Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive at Caulfield

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over last Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield to identify the horses to follow and forgive.

Piastri (yellow cap) raced well at Caulfield last Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over last Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield to identify the horses to follow and forgive.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

KALIMNA VIEWS (4th, R3)

Snagged back to last from a wide draw and sustained a big run late to challenge for third, touched off by BEREZKA, the best of the previously unraced brigade. Kalimna Views, a Pakenham maiden winner last campaign, has good potential. The winner MANOLO BLING impressed, while runner-up HUSK has already saluted on the metropolitan circuit and been around the mark in similar races. Forget BUTTERNUT PRINCESS (9th) went around, caught five and six wide the trip.

Manolo Bling finishes strong for @FreedmanRacing! @Brown_ethan8 continues his great form on board🔥 pic.twitter.com/w0Ymzy8zmZ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

PIASTRI (3rd, R7)

Only second-up last Saturday and handled a sharp rise in class, Benchmark 58 win at Sale to clear third in a 3YO Open Handicap (1100m) behind race fit MARBLE NINE and MAJOR SHARE, previously unbeaten on the provincial circuit. Piastri pushed forward from barrier 19 and travelled wide with cover behind the speed, kept going in the straight to hold third, a length ahead of stablemate STEEL CITY (4th), worth following next start also. Could Piastri and Steel City squeeze in another run as three-year-olds before August 1?

Marble Nine toughs it out and holds on the inside👊 pic.twitter.com/riR5AA6jul

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 13, 2024

ALDER (unplaced, R6)

The Group 2-placed Irish import made a good impression in Australian debut, first-up 1700m after more than a year off the scene, to make late ground against the pattern and run fifth. Struck a proper wet track to boot and travelled next to last in the run at the 800m. Three of the first four past the past were the first three in transit. Better for the experience and form in Ireland as a young horse is top shelf, third as a two-year-old in 2022 behind Auguste Rodin.

KINGSWOOD (unplaced, R2)

First Australian start for the Group 3-placed Irish import and 1400m well short of his best 2000m sweet spot. Settled well back in the field last Saturday and went through gears nicely in the straight, albeit in restricted room behind and between horses. Not so much a coming winner, as in next start necessarily, as might need a bit more time to find his range here, but certainly a horse to remember going forward.

PURE GRUNT (4th, R4)

Under pressure a long way from home but liked the way he responded under jockey Patrick Moloney to run fourth. Only third start in a race, coming off a Pakenham synthetic win and first go on a proper wet track. EYE FOR AN EYE (2nd) would be another keen to find a similar three-year-old race before the new season.

Mornington Glory is better suited on fast ground. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos

FORGIVE

MORNINGTON GLORY (unplaced R8)

At the pointy end of the market in pre-post betting but Mornington Glory was never suited by the wet track. Unplaced in all four starts to date on rain-affected ground. Brushed ASHFORD STREET in the run and became unbalanced, which didn’t help. Jockey Beau Mertens told stewards the horse was not comfortable in the conditions, Trainer Gavin Bedggood agreed.

HE’S BESET (unplaced, R2)

Began awkwardly from the wide draw, which forced jockey Blake Shinn to restrain for cover and raced further back than intended. Obliged to make a long run, covered ground, but never got into gear. Shinn told stewards he was not too disappointed in the performance, but felt the gelding raced flat. He’s Beset won first-up and been runner-up twice since, albeit in slightly easier grade, so better than being beaten the best part of nine lengths.

LITTLE JACK (unplaced, R5)

Over-raced behind a slow early speed, the leaders were nine lengths slower than standard comparison time to the 800m, and landed in a stick spot, on the rail initially third last before shouldering into space to make long sustained and searching run. Forget he went around.

Recommendation romped to victory under Blake Shinn in the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

CRUNCH TIME

RECOMMENDATION (1st, R8)

Not only did Recommendation look good winning the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes by seven lengths he smashed the clock doing so, despite throttling down late. Recommendation recorded the day’s fastest 1000m (56.66sec), 800m (46.19sec), 600m (35.58sec) and 400m (24.01sec) sectionals on the genuinely rain-affected track.

EL ROCKO (1st, R2)

In-form gelding got a split at the right time and burst through to win with the fastest last 200m sectional (12.28sec) on the card to boot.

STEWARDS SAY

Jockey ZAC SPAIN received a 10-meeting suspension for careless riding on PERFUME RIVER in Race 4.

Spain pleaded guilty to allowing his mount to shift in near the 1200m when not sufficiently clear of JUST LANDED, which lost its position and caused interference to WILLABILLOO.

Spain elected to start the mid-range careless riding ban next week, July 22 to August 1.

Willabilloo clipped the heels of Just Landed and blundered when crowded for room.

Jockey Ethan Brown said Willabilloo failed to travel after the interference and he felt there may be something amiss.

A post-race veterinary examination revealed no significant findings.

Jockey TOM MADDEN pleaded guilty to mid-range careless riding in race 6 aboard FIRST MATE, which shifted in near the 1200m and crowded UNSEEN RULER.

Madden copped a 10-meeting ban, set to start on July 15 through to July 25.

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive at Caulfield