PENFOLD MISS- Have to admit I wasn’t in her corner on debut and although a few didn’t have a lot of luck I loved the way she went through the line.
TICINO BELLE- Went around huge odds, had no luck so you are sort of guessing what she had to give. Should have finished closer.
THUNDER MANIA- Smashed in betting, nice action and bolted in. More to come here!
QIJI PHOENIX- They will wonder why it took so long to geld him. Different horse here!
SCALLOPINI- He keeps improving, feel he is one of these horses that will thrive as he races in better company and where there is a genuine tempo.
AIM- Genuine MM chance. Feel he and BLONDEAU are the only winning hopes if they draw decent gates.
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The HOW? of the week:
SECRET SPIRIT, how the hell did this horse start fav? Latest wins have been at Gatton, Beaudesert and come off a 4 horse field win. Was way outclassed and somehow starts fav.
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Jock of the week:
Hard to choose this week and wouldn’t say the rides of Fradd were outstanding but in big races the rides MALAHIDE and ISUARIAN were nearly perfect. Thought he might have been able to wait another 50m on both but he got the cash. Both rides different very good. Went forward from wide gate and got in on ISUARIAN without driving the horse. Jumped well on MALAHIDE and just let the horse find her feet. Eased off fence in straight and didn’t ask her too early.
The slaughter:
I very rarely, nearly never use the word slaughter on this site as I have too much respect for jocks who have an incredibly hard job. However, Larry Cassidy was the replacement rider on MISSION PHOENIX and I can’t believe how wrong they got it. (before people say talking through your pocket, I backed both Syd horses at $3+ so won on the race). As mentioned he is a one paced stayer and all he wanted was for this to be a staying contest, put them to the sword as he would stay like the mother in law. Instead he sat outside lead and went 9L slower than the class benchmark to the 600m. This allowed Zahra on the main danger to slide forward and lead after being 3 wide and over racing. Then didn’t put pressure on and let winner skip away. MISSION PHOENIX was as good as anything through the line. You just have to be better than that when racing at group level.
*Honourable mention to A.Allen (BORN BAD)
I have been wrapping Anthony Allen for the last month on his staying rides at the GC, he’s been exceptional, but wowee this on BORN BAD was exactly that- BAD!. Yes I had this as one of the best of the day and in the preview said he just needs to find cover and be held up for the last 200m to see if he could run over them late. Instead he was driven out of the gates and kept driving to go 7L quicker than the avg to the 600m mark, literally gave this horse no chance. Couldn’t believe what I witnessed and it was no hope after 500m.
