The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – July 11th Edition

Jungle Edge did Jungle Edge things, Noble Boy got back into the winners list and a betting inquiry took place involving a leading rider. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Jungle Edge Swims Again In Monash

Jungle Edge, the absolute marvel for Mick Bell, continued his love affair with wet tracks in taking out the Sir John Monash (1100m) on Saturday at Caulfield, sitting on speed throughout and showing great fighting qualities to get the job done and nudge closer towards $2 Million in prizemoney. Bell said post race he’d like Everest slot holders to consider his evergreen sprinter, declaring if the track was wet on race day, he wouldn’t come last.

Noble Boy Back In The Winners List

It had been a little while between wins for Noble Boy, plus with a change of stable, but he finally got a win and a Stakes win next to his name in winning the Winter Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Rosehill. Jason Collett rode a peach race on the gelding, saving ground nearer the inside, which given the horse and his love of wet tracks, was a great decision and it paid off in a great training effort by Clare Cunningham.

Betting Inquiry Concludes Soon

The alleged betting scandal involving jockey Adam Hyeronimus and Blake Paine came to ahead in an inquiry during the week, with Hyeronimus facing 32 charges, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to. It’s alleged that Hyeronimus transferred money on a regular basis to Paine’s bank account with labels such as ‘Gift’ or ‘Savings’. A couple of racing reporters who attended the inquiry classed the evidence as “damning”. The result of the inquiry will likely be known next week.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

A benchmark 64 at Gawler for this gong, and how about the effort of Sairyn Fawke to stay aboard Call Me Dexter. The horse was trucking beautifully behind the speed, and in fact perhaps too well because he seemed to clip heels and Fawke was all but dumped, but somehow managed to stay on, compose himself and lift the horse over the line in an outstanding piece of horsemanship.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Smart Image looks well above average if the debut win on Wednesday at Warwick Farm is any guide. Was very green, raw and new to the caper but once he got clear air, he lengthened like a good horse and got up in the last bound despite drifting out. He’s got plenty to learn but clearly has a good engine under the hood.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Hard pressed to find one better this week or for the last couple of months than Jason Collett aboard Sixties Groove in the Grafton Cup on Thursday. Looked in awful trouble on the turn, but Collett sliced his way through the field, got the horse into clear air and he surged hard to get up in the last stride. Great win, but the ride clearly won the race.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Wasn’t as obvious as the ride aboard Vega One, but it was ugly viewing with Baylee Nothdurft aboard Socialising. Was in a pocket for most of the race, but at the top of the straight, I think the chance was there to come back a smidgen to get inside Bold Xavvi and from there, I think she would have won. He waited for the gaps to appear and it just didn’t happen.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

North Pacific – Is he Golden Rose quality? I’m not going to say no
My Swashbuckler – He’s ready to win. Just needs to stop parading like an absolute mess
Monegal – Gee she’s genuine. Race like the Coffs Harbour Cup would be perfect
Mystery Shot – No ceiling to how far he can go
Dogmatic – I thought his effort was the run of the day across Australia. Hopefully has a three week break and can fire third up
Kisukano – She can measure up in Melbourne for sure with the right placement

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Zaniah – She’s better than that
You Make Me Smile – Wait til he gets to dry ground before properly judging
Embracer – Ditto the horse above
Reflectivity – Once the rain came, he was done and dusted. Forget he went around

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Bandersnatch – Wet track sealed his fate. But even so, very much overrated
Thought Of That – Yes he has Blinkers up the sleeve…but he’s just so overrated