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

Hugh Bowman reached a massive milestone, a Group l double was done by Regan Bayliss while Incentivise put one two of his four hooves on the Caulfield Cup. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

100 Not Out For Bowman

It took Hugh Bowman a little while, but he finally got to 100 Group l wins via Montefilia in The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick. There was a query at the trip with the mare, but Bowman timed his run and the bob of the head to perfection, getting the win, just, over a very gallant Entente. Post Winx, Bowman himself has conceded he lost his mojo but the last 6 months or so, he’s been riding very well in the big races.

Group l Double For Regan Bayliss

Early on in his move to Sydney, Regan Bayliss was very much a struggling rider, with a key reason for that being predominantly riding for Anthony Cummings. He’s spread his wings and it paid off big time at Randwick, with Group l wins in both the Flight Stakes and Epsom Handicap, the latter aboard Private Eye, who will now look to repeat the deeds of Kolding from 2019 of winning the Epsom/Golden Eagle double.

Caulfield Cup At Mercy Of Incentivise

I was a non believer to begin with. I was a believer after the Makybe Diva but wasn’t sure he was going to be brilliant enough to beat Verry Elleegant in the Turnbull (2000m) at Flemington. But boy oh boy hasn’t he announced himself, winning again, impressively, and seemingly only has to handle Caulfield, be a healthy horse, and he wins the Caulfield Cup. Verry Elleegant was back to her old tricks of laying in under pressure and threw away her chance.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Have to give the nod to Hugh Bowman. 100 Group l wins for him, he now joins Jim Cassidy, Damien Oliver and George Moore in achieving the feat. Yes, you could argue he was helped by Winx, but he’s still a gun on the big stage year in year out and is at it again.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

I’m not going to declare her a Slipper horse because of Enthaar 12 months ago, but gee whiz the debut win of Coolangatta in the Gimcrack was something else. It was arrogant, dominant, classy, and the eye was backed up by the clock. If she can stretch the brilliance out to 1200m, then they are well and truly cooking with gas.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

Let a speed horse show speed and let it run. Kudos to Brian Higgins aboard Let’s Make A Deel on Friday night at the Valley. Intent as soon as the gates opened, coming out humming, finding the front, letting it roll along and on a night where speed runners were suited, it was a perfect steer.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

It was a fat day last Saturday for apprentice Ben Price at Morphettville Parks but fast forward to today, it was a putrid afternoon. Summed up really by Miss Daniel in the penultimate. Three wide from barrier three, which was quite amazing really and to be beaten 0.3L, the ride cost it the win.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Gravina – Stevie Wonder could have found it. Flying
Get In The Spirit – I think she’s pretty good. Keen to see her in the Autumn
Incentivise – Barring bad luck, he’s your Caulfield Cup winner
Pondus – Set a strong speed and fought hard. Good resumption and still in the Cup mix
Tavidance – Great return. Coming winner

ONE MORE CHANCE:

Duais – On face value, plain. But race shape wasn’t his go
Hungry Heart – 2000m+ for her now
Instant Celebrity – Either she wants the mile, or is no good. Next run will decide if they step up in trip
Verry Elleegant – She has credits in the bank. Give her another chance

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Rothfire – Stunned if he measured up in The Everest
She’s All Class – Too many loose screws upstairs
She’s Ideel (This prep) – The Melbourne Cup dream should be over after this. St Leger more her go
Johnny Get Angry – It was great for racing the story around his Derby win…but it was a fair dinkum gift that win