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

Herald Sun and Racenet racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over Saturday’s card at Flemington.

Gilbert GardinerGilbert Gardiner
@gilbertgardiner
3 min read
June 24, 2024 - 7:00AM
Henlein.
Henlein.

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over Saturday’s card at Flemington.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

HENLEIN (3rd, R1)

Dragged back to second last from the wide draw, barrier 12 of 13, and forced to make a sustained run at the finish. Best work late, including the quickest last 400m sectional (22.16sec) for the entire meeting. Only second race start after a dominant Bendigo maiden win on debut. Should be hard to hold out in the Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) with the extra distance ideal.

MR MOJO RISIN’ (2nd, R7)

Tracked the speed nicely but held from the 500-metre mark until passing the 200m and not quite sharp enough to rebuild momentum and surge between GEORGIE GET MAD and TOBAYSURE. Surged the last 50m to be in a three-way photo finish and split LE FERRARI and Tobaysure. Could he cause an upset in a Winter Championship Series Final?

RED GALAXY (3rd, R3)

Stalked the rising star CRAIG and entitled to run on with a drag into the race but Red Galaxy stuck to the task boldly at only his third race start. The Greg Eurell-trained three-year-old son of Stratum Star finished two lengths behind Craig and 1 ¼ from the hard fit runner-up RISE AT DAWN. Only third start so upside aplenty.

APPARATUS (4th, R9)

Lightly-raced daughter of Trapeze Artist handled the rise in class to Saturday grade with aplomb after consistent form on the provincial circuit. Once clear inside the last 300m wound up strongly to run fourth with the sixth fastest last 200m sectional (11.61sec) on the card.

LOUNGE BAR RUBI (unplaced, R6)

Entitled to get tired late after being posted wide without cover the trip. A hip and shoulder from SIBAAQ around the bend didn’t help the cause either. All considered the Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained galloper performed admirably up in grade and should be competitive next start.

FORGIVE

ASHFORD STREET (unplaced, R5)

Raced in restricted room and held up from the 500m, stranded behind tiring horses. Much better than the performance last Saturday and should bounce back quickly, especially around a bend.

JENNY JEROME (unplaced, R4) and STARLIGHT SCOPE (unplaced, R4)

Jenny Jerome cruised up on straightening but one-paced to the line. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Jenny Jerome lame in the left foreleg and right hind leg, good reason for a lacklustre finish and reluctance to let down properly. STARLIGHT SCOPE (unplaced, R4) in a similar boat, led the field but dropped out in the straight, with a lame right hind leg.

LADY IN PINK (4th, R8)

No match for the winner AZTEC STATE on the day but certainly entitled to finish a lot closer. Settled worse than midfield on the rail and forced to steady off heels as the field bunched approaching the home bend. Apprentice Jaylah Kennedy hooked widest in the straight and Lady In Pink sustained a strong gallop to the finish albeit luckless.

OAK HILL (unplaced, R9)

Has shown enough previously to forgive a lacklustre performance down the straight the first time. Should be better for the experience. Never settled for jockey Blake Shinn and over-raced in the early and middle stages.

TRACK TALK

“He needs to win his next couple so we can get him up in the rating so we can get him into those better races” - Trainer Natalie Young on rising star CRAIG.

“It’s hard to stop when they’re going this well … he’s an eight-year-old, rising nine-year-old, so strike while the iron is hot” - Trainer Nick Ryan on MUNHAMEK likely to proceed to Listed Winter Championship Final.

“She responded when challenged and even when the second horse challenged me late she extended again and started to go away from it” - Jockey Jay Ford on emerging sprinter THE BLACK CLOUD.

Craig wins at Flemington.
Craig wins at Flemington.

CRUNCH TIME

MR MOJO RISIN’ (2nd, R7)

Rattled off the fastest last 200m sectional (11.38sec) last Saturday to charge into second place after being held up in the straight.

HENLEIN (3rd, R1)

Made the best of an awkward map, settled a long way back behind a slow tempo, to run third with the five of the six fastest sectionals in the 1420m Two-Year-Old Handicap.

Henlein’s last 400m (22.16sec) was the best of the day.

STEWARDS SAY

Jockey JOE BOWDITCH copped a 10-meeting ban for careless riding aboard Flemington BRAZEN LADY.

Stewards pinged Bowditch for allowing Brazen Lady to shift in when not sufficiently clear of ELECTRIC IMPULSE around the 250-metre mark.

Bowditch was already set to start a suspension on Saturday night, from Pakenham on June 17, with the new penalty effective July 2-13.

Jockeys JAMIE MOTT (overweight) and TEO NUGENT (careless riding) escaped with severe reprimands.

Trainer MICK PRICE has advised the owners of INUNDATION and stewards the best course of action would be to retire and rehome the gelding after another poor performance.

Inundation has been plagued by setbacks the past 18 months, including two throat operations and a cardiac arrhythmia.

AKMO (unplaced, R1): Bled both nostrils, three month suspension.

LET’SROLLTHEDICE (unplaced, R2): Bled both nostrils, three month suspension, and cardiac arrhythmia.

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

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/monday-racebook-gilbert-gardiners-horses-to-follow-and-forgive/news-story/f882d503992cd0e4fcbdab748199b851