A significant suspension for an apprentice in WA, Trekking gets another big race and a Stradbroke contender emerged at Rosehill. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.
KEY NEWS:
Apprentice Suspended In WA
WA based apprentice Chris Graham was earlier this week suspended for two months for failing to give his mount Pushin’ Shapes every possible chance of winning last Saturday at Ascot. Graham had told Stewards that his saddle had slipped, making it unsafe for him to ride the horse out properly, but with no video evidence to support that claim, the Stewards slapped him with a two month ban.
Group l Winner Now To Trek Everest
Trekking continued his brilliant third up record with a strong win from off the pace in the feature at Morphettville on Saturday, the Goodwood (1200m), wearing down a very gallant Gytrash. Both runners have been two of the more in form sprinters in Australia outside Nature Strip and you would assume both will be sought after for The Everest. Behemoth, given the track pattern, was huge in defeat out wide.
Passage Towards Stradbroke For Guineas Winner
Dawn Passage continued his winning ways in taking out the Inglis Guineas (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday, sitting on speed in a five horse contest and in the end, his class was too much for them. With two impressive wins on the bounce now, the three year old could well be on a path towards the Stradbroke.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:
Hard to get away from Ablaze and what he did in the Grand Annual. His second start over the big jumps and came into the race off a setback and what seemed a sluggish trial. But he showed his true class and won so impressively. He’ll likely now be set for the feature jumps races later in the season, then the Jericho Cup, before potentially heading to Cheltenham.
DEBUT OF THE WEEK:
Not sure what the ceiling is for Wolf Moon, but he looks very much above average. Debuted on Friday night at the Sunny Coast and he gave his rivals a proper spanking, rivals which had city form and decent exposed form, so it’s not as if he beat camels. He ran quicker time than the Class 3 and was only just under a length off the Benchmark 85. He’s destined for better races.
RIDE OF THE WEEK:
Billy Egan produced some absolute peaches on Friday night at Cranbourne and really, you could have picked any of his winners. As I said last week, on current form, he’s the best rider in Australia the moment and is a jock that can be backed with real confidence.
SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:
Talking through the pocket, but the steer on Sure Knee in the Dark Jewel from Schofield…just ugly, ugly, ugly in the straight, and was in front of the field 100m after the line. Should have finished much, much closer with a clear path. Can be a tease, but she showed in the trials she was flying and confirmed that with this run. The ride just wasn’t any good.
HORSES TO FOLLOW:
Soxagon – Potentially a sneaky Stradbroke chance. Ran outstanding late splits to win
Sure Knee – She’s in for a really good prep
Hightail – Oh he’s a line chaser. He’ll be better over a bit further as well
ONE MORE CHANCE:
Fanciful Toff – Wide first half of the race, total forgive
Newsreader – Disappointing, but think she’s better than that
Loolwah – Think she needs Blinkers
Harbour Views – Way the track played, he was a forgive
NEVER EVER AGAIN:
Graff – Wouldn’t back him to win at Dalby. He needs gelding or retirement
Bandersnatch – He’s not a Stakes class horse I don’t think
True Detective – He can go in again
Eduardo – Speedy squib
Halvoya – Trials like a star, on raceday runs like a camel
Fisticuffs – Given every chance. Just don’t think he’s that good
The Chosen One – He won’t be winning races with his racing pattern
Exeter – Was wide, but still a very weak finale
Girl Tuesday – Ride wasn’t flash, but blaming the horse much more than the ride
Beehunter – He had his chance to wear down the winner. Becoming a money muncher
