Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 14 March 2022
They raced on a Good 4 and on-pacers were generally advantaged. Tommy Berry took riding honours with three winners. Sacramento took out the Cup courtesy of a bold front-running ride from Tim Clark. Flying Craze took out the Guineas with a terrific steer from Keagan Latham.
Race 1 (1400m) Mdn
Tommy Berry kicked off a good day booting home ONYA LIONAL $5.50 for local trainer Gratz Vella. It was busy early before Berry eased Onya Lional across to lead. There was some pressure applied before the turn, but he was more than a match for the challengers and was coming way on the line to win by 1.5L. GLOBAL ENCOUNTER $7.50 was a firmer and ran up to that support holding second clearly. He railed behind the leader and used the cutaway. He looked a hope at the 200m but lacked a killer punch. Will likely enjoy the step-up to the mile. GEMINIDS $13 was outside the winner at the 800m leader but also lacked finishing dash. The $2.45 favourite REATEROS couldn’t muster early and was eased before making a forward move at the 1000m to sit three-wide on speed. He presented in the firing line and toughed it out well just missing third, beaten 3L. He’s worth another chance. Well rated in front, Onya Lional was simply too good and can win again in the right company.
Race 2 (1000m) BM 65
The winner FANGELA $4.40 looked the one on paper but was knocked off for favouritism by ITALIAN INFORMANT $3.30 on resumption. Fangela was beautifully positioned by 3kg apprentice Molly Bourke just behind a solid speed. He was allowed to balance-up on turning before commencing a strong run down the centre to get up on the line in a tight finish. DISTILLATE had to work to get over to lead at the 800m. She clapped on the pace and held a clear lead at the 200m with BROTHERS OF ANTRIM $8.5 and the winner closing. She felt the pinch in the shadows of post and was just nudged out of second. Brothers Of Antrim couldn’t have got a better run but his effort was good all the same. The favourite was back in a bunch on jumping and was eased out of it. He was last on the rail approaching the turn and had every chance thereafter. He hit the line well all the same. The first four home can all go on.
Race 3 (1200m) CL2
The local DEVILS TRIANGLE $1.70 was the only one they wanted but she had to be content with second placing, just nudged out by ADAMAS PRINCE $9.50. They were well clear of the rest with KEEP IT DOWN $91 holding third. The winner was out well and pushed on to lead before the 800m. Devil’s Triangle was also away well and was sitting right on him at the 600m. They straightened for home clear of the others and try as she might Devil’s Triangle couldn’t get past. It was a tough effort by Adamas Prince building on the good provincial form. Devil’s Triangle was good again but not quite good enough. Keep It Down was back and the widest on turning and hers was a strong effort beaten 2.8L at long odds. There’s a win around the corner for her. resumes off that peak. MASHERATA $6.50 settled last and received a couple of bumps in the straight.
Race 4 (1000m) Mdn SW
I AM ME drifted late to $1.70 and that was good shopping as it turned out. TEMPESTAS $7 flew the gates and sped along. With the winner on her own mid-field at least 6L from the lead at the 700m and was still 5L off the lead on turning. While Tempestas set sail for home I am Me was beginning to put in the big ones down the middle. She still had lengths to make up at the 200m but flew late and went away to win by nearly 3L eased down by Berry on the line. The well-bred filly is in a star barn and is progressive. A terrific effort from the runner-up who really burnt turf. LOVERO $17 led the chase under Pike and looked some hope in the stretch before battling on well. I Am Me enjoyed the good tempo and was a class above.
Race 5 (1400m) CL1
There were three gallopers given a chance in the market with the local FOURMADEC $2.70 racing favourite and delivering — giving Tommy Berry his third win in five races. The mare was positioned back on the rial from the wide draw and Berry wasn’t panicked. He had her off the rail before the turn but with a wall of horses in front. He took a gap and then was checked by another runner before balancing up to finish over the top of them for a comfortable win. We’d given DIAMOND STAR $17 a mention in the preview. She was positioned on the rail and was traveling sweetly on the turn. She has some trouble getting clear but sprinted well after but couldn’t match the winner beaten 1L. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE $4.40 sat in a bunch behind the speed and McDonald presented him nicely in the stretch. He looked the winner inside the 100m and was tough just nosed out of second. MOON STORY had good support but was cruelled by the wide gate. He headed for hope the widest and then ran about under pressure beaten 4.5L. A good race but the money was spot on with Fourmadec.
Race 6 (1400m) Listed Canberra Guineas
SILENT IMPACT started a $3.60 favourite but a number of others were given a decent chance. FLYING CRAZY firmed into $6.50 and just got the better of MILITARY EXPERT $5.50. The Flying Artie gelding was positioned beyond midfield on the rail and eased out to be four-wide on turning with a bunch of runners in front. Latham searched for a split and then made an inspired choice to duck back to the rail to win full of running by 0.7L. Military Expert led early from the rail but gave it away before the 800m as a couple of other emerged from the pack. Loy used the cutaway and surged him to the lead. He looked the winner at the 100m before Flying Crazy appeared on his inside. SWEET RUBY $20 and Silent Impact were the next pair home with the later in third 1.6L from the winner. Sweet Ruby was wide on-speed and Ford elected to push-on and lead at the 900m. She tried her heart out but just found a coupe too good on the day. Silent crossed from the wide gate but couldn’t find the lead racing keenly. She was well presented as they headed for home and didn’t flinch, doing her best work on the line. CAPE BRETON drifted to $9 and lacked the finish required after sitting on the leader. KELVEDON ROAD $7 missed the start badly and that was the end of his chances. Evenly graded and a super ride from Latham to get Flying CRAZY home.
Race 7 (2000m) Listed Canberra Cup
SACRAMENTO drifted out to $9 but took out the Cup for the tried-and-true Tim Clark – Waterhouse & Bott linkage. The Piero gelding burnt turf to find the lead from a wide gate and had settled comfortably in front as they left the home straight. He was able to set his own terms. He was 3L clear at the 100m three clear and has 1.3L to spare on the line from the fast-finishing DADOOZDART $6.50. He’d raced mid-field and pushed forward before the turn to present in the middle of the track with plenty to do. The determined fish took the eye. FIVE KINGDOM $8 sat on pace and ran out of his skin beaten less than 2L in third. He gave everything and would have delighted connections with the effort. He just held TOOMUCHTOBEAR $4.60F who’d also raced handy and just couldn’t find the extra required. Nice efforts all four but all honours to Sacramento beautifully rated in front and relishing the dryer track.
Race 8 (1600m) Bm 75
The longest priced winner on the day saluted in the last with CLYDE $11 just prevailing over the favourite I’M DIVINE $4.80 for the Guymer-Portelli linkage. The winner sat midfield in the clear and had plenty to do as they headed for home. At the 250m he had to be reefed out to avoid the heels of another runner but once balanced put in giant strides to get up by a half-length. I’m Divine threw the race away. The filly had to do plenty of work to lead from the wide alley and was under a hold at the turn. At the 250m she shifted out abruptly to the middle of the course and then veered further to the outside fence before she could be straightened. There was a gap then to a bunch of gallopers fighting it out for minor honours. A heartbreak for I’m Divine’s connections. A nice win by CLYDE, all the same.