Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 21 October 2021
The rain stayed away, and we raced on a Good 3. On-pacers were generally advantaged. Joe Cleary took training honours; both promising types ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes. All but one of the races was taken out by favourites or well-supported runners.
Race 1 (1000m) Mdn
JOEY JAWS $1.90 was backed to the exclusion of all runners and duly obliged. He’d switched to Joe Cleary from a sharp Victorian barn and had been racing intractably. He went straight to the front from the low barrier. He was 5L in front at the 400m and belted down the hill. PROPHET’S PRIDE $7 got to within 1.3L of him on the line but the race had been well won. She’d sat midfield and was very strong to the line. She’d been well-trialled, and it was an encouraging debut. She can win soon over a longer sprint. Another debutant — I’VE BEAN TRYIN’ $21 — also ran on well (beaten 3.6L) and would have pleased the Cooma barn. The next three runners to finish were in the market but were out of their comfort zone. Joey Jaws is still a bit new and will only get better. Can be followed with confidence.
Race 2 (1000m) Bm 60
Five of the seven runners were given a chance and EXAGGERATE $4 prevailed in a good finish. The speedy galloper had been threatening and got in well this grade with the 3kg claim. He sat outside the leader and came into the stretch in-front. He fought hard to just hold out DEVIATE $7.50 and FANTINI $3.80 who both me trouble in transit. The former was hampered at the 600m and taken in by another runner. More notably, the latter began awkwardly and was hampered and taken wider near the 600m. She raced in restricted room near the 100m, beaten a length. REVOLVER $5.50 led with some pressure and couldn’t see it right out in fourth. CONCRETE $3.30F was impacted somewhat by the incident near the 600m but just battled in the stretch. Not much between the first three home and the winner had the favours.
Race 3 (900m) CL1
Only seven went around the Matt Dale barn caused a minor upset with COSMIC SERENADE $11 taking it out. She has disappointed both starts back but few the gates and led. She railed like a greyhound and proved too quick winning by just over a length. The eye-catcher was LONDON GAL $4.40 who raced in clear air forward of midfield. She was widest of the leading bunch coming down the hill and rattled home down the outside. SURPRISE FACTOR $9.50 was best of the rest, 5L from the winner. The talking point was the run of the heavily bet favourite PRESCINO $1.55. The well-bred mare began awkwardly and was unable to lead. She was left racing three-wide without cover throughout. No abnormalities were revealed post-race. Cosmic Serenade can go on with it now and London Girl will win one soon.
Race 4 (2000m) Bm 60
MAHSINGER $3.70 was a well-supported $3.70 favourite and there were several others given a chance. The mare got home by 0.82L in a race where there were plenty of mentions in the stewards’ report. Loy had her beautifully positioned one-out in fourth position as they emerged from the first turn. She was in a threatening position as they came down the hill and despite wanting to lay-out, was well managed to win. TUDOR PRINCE $21 was the only one to make a race of it. She was allowed to settle at the rear of the field and found a way through as they straightened. She had to be straightened-up later and hit the line well. HILLTOP HOOD $6 finished the race off well in fourth and that should be noted for future reference. SUBTLY SPRING $5.0 was well-beaten. He pulled hard in the early and middle stages and raced flat. Both trainer and jockey concurred that the 60.5kg weight was an issue and races will be sought where he’ll carry less pudding. ROOM NUMBER $6.50 was slow away and raced three-wide with no cover in the middle stages. CLUB LEGEND $5.50 didn’t appreciate the firm track, according to the jockey. REAL RIFFLE $18 pulled up with an issue tailed off after setting a good tempo.
Race 5 (1460m) Mdn
MURKOWSKI was backed into $1.75 favourite and gave them a hiding winning by 3L. The filly has surprised the market just beaten on debut at Wagga and the local built on that as expected. She flew the gates from an outside gate and settled kindly in front. She was clear and cruising on turning and bolted in eased down on the line. There wasn’t much between GILDED CROWN $10 and PANDERING $8 in second and third, but they never looked likely. There were no any excuses to note among the beaten brigade. The winner was a class-above and is sure to be winning more races in the right company.
Race 6 (1200m) Open - Federal
Three runners were given a hope by the market. HEZREDHOT $3.30 was well-backed into favourite and just nudged-out WASHINGTON TOWERS $5. GIRLS ARE READY $4.60 was beaten 2L into third and this trio were well clear of the rest. Washington Towers led the trailing Hezredhot. Before the 800m Crucial Witness made a rapid forward move to sit on Washington Towers. The latter was cruising down the hill and rolled back to the rail a clear leader. Hezredhot kept coming and got-up right on the line in a ding-dong go. Girls Are Ready laid out when placed under pressure in the straight but her finish caught the eye from a future viewpoint.
Race 7 (1460m) CL2
It was $4.2 the field with SLY SONG $4.4 winning by 1L from the favourite ELAINE ROSE and they were both firmers. BRING IT BELLA $6.50 held third, beaten 1.7L. STRATUM PRIDE $4.4 was badly checked near the 1000m and did a good job in the circumstances beaten 2.5L in fifth. Elaine Rose sat comfortably on the leader’s flank and Sly Song got a soft run trailing in third. Sly Song took the cutaway and made the lead at the 200m and held a margin. Elaine Rose was dogged but lacked a killer punch. Bring It Bella laid out when placed under pressure in the straight. FINAL SHOWDOWN $41 kept coming in the straight and will be better next time over a longer trip. A tidy win by Sly Song.