Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 30 December 2022

The rail was in the True and they raced on a Soft 5. On-speed gallopers had a distinct advantage. Smallish fields mostly but the racing was competitive. The local Miss Belgium took out the inaugural GOLD COAST TURF CLUB CLAN O’SULLIVAN for two-year old in good style. 

Race 1 (2000m) BM65

An even betting affair with DIAMOND CLASS $4.40 prevailing. Just a steady gallop led by JESSANDI $6. Diamond class tailed the small field but was well in touch. She made a sharp forward move after the 500m and was the widest on the turn cruising. She took over at the 100 from Jessandi who was giving everything — and held a half-length advantage on the line. ADELAIDE'S DIAMOND $3.60 finished third nearly 2L from the winner after shifting across heals at the 250m. The others looked to have every chance. The first two home can be followed. 

Race 2 (1200m) BM60

Another small field. The winner I AM MAMWAAZEL $3.90 led the firm favourite ENZINA $2.45 with both over-racing a touch. Enzina was spent on turning and I Am Mamwaazel skipped away. SOLOEST cut into the margin beaten 1.5L in second, with a gap to TITAN STAR $20 who finished hard. Enzina’s flop was a talking point. The jockey felt the filly may have come to the end of her preparation. Stewards said they’d contact trainers (Maher-Eustace) asking for (1) their view of the performance and (2) the filly’s immediate racing plans. They would then decide if further action was required.

Race 3 (1300m) MDN

AMARANTZ $1.28 was the first favourite to win on the day and it was an impressive effort. Just six went around and it was a gentle gallop early with ENAMENT $16 leading. The winner sat at the tail of the field one-out some 4L from the lead. There was a line of three turning for home and Amarantz picked up quickly to be the widest to turning. She took a while to wind up but took over at the 150m to come away by 1.5L from Enament. WHAT WILL BE $16 and UP TO ME $4 were sharing the speed at the turn and held on and finished together a half-length away. The winner hasn’t missed a beat since transferring to the Seib barn and can go on.

Race 4 (1300m) CL1

DIRTY MERCHANT 2.90F returned as a gelding for the smart Annabel Neasham team and proved 2.5L too good. He went straight to the lead and GORISHAN $19 moved up to his flank before the 500m. They were well clear of the others on turning. Dirty Merchant surged to the lead soon after and they never looked like getting close. Gorshin tried hard beaten 2.5L and he was clear of BIANCO VILANO $3.90 who was doing his best work late. Dirty Merchant is a nice galloper in the making and can be winning in better grade.  

Race 5 (1600m) CL1

JAMROCK $2.70F was looking to make it a race to race double for the Neasham barn but there was plenty of money for the Matt Dale-trained YOU ARE KING $3.20, and he prevailed over the above by a whopping 4L. Jamrock missed the jump by 1L but was hunted up to rail close-up. You Are King set a decent tempo and the only other well-supported runner MORE SAINTLY $2.80 lobbed along at the tail of the field. You Are King was well clear at the 200m and then extended that to win impressively. Jamrock was clear of the others but didn’t have the speed to match the winner. All honours You Are King and he will go on from this.

Race 6 (1400m) BM50

APPETITE FOR RISK $2.30 ran a clear favourite and delivered by a half-length from the outsider AEROBATIC WARRIOR $61, with SANCTIONED $9.50 a similar distance back in third. 2.5L covered the first eight home. Again on-speed gallopers were advantaged with the winner leading early before being crossed by the runner-up. This pair were well clear on turning with Appetite For Risk taking over at the 200m managing to hold a slender margin. Most of the remainder came in a rush from the back with Sanctioned just holding them out to place. NEWTOWN BRAVE $6 was tailed off and was an obvious disappointment. Post-race no abnormalities were found. Not much between these.

Race 7 (1000m) CLAN O’SULLIVAN HANDICAP

HOKUSAI firmed into a $2 favourite for team Waterhouse & Bott but the Norm Gardner-trained local MISS BELGIUM $7 spoiled the party beating the above by 1L. The rank outsider GRIFFINSTOWN GIRL $31 just held third 3.5L from the winner and was a nostril from the well-supported RELATIVES $2.60. She was ridden more forward in a change of tactics. Again being on speed advantaged with Miss Belgium leading from the rail with Hokusai sitting on her. Miss Belgium skipped clear at the turn and while Hokusai cut into the margin she never looked likely. GRIFFINSTOWN GIRL was last and widest on turning and kept coming to pip Relative for third-spot. Miss Belgium had been threatening and possed to the speed to use the rail. A good win against fancied city-trained rivals.

Race 8 (1000m) OPEN

SMUGGLER'S BAY $2.70 delivered for favourite backers but there was nothing it on the line from another local SHORES OF AVALON $6.50. LOOK ONLY $4.20 finished a clear third in the small field beaten 2.6L. Mr MOPPETT $3.50 was crowded on jumping but disappointed all the same in a small field beaten 4L. Five gallopers were keen to lead. Smuggler’s Bay sat outside a long-shot leader and clearly took over at the 260m. Shores of Avalon emerged from the pack as the danger and closed hard against the pattern to just miss. Being on-speed counted again. 

Race 9 (1400m) BM70

RUBAN BLUE $5 quickly found form with a comprehensive win over the favourite TROOPER KNUCKLE $2.60 with ALMOST PERSUADED $7 a clear third 4.5L from the winner. The first two home defied the pattern of the day with both sitting off the pace. Having said that the on-speed division weren’t convincing. Almost Persuaded found the lead over PROPOSE THE TOAST $3.20 who had to work to sit outside him. There were a number of chances at the 200m but Ruban Blue slipping up on inside quickly took control and it was easy on the line. Trooper Knuckle elected to come down the middle of the track and it the line okay.  Post-race it was found Propose a Toast had suffered a second bleeding attack and will now be ineligible to race in Australia.

Race 10 (1000m) MDN

REBEL LOVE $2.0 was well-supported to win but found the second-elect MARESCA a touch too good. The only other runner in the market, FROSE, was beaten 1L into third. In a familiar pattern the winner Maresca led from the runner-up and after skipping clear in the straight just had enough in the tank to win. Rebel Love come hard late as did Froze and her effort was the eye-catcher. She’d been forced to check at the 700m. The others never looked likely in a thin race.