The Good, The Bad and The Ugly –21st November Edition

Punters were on their knees at Ballarat and Kembla Grange on Saturday, but it was a case of drink what you like after the Railway. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Bloodbath For Punters

The Ballarat and Kembla Grange racetracks may as well have been graveyards from a betting perspective with the vast majority of punters finding both standalone meetings very tough to find one to greet the judge. From the 19 races across two meetings, the only favourite to salute was Matowi at Kembla, but even he opened $8.50 on Wednesday.

Archedemus Wins The Gong

A lowly rated Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury didn’t look a strong form reference when it came to The Gong yesterday at Kembla Grange, but in the end, it proved to be the right form reference, and some smart punters thought that too, backing him into $18 after being $35+ at one stage. He sat on speed and proved too good for Dawn Passage in a real on speed dominated affair. Given the winner has run around 33.8 for the last 600m, those from the back had no chance.

Irish Flame Wins Ballarat Cup

Irish Flame has done an outstanding job this time in and the campaign reached a new high on Saturday with a win in the Ballarat Cup. The effort to score was brilliant given he was three wide no cover for the trip and when the sprint went on 800m out, he looked gone, but found under pressure and was too good for an unlucky Affair To Remember, who was flat footed but surged hard late to just miss.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

The tip was there two weeks prior when Willie Pike elected to go into quarantine, ride Inspirational Girl in the Railway and let go of the ride on Arcadia Queen in the Mackinnon. The decision proved the right one and the two weeks wait worthwhile as the mare blitzed them at Ascot on Saturday, with the Williams/Pike/Peters combo winning a third straight Railway.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Excelleration looks pretty smart based on his debut win at Terang on Friday. He got towards the outside and balanced up before really attacking the line and he was impressive in winning, beating home another handy first starter in Feuermond in what I think will be a good form reference.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Has to go to Sheriden Tomlinson and his 12/10 aboard Star Of Michelin. Normally this horse is back near last in the run and concedes too much start, but Tomlinson got him to jump well, land fifth the fence and once he landed that spot, it was a case of thank you linesmen and thank you ball boys. Great from a promising apprentice.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Thought it was a very poor ride from Tom Sherry aboard Pandemic. I don’t think anyone had this guy sitting better than midfield, three wide no cover. Was expecting him to ease back to near last and produce his customary brilliant finale. Admittedly, when they’ve gone 33.4 last 600m in front, those out the back had no chance, but the ride was ordinary.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Activation – He’s a Country Cups horse for sure
Bottega – Wants further now. 2000m maybe next time

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Sound Of Cannons – 2400m next time, then we’ll see if he’s any good
Destination – He’s at the end of his prep
Right You Are – 1800m-2000m next time will be D-Day

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Olmedo – He’ll get lapped at Hong Kong
Jack Regan – He was terrible
All Too Royal – Not going well. Ordinary effort
Yao Dash – Every chance yesterday and not good enough
R6 Sunshine Coast – I think in terms of the locals, this is going to be a red hot form race and a key Magic Millions Guineas form reference