The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – May 2nd Edition

A Group l double header was the drawcard for punters on Saturday at Morphettville while a champion hoop reminded us again of status as one of the best at Randwick. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Maiden Major In Oaks For Horse & Rider

Toffee Tongue was still a maiden prior to the Schweppes Oaks (2000m) but with the form around Colette, she was backed with confidence late and under a lovely ride from Damien Thornton, both horse and rider were able to take out the Group l, their first success at the highest level. The Chris Waller trained filly was too good, just, for Moonlight Maid and Affair To Remember.

Local Win In Robert Sangster

The majority of punters were hoping that a local would take out the Robert Sangster (1200m). That local being Sunlight and yes, a local did win it. But it wasn’t the star mare, who finished last. Instead, it was a mare rising in the ranks, Bella Vella, who was on speed throughout for local combo Todd Pannell and Will Clarken to score her maiden Group l success. The talking point is clearly Sunlight, who ran last and in two runs back from a back has shown nothing to suggest she’s back near her best.

Five-Fa For Bowman At Randwick

‘Bowman is nothing without Winx’ etc etc. It’s been said a number of times but the champion hoop gave those potters something to think about when riding five winners on Saturday at Randwick on the Kenso track. All five rides were outstanding and he showed once again that he’s one of the best in the business.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Has to go Hugh Bowman and his deeds with five of the best on Saturday. We sometimes see it in WA with Pike and him riding 5/6 at a meeting, but rare to see it in Sydney. He produced five pearlers to get them home and nearly made it six in the last with a 12/10 steer on Juventus, but the horse couldn’t quite get the job done.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

He didn’t win, but the debut of Yes Baby Yes at Sandown on Saturday was more than encouraging. She was back in what looked a very slowly run race before peeling wide to make her move and 300m out she looked like the winner. Condition just gave out late but the run was full of merit. Back to Provincial grade and she’ll be winning I would suggest.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Want to go back to Monday at Wodonga and a beaten ride via Clayton Douglas aboard Silesian. It was just a perfect steer. Landed the box seat, travelled sweetly, then peeled one off to get on the back of the main rival on the turn, peeled three wide under a hold and the horse looked set to explode, but he turned it up, with a flared nostril separating him and a maiden win, but Douglas could not have done anymore. The ride from an in form Billy Egan aboard Anything But was a beauty too.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

Thought it was a very negative ride from Zac Spain aboard Seabrook. The mare jumped super, landing a couple in front after 50m and could have easily held the lead in a race where there was no tempo. Instead, he restrained for cover and pretty much gifted the race to the leader and eventual winner. Think he just has to hold the lead and she wins.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Party Host – He’s ready for a step up in trip now
Fituese – Likely heading to a Stakes race soon and will be more than competitive
Alburq – Coming winner if he finds a dry deck

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Hilo – Wide throughout, brave in defeat
Bandersnatch – Want to give him another chance despite being beaten
Starcaster – Back, never a factor the way the track played
Mystery Love – Identical to Starcaster

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Kylease – Well and truly a flat track bully. If she doesn’t get control, she meows
Craftmanship – He was beaten a long way out. No more of him
(Anti Clockwwise) Tenley – She only runs well racing Clockwise