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Monday Racebook: Brad Waters’ horses to follow, forgive from PB Lawrence Stakes Day at Caulfield

Saturday’s PB Lawrence Stakes Day at Caulfield meeting produced a glimpse of spring and some promising types to follow while several runners had excuses for disappointing runs.

Brad Waters
4 min read
August 19, 2024 - 7:00AM
Lovazou overcame difficulties to score for jockey Carleen Hefel and trainer Danny O’Brien at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.
Lovazou overcame difficulties to score for jockey Carleen Hefel and trainer Danny O’Brien at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

Saturday’s Caulfield meeting produced a glimpse of spring and some promising types to follow while several runners had excuses for disappointing runs on PB Lawrence Stakes Day.

Here are Brad Waters’ horses to follow and forgive from the nine-race program.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

KETTLE HILL (2nd, Race 2)
Much better effort when second in an unsuitable contest at Caulfield. The Ciaron Maher-trained import went fairly at best in his first two runs this time in but improved to finish less than a length from the in-form Rise At Dawn. The tempo in the five-horse field wasn’t suitable for backmarkers but the gelding closed well in the last 200m. He can be hard to catch but looks ready to fire over 2000m.

LOVAZOU (1st, Race 3)
Lovazou hadn’t raced for two months before her Caulfield assignment but the Danny O’Brien-trained mare was simply too good for her rivals. Halfway down the straight, Lovazou looked like she would be an unlucky runner but jockey Carleen Hefel didn’t panic and got the four-year-old into clear running. Her acceleration was the most impressive thing and Lovazou has more wins in store.

LET’SFACETHEMUSIC (2nd, Race 5)
Let’sfacethemusic is eligible for maiden class but he showed he was up to stakes level with his strong effort in the Group 3 Vain Stakes. Let’sfacethemusic was shaded twice on rain-affected tracks but improved on top of the ground, covering ground throughout before running on well to finish a half-length from the winner Band Of Brothers. There’s a win or two in store for Let’sfacethemusic.

EXPRESSIVENESS (3rd, Race 7)
The former Kiwi mare was on debut for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr camp at Caulfield and acquitted herself extremely well. Expressiveness had to work across from the outside draw to race handy to the speed early but fought on gamely in the straight before her condition gave out a touch late. She’s a big, strong mare that will only improve for the outing.

THE OPEN (2nd, Race 9)
The Open has shown plenty of talent during the winter but indicated there’s another win or two in him before he goes for a break with his tough effort at Caulfield. The Open had no luck early and was consigned to racing three-wide without cover for the entire race but remained brave in the straight, boxing well to go down narrowly. He never runs a bad race.

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CRUNCH TIME

VAGRANT finished eighth when resuming in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes but topped the day’s timesheets. The Mitchell Freedman-trained mare got a long way back early in the race but ran the fastest last 400m (22.05 secs) and last 200m (11.12 secs) of the meeting. Tassie filly GEEGEES MISTRUTH clocked the quickest last 600m of the day, running the sectional in 33.56 seconds when second in the Quezette Stakes. Interestingly, MANSIERE clocked the fifth fastest last 600m (33.69 secs) despite being badly held up late in the race won by BEAST MODE.

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PLEASE FORGIVE

MIGHTY (9th, Race 1): Was making ground when the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained mare clipped heels and nearly fell at the 150m. She probably wouldn’t have won the race but should have finished in or near the placegetters. She’s worth another chance when she next steps out.

RHAPSODY CHIC (3rd, Race 2): Rhapsody Chic was on trial at the 1600m and started as a $3.20 chance but didn’t have much luck in the straight. The gelding tracked the leaders but the four-year-old was held up for a significant portion in the straight despite racing in a five-horse field. He had won his previous four starts so could bounce back soon.

MANSIERE (9th, Race 4): Mansiere could be forgiven for his result at Caulfield even though he did contribute to his own problems by blowing the start. The Nick Ryan-trained gelding didn’t stretch out on the good ground early in the race but was closing in the straight before running out of room in the last 100m. He can improve sharply on softer footing.

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TRACK TALK

“He’s so tough the horse, he won’t win by a lot but when there’s something beside him he’ll want to fight it off, he’s very competitive.” — Jockey Mark Zahra said Gentleman Roy’s competitiveness won him the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes.

• Group 1 return looms for resurgent Roy after PB Lawrence success

“He wanted to come here (Caulfield) and I said ‘you’re not coming, you can’t come’.” — Leah Ellerton had to ban her husband, trainer Mathew Ellerton, from being on track to see Band Of Brothers’ Vain Stakes win as he continues his recovery from a stroke.

• Ellerton watches Vain victory from home ... on wife’s orders

“You don’t think it affects you, but it does. It’s impossible not to get attached to most animals, but one like her, you cannot but do so.” — An emotional Peter Moody reflects on the passing of champion mare Black Caviar.

• RAY THOMAS: Black Caviar ‘the closest thing to racing perfection I have seen’

• Black Caviar’s top 10 wins

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STEWARDS SAY

SUNSET DREAMING (2nd, Race 1): Replated at the barriers after losing a front plate.

DIPSY DOODLE (7th, Race 1): Jockey Jamie Kah said the mare made an abnormal respiratory noise. Vet’s examination revealed no issues but stable will follow up.

AMIGO (12th, Race 4): Raced four wide without cover. Had difficulty obtaining clear running over the final 50m.

MAOTAI (6th, Race 7): Knuckled at the start and raced further back than intended.

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Brad Waters’ horses to follow, forgive from PB Lawrence Stakes Day at Caulfield

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/monday-racebook-brad-waters-horses-to-follow-forgive-from-pb-lawrence-stakes-day-at-caulfield/news-story/886032b74d208a052e0c951e6bfe2853