The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – February 6th Edition

An old warrior got another major at Caulfield whilst a potential star flopped. Profiteer made a stunning statement and David Pfieffer scored another big money race. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Street Tough Warrior Wins CF Orr

The 1400m at Caulfield is bread and butter for Streets Of Avalon and so that was the case once again on Saturday with the Shane Nicholls trained gelding showing great courage to win the CF Orr, fending off a very gallant Imaging after sitting wide no cover. Zac Spain got a much deserved Group l success but the talking point post race was Sir Dragonet, who didn’t fire a shot despite being heavily backed. Bossy said post race that they have learned now that he isn’t sharp enough for 1400m at this level…is that clutching at straws? Time will tell.

Profiteer Stunning In Inglis Millennium

They don’t win more arrogantly than what Profiteer produced in winning the Inglis Millennium in what was pretty much a $2 Million barrier trial. The overall time from the front was very sharp and so impressive was he, he is now second favourite for the Golden Slipper with co trainer Mick Price stating post race that the Slipper is the likely target.

Pfieffer Rocket Wins Inglis Sprint

On class, he couldn’t have been had, but with a couple of sharp wins to start the prep and with race fitness on his side, Rocketing By took advantage and drove through hard late to win the Inglis Sprint, giving David Pfieffer another big money race win. Prime Star was great in second while the two big guns, Dame Giselle and Ole Kirk, ran fourth and third respectively.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Off Broadway into a different code, but it can’t be ignored the training effort of Andy Gath to win the Great Southern Star on Friday night with Tornado Valley. Six months ago, the veteran looked gone. He was out of form and struggling. On Monday morning, he wasn’t even going to run, but a sparkling piece of work convinced Gath to have a crack and the end result was a stunning Heat win in track record time, before backing up and winning the Final later in the night. Can’t be underestimated how extraordinary that effort was from all concerned, including driver Kate Gath.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

The talk is all about Enthaar and Profiteer for the 2021 Golden Slipper, but Hilal made such a huge impressive on debut at Randwick on Wednesday. He looked in awful trouble 300m out but got clear late and savaged the line like a really good horse to win. He’s destined for better races and is in the right stable.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

It was a dirty day for J Mac, but a nod for his ride aboard Shared Ambition. Being a stayer, the norm would have been to ease out the back, let him find the line. But, he dug him out of the gates to take up a forward spot and given the strong early tempo, when he was that close to them 400m out, it was going to take something pretty good to beat him. Great ride on a bad day for the gun hoop.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Kate Cowan has limited opportunities in Queensland given she is with the Pat Duff stable, a yard that doesn’t produce many winners. Gillian Heinrich gave her a plum ride on Thursday at Doomben with Euro Belle and the end result…it was just a horribly negative ride and gave the in form mare no hope of winning. She has a 3kg claim in town…she’ll be keeping that if she keeps producing rides like that one on Thursday.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Spaceboy – He wins with clear air. Similar race next time, he can win
April Rain – I’ll say it again. She is Stakes class
North Pacific – He’s looking very dour. Might be a 1600m-2000m horse
All Time Legend/Mount Popa – Former outstanding given the silly pestering Sikandarabad caused. Latter in for a Stakes winning prep
Sky Lab – Said in the preview he is a Derby horse. After this win, yep, he definitely is
Regardsmaree – Not sure where they go, but gee he is flying

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Another One – Did the Blinkers backfire? We’ll find out soon
Tommy Gold – Want to give him another chance
Dame Giselle – Just not a wet tracker
Sir Dragonet – Can’t sack him…yet

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Sierra Sue – Market said she had three legs and ran accordingly. Awful effort