Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 2 November 2021

They raced on a fine day and the track was a Good 4 and played fairly. Trainer and jockey honours were evenly shared. Hezredhot continued his winning way taking out The Federal for Garry Kirkup. Mick Smith-trained Radiohead’s nice win off a 76 week spell was a notable effort.

 

Race 1 (1000m) CL2

The market swing to WINDS OF WAR $2.30F just over FANTINI (3) $2.60 and it was the latter at prevailed in the small field. The mare had no luck prior resuming for the new barn. Fantini sat on the rail behind the leader with the favourite on her outside. She stretched out nicely in the straight and wasn’t pushed out delivering by 1.5L. BLAZING BEAU $10 looked a threat passing the 200m but wanted to hang-in interrupting full momentum. Resuming from a spell his second placing was the other good effort to take out of the race. WRITTEN STATEMENT $5 attempted to buck a start and was beaten off. A warning was placed against the gelding. Winds Of War looked to have every chance.

Race 2 (1600m) CL1

HOKAHEY $4.20-$3.60F won the race with the four best-supported finishing within a length. LIGHTS ON THE HILL $4.80 had to work to find the lead and Hokahey sat up in third and held an advantage at the 200m. They were coming but the mare did enough to stave them off. STRATUM PRIDE $4.60 was beaten 0.88L. Has no luck here at his previous run and that was the case again. He was slow to begin and raced three-wide throughout. It was his first go at the mile and he’s ready to win. Lights On the Hill was a lip off him and there was plenty of merit in his effort. ELEGANT COURAGE sat rearward and was widest on the turn. It was a solid run beaten just over a length. AFTERSHOCK $15 didn’t have the best of it in the straight along with LOVIN' FEELIN' $12 who was ridden more forward.

Race 3 (1000m) Mdn

After a good start to the day favourite-backers were burned with EM CEE GEE $12-$18 proving too good. We’d given the mare a decent show off the unlucky run at Orange and she just prevailed in a blanket-go. GAMBLERS QUEST was backed from $13 into $5.50 and unexpectedly led after flying the gates. The leading trio powered along with the second-favourite GRAND LUSITANO $3.30 sitting one-out-one-back. Gambler’s Quest was going great guns at the 200m with the favourite under pressure. Em Cee Gee settled well back in the field and saved ground sticking to the inside on turning. She began building a good head of steam with COOL ENCOUNTER $6.0 on her outside. They flashed at the leader with Em Cee Gee just getting the margin. The favourite MISS CAPELLA $3F also finished strongly beaten less than a length and was three-side throughout. The winner enjoyed the fast clip. and there was a stack of merit in run of. It was the intention to have Gambler’s Quest ridden off the pace and it was a big effort from him to stack-on beaten 0.4L. He’s ready to win. 

Race 4 (1300m) CL1

Another upset with RADIOHEAD $12 taking the race out by 1L for the Queanbeyan barn. He was a firmer resuming off a 76 week break and had to overcome a tardy start. Surprise Factor crossed and set up a hot tempo and was 6L clear at the 800m and at least that prior to turning. She still held a margin prior at the 200m but MISS BARTY'S PARTY $3.70 emerged from the pack and looked the winner at the 100m before Radiohead sprouted wings to draw away for a comfortable win. DANCIN’TIL DAWN $11 put in a solid effort in third beaten 2.3L. KNUCKLE WARRIOR was a firm $3.0 favourite. He was three-wide throughout and beaten off. Trainer Dryden said he expected the gelding to go well and could offer no explanation for the poor performance. No abnormalities were found post-race. The winner impressed after bounding on jumping losing 3L. The nice mover has more wins in store based on this effort.

Race 5 (1600m) Bm65

A number were given a chance and MILAMOO $5.50 was too good back in grade. PORT DOUGLAS $3.4F worked to a clear lead and was steadied near the 1000m. He looked to be pacing himself well on turning but was under pressure at the 200m. LARMOUR sat on the rail behind the speed and was the first to emerge with Milamoo coming on her outside. Milamoo sat well-back and was widest on turning. She sprinted hard to level up and finished to well delivering by 1.35L. BALONNE $7.50 had a nice on-pace run but lacked a killer punch and battled on in third. Port Douglas led in a chance of tactics and faded. SCARLEO $6 over raced and finished at the rear beaten 4.5L. The winner found this much more suitable and it was a strong effort.

Race 6 (1300m) – Bm 75 Federal

The scratching Of Molly Nails left ISLAND BAY BOY a clear $2.25F but he couldn’t make the finish. The Federal was taken out by HEZREDHOT $5 back in grade off the Open win at Queanbeyan. WASHINGTON TOWERS $4.80 led and the jockey had to work to restrain him. He was more than three lengths in front at the 600m. Hezredhot trailed him all the way and although wanting to lay in hit the front at the 100m to beat the fast finishing PROPOSE TO ME $5.50 and MR KYLIN $26 ran on to pip the tiring Washington Towers who went to hard early. Island Bay Boy sat rearward but looked to have evert chance. Hezredhot stepped-up again. Propose To Me was first-up and will win one soon. 

Race 7 (1200m) Bm60

SHENANDOAH $2.70 was another favourite to disappoint. The race was taken out by the former Kiwi RHAPSODY IN BLUE $7.50 resuming for the local Luke Pepper barn. She's been racing at a good level and was in well with the 2kg claim. The favourite led with HONEYSUCKLE CHOICE $11 sitting on her and Rhapsody In Blue was handy just behind. Honeysuckle Choice took a while to head Shenandoah was gobbled by the winner in the shadows of the post with DIAMONG CLASS $19 powering home to split them. She had a wall in front of her on turning but started her run at the 200m and missed 0.6L. All three were fresh and will take plenty of improvement. CHOCCY GAF $10 blew like a gale in betting and came in at the tail after racing three-wide. The trainer said the gelding was also disadvantaged by his big weight and prefers soft ground.

Race 8 (2000m) BM60

It was $4.60 the field with the favourite PAHRULI $4.60 beaten 1.2L in fourth. An even race with an even finish. SASSYSAV $4.80 stayed firm in the market and got-up for the Sydney barn. St Anton led comfortably at a moderate gallop in the early stages with the field settling mainly in pairs. Sassysav enjoyed a nice trial behind the leader. Poetic Power was pushed forward at the 600m to sit three-wide on the speed, with BURNT PATCH $5.50 sharing the speed inside her. The latter issued a challenge straightening but didn’t have the dash to get clear. A the 100m there were five across the track with Sassysav just getting up through the middle. DOLPHINA $5.50 was wider on the track and finished strongly to grab second. He just pipped CLEM FANDANGO $5.50 for that spot and the latter was a good effort. He was slow out and rearward most of the way. He stuck to the rail, and the finish was strong. Pahruli also settled back and didn’t have a runner behind her at the turn. She absolutely flew down the outside and was the eye catcher

Race 9 (1300m) Mdn

PROPHET'S PRIDE $2.90 was an easing favourite but was well beaten in third behind the I’VE BEAN TRYIN’ $13 and the emergency PRIDE OF ISLAND $101, and that says a lot about the race. It was a real go early with a bunch looking for forward spots. Eventually HAYYU $8 speed over and led one off the rail with pressure. He led on straightening but there were a host ready to challenge. I’ve Bean Tryin’ showed the most dash at the business end coming away to win by 2L. Pride of Ireland was put in the long strides to get up for second ahead of the favourite. The former settled back and down the back steadily improved his position to be wide on the turn but in a threatening position. It was a good win. Passing the 100m there was an incident which impacted Pride Of Ireland and EASIER $4, leading to the suspension of Never Astern’s rider.  Easier travelled well after but disappointed. The favourite Prophet’s Pride raced ungenerously in the early stages and between the 900m-200m the rider couldn’t fully test his mount. A warning was recorded against the filly, who will be spelled.