Monday Racebook: Horses to follow and forgive from Champions Day at Flemington
Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner runs a rule over the horses to follow and forgive from Champions Stakes Day at Flemington.
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Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from Champions Stakes Day at Flemington.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
AMOKURA (Race 5)
Stepped slowly from a wide draw and forced to settle next to last for much of the race as winner DENY KNOWLEDGE dictated from runner-up OSMOSE. Champion jockey Damien Oliver saved ground around the bend but ship sailed unfortunately. Limited options ahead for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner, only second up at Flemington, but could a Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) or Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) be considered? This campaign or next, stick with the Kris Lees-trained mare.
BANKERS CHOICE (Race 7)
Tracking nicely towards a Ballarat Cup title defence and should appreciate the drop in grade after a competitive spring in the Group 1 and Group 2 arena. Rattled home to run third in the Toorak Handicap under a light weight and honest in the Crystal Mile third-up. No match for the weight-for-age stars in the Champions Mile last Saturday but need only hold form to be mighty hard to beat in the Ballarat Cup on December 9.
PRAIRIE FLOWER and LOUNGE BAR RUBI (Race 9)
Pimple separated the pair of them last Saturday for third and fourth but the summer could be lucrative for the Henry Dwyer and Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained four-year-olds. Prairie Flower has a nice rating to pick off a race or two, while Lounge Bar Rubi ultra-impressive under a big weight (62kg) last Saturday. The consistent gelding won five of nine starts last campaign from February to July and placed twice.
EUGENIUS (Race 3)
Entitled to finish closer. Trapped wide and forced to settle three wide in the second half of the field. Worked through gears nicely late but squeezed at the 300m and lost all momentum. Should be competitive in a similar grade, certainly in slightly easier company, with a more economical run in transit.
BUCKAROO (Race 8)
Horse for the future. Only second start in Australia and after a lacklustre effort in Sydney responded with a solid fifth placing in the Champions Stakes. Wide no cover in a muddling race but galloped strongly to go down by 2.15 lengths while acting as a tow ball for the eventual winner ATISHU – she was very impressive.
FORGIVE
WEST WIND BLOWS (Race 8)
Ride in the Champions Stakes (2000m) did the talented import no favours at Flemington last Saturday. He missed the start sure, but wonder if UK-based globetrotting Irish jockey Jamie Spencer might have been better served working into the race than riding West Wind Blows’ ears off to make up for the lost ground. He found the front eventually and led briefly only to puncture at the top of the straight. Talented horse, unlucky to crash into two absolute stars first and second up in the Turnbull Stakes (Gold Trip) and Caulfield Cup (Without A Fight).
ZAAKI (Race 8)
Age has not wearied the old boy and had it not been for a muddling stop start tempo early the eight-year-old certainly finishes closer to, if not ahead of, the winner. Zaaki responded to the urging of Jamie Kah under pressure from the tiring West Wind Blows and Buckaroo only to be a sitting shot at the 200m. Raced well without winning this campaign but Zaaki has another nice win in front of him.
LOFTY STRIKE and STAR PATROL (Race 6)
Lofty Strike is much better than he showed last Saturday and maybe reluctant to stretch out fully after hiccup at Caulfield the start prior? Only second up but too good and too valuable to be messing around with. Nice break and come back in the autumn hopefully. Star Patrol went into the race off back-to-back Group 2 wins but punctured poorly. Nothing showed up post-race veterinary wise but he too is better than tailed off last.
TRACK TALK
“She’s just getting better with age and she is the real deal and she has proven it now. Hopefully there is more to come for both of us.” Jockey Opie Bosson on Imperatriz.
“He ran really well. I loved the feel he gave me, this horse. His second run in Australia, he ran fifth. He acquitted himself really well and he has a bright future.” Jockey Blake Shinn on Buckaroo.
“His performance was amazing, don’t take any credit away from the eventual winner, she was tough and dominant, Vo Rogue-style … Mr Brightside is such a good, tenacious horse. Twelve months later (ago) he wouldn’t be able to do what he did today, so it’s really exciting to see how he comes back in the autumn, or maybe they’ll find another race for him.” Jockey Craig Williams on Mr Brightside.
“She’s as good a jockey as I’ve ever seen. I’ve had a lot of apprentices and she’s as good a jockey as I have ever seen. A beautiful horsewoman and very relaxed.” Trainer Michael Kent on jockey Jamie Kah.
CRUNCH TIME
ESPIONA (Race 6): Under pressure when they quickened but the Chris Waller-trained mare flattened out a treat late to charge into fourth place with the fastest last 200m (11.79sec) of the meeting.
BELLA NIPOTINA (Race 6): Fifth but tenacious as ever deep in her preparation. The fiery redhead clocked the fastest last 1000m (55.08sec), 800m (44.12sec), 600m (33.190sec) and 400m (22.49sec) on the Flemington card.
STEWARDS CORNER
PO KARE KARE (Race 2): Stood flat footed and missed the start. Suspended from racing until she completes two barrier trials to the satisfaction of stewards.
DUAIS (Race 6): A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to have a left eye injury.
SUSPENSIONS: Kerrin McEvoy (careless riding) November 19-27; Blake Shinn (whip) November 26 to December 1, $20,000 fine; Damien Oliver (careless riding) November 19-25; Blake Shinn (careless riding) December 2-15.
Originally published as Monday Racebook: Horses to follow and forgive from Champions Day at Flemington
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