FOLLOW:
Randwick:
Race Three Number 7 Wine Tales (5th):
Has promised so much, and this race looked ideal for her…but she did nothing in the straight and just plodded. Enough of her please punters. Stop backing her.
Race Four Number 5 Happy Clapper (1st):
This horse was outstanding in winning. He was first up and sat back in the run in a slowly run affair yet just bolted up in the straight and though his condition gave way with about 100m to go, Avdulla lifted him home. Broke the Class Record, and he carried 58.5kg. He will be winning a Stakes race this time in.
Moonee Valley:
Race Two Number 1 Unanimously (5th):
Run off his legs early, but balanced and he looked as if he was going to be a real threat in the straight, but he got badly held up and pretty much went to the line under a hold. There is a race for him somewhere.
Race Eight Number 7 Hopfgarten (6th):
This could be a sleeper for the Emirates Stakes. He got well back in the run in a race dominated by those on speed, yet he worked home well late. Interesting to note he improved with D Browne back on board. He’ll tumble in weight when he gets to Flemington and will love the bigger track.
Race Nine Number 4 Hartnell (5th):
Outstanding Cup trial. Got checked and held up the wayward The Cleaner and took a little while to wind up, but he balanced up and lengthened nicely late. Spot on for the Cup IMO.
FORGET:
Randwick:
Race Eight Number 8 Danjeu (7th):
Third run now back from a spell, and there was market support for him to improve, but gee he was plain in the straight and didn’t hit the line with any sort of purpose. Might need to drop back to the midweeks for a confidence boost.
Moonee Valley:
Race Seven Number 12 Sagaroone (9th):
This girl has been touted as a knockout Oaks chance…for the life of me I can’t see why. She has had four runs this time in, and quite frankly she has done bugger all on each occasion. Off to the spelling paddock and rightfully so.
Chloe Maggs:
No idea who she is, and I can sleep easy with that. That National Anthem rendition…it made me miss Shannon Noll and it made me wonder if the Brownlow Medal Brendan Fevola could have done a better job.
This was fair dinkum a barrier trial. McDonald seized the initiative from the front and he just copped no pressure. Did his own thing in front and rightfully spanked them. Ordinary effort from the beaten riders here.