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Gilbert Gardiner’s Monday Racebook: ‘Has he got out yet?’

It was a familiar tale for trainer Nick Ryan at Caulfield on Saturday with his stable star desperately unlucky in the straight. Here are Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive.

Gilbert GardinerGilbert Gardiner
@gilbertgardiner
2 min read
June 3, 2024 - 7:00AM
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Victorian form analyst Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over last Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield for the horses to follow in their next starts.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

MUNHAMEK (unplaced, R7)
Has he got out yet? Been a familiar tale for Munhamek’s trainer Nick Ryan, connections and backers of the tenacious galloper which is often forced to split packs to win races. A good thing beaten just about last Saturday at Caulfield, went to the line basically untouched, trapped behind a wall of horses. Could he back up at Flemington on Saturday? POUNDING was also luckless in the straight.

VALLEY KING (4th, R9)
Stuck to the task nicely outside the eventual winner FOUJITA SAN but peaked on the run. Valley King was last and wide on straightening and looked to blend into the 2000m Benchmark 84 like a winner until fitness and the fast ground probably slowed the momentum. With four wins from six starts on rain-affected ground, Valley King should be much better suited next start with cut in the ground.

BATRANA (3rd, R8)
Last and ridden for luck through the field, pinballed between runners on straightening, to run third behind BRITISH ANGEL and PARADISE CITY. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly was first-up for seven months so should take plenty of improvement out of the performance.

IS IT ME (3rd, R5)
Under pressure before the bend but stuck to the task gamely, albeit luckless behind a wall of horses. Once in the clear late, towed up into third under his own steam between BEOUR BAY and BEWS. Placed third first-up at Bendigo then a complete forgive run at Warrnambool in the Listed Wangoom Handicap. Back in the minor money now and worth another go, potentially on a track with more give in the ground.

LUNA CAT (unplaced, R4)
Bailed up behind the speed first-up on straightening and robbed any true momentum. Could not pick up again when a slight gap emerged and whacked away to the finish, potentially on an inferior inside section of the track. Luna Cat has won and placed second up previously.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

FORGIVE

EPISODIC (2nd, R3)
Settled towards the rear of the field after being beaten for early speed from barrier one and could not muster quickly enough to catch the leader and winner SUBLIMINAL, who dictated the early and middle stages of the race. Despite the circumstances, favourite Episodic finished well enough to grab second from ARQANA.

KEEP READING (unplaced, R6)
Stranded close to the rail late in the day not the place to be. Stuck on well to hold fifth – beaten 2.6 lengths. First three past the post, LA DANSEUSE ROUGE, ASHFORD STREET and EXTREMELY LUCKY sailed down the middle of the track.

PIVOT CITY (unplaced, R8)
A step slow out of the barriers and forced to settle worse than midfield as a result behind a wall of horses. Jockey Damian Lane tried to cut the corner to get into clear air but his efforts were in vain and Pivot City cantered to the line untouched.

Originally published as Gilbert Gardiner’s Monday Racebook: ‘Has he got out yet?’

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/gilbert-gardiners-monday-racebook-has-he-got-out-yet/news-story/26cb7d3a500d97841649e18a555b18e5