Horse Racing The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – 16/4/2022

A triple crown attempt just missed, a grand campaigner continued his love affair with Randwick while Ayrton made a statement in his return at Caulfield. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

She’s Extreme Denies Fireburn Triple Crown

Fireburn had been the dominant filly and indeed the dominant juvenile in Sydney this season, but She’s Extreme got one back on her and denied that filly a Triple Crown with an all the way triumph in the Champagne Stakes (1600m). The ride from Tommy Berry won the race, getting control on a biased track and pushed the button on the turn, stealing a march.

Cascadian Wins All Aged

Cascadian has taken over the ‘Hartnell’ mantle for James Cummings at Godolphin, with the war horse winning another Group l, this time the All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, helped by gate one and J Mac magic, wearing down a very gallant Tofane. He loves Randwick, loves getting his toe in and loves drawing soft.

Ayrton Back With A Bang At Caulfield

Quality four year old Ayrton made a statement in his return to racing with an outstanding win in the Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield. It was his first run since obtaining a spider bite in the Spring with co trainer Mick Price saying during the week that horse wasn’t wound up. But nobody told the horse that, with class coming to the fore in a great return as he heads towards the Doomben Cup.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Group l racing was at Te Rapa on Saturday for the Breeders Stakes (1600m), and you can mark down Imperatriz as one to follow. She’s too good for NZ racing and it won’t be long before she comes to Australia. Whether it’s a Brisbane Winter or a Spring assault, time will tell, but she won with such arrogance and looks a perfect horse for a Golden Eagle.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Not a debut of sorts, but it was an Australian debut for Kalapour at Hawkesbury on Wednesday and Kris Lees will be having some fun with him. He is a 2000m+ so to have zip in the legs for a 1500m first up win on wet ground tells me he’s above average and will win races, better than midweek at Hawkesbury.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

I haven’t put a leg over a horse so I am in no position to say if a ride was dangerous or stupid in terms of potential harm for others. I will say that the ride from Nash Rawiller aboard Kementari was one of the most extraordinary steers I’ve seen. The balls to pull that off and commit to it won the race, clearly, and it continues a sparkling run of form.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Six races in at Randwick, the on speed/fence in run pattern was obvious. Some of the riders must have read a speed map for the JRA Plate and just wanted that position. Hugh Bowman had other ideas aboard Polly Grey and once he found the front on the mare, it was race over. Very negative riding in behind.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Straight Arron – He’ll win good races in HK
Hungry Heart – She’s on track for the Hollindale/Doomben Cup
Huetor – He’s a star. Enormous return
Through Irish Eyes – Good run for Warrnambool

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Numerian – He’s on track for Brisbane
Mo’Unga – Forgive and forget he went around
Namazu – Back to Rocky and he can bounce back. Not a metro horse
Munster – Stewards report will be interesting

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Big Parade – Talented but inconsistent and is becoming very hard to trust
Maotai – He’s a loose unit
April Rain – Pattern again, but she’s a money muncher
Pondus – How he won so impressively at Flemington I do not know
Festival Prince – Peach run and he did nothing. Plain