Horse Racing The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – 11/6/2022

The first lady of world racing chalked up another piece of history, a WA filly continued her winning ways while Annabel Neasham continued her great run with imports. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

150 G1 Wins For Gai Waterhouse

Words like ‘Trailblazer’ and ‘Pioneer’ are often overused, but it certainly can be used 100% when it comes to Gai Waterhouse, with the queen of the turf winning her 150th Group l via the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday and an enigma, Alligator Blood. The former star had been off the boil since his 3YO season but he is back to his brilliant best under the care of Gai and co trainer Adrian Bott.

WA Filly Is A Belter

Sheeza Belter is fast becoming a proper filly, with the former WA youngster now a Group l winner via the JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. She was wide throughout but she kept finding under Willie Pike to fend them off and score a great win at the highest level, with the Team Snowden filly clearly appreciating firmer footing.

Numerian Wins Q22

Several weeks ago, Annabel Neasham would have had Zaaki as #1 seed for the Q22 after a win in the race last year. But after a disappointing effort in the Doomben Cup, she needed another import and up stepped Numerian, who won the big prizemoney contest after leading throughout under a lovely front running steer from Tommy Berry, who controlled in front and gave nothing else a look in.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to get Alligator Blood back to his Group l best. The horse looked #MaxGawn but the Tulloch Lodge ‘Bone & Muscle’ has got him back and back in a big way. Hopefully he can go on with it in the Spring because we know that he is a star when right.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Have a watch of the replay of Frumos and her debut win at Newcastle on Saturday. I’m always on guard with these visually impressive winners that don’t exactly back it up on the clock, but gee she looks a really good prospect. She’s a city winner of the future for sure…and who knows, she could reach greater heights.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Seriously, to get Horrifying to win, the ride needed to be a 12/10, and Joe Bowditch produced a 12/10 to get him home. The pace was very sedate early and despite Horrifying sitting wide, Bowditch took the race on and let him slide forward, something the horse has never done, and the end result was a spank job win. He’s a tough horse to catch, but the ride was a beauty.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

It was an ugly watch if you were on Private Eye in the Stradbroke. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I think if Avdulla stays towards the inside, there was gaps there, the inside section was the best ground…he wins if he stays there. Cost him the win IMO. Not saying his choice to probe was entirely wrong, but it was a case of zig or zag, and he zigged when he should have zagged.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Blondeau – He’s flying
Najmaty – Good barrier trial for the Tatts Tiara
Tags – Needs to be outside horses. He’s working up to a win
Kanazawa – He’s absolutely flying this horse. Draws a gate and he wins
Ashford Street – While these wet tracks are around, he’ll keep winning at this level at this trip

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Eleven Eleven – I am assuming he got badly galloped on down the side in that bad shuffle up. Total forgive
Dalaalaat – I reckon 1400m next time and it’s D Day

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

April Rain – She’s talented, but she’s becoming a nonny
Eagles Crag – He’s a milk drinker
The Bopper – His best days are behind him
Sig Positano – D Day and he failed. No more