Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 1 November 2022

Race 1 (1600m) Bm65

Just four horses went around with the two best fancied making the quinella. It was just a moderate gallop to the turn, and they all straightened with a chance. The rider on the local SWEET HONESTY 2.80 elected to stay inside while the hoop on BON FRANKIE $2.90 eased at wide and couldn’t make up the ground lost, beaten 3.5L. The rider on the leader DEPARTING BULLET ($5) (K Stone) was suspended for causing interference to NICHOLAS $4.20 passing the 1400m.

Race 2 (2000m) Bm60

It was an open betting affair. CASINO TIME proved $5.50 too good enjoying a nice on-pace sit in heavy rain. On turning the leader ALPINE KING $11 stayed inside but was quickly joined and passed on his outside by Casino Time. She went back to the rail and proved much too good. DIAMOND CLASS $8 just got into second from the leader. She settled well-back and elected to present wide in the straight. She ran-on but never looked like winning.   AUTISSIER $8 was a significant drifter and struggled in the going tailed off. She was subsequently found to be lame in here off-hind leg (grade 1/5) and will be spelled. SANDASTAN $4.80 was also well-beaten and in the view of the rider he did not handle the Heavy 10 conditions. A cosy ride on Casino time delivered a strong win. 

Race 3 (1000m) Cl2

Just four went around and out original elect REDHAIR'N'FRECKLES $1.75F belted them by 7L.  They were in a line approaching the home turn and stayed inside. With the light weight the winner always looked to have them covered and won in a breeze.  BLEUE’S CHOICE $3.80 was easily best of the others but has no answers. Favourite backers never had a worry.

Race 4 (1600m) Cl1 SW

Six runners were left in after scratchings with the significant Drifter MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN $7.50 knocking off the $1.22 favourite OFFSPRING who was backed as if unbeatable. At the 800m Offspring was sitting on the leader’s flank and Mammoth Mountain joined them at that point three-wide. Offspring kicked and led on turning but the winner wouldn’t go away and clearly outstayed her inside the 100m winning by 1.7L. The leader MAGPIE CHORUS was beaten 9.5L in third. Offspring was restrained early but was beaten fair and square. The winner was three-wide all the way so all honours with him.  

Race 5 (1000m) Mdn

There were only three in the market with the firming third-elect BLUE GROTTO $4.80 proving 2.6L too good, beating CUBED $21, with the favourite INVEST IN LOVE $2.30 some 5L from the winner in third. EPAULLO CREED $2.70 was well-supported and was a half-length away holding fourth. Epaullo Creed led as expect with Blue Grotto sitting outside him. The latter quicky went to the lead on turning and was well clear passing the 200m. CUBED was slow off and settled back and made plenty of ground-up in the straight to finish well-clear of the others. A pleasing show of form for the connections. The others were plain and hard to find excuses bar the Heavy 10 surface — which found out plenty on the day. Blue Grotto is lightly raced and has a future.

Race 6 (1300m) Cl1

VAAROOM was backed into a 2.35 favourite but gave supporters a few heart palpitations getting home by a lip from KITTY KARINE $17-$14, with BATTLE ABBEY $4.40, 7.6L away in third. Three jumped fast looking for the lead with Vaaroom restrained to trail 3-wide shortly before the 800m. He joined Battle Abbey, and YOU ARE KING $3.90 on turning, and took over at the 300m.  He looked a clear winner at the 200m, but Kitty Karine was emerging down the middle and swooped to just miss. She was 4-wide at the 800m and the widest on turning and there was a heap of merit in the run. The winner didn’t get it easy and gave all to hand on. LOCKUP THE KITTENS $5-$8 didn’t handle the heavy rain effected going according to his rider. You Are King was presenting off a lengthy spell and his rider said he found the ground too testing.

Races 7 – 9

Postponed due to lack of visibility.