There was some great racing right across Australia on Saturday, with the feature race being the P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Who caught our attention on the track? Find out down below:
FOLLOW:
Rosehill:Race Seven Number 3 Start Wondering (1st):
Despite the wide gate, I was really keen on this bloke, and aided by a peach from Bowman, the horse duly saluted, but what I liked was that he was seriously challenged in the straight by His Majesty, but he found plenty when challenged and comfortably held his rivals. He will go through the grades, and sooner or later, he’ll be winning a Stakes race, and I can’t put a limit as to how far he can go, because there is just so much upside.
Race Eight Number 11 Havana Cooler (5th):
Clear eye catcher of the entire day. Got a long way back in the run before coming away from the inside on the turn. He got badly held up early on before cutting back inside runners, then got held up again before peeling out and savaging the line over the final few strides. He is going to be winning races for sure.
Caulfield:
Race Five Number 1 Stoker (5th):
Enormous in defeat. Stuck four and five wide on speed for the entire trip yet still loomed to win 250m out, but just died on the run and had to settle for fifth. That was a real gut buster, so I’ll be worried about backing him second up, but after that I think you can back him with confidence.
Race Six Number 3 Jalan Jalan (2nd):
If there is a Thousand Guineas market open, just back Jalan Jalan. This was just an unbelievable effort from this filly. She sat near last in the run and was then asked to come wide on the turn. She took a couple of strides to balance up, but her last 150m was outstanding. It’s going to take a big effort to beat this girl in the Thousand Guineas.
Race Seven Number 2 The Cleaner (2nd):
The Lion of Longford is spot on for another crack at the Cox Plate. He went outstanding here, setting up the tempo, not overly strong, but he just kept fighting and fighting to just fail in holding out Mourinho, who was also fantastic in his resumption and won’t look out of place in a Cox Plate.
Had a nice run, but when it came down to the business end of the race, he found zilch. Pleasing trials after being gelded, but taking away the manhood hasn’t improved him.Race Eight Number Spurtonic (Last):
Race Eight Number Spurtonic (Last):
Seemingly had a nice run near the speed, but like stablemate Woodbine, he found nothing in the straight. Been a while since he has performed well, so I think he can sit on the pine until further notice.
Ollie produced a couple of rippers on the day, but this really wasn’t his best. This horse usually sits back in the run and comes home, yet Oliver had the horse four and five wide for the entire trip. Enormous effort to finish as close as he did, and given he was smashed in betting, the signs are that this horse is in for a ripping prep, and he probably should have won it had it not been for the ride.