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

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over last Saturday’s Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes meeting at Sandown.

She's Bulletproof cruised to the line in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over last Saturday’s Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes meeting at Sandown.

SHE’S BULLETPROOF (1st, R9)

Only gets harder from here but the Charlotte Littlefield-trained home-bred mare has nothing but upside and Group 1 ability potentially in time. Treated smart opposition with contempt to win by 2.75 lengths under a throttle hold from jockey Mark Zahra.

JENNI MOO MOO (4th, R5)

Nice debut and should only improve with race experience and extra distance. Found the opposition too sharp at 1000m but could be a different story up to 1200m and even 1400m potentially. Tracked SWORD OF LEGACY into the straight but lost touch as the runner-up quickened inside the last 300m. Jenni Moo Moo stuck to her guns late to run the third fastest last 200m in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes, bettered only by the first two past the post.

MR VERSE (3rd, R7)

Strong gallop from last after being slow into stride. Loomed late but peaked on the effort to run third behind the equally impressive ENTRUSTING (1st) and MARY ELIZA (2nd). All three should be winning races in the not too distant future.

DON’T HOPE DO (4th, R6)

Should take a lot of improvement from the run after being eight weeks’ between starts. Tried hard in the straight and looked good at the 100m but peaked on the run. Winner MIGHTY enjoyed a lovely cart behind the speed and got out late. WINNASEDGE (5) hit the line strongly first-up and raced in restricted room late.

MATERIAL DREAMS (unplaced, R1)

Settled last, beaten for early speed, but worked through her gears nicely late to record the fastest last 200m sectional (11.06sec) on the card and third quickest final 400m. Only second up so open to improvement and a bit more ground potentially.

FORGIVE

FORCEOFONE (unplaced, R5)

Agitated pre-race and melted behind the barriers as the occasion got to the Super Seth colt and first starter. Bumped on jumping away by SWORD OF LEGACY and raced wide for the majority of the event. Eased down over the concluding stages. Jockey Michael Dee told stewards his mount was agitated pre-race and sweated up badly, which in his opinion was detrimental to its chances. A post-race examination did not reveal any significant findings.

NIGHT ENDEAVOR (unplaced, R2)

A post-race vet examination found the gelding pulled up lame in the right hind leg. Night Endeavor, trained by Ciaron Maher, laid out under pressure in the straight, which suggested something amiss potentially. Expected to fight out the finish otherwise, with a nice weight and residual fitness, so worth including again with a clean bill of health.

GOLDENSTATEWARRIOR (4th) and MATRON BULLWINKEL (unplaced)

Goldenstatewarrior raced ungenerously in the early stages and as a result ended up too far back in the run despite a strong tempo upfront. Powered late but impossible task. Matron Bullwinkel settled on the back of Goldenstatewarrior but unable to quicken as sharply. Jockey Jamie Melham told stewards the mare felt uncomfortable in its action. A vet exam confirmed Matron Bullwinkel lame in the near hind leg.

GARNACHO (unplaced, R7)

Worked early to cross from barrier eight and travel outside the leader. Kicked in the straight but not enough petrol tickets to fight out the finish. Stuck to the task but fatigue set in late.

STEWARDS SAY

Jockey Damian Lane received an eight-meeting suspension for careless riding aboard SO GLAMOROUS in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m). Lane allowed So Glamorous to shift out when not sufficiently clear of BOSSY NIC, who was pushed onto BIZOT and checked to avoid heels.

Lane will begin the suspension next Sunday and as a result be unavailable to ride at Flemington on Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day.

Jockeys Dean Yendall (whip) and apprentice Ryan Houston (careless riding) also copped eight meeting bans for separate incidents in Race 10.

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