Gilbert Gardiner’s Monday Racebook: Horses to follow, forgive from Ballarat Cup Day
Monday Racebook: Horses to follow and forgive from Ballarat Cup day.
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Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over the Ballarat Cup meeting.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
CAPTAIN ENVIOUS
Sorry to be Captain Obvious but the emphatic Ballarat Cup result sets up a tantalising 2024 schedule. Trainer Paul Preusker has long range Cups plans in mind but in the interim anything 2000m and beyond looks right in the wheelhouse. Captain Envious will stay in work and tick over so expect to see the Savabeel gelding back at the races early in the New Year.
PARKOUR
No match for the winner ARABIAN SUMMER but far from disgraced either on debut. Beaten for early speed, settled last in the run but let down nicely, albeit on one rein down the straight. Jockey Jamie Kah was forced to straighten the Extreme Choice colt, a $600,000 purchase, twice over the concluding stages to stop laying in on third-placed VIANARRA. Parkour should be better for the race experience. Firmer footing and step up to 1200m second up, yes please.
GLITTER ‘N’ GOLD
Missed the start and scrubbed along to tack on. Loomed as a threat down the middle of the track in the straight in difficult conditions but peaked on the run late. Should be hard fit with four starts under the belt and suited in a similar or slightly easier company next time.
OCEANS ABOVE
Tough day to make ground but Oceans Above and FIGHTING ARROW, he benefited from being on the better part of the track, stuck to the tasks grittily to run second and fourth behind leader and winner RESET THE JAZZ. Oceans Above shouldered out at the top of the straight and found the line. A great effort all considered and should be hard to beat next start.
LOUNGE BAR RUBI
Good effort second-up on unsuitable Heavy track. Raced behind runner-up ATMOSPHERE and winner BRUNG KING in the run, was first under pressure around the bend but stuck to the task. Touched off for third by ROGUE ROCKER, advantaged by going very wide in the straight to find unused ground.
FORGIVE
ALL ABOUT EVE (Race 3, unplaced)
Won the corresponding race last year but never a factor last Saturday. Slow to begin and settled last in transit. A long way off the speed around the bend and wanted to lay in under pressure. Too bad to be true. A post-race vet exam revealed the mare had sustained lacerations to the left hind pastern.
FOXY CLEOPATRA (Race 8, unplaced)
Slow to begin and settled at the rear of the field. The worst possible scenario on a deteriorated track which suited horses on the speed and close to the rail. Foxy Cleopatra weakened from the 400m to run second last, beaten 18 lengths. Rider Craig Williams reported the mare did not handle the heavy track conditions.
RED SUN SENSATION (Race 8, unplaced)
Raced keen through the early and middle stages, rare for a horse with Jamie Kah aboard, and entitled to drop out of contention. Kah told Stewards the gelding was not suited by the shifty track conditions. Red Sun Sensation raced consistently previously, placed the past four starts including three seconds in a row, so worth another go next campaign.
TRACK TALK
“He quickened up like it was a good track. He ploughed through that. He was running away from them on the line and he took time to pull him up.” - Jockey Michael Dee on Ballarat Cup-winner Captain Envious.
“She’s owned in Queensland and she might be a filly that could go to Queensland next winter. She’s a handy filly, that could come up a bit more.” - Trainer Tony McEvoy on Give Giggles.
“He looked like he was going to be a better horse early than he’s turned out to be, but I’ve maintained and looked after his rating and he’s won something like $450,000 being a 95 rater. If they all can do that, we’d be happy.” - Trainer Michael Hickmott on Taunting.
“I think he’s a deadset 1400-metre horse. We tried to stretch him out because all these Brungle horses, they all stay, except him.” - Trainer Henry Dwyer on Brung King.
CRUNCH TIME
CAPTAIN ENVIOUS (Race 8) lapped up Heavy 9 conditions to win the Ballarat Cup in 2:05.36 – 34 lengths faster than standard comparison time for the track, conditions and distance.
For comparison sake, last year’s Ballarat Cup was run on a Heavy 8 and Bankers Choice stopped the clock at 2:08.28 — three seconds slower than Captain Envious despite the marginally drier surface.
STEWARDS SAY
Jockey JOHN ALLEN received a 13 meeting suspension for careless riding on third-placed Just Folk in the Listed Ballarat Cup last Saturday.
Allen pleaded not guilty but stewards deemed the interference caused to runner-up Young Werther, ridden by Billy Egan, by Just Folk shifting out at the 200m was worthy of a suspension.
Allen was advised of his appeal rights.
Apprentice jockey TATUM BULL sustained an injury to her foot after being dislodged from her mount Rosalia behind the barriers prior to the start of Race 9.
Originally published as Gilbert Gardiner’s Monday Racebook: Horses to follow, forgive from Ballarat Cup Day
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