Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Tavi Time set to relish stepping up over a mile in The Coast
Trainer Kris Lees expects Tavi Time to lap up the mile as she prepares to take on the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford on Saturday.
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Trainer Kris Lees is expecting Tavi Time to be a major player in Saturday’s $500,000 The Coast at Gosford as his talented galloper steps up to a trip he’s never been beaten over.
Lees has been keen to see his smart son of Tavistock tackle the mile this preparation but his date with the Provincial-Midway Championships Final over 1400m has forced Tavi Time to continue to line up over the shorter trips.
Tavi Time won a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier at Newcastle in the first week of March and all three of his runs this preparation have been over seven furlongs.
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That includes a last start fifth in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final where Tavi Time drew wide and settled last in the run before working home strongly.
“Being a million dollar race it was an attractive option for him to go to the Provincial-Midway but when drew a wide gate and stepped a bit slow, we were probably out of play,” Lees said.
“He has come on well since and a month between runs will suit him heading into The Coast. He is a lighter framed horse.
“He is crying out for the mile and has to get around the Gosford track but he has handled Mudgee and a few different tracks.
“A mile and even further will suit him.”
Tavi Time has won six of his 11 starts to date and has been dominant in all three of his previous runs over the mile, including a dominant 6½-length success in the Mudgee Cup last December.
The Coast is only available for three and four-year-olds and this year will be the fourth running of the race after the John Sargent-trained Palmetto took out the race last year.
Lees plans on nominating emerging filly Kind Words for The Coast as well.
The daughter of Written Tycoon finished fifth in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes last start however it’s more likely Kind Words heads interstate with the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast set to be staged.
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“Kind Words might be nominated for The Coast but we will look at Queensland with her,” Lees said. “She is in good order and I’ve been happy with her.”
The Coast is one of three stakes features to take centre stage in the second of three stand-alone weekends in NSW.
The Listed $300,000 Gosford Cup (2100m) offers Big Dance eligibility to the first two home while the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) will also be staged.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
MONTE VEEBEE (race 1)
This Robert and Luke Price-trained colt is still learning his craft but there was plenty to like about his second to Media World in the Clarendon. He’s on a JJ Atkins path and I am keen to stick with him.
Media World begins the day with a win for @SnowdenRacing1 and @ZacLloydx in the Clarendon Stakes @hawkesburyrc! pic.twitter.com/GMv2fslj1D
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 4, 2024
AGITA (race 4)
The son of Adelaide got a long way back but looked good hitting the line for second behind For Victory. He’s a three-year-old gelding that will get over ground so watch out for him heading towards a Queensland Derby.
GHAANATI (race 6)
She was never on the track in the Hawkesbury Crown and still found the guts to battle on to finish within a length off the winner. Provided that second up run doesn’t take too much out of her, she can play a big part in a race like the Dark Jewel Classic.
MCHALE (race 7)
Both Chris Waller-trained gallopers could be worth following out of the Hawkesbury Guineas with this gelding racing without a lot of clear air in the straight. He’s up to winning a three-year-old stakes race.
SCHWARZ wins the Hawkesbury Guineas!
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) May 4, 2024
A treble for @mcacajamez on an emerging talent as the @JohnOSheaRacing colt leads all the way to an easy Group 3 win at @hawkesburyrc over Bojangles with McHale third in a blanket for the minors. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/F8tEojQcQr
BERKSHIRE SHADOW (race 8)
Dylan Gibbons was left with few options outside of going back from a wide draw in the Gold Cup and made up good ground over the final 400m. He’s going better than the eighth placing suggests.
CRUNCH TIME
Gentileschi (race 3): Urged to get going around the 600m, she ran home strongly to win with a last 600m of 33.88 seconds. Her 10.65 split between the 400m and 200m was the mark of a quality filly.
For Victory (race 4): Worked home off a strong tempo from midfield to set a new 1800m track record of 1:47.34 seconds. His last 600m was clocked in 34.50 seconds.
Parisal (race 5): She found the good going to her liking when rattling home in a slick final 600m of 32.92 seconds. Her 11.14 final furlong was the fastest in the race and proved decisive.
"She wanted to win and did, gee she's good fresh."@ZacLloydx drives @godolphin mare Parisal to a first-up Listed win in the @hawkesburyrc Gold Rush, edging away from Eagle Nest with Spacewalk in third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/aE8DliYu0V
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) May 4, 2024
McHale (race 7): Hit the line better than anything in the Guineas, running his last 600m in 33.35 seconds as the rain came down. It included a 10.97 second final furlong.
STEWARDS SAY
Great White Shark (race 1): Was found to have sustained a laceration to its near hind cannon and will be referred to Randwick Equine Centre for further assessment and treatment.
Victory Lane (race 2): Only beat a runner home in the Midway and was found to have bled in both nostrils for the first time. He is now banned from racing for three months.
Montebello’s Charm (race 3): Apprentice Dylan Gibbons was concerned about the horse’s action. A post race vet’s check found the gelding to be 2/5 lame in the near foreleg.
Konasana (race 7): Had to be steadied and lost momentum when awkwardly placed behind General Salute in the straight. Was found to be 1/5 lame in the off foreleg following a post race vet’s check.
Madame Pommery (race 8): Became fractious and cast under the front gates and had to be scratched from the feature event. She would need to trial before racing again but is set to be retired instead.
TRACK TALK
“It’s great to pull off the plan and this win is right up there with the best I’ve had as a trainer.” Gavin Bedgood after the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
“Just Folk did everything he could to try and get beat, I have to be honest with you,” Nash Rawiller.
“I must say when she arrived at the stables I thought ‘you looked much bigger on TV’.” Peter Snowden on Coco Jamboo.
“We could even take her straight to Brisbane and get her ready for the Dane Ripper Stakes and Tatts Tiara.” Snowden again.
“When she joined the leaders in the straight she really wanted to win the race.” Zac Lloyd on Parisal.
“He is a beautiful colt and has the best action. He really glides across the ground.” James McDonald on Schwarz.
“We absolutely trust him emphatically.” John O’Shea on Schwarz.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
R7
After opening at $3.10, Schwarz took multiple bets of interest in hitting $2.25 through race day morning before a slight drift pre-race to $2.50.
There were multiple $5000 outlays at $2.50, $3000 @ $2.60 and several $2000 bets at $2.50 also.
R8
Second favourite behind Detonator Jack ($4-$3.50), Just Folk was well supported throughout race day and cut from $8 into $6 after being $9.50 midweek.
Best bets were multiple $1000 @ $7, $1,500 @ $6.50 and several $1,000 @ $6.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Gunnedah, Taree
Tuesday: Goulburn, Wellington
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Wyong, Coffs Harbour
Friday: Tamworth, Albury
Saturday: Gosford, Kembla Grange, Tuncurry, Quambone
Sunday: Mudgee, Sapphire Coast
RON DUFFICY’S HAWKESBURY SNAPSHOT
RUN OF THE DAY
The well fancied Schwarz took ownership of the race early taking up the lead giving the opposition no hope winning with his head on his chest.
He is ready to take the next step now.
FORGET THEY RAN
Fall For Cindy got half a win with a dead heat but it should have been outright.
She got hampered down the straight by Highlights which put her off balance.
THE BLACK BOOK
Not a lot of obvious horses to tag moving forward although I think Snowman has enough improvement moving forward over the winter months to win a few races.
RIDE OF THE DAY
McDonald , Rawiller and Lloyd dominated the meeting but Zac Lloyd was the winner pacing and navigating his winners with finesse.
Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Tavi Time set to relish stepping up over a mile in The Coast
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