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

Alizee returned with a win, So Si Bon gave a middle finger to most punters at Flemington and a young Queensland horse stamped his Spring Carnival aspirations at Doomben . All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Alizee Wins The Missile

There were a few nervous moments late to the eye for punters who took the shorts about Alizee making a winning return in the Missile Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, but the James Cummings trained mare got the job done in pretty good circumstances given she was forced to sit wide for the most part, going around the field in a slowly run affair. She’s on track and likely runs next in the Sheraco.

So Si Bon Wins Aurie’s Star

So Si Bon…good lord he’s a bludger, but there were a few out there he could run a race fresh in the Aurie’s Star (1200m) at Flemington and the enigma didn’t just run well. He won, and was impressive in beating the tough nut Malibu Style with Sesar finishing off strongly late after getting a mile back in the run, a much better effort from the Monash two weeks ago.

Vandyke Looking For Blood Down South

You probably have to go back to Yankee Rose a few years to when David Vandyke had a horse capable of measuring up in Spring riches, but the 2019 Spring Carnival could well see Vandyke with another contender in the shape of Alligator Blood, who returned to racing at Doomben on Saturday and made an absolute mess of them, winning impressively despite looking like he’d need the run. He’s nominated for the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, so will be interesting to see how he goes.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

It’s A Wonder has to get the nod in the Grand National Steeple at Riccarton. 5600m, the track looked like a heavy 20, but he led all the way, jumped each steeple superbly and could have gone another lap. Outstanding performance, great steer and wonderful training performance.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

The bets were landed in the third race at Belmont via first starter Massimo. Had trialled up well for Adam Durrant leading in and was $4.20-$2.90 on race day. Few nervous moments at the top of the straight when in a bumping battle but once straightened up, he knuckled down strongly and was impressive, albeit in a field which probably wasn’t that strong.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Love a jock that shows initiative and that’s what Tommy Berry produced in the opener at Canterbury on Wednesday aboard Captain Stardust. He was back in the run in a slowly run affair before Tommy took off mid race in a quick move to get outside the speed and he could have easily continued on, but between the 600m-400m, he steadied, then went again and the horse bolted up.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

The above was about initiative…Dwayne Dunn showed none of that aboard Assertive Approach at Flemington. Led, controlled, looked to be bolting…normally the thing to do is push the button and put your rivals away…but no. Just waited…and waited…and waited. Then all of a sudden, The Inevitable was there alongside, full of momentum, and by the time Dunn woke up, it was too late. Really ordinary steer.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Superium – Not dropping off him
Costello – Good lord. Replay is grim viewing
Jumbo Ozaki – Paraded like he would need the run, that’s how it panned out
Alligator Blood – Gee he looks a good one. A real good one

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Adana – Got as many excuses as a cheating spouse, but he was very unlucky
You Make Me Smile – Dry tracks are his go
Deep Force – He’s much better than what he showed today. Don’t sack him off one poor run

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Isadora Twinkle – Been on once. That’ll be enough for me
Nahuel – Might need blinkers, but he was really disappointing
Oxford Tycoon – He was plain
Royal Order – Well and truly never again
Laure Me In – No more for me