clem Fandango third beaten nearly 6L. He had won comfortably here prior at the mile but got too far back and was accordingly disappointing. Kippax made good improvement off the Scone placing but the winner was dominant again and will win more races.
Race 6 (1600m) BM70 — Federal
SCARLEO ran the $3.8 favourite but it was the Keith Dryden-trained stablemate BALONNE $16 caused the upset beating Scarleo by 1.2L with LOLITA GOLD $6.50 a clear third.
The winner was slow off and hung out in the middle stages. ROYAL THUNDER $6 was also slow away. MOOKAREENA $4.20 was a well-bet second favourite and was well beaten. The rider told stewards the mare was trapped wide early and to press forward to find a spot closer to the rails. The big weight and extra trip were also negatives. No abnormalities were found.
Bezos led easily and set up a good gallop. Scarleo sat midfield on the rail and Balonne sat last. Mookareena worked to a clear second at the 800m. They were lined up at the 200m with Lolita Gold coming through on the inside and Scarleo near midfield emerging as likely winners at the 100m before Balonne thundered down the outside to swamp them. Balonne hadn’t been too bad at his previous run behind Express Courier and Ford’s booking suggested the barn expected a decent run. Most had their chance and all honours with him. Good efforts the two behind him. Scarleo was up in grade and brave.
Race 7 (1200m) BM60
WANDONNA ran the $2.60 favourite and made the hat-trick winning again by a space. The second-placed MANDALONG NICKO was backed $18 into $6.50 and the other runner well-in-the-market was MR KYLIN $5. The former raced three wide throughout.
WICKED WILLY $11 sped to a big lead with ACTION SHALE $10 and Mr Kylin doing the chasing. Mandalong Nicko camped in fourth. Wandonna was well back on turning but was coming like a train down the centre and took over after the 100m to run away. Mandalong Nicko tried hard in second from FUSCA $18 who only gave it away late on the rail after looking some hope. TIME OF GLORY $16 caught the eye late in a run for the new yard worth noting. The second and third placed were both first up and will come on. Wandonna goes wet and dry and keeps getting better and it will be interesting to see what’s next for the Dryden-trained mare.
Race 8 (1200m) MDN SW
With debutants engaged this was a tough form assignment and the market was always going to be instructive. ISLAND BOY was backed into a $3.40 favourite and got up by a lip from the Sydney-trained INVINCIBLE JET who drifted from $3.7 - $5.0. He raced keen in the middle stages. LOVING CILLA $41 was close-up in third capping a good day for the local Joe Ible yard. She was slow off and wide rounding the home turn. The well-bet WIKID TED $4.4 raced wide throughout. Island Bay Boy settled midfield three-wide with cover.
It was a solid tempo up from with Invincible Jet leading as most expected. She turned in front tending to lay out and was clear at the 200 before the winner emerged with giant strides to just get up at the post. Loving Cilla also impressed hitting the line hard in third. DYNAMIC IMPACT $9 had no luck at all in the straight and should have finished a lot closer. The first four home are all worth following. The winner brought three strong Canberra trials to the debut and impressed.