Cranbourne played fast on Saturday with plenty of the ten races posting quick times. It raced how it usually does with the rail in the true with the track advantaging those on speed and closer to the inside lanes of the course.
Race 2 – Dark Simba 3rd (Grey Silks), Ahha Ahha 5th (Silver, Blue Vee)
Porter ran them along here at a strong speed and made this is a real pressure test of 1500 metres, he ran the first 700m here some 11.5 lengths quicker than standard for this class. Given the pace it was hard to impact the race if too far away at the 600 metre mark.
Both these horses would have slept well having to chase for so long out but they found the line well and could improve drastically on this.
Dark Simba was held up between the 600-450m when cornering for home and feel that cost him crucial momentum, he also had to switch course and come wide on the bend. His last 200m once balanced up was encouraging and think now 4th up he will be cherry ripe to win, especially on a bigger track at 1600m.
Ahha Ahha was just a victim of a wide barrier here and backmarkers pattern. She was never going to trouble the score the way the race was run but she was good late running the race fastest Last 200m in 11.68 seconds (11th fastest of the meeting). That sectional late, off a hot speed indicates she’s racing in great form and again on a more suitable track and better draw, she’s worth following.
Watersports on the wire!@CWilliamsJockey with a perfectly timed ride to take the second at Cranbourne 📸@archi3alexander pic.twitter.com/koT4Kja3Gl
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 27, 2025
Race 4 – Guest House 1st
Plenty went wrong here for Guest House, he was fired up mid race and had to be flushed out early but he still won with authority. The day was playing fast so the overall time whilst good isn’t anything worth getting carried way about.
His best part of the week for me though was when he got flushed out at the 600-metre range was that he reacted to the pace and quickened, he ran a sharp 10.97 second split between the 600-400m (quickest of the entire meeting).
That indicates me to that he has the change up speed and acceleration required to make a top shelf two-year-old.
You’d have to think also that this horse would be much better suited on a more spacious track and with a race not run as messy. Think he’s one of the leading two-year-old’s in Victoria at the minute and The Blue Diamond looks a perfect target for him.
I’d also be following the second horse Resolutely in a similar race next start as she set up the speed and was only bettered late.
Guest House justifies the short quote on debut with a soft win!
Jamie Melham with an early double and the Price/Kent yard with a smart one 👌@jamieleemelham @MickPriceRacing pic.twitter.com/Yrw1rmckB5
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 27, 2025