Racing and Sports Canberra Review - 18 October 2024

The Rail is out +9m 1000m-380m, +7m remainder. The Track was rated a Soft 5 but was downgraded to a Soft 6 after Race 3, and with rain was further downgraded to a Heavy 8 after Race 6. Training honours were evenly shared. Billy Owen and Jean Van Overmeire both rode doubles. Riders were keen to find the outside ground later in the program. 

Race 1 2000m CL1

Only four went around. OCEAN DIVA $3.10 led all the way. It was uncontested until the 900 when STAND IN LINE $3.50 applied pressure. He was under hard riding from the 600m and dropped away in the straight. THAT'S OUTSTANDING $1.95 was in range as they turned but Ocean Diva skipped away. The former kept coming and closed the margin to less than 1L on the line. The winner wasn’t ridden right out, and it was easy work for her under Jean Van Overmeire. The other pair were spaced. 

Race 2 1200m MDN

The Richard and Will Freedman pair MISS SPACEGIRL $3F and DUCK EGG BLUE $3.50 were both well backed and delivered the exacta that order, with 0.81 splitting them FAIR MAIDEN $3.80 drifted a point and placed third, 2L from the winner. It was a compact field, and they were across the track as they headed for the judge.  Miss Space Girl found a split on the turn and presented down the middle. Duck Egg Blue squeezed a way through closer to the rail. Fair Maiden had raced forward and came into it, but she couldn’t finish it off. The winner was on debut and had trialled well in town. It was comfortable for her on the line. She looks a handy filly in the making. Fourth-placed GIZA $10 caught the eye late in the piece and will improve over more ground.   

Race 3 1000m CL2

MIGHTY MYRTLE $4 beat the well-supported SUTTON VELLA $2.35F by a whisker. There was a gap of 2.5L to NORTHUMBRIA $5 in fourth and the remaining runners were spaced. A number were keen to lead, and they had closed right up as they swung for home. MISSY NO NAY 18 held the lead on the rail but was gathered up by Sutton Vella at the 300m. He’d got a nice run-through from midfield. Mighty Myrtle tailed the field most of the way and had plenty of ground to make up in the straight. Sutton Fellah held a 1L lead at the 1200m from Northumbria but couldn’t withstand Mighty Myrtle’s finishing dash down the middle of the track. Another cool ride by the 2kg apprentice, Bronett Prag. The winner won fair and square and showed a fair bit of promise. The favourite was game in defeat. Note: PRETTY VEGAS $4 raced four-wide throughout.  

Race 4 1400m MDN

They finished in market order with RILEY CAT $2.35F delivering by 1L from SPIRIT IN THE DARK $4.40, with CHANCEUX DERNIER $4 finishing 2.3L from the victor in third. They were clear of the remaining runners. The leading pair burst clear and cut at each other. Spirit In The Dark was positioned next and had to do the hard chasing. Rileycat was well positioned following, also racing in clear air. Chanceux Dernier was in a bunch further back. ANTHRACIA $20 held the rail and led clearly at the 800m. She was still in front at the 350m but was gobbled up by Rileycat, who had turned five wide and hit the line strongly. The placed pair battled on well but were no match. Not a bad effort by Anthracia who was heavily pressured on speed and only caved in late in the piece. Rileycat deserved the win, and more are in store. 

Race 5 1600m BM75 - Federal

LOUIE'S LEGACY $1.80F was heavily bet and recorded a dominating 3.8L win over SPITFIRE $1, with a further 1.2L back to HEIR JORDAN $9 in third. Louie’s Legacy led comfortably as expected Spitfire settled rearward off the rail. Heir Jordon railed in third. Approaching the home turn the winner had extended his lead to 4L and was brought to the middle of the track. They never looked like catching him. Spitfire was the last and widest turning for home and was doing strong work late. Heir Jordon stuck on okay. LAUREL HILL $4.40 settled last and never got into it. Easy Work for Louie’s Legacy who was well rated by the 2kg apprentice.  

Race 6 1000m Open 

IRON WILL $2.15F has been off the scene for 322 days but that didn’t deter favourite backers. He brought the best form and scraped home by 0.4L from MAJOR TIME $15, who just pipped DEVINE MISS $4.60 and FANGELA $5.50. Iron Will held the rail pressured by Major Time. Fangela was back and wide and Devine Miss settled last but within touch of the leaders. Major Time used the cutaway and was in front at the 200m with Iron Will in chase, down the middle. Major Time ran out noticeably and had to be straightened at the 100m. Iron Will got him in the shadows of the post.  Devine Miss and Frangella both finished strongly down the outside, making up plenty of ground. TO THE NINES $5 also caught the eye late. Iron Will did enough and is sure to be better for the outing. The result may have been different if Major Tom had held his line.  

Race 7 1300m BM60

PRETTY SASSY was a clear favourite but finished tailed off. Nick Olive-trained MISS STALWART $11 prevailed by a half-length from RONNIE ROCK ART $7.50 with URAFIKI $5.50 less than 1L from the winner in third. They were clear of the remainder, headed by the winner’s stablemate MOOSHAKA $15. Ronnie Rock Art sat outside the leader, and the pair were 1L clear approaching the home turn. MISS STAWLWAT settled last but began a forward move at the 600m and was the widest on the turn. URAFIKI was in a bunch beyond midfield and had begun awkwardly and blundered. There were plenty of chances at the 350m, across the track.  Ronnie Rock Art looked the winner at the 100m, but down the outside rail, Miss Stalwart finished doggedly to get up on the line. Urafiki had turned for home on her inside. Things didn’t work out for the well-beaten BOLD TRIUMPH $5 and Pretty Sassy had a torrid run throughout and the jockey of the latter believed she didn’t handle the heavy track, which had been downgraded to a Heavy 8. Following the race a number expressed concern at the lack of visibility during the race with rain falling. It was a clever ride by Krogh positioning the winner in better ground. Hers was a tough effort, all the same.    

Race 8 1200m BM50

The favourite GRINS $3.40 was beaten a nose by The Danny Williams-trained SAPPHIRES SON $10. They were 1.5L clear of SKAIFFE $21, with a further 1L back to ENCANTADO $14. Grins led on the rail and Sapphires Son was the widest of the three pacemakers. Skaiffe positioned forward and Encantado was in a bunch rearward. The faster ones headed for the outside rail. Grins still held a small margin at the 100m, but outside him, Sapphires Son just keep coming and won right on the line. Skaiffe was just outstayed. Grins had hung out throughout and was brave. However, the winner did it tough all the way and there was plenty of merit in his performance. The heavy track likely worked against some of the beaten brigade.