Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 13 November 2022

It was a Soft 5 on opening but the track was downgraded to a Soft 6 from Race 6. It was a tough surface for many. The Dryden yard took training honours winning the final two races. Robbie Dolan and Alysha Collett both rode doubles. 

Race 1 (3400m) Bm85

A small field over the marathon trip but it was interesting. MONREAL $2.70 led by a space and stablemate TRUE MARVEL $2.30F raced at the rear by an equal amount, with the other pair in-between. They’d closed on turning with BASTIDA $3.30 proving far superior in the run home. Earlier in the year he raced in the St Leger at Flemington over 2800m and has now qualified for the rich Jericho Cup over 4600m. Stewards inquired into Montreal’s run. The jockey said he was instructed to run along, but his mount he didn’t see it out. 

Race 2 (1400m) Mdn

The hot favourite LENSMAN $1.65 settled back and had no luck in the straight placing third 2.7L from the winner. The race delivered one of the biggest upsets recorded at Canberra for a long while, with Lensman’s stablemate SNAP BOOK winning easily at $81. He’d done nothing on debut and drifted on race day from an opening price of $31. He was back and the widest on turning wide and stormed down the middle winning as he liked. GOOD KITTY $18 also surprised finishing second after enjoying the run of the race. She’s bravely fought off the others before the winner swooped. Lensman in third will keep for another day. Fourth placed FINAL COMMENT $5.50 looked poised to win as they straightened for home but lacked a killer punch.

Race 3 (1200m) Mdn SW

The two best-backed made the quinella with the Neasham-trained SUNSHINE IN PARIS $5-$4 proving 2L too good on debut from the $1.90 favourite WINSTON HILLS. The third-placed BOKEEM $14 was 6L further back in third. The winner sat back and started a forward move at the 700m and turned widest. The filly is a lovely mover, and it was all over when she zoomed past Winston Hills at the 200m. The others didn’t get close. She will go on.

Race 4 (2000m) Cl1 SW

The market gave four of them a chance and two of those formed the quinella. Sydney-trained PREFER TO SMILE delivered by 2L bet into $3.60, with the favourite EL BRAVO $3.20 having to be content with a comfortable second. The winner was still last at the 600 behind a moderate tempo but picked up after to be widest on turning and full of running. Despite being a little wayward near the 100m she put them away easily. Fourth-placed UPTOWN BOY $4.60 was held up rounding the home turn and until passing the 250m beaten 3.49L but finishing it off well. PUT TO SHAME $5 reared on jumping and raced three-wide throughout beaten 6L. Prefer To Smile will be winning again based on this effort.

Race 5 (1000m) Bm65

DELIGHTFUL DREAM raced a $3.50 favourite and was just beaten in third by SMUGGLERS RUN $5 resuming for the local barn. DRAGONS BREATH $17 spit the pair beaten a half-length. It was keen early with Delightful Dream caught 4-wide on the speed after an awkward start. Smuggler’s Run knuckled on jumping but railed-up and raced keenly in the middle stages. He came through the middle as they headed for home to get the better of Delightful Dream passing the 200m. Dragon’s Dream race forward 3-wide throughout and finished well to get second by a whisker. It was a strong effort considering, as was that of Delightful Dream who would have likely won if things had gone his way. No knock the winner first-up.  Invasive was done   

Race 6 (1400m) Cl1

The drought for favourite punter continued with I'M NOT LEAVING $8 taking it out, building on the Maiden win. He was subsequently found to have bled. TAVIFERN $3.10 was the best- bet but was beaten 7L. He failed to respond to riding and no post-race abnormalities were found. The winner led and set a strong tempo with INVASION $3.80 leading the others, with HOW DO YOU SLEEP $6.50. behind him.  Invasive was done chasing at the 300m and was picked up by How Do You Sleep inside the 100m. It was a bold front-running effort by I’m Not Leaving, but he will be away from racing for three-months at least.

Race 7 (1600m) Bm70-Federal

The two Dryden-trained gallopers SKY DIAMONDS $3.10 and SWEET HONESTY $3.50 were the best-bet with the former winning by 1.3L with STREET CRED $8 relegating Sweet Honesty into third. The winner raced three-wide throughout. Street Cred found a comfortable lead, but a number made there moves to be handy on the turn. Street Cred kicked but was nabbed at the 50m by Sky Diamonds. Sweet Honesty got a good run through but shifted in after the 100m contacting INVINCIBLE DASH $7 who was beaten a whisker into fourth. The market got it right with the winner and it was an impressive effort. Street Cred was tough from the front.

Race 8 (1300m) Bm60

The winner EMMA’s GIFT $4.20 had been freshened and was always firm in the market. The disappointment was the stablemate and favourite VAAROOM $2.50 who was caught wide early and had to be used up to find a more forward position closer to the rail. GEMINIDS $2.90 was well-backed, but the rider said he did not respond to riding. The trainer believed the mare was not suited to the early tempo in the race.  There was plenty of competition for the lead with three in a line at the 1000m. Vaaroom found it but there would be nothing left in the tank for the business end. Geminis sat comfortably on him after being 4-wide and that effort also told. The winner improved 3-wide before the turn and looked to be travelling. Vaaroom gave a good kick but had no answer when Emma’s Gift swooped past. CHAIRMAN’S LIST had sat midfield and finished it off well beaten 2L.  BLAZING SUNRISE $15 finished it off okay making third, 3.7L from the winner. Things worked out nicely for Emma’s Gift.