Racing & Sports Canberra Review - 4 February 2022

The track was rated a soft 5 with the rail out 9m the entire and racing forward was an advantage. Brody Loy with a double took the jockey honours. Lethal Lady impressed taking out the Open 2.

Race 1 (1000m) Open 2

Debutant LETHAL LADY $5 took the race out in good style and local trainer Norm Gardner has another good one in his hands. The Smart Missile filly sat on the leader BLACK TAHITIAN $2F and after a good tussle came away to win by almost 1L. She’s a nice mover and can win better than this.  BLACK TAHITIAN had a comfortable time in front and tried hard. The Waterhouse-Bolt barn has had a few shorties go under here recently burning stable followers. He was first up and is sure to come on. COOL AMIGO $3.60 was spaced in third. He was slow away and ran in under pressure at the 200m. He was on debut and has scope for improvement.

Race 2 (1400m) Bm 75 - Federal

The money came for the local MOOKAREENA $3 resuming off a trial win, but it was misplaced.  RAPIDITY $3.9 and BANGER $3.9 were the only others fancied and it was the latter who prevailed by nearly 2L. Just a moderate tempo until the 600m when they picked it up a bit. Banger sat comfortably one-out behind the leading pair with Mookareena on his inside. The former came to the middle of the track and the latter stayed inside.  Banker took over at the 100m and it was comfortable in the end. OBELOS $11 improved on his Wagga placing to take second and that’s turned out to be a good form race. He was last before the 200m and was putting in the big strides late. He should be winning one soon. The others looked to have their chance with Rapidity the exception. Was caught three-wide throughout and stewards believed jockey Day erred by not pushing forward to lead.  Mookareena gave nothing when the pressure went on.

Race 3 (1200m) Mdn

OUT WRAPPED $3.1 started a firm favourite but could only manage fourth beaten 3.5L. SOJO drifted from $5-$6 and just prevailed. It was a speed dominated race with Sojo sitting just behind the speedsters ONYA LIONAL $11 and FIGHTING PLEASURE $26, and that’s the order they finished.  It was a line of three at the 100m and Sojo just proved too good. It was a tidy first-up effort from the lightly raced Olive-trained mare, and she will win more races. The other pair gave all and finished well clear of the favourite. Out Wrapped seemed to have his chance.

Race 4 (1400m) Mdn SW

MEDIARO $1.45F was clearly the one to beat and just got the job done. He raced comfortably behind the leading division.  WOODSON $18 (2nd) had a nice run on his inside and CLASSY GAL (3rd) $16 settled just in front of them. The winner presented in the middle of the track as they headed for home. This pair came together before settling down to fight it out. It was a tough effort the pair. Classy Gal hit the front at the 150m but faded a touch late beaten 1.8L. A good effort by here as well. Woodson showed much better form and should be winning soon. There was no money for THE WATCHMAN $26 who missed the start badly and didn’t get into it.

Race 5 (1200m) Bm 60

ALLGEMEINE was backed into a $1.75 favourite but was beaten a nose by IMPORTANT PRODUCT $6. LINDEN $9 was beaten less than a length in third. All three finished off the pace and came late. There was a line of six with a chance at the 150m with Allgemeine busting through the middle and Important Product powering down the outside. The latter prevailed by a whisker under Loy, building on the Cowra win. Linden also belted home and will also have admire admirers next time out.  WILKSHIRE $8.50 had no luck seeking an inside run when going well. Worth another chance.

Race 6 (1200m) CL1

The clear favourite FOURMADEC $2.1 was crowded soon after the start and raced wide throughout. She made third beaten less than two lengths. ANNUAL $14 won comfortably in the end building on his Queanbeyan form. She sat just off a hot pace and Loy had him perfectly placed four horses out on straightening. BEAU ROCK was beaten 1.57L in second and it was a decent effort. He was three-wide on speed and fought like a tiger after hitting the front. Fourmadec was a long way back and turned for home the widest. He didn’t shirk his task but just had too much to do. DR EVIL $4.40 was doing his best work late finishing fourth, 2L from the winner.  Fourmadec would have made it very interesting if she had settled closer and will keep. Another good ride by Loy.

Race 7 (1000m) Bm 65

It was an open betting race with MOUSE ALMIGHTY $13 taking it out in a close go over BROTHERS OF ANTRIM $5 who was slow to begin. The winner was only beaten 1.7L here first up and built on that effort. Again, there were a number keen to find the lead and she sat one off the rail in a bunch. There were plenty of chances at the 200m. She came away and held off Brothers Of Antrim who came hard. He had to work to settle behind the speedsters and was widest on turning. RED KANZI finished it off well after a slow3 start beaten 2.5L in third. The favourite RAFHA’S CHOICE $4.40 raced wide throughout.  The winner was in light with the 3kg claim and that told in the finish.

Race 8 (2000m) CL1

Another Open betting affair with the best backed finishing out of the top three. ANTIGONUS $9 took it out just for the Markwell barn over the local GENJIRO $6 with the Sydney-trained ABBEY BRIDGE 1.8L from the winner in third, in front of stablemate WINDABULL the $4 favourite. The winner was booted up to lead with Abbey Bridge on his flank. Genjiro lobbing along beyond midfield. Antigonus held a clear lead at the 200m but Genjiro was coming hard going down less than a half-length. Abbey Bridge had every chance but lacked finishing punch.  The winner led in a change of tactics that paid off. He was tough and can only be improved.