Horse Racing The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – 2/4/2022

A gun sprinter booked himself a ticket for Royal Ascot, a training partnership got their first Group l while the Maher/Eustace camp continue to defy history. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Nature Strip Arrogant In TJ Smith

Nature Strip is fast becoming the best Grand Final horse post Winx with the star sprinter making an absolute mess of his rivals to take out the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, joining Chautauqua as a three time winner of the race. James McDonald was able to get a very comfortable lead on him and the race was pretty much over after 200m. Eduardo ran second but no match while Paulele worked home well for third.

Team Hayes Win First Group l

It’s been no secret that Ben & JD Hayes have had to do it the hard way to forge a blow in the training ranks following the departure of David Hayes and then Tom Dabernig, but they showed their capabilities via the Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Mr Brightside, who finished off powerfully under Craig Williams to give them their first Group l as a partnership, beating the very gallant I’m Thunderstruck with Icebath a lip away in third.

Hitotsu Creates History

Hitotsu became the first horse since Mahogany to do the Victoria Derby/Australian Derby double on Saturday, winning a brilliant edition of the 2400m classic, and it further cemented the greatness of Ciaron Maher/David Eustace and the team around them. Freakish performance from all concerned.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

The Maher/Eustace camp had it won, then Nature Strip was set to pinch it…but then came Amelia’s Jewel in the Karrakatta Plate. Coolangatta and Fireburn are the two best juveniles on this side of the country…but in terms of the entire country, Amelia’s Jewel has a shout to be in the conversation. It was an arrogant win and very much looking forward to seeing when she comes East.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Atrocious conditions at Newcastle on Thursday, but I loved the ticker that Acceber showed to win on debut. He was never going to win. He was dipping and diving throughout but the last 50m, he really surged and got the head down right on the peg to win. Not sure if there is anything left for the prep after that, but he has talent.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

It’s amazing what initiative will do. Something that isn’t the norm with Patrick Payne and his runners. Two of them, The Cunning Fox and Cherry Tortoni, normally sit back last and work home. The Cunning Fox was 1/1 after 200m and the race was over at that point. Cherry Tortoni was a touch worse than midfield, three wide with cover, two lengths off them 400m out and it was race over.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Racing is an opinion. It would be a boring industry if everyone agreed. My opinion is the ride from Jaden Lloyd aboard Hang Five at Eagle Farm wasn’t a great one. He had a decision to make. Come into the three wide line, get cover and get clear air whenever he desired. Or, stay in one off and hope for the breaks to appear. He chose the first option. If he gets the breaks and wins, he gets the ride of the week. Unfortunately the breaks didn’t go his way and IMO, had he chose the second option, based off his finale, he goes close to knocking off the eventual winner and probably wins the race. As I’ve said previously, he rides the track better than most and is a gun rider of the future. Just thought he got this one badly wrong.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Point Nepean – Good time of year to find these sort of races and keep winning
Celestial Fury – Might be a sneaky SA Derby/St Leger horse. Good late
Straight Arron – He’s your Queensland Derby horse
Mauricently – Could be a sneaky Oaks horse next week
Let’srollthedice/Counttheheadlights – Doubt they beat Fireburn in the Champagne, but they are going to make quality 3YO’s in Spring

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Duchess Of Dorset – Little luck in the straight…good pipe opener for the Bool

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Stretto – The question pre race was can he be trusted…the answer is no
Surprise Baby – He is gone
Masked Crusader – It’s confirmed. He’s overrated