Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 20 May 2022

They ran on a Soft 6 with the rail in the true and there was no disadvantage settling back. The final race was abandoned. The highlight was the promising Devine Miss’s win in the Federal. Nick Olive and Jeff Penza linked for the first-two winners and took trainer-jockey honours. 

Race 1 (1300m) Mdn

NOBLE EXCEPTION drifted to start a $5 equal favourite but proved 2L too good. From the low barrier he positioned nicely behind the leader FLYING MIA $5EF. Penza then positioned the colt three wide on turning and after finding the front at the 200m he didn’t look like being beaten. The two-placegetters were both out of the market. WHAT’S MY SCENE $19 placed second after being patiently ridden midfield. The gaps opened at the turn, and he hit the line in determined fashion. There’s a race soon for him based on that effort. ANOTHER STAR $14 railed behind the speed and got a good run through. A solid effort. Flying Mia had to work to find the lead and the effort told at the 100m beaten 3.4L into fourth. All honours with Noble Expectation and the lightly raced galloper can go on.

Race 2 (1000m) Bm 50

MOOSHAKA started a $3.90 favourite and made it a double for the potent Olive-Penza linkage. There was a charge for the lead with HAYYU $21 coming across and working overtime to do the job. Penza had the winner one off the rail behind the leader from the 200m this pair settled down to a ding-dong battle with Mooshaka lunging on the line to deliver by a whisker. SAMINDI $26 had a soft run mid-field and finished in off well beaten less that 1L in third. There were a number close behind her. SKAIFEE $8.50 missed the start by a space and forget. A tidy win by Mooshaka but a huge effort by Hayyu who never flinched.

Race 3 (1600m) CL1 SW

PROMPT PRODIGY $3.10 won comfortably as expected and again longer-priced horses filled the placings Again there were plenty wanting to go forward.  Positioned fifth one off the rail in a good spot. The second-placed GRAVY TRAIN MAGPIE $12 sat outside the 100-1 leader, restrained, and then was released to run to the lead. The winner was improved quickly before the turn and was too strong on the line delivering by 1.2L. Gravy Train Magpie was quickly back on track, and it was a tough effort. Lightly raced and there’s a race around the corner for her. TAVIFERN $14 sat handy and didn’t have the best of it early in the straight. She railed into it and was good at the line. Another to follow. EYES TO EYE $5 was a clear second favourite but settled rearward and didn’t get into it.

Race 4 (2000m) Bm 60

An open betting affair with PENDING starting the $4.80 favourite beaten 2.8L into fourth. HILLTOP HOOD $18 took the race out and was the longest-price winner on the day. He’d been plain at Wagga prior over the mile and relished the lift to the middle distance.  GARRATT ROAD $17 led early and had no peace. Hilltop Hood settled near last. Just a steady gallop until the 800m when MOHAHNA $5 made a sharp forward move and led them up. Garratt Road was still right there but wanted to run around under pressure and PENDING — who’d had a soft run — was prominent but wanted to lay in. Mohahna looked to have the race won before Hill Top Hood powered down the outside to get up on the line. He’d made a sharp forward move and turned widest for home. All honours with him. Not sure about this race from a future viewpoint. 

Race 5 (1000m) Bm70 – Federal

DEVINE MISS $2.30 was backed into a clear favourite over DISTILLATE $4 and they ran one-two, with just over a half-length between them. Distillate led and speed along in front clearly ahead of AFFINITY BEYONG $10. Devine Miss settled midfield and presented wide at the turn some 5L off the leader.  She flew and caught the leader in the shadows of the post with Affinity Beyond still coming. TULLA PARK came hard late into fourth and there was a lot to like about his effort. A terrific effort from the promising Devine Miss and Distillate would have lost no admires after running along hard.    

Race 6 (1300m) Bm65  

Two horses shared $5.50 favouritism in a tough form assignment. MERCURY $12 broke back and won the race in a close go with SHADDY $9. There wasn’t much between the next three more than 2L back headed by I’VE BEAN TRYIN’. PROPOSE A TOAST $5.50 (4th) ran hard in front. Shaddy had a good run forward of midfield and Mercury was rearward on the rail. BROTHERS OF ANTRIM $17 had late on the leader and hit the front at the 200m but began to put in the short ones and Mercury and Shaddy came fast down the middle with the former the strongest. The winner had a wall in front of him as they headed for home and couldn’t immediately get into the clear. His was a standout effort. Another good run from Shaddy and he’ll be better for it.   

Race 7 (1200m) CL1

The Waterhouse-Bott trained GROOVER ran a drifting $2.70F but was beaten $4.4L. The only other one they wanted was ONYA LIONAL $3.70 and he took it out in a close go with MITTATA $9.50 and they were well clear of the rest. Groover wasn’t well away and had to work hard to sit outside the leader. Onya Lional was three-wide behind the leading bunch but had cover. He turned the widest with work to do but was coming hard, as was Mittata — who has settled well back and swung to the outside. He had to come across heals and subsequently put on the long strides to be just worried out of it on the post. PANDERING $10 just made third. She looked a chance at the 200m but wanted to run about; looked to have every chance regardless. Groover was beaten not long after turning. The first two home can both progress from this.