The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – July 3rd Edition

A feature race meeting was called off due to mother nature, Jamie Kah gets closer towards history while there was a shock result in the feature at Flemington. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Sunshine Coast Postponed

An absolute drenching from mother nature saw the Sunshine Coast program on Saturday called off. Steady rain on Wednesday and Thursday ensured a heavy track would be on the cards, but a serious downpour throughout Friday left the Stewards with no other option. The meeting will now be run on July 11.

Jamie Kah On 99

Jamie Kah looked to have a great book of rides at Flemington on Saturday, and looked a good chance to create history and become the first jockey ever to ride 100 metro winners in Melbourne for the season, but she’ll have to wait for Sandown on Wednesday to break the ton. She rode one winner on the weekend, with Grand Promenade spanking his rivals in the Banjo Paterson (2600m).

Winter Championship Boilover

The Winter Championship (1600m) was all about Dice Roll and him confirming himself as a potential Spring player, but instead it was a shock result with Mongolian Marshal, the second rank outsider in the race, finishing over the top, while Dice Roll, who led, could only manage fourth.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Giving a shout out to Todd Pannell for reaching 100 winners in SA for the season. Third time in his career he has achieved the milestone and got the job done via a double at Murray Bridge on Saturday. Looking at the premiership table, his strike rate is comfortably the best in the state, so he is a jockey who can be followed with confidence.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Sky Command was a real pro when winning on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Led throughout, looked to travel sweetly in front and when asked to go, the change up speed was there and she gapped them. Overall time was okay relative to the meeting and this time of year, she can graduate to Saturday grade.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Thought the steer fro Jamie Kah aboard Token Spirit in the Mahogany Final at Flemington was a peach. He got into the three wide line and she had the horse going sweetly. Could have stayed in the three wide line but Kah got going and build the revs up, putting the race to bet 400m out with full momentum. Some jockeys just wait, but she didn’t and the ride was smart.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Three rides stood out from Saturday. First was Fred Kersley on Dice Roll. He just went too slow on it. This horse doesn’t have gears. He is a horse who builds into a race so while on face value, yes, had his chance in front with a soft lead, but he’s a chaser and Kersley just waited far too long to get going. Second one was Nash Rawiller aboard Steel Diamond. Take away a double at Hawkesbury from earlier in the week, he is riding badly out of form at the moment and the ride on Steel Diamond was just so negative, giving the mare with no hope. Then later in the day, Jade McNaught on Baronova in the Belmont Oaks was just plain awful. She had the back of Sheza Chalmer but went off its back and went into a pocket. Just a nothing ride.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Berdibek – Good Grafton Cup trial from him
Steel Diamond – Don’t sack her. She will win races

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Mennea – Made sure everyone knew he was a colt. Total forgive
Dice Roll – He’s better with a bunny to chase
Grand Piano – Horrible set up for him so give him another chance

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Star Of Uma – She was very plain despite a relatively soft lead
Paul Messara In Highways – The market seems to always gravitate towards his runners in Highways but they are failing badly