The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – June 1st Edition

The Queensland Oaks was the main race on the afternoon, and it threw up an emotional result, while a couple jocks dominated Rosehill and Caulfield. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Winning Ways Wins An Emotional Queensland Oaks

Donning the colours of the late Paul Makin, made famous by Starcraft, filly Winning Ways got one for the locals when taking out the Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben under Matty McGillvray, who scored his first major in winning the Oaks. The event though had a sombre feel to it post race, not just with the emotion around the passing of Makin, but Winning Ways was found to have bled from both nostrils, seeing her now out for three months and almost certain to miss a potential Spring Carnival prep.

Star WA Females Off To Chris Waller

The Spring Carnival is still months away but it’s already taking shape in a serious way with star WA gallopers Arcadia Queen and Enticing Star heading East to join Chris Waller with the Everest/Golden Eagle the key races on the agenda. Some see the move by owner Bob Peters to send Arcadia Queen to Waller for the Sydney Carnival as a way of dodging star Tassie filly Mystic Journey, but the issue of Regu-Mate is the main reason why both mares will very highly unlikely race in Melbourne.

3 x 4 Across Australia

Several hoops put on an absolute clinic at their respective meetings on Saturday, with Dwayne Dunn heading to a Fiji holiday with fat pockets are steering four home at Caulfield. Tommy Berry looked as if he’d have a fat day at Rosehill and that was the case with four winners, and just missing out on five with Exceedance just missing. At Doomben, Blake Shinn continued his unbelievable run in Queensland with four winners, with his best ride clearly being Multaja.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Normally would be strange to give this title to a beaten horse, but Exceedance well and truly earned it. How he got as close as he did in the first at Rosehill I do not know but he’s got the makings of a Group l horse. He ran 32.21 for his final 600m, near six lengths quicker than anything else in the race, his last 200m being near three lengths quicker than anything else. Would love to see him at Randwick/Flemington. Big track, long straight…he’s very good.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

Don’t think he beat much but was really impressed by the debut win of Evening Glory at Hamilton. Sat off the speed in the five horse field before presenting wider on the turn and despite taking a little while to get into his gears, loved the way he attacked the line and put them away like a nice horse. As I said, not sure how deep the depth was to the field, but to the eye, pretty solid.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

It’s just about ride of the year from Blake Shinn aboard Multaja. Got into a reasonable spot from the wide near the back and Shinn could have easily got on the three/four wide train. But he elected to probe for gaps between runners and they just opened up at the right time, with the filly dashing late and repaying the ride from Shinn. It was one of the better steers I’ve seen this year.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Not so much a slaughter and a crucify ride. But just not sure restraining Jungle Edge by Chelsea Hall is the way to ride him. He’s a free wheeler. Loves to roll along and get them out of their comfort zone. Restraining just allowed the sharper sprinters to get the better of him. Stuck on, but I think that was just the wrong tactic.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Onemore Sapphire – Should have won. 1500m Highway at Rosehill in two weeks looks his race
Zavance – Not sure where she’s heading, but she’s got a win in her
High Bridge – Start cost him dearly. He’s back on track
Drachenfels – It was an absolute horror watch. Was going the same speed as the winner, and going better, until he got stopped in his tracks. He’s flying
Fasano – David Payne has a lovely Derby looking type on his hands here
Brave Song – Bigger track and he wins. He’s flying

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Oxford Tycoon – I reckon he just went too keen in front and the tough seasoned horse just got the better of him. He can win a race, but needs to harness the energy
Smart Coupe – Not sure the wet track was her go (Yep, I got it badly wrong re Petrelle)
Duchess Of Lennox – Done a good job in her first prep. Four wide throughout, total forgive.

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Restrained – Was entitled to do more. Very poor
Dynamited – No more with him
Ligulate – He’s a bludger. Very one paced