Monday Racebook: Aberfeldie Boy resumed with a stylish fourth placing in the Easter Cup
Herald Sun racing writers Gilbert Gardiner and Brad Waters run a rule over Saturday’s Caulfield card.
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Herald Sun racing writers Gilbert Gardiner and Brad Waters run a rule over last Saturday’s Caulfield card.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
ABERFELDIE BOY (4th, R9)
Let down nicely once clear in the straight. Only second-up last Saturday so plenty of improvement to come especially up in distance. Next to last around the bend and forced to shoulder out to get into clear galloping room. BERKELEY SQUARE (5th) luckless in transit, stuck behind the disappointing CARINI (10th) early in the straight.
How TOUGH was this win! 😤
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) April 6, 2024
Captain Envious is too strong in the Easter Cup! pic.twitter.com/lCvZLFjFF1
MR MAESTRO (unplaced, R8)
Quality stayer raced well fresh at 2000m and should only be better for the outing. Jockey Harry Coffey saved every inch of ground with a rails-hugging ride and just missed the bob for fourth on the $61 outsider, first-up since Melbourne Cup Day last year. Mr Maestro, who injured a tendon 12-months ago, raced twice last spring to get the legs ticking over again. After the promising first-up performance, astute Andrew Forsman can plot a campaign, be it in Melbourne or interstate.
DOLPHIN SKIN (unplaced, R6)
No match for winner LEGACIES but entitled to finish closer. Dolphin Skin settled three back the rail and tried to improve on straightening but unable to quicken enough to take a gap between THOUGHT PROVOKING (unplaced) and NANA’S WISH (4th), pressured from the outside by runner-up REGAL VOW, before the run closed and spat out the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained three-year-old filly.
How TOUGH was this win! 😤
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) April 6, 2024
Captain Envious is too strong in the Easter Cup! pic.twitter.com/lCvZLFjFF1
NATION STATE (3rd, R3)
Sped out from barrier three to hold a position outside the leader and maintained the effort late to jag a minor prize as eye-catcher BEWS (2nd) flashed down the middle of the track. The John Moloney-trained Nation State was tightened for room at the top of the straight but responded to the urging of jockey Teo Nugent to hold its position. Nation State won first and second-up last campaign, so could pay to stick with him after another good run fresh.
DAIQUIRI (unplaced, R2)
Sweet ride in transit, behind the leader on the rail, but held up in the straight. Momentum lost at the 300m as apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray sat up to navigate three sets of heels and get into the clear inside the last 100m. First and second (DESCARADO and BERKSHIRE BREEZE) were very good, the runner-up especially stuck to the task after being exposed three wide without cover before the home bend, but Daiquiri entitled to finish closer. Only second-up last Saturday so improvement to come.
FORGIVE
PERSPIRATION: Perspiration just gave too much start and covered too much ground when running a strong second to Feroce in the opening race. Jockey John Allen decided to go back to second last when there was a bit of speed inside him early. Perspiration had five lengths to make up and only just fell short. He can atone for that defeat soon.
PEACE TREATY: Dragged back to last from the wide draw and sustained a solo effort wide around the bend without anything to tow her into the race. Made up good ground late under her own steam but never threatened. Should be more competitive third-up.
GLOBE: Was examined pre-race for an abscess on his lip and passed fit to start. He raced handy to the speed but his condition gave out in the last 100m to finish fourth. He’s a big, strong galloper so might have needed the run, which was his first since early September last year. Give him another chance next time out before deciding whether to stick with him.
TRACK TALK
“It’s my first black type winner as well, I can’t believe it really, he’s just been a big work in progress, he’s still getting the hang of it, it was a good strong win, he really had to run and put his neck down where it really matters, it was good to see him up for that fight.”
Jockey Neil Farley after winning the Galilee Series Final on Gold Wolf.
“It’s pretty surreal and it’s even more special as I’ve got my father over from the UK and he seems to have a knack when he lands here to have a winner straight off the bat … these are the old man’s colours. He’s been my main supporter helping me get this off the ground, so it’s nice to repay him with a win.”
Trainer Dominic Sutton after Feroce notched the stable’s first city winner.
“He was gutsy, he was tough, he’s had a bit of a blow so will come on.”
Jockey Tom Stockdale on Captain Envious.
CRUNCH TIME
Oracle Son saves ground up the inside and wins JUST! ðŸ¤@pstokesracingpic.twitter.com/BOj9Sdtk68
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) April 6, 2024
BEWS (2nd, R3)
Will be in every black book in Australia after a slashing return in the 1200m Benchmark 70 at Caulfield last Saturday.
The I Am Invincible gelding charged from next to last at the 1000m to second, beaten half a length, with the fastest last 800m (45.02sec), 600m (33.68sec), 400m (22.25sec) and 200m (11.20sec) sectionals last Saturday at Caulfield.
STEWARDS SAY
INVINCIBLE BEAU (Unplaced Race 1) – Lame in the right hind leg.
WHITE BEAR (5th Race 3) – Bled from one nostril. Must gallop over 1000m and earn a vet clearance before racing again.
FUROSSHI (Unplaced Race 4) – Bled both nostrils for the first time. Banned from racing for three months.
APULIA (Unplaced Race 7) – Bled both nostrils for the first time. Banned from racing for three months.
GLOBE (4th Race 8) – Vetted pre-race because of abscess near lip area. Allowed to run as abscess was far enough from the bit to not cause concern.
CARINI (Unplaced Race 9) – Made a slow recovery.
Originally published as Monday Racebook: Aberfeldie Boy resumed with a stylish fourth placing in the Easter Cup
Leap To Fame draws perfectly for Victoria Cup
Leap To Fame, the $3.2 million-earner, will start the hottest favourite in the 50-year history of the race they call the Cox Plate of harness racing after drawing gate three for the Melton feature.
Boom colt Growing Empire completes The Everest field
Last start Group 1 Manikato Stakes runner up Growing Empire has given trainer Ciaron Maher his third starter in the world’s most lucrative sprint event at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.