The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – April 10th Edition

The first day of the Championships delivered in spades on a number of fronts, with stars maintaining and confirming their status in the sport. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Jamie Kah Creates More History

Jamie Kah has become accustomed to breaking records and smashing glass ceilings this season, and it continued at Randwick on Saturday in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) with her win aboard Cascadian. Via that victory, she became the first female rider anywhere in the world to ride a Group l winner for Godolphin, quite a remarkable achievement. The horse himself was outstanding and was backed with confidence late, just edging out a very gallant Icebath.

Clear The Strip For The Everest

A shot at redemption will be on the cards for Nature Strip and The Everest you would assume after his stunning win in the TJ Smith (1200m). Yard observers said it was the best he had paraded and once he relaxed as well as he did outside Eduardo in what wasn’t a hotly run race, it was race over and he spanked them. The eye catcher was clearly Masked Crusader, who flashed late, but no match for the star sprinter.

Anamoe Stunning In Sires

He’s been up a long time, but what about the performance of Anamoe in the Sires. He made them look ordinary, and potentially, they probably are, but he still had to do it and his change up speed when asked was that of an elite horse. Provided he pulls up well, he’ll press onto the Champagne in two weeks and then in the Spring, the Caulfield Guineas will be the aim and who knows. He could be a Cox Plate contender.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

How can you ignore Jamie Kah and what she was able to produce. Much was made of her this week, mainly that she should be more giving of her time with the media. IMO, that story line/thread was and is just pure rubbish. Currently, she’s with J Mac as the best rider in Australia. Both are quiet achievers. Let them be quiet achievers and let them be the stars they are where it matters – in the saddle.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

It was an Australian debut. but what a sharp debut it was from Grande Rumore at Canterbury on Wednesday. There were four 1200m races for the meeting and his race was the lone one to break 1.11. He came from the back and really surged late. He’ll go through his grades, keep winning and could well end up being Saturday class.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

I love initiative and that was the case from Tommy Berry aboard Art Cadeau in the Country Championships Final. He rode the horse like it was the best horse in the race, holding the lead from the draw and he didn’t give them a look in, leading throughout. Great ride from an in form hoop.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Mark Zahra aboard Through Irish Eyes. He tried to save ground and take needle eye splits. It kind of worked. He did save ground. But the momentum just wasn’t there to get going. No doubt in mind that if he played the percentages and came wide to build the revs, I think he wins. Get on this horse in the VRC St Leger. 2800m at Flemington looks perfect.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Charmmebaby – Case of what if. Had she drawn a low gate, she wins IMO
Zaaki – Draws a decent gate and he wins. Incredible performance
Superium – Surely the rub of the green will go his way one day
Cordilla – Has improvement to come. She can keep winning

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Lightsaber – Too bad to be true. He’s a nice horse. Just not a Group l horse
Mugatoo – The GF has been the Queen Elizabeth. Don’t sack him even though he had every chance

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Bivouac – He’s a pretender. Just lacks the consistency to be called a top class sprinter
Dollar For Dollar – Every chance in front and found nothing