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

Winx continued her wonderful deeds at Randwick while at Flemington, Grunt showed he’s a track specialist with a dominant Makybe Diva triumph. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Career Of Smith In Limbo

Right now, Ben Smith should be readying himself for the biggest month of his training career with El Dorado Dreaming and In Her Time on their path towards big races. Instead, he is on the sidelines and his career under threat after a raid from Racing NSW led to bottles of substances being found, which have been sent away for testing. He has been charged and pleaded guilty with providing false evidence, a very serious charge. All you can say is stay tuned.

Grunt Loves Flemington

Grunt continued his love affair with Headquarters and sealed his future at stud after winning the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Aided by a peach from Olly, the four year old was always in the right spot and once presented, he put them away and was dominant on the line. Trainer Mick Price is now touting him as a possible Cups horse.

27 For Winx

The wonder mare continue her winning sequence with another outstanding George Main Stakes (1600m) victory. But like first up, there was a moment where you thought she was in a bit of trouble as Le Romain looked to have pinched a margin, but the great mare knuckled down over the final 200m and put them away. Could that be the last time we see her in Sydney? She’ll likely head to the Turnbull and then Cox Plate…and could that be it? Time will tell.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

The old saying of forgive a good horse for one poor run. Miss Fabulass wasn’t poor I thought in the Furious but she ran below market expectations. Well she proved she’s well and truly the number seed of the fillies with an outstanding win in the Tea Rose (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. She absolutely exploded when McEvoy gave her clear air and she won with such class and authority that she’ll start a short priced fav in the Flight Stakes (1600m).

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

The daughter of Dundeel, Miss Einstein, debuted on Friday at Newcastle and there was a tip around to suggest she was pretty good and was a definite winning chance despite of the well performed Galina. She could be a beauty because she showed a lovely turn of foot and was pretty dominant in getting the job done despite starting $11. Very keen to see how she progresses.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

It was a ripper from McEvoy on Carzoff to win the Newcastle Cup. The horse was clearly suspect at the trip, which is why he was a late drifter in the market, but McEvoy gave the horse a pearler. Tracked up key danger Auvray in the run but at the 1000m, they took off behind him and he could have easily been flushed out. But no, he kept his cool and waited for the gaps to appear, which they did, and when he got the split, the dash came to the fore. Angland on Auvray was also a beauty. Did everything possible to beat Carzoff but couldn’t quite hold him off.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

There were a few ordinary steers at Bendigo on Wednesday. Starting in the third race and the lack of initiative from those behind Willow on Sizzleme. That horse was just gifted an absolutely soft lead and from the 600m onwards, it was never getting beat with those behind happy for it to dictate. And Brad Rawiller on Azuro didn’t give his charge much hope with no real initiative in presenting it into the race. The horse had no luck in the straight and should have finished much closer.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Avilius – What can you say, this horse is the real deal. He is very much in the Cups for the Spring
Egg Tart- Give her a wet track in the Caulfield Cup and she’ll go close to winning
Maid Of Heaven- She’ll make things interesting in the Flight if she draws a decent marble
Azuro- Mentioned above, no luck. He’ll go close in a similar grade race next time
Auvray- He’s going really well and won’t look out of place in the Metropolitan, but perhaps something a touch easier will see him win
Smart Melody- Captain Obvious here, but that last 75-100 when she drew away…she’s stamped herself a Group l talent

ONE MORE CHANCE:

I wouldn’t give up on Libran from a Metropolitan perspective. Avilius beat him comfortably, but the ride from Bowman on Libran was similar to that of a barrier trial. Horse was never given much hope of winning from where he was and in the straight, he just couldn’t build the revs at all. Still think he’s in the Metrop picture.

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

I’m putting the line through a couple. Order Again is hugely talented for Brian Smith but his last couple, he has wanted to lay in badly under pressure and not run straight. Not a horse expert, but that’s not a good sign for him. Either he’s had enough this prep or he’s sore. Just not attacking the line. And Single Bullet gets a life ban now. Dry track, good barrier, he had his chance to stamp himself yesterday but he was ordinary.