Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Festival Stakes day
Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has analysed all the action from last Saturday’s Group 3 Festival Stakes meeting at Rosehill Gardens.
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It was all about the terrific return to form of two-time The Everest placegetter Private Eye at Saturday’s Group 3 Festival Stakes meeting at Rosehill Gardens.
Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has run the rule over all the action across the 10-race card.
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FIVE TO FOLLOW
ICARIAN DREAM (race 1)
Plenty of decent runs in the 2YO opener but none finished better than the Ciaron Maher filly, who is a Magic Millions horse, in a race dominated by the leader. Look forward to seeing It Is Spectacular over more ground later on.
CAMBAR (race 2)
Three from three now for this Gary Colvin-trained galloper after his terrific performance to win the Highway Handicap. He’s only going to get better and the Country Championships look the perfect target.
Cambar takes the TAB Highway in a total thriller, and remains unbeaten! 😮@aus_turf_club | @clarkyhkpic.twitter.com/CJGTKKGksn
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024
ROBUSTO (race 7)
Private Eye was in a league of his own and will take beating in The Ingham but there was plenty of merit to the runner-up’s performance after he was caught deep throughout. A win isn’t far away.
TOWNSEND (race 9)
It didn’t go to plan for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper after he missed the start and wasn’t able to assume his usual role near the front in the ATC Cup. Don’t drop off him.
EYE OF THE FIRE (race 10)
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald have a progressive sprinter on their hands after he made it two from two this preparation. He can keep going through his grades.
It's Eye Of The Fire over the top of them in the last at Rosehill!@ANeashamRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/rH7eO8mitM
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024
STEWARDS SAY
Spiritchaser (race 2): Raced wide without cover throughout the event. Was found to be displaying moderate heat stress post-race.
Melody Again (race 4): Christian Reith reported the mare continued to hang out during the event before giving ground in the straight. She was found to be 3/5 lame in the near-foreleg.
She’s Unusual (race 4): Was found to have bled in both nostrils for the first time and is banned from racing for three months.
Harlow Mist (race 5): Did not close off as anticipated with jockey Nash Rawiller putting it down to the soft track. Was found to be coughing intermittently and had a small wound to the near foreleg.
Uzziah (race 8): Failed to let down when put under pressure with Jay Ford putting it down to the surface. Found to be 2/5 in the near foreleg.
Townsend (race 9): Began awkwardly and consequently missed the start, settling at the rear of the field.
CRUNCH TIME
Icarian Dream (race 1): Positioned in the back half of the field, she got home better than anything with a last 600m of 34.60 seconds. Her closing splits of 11.26 and 11.98 were the best of the race.
Eagle Nest (race 7): Did it at both ends to win the Starlight Stakes, running the fastest opening splits to find the front. She backed it up late with a final 600m of 33.95 seconds.
Private Eye (race 8): Sat outside the lead before exploding away late, clocking the fastest final furlong of the race in 11.53 seconds. He ran the last 600m in 34.75.
Eye Of The Fire (race 10): Settled at the back and produced a sustained effort from the halfway point to win while running the fastest final three splits of the race in 11.25, 11.25 and 11.94 seconds.
Eagle Nest flies in the ✨ Starlight Stakes ✨ and wins with @tomo_sherry in the saddle for @GRyanRacing 🦅@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/VCVo5Ei8YI
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024
TRACK TALK
“He’s going to be mighty hard to beat in The Ingham and I’ve got a ride in the race now. I needed him to do that today or I was going on holiday.” Nash Rawiller on Private Eye.
“Retirement had been discussed,” Joe Pride on Private Eye.
He's still got it! 🙌
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024
Private Eye and @nashhot take the G3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill!@PrideRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/aiTnTnIKLt
“I said to Sterling (Alexiou) this morning ‘have I got this all wrong?‘ No one seems to be giving her a chance.” Gerald Ryan on Eagle Nest.
“Just to have the opportunity and then to come out and get the result for them is just amazing.” Molly Bourke after her first stakes win on Floating.
“He dipped and dived I thought we’d lost all chance.” Nash Rawiller on Belvedere Boys.
“I think this horse is up there with Another One,” Gary Colvin on Cambar.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Starlight Stakes
Eagle Nest held just under 1.5% of TAB outlays headed by $100 each-way bets at $41/$9 and $21/$4.60.
Festival Stakes
Private Eye maintained a loyal following with around 12% of the TAB investments to be third best backed despite being on the fourth line of betting.
The drift from $6.50 to $9.50 attracted each-way attention for Private Eye who jumped at $8.50 with some late takes, including bets of $1110 each-way at $6.50/$2.50 and $700 each-way at $9/$3.10.
ATC Cup
Floating held around 12% of the money including $6000 @ $8, and $1000 bets at $7.50 and $8.50 and $800 each-way @ $8/$2.5 with TAB.
Floating dusts them in the ATC Cup! 💨
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) November 30, 2024
Brilliant ride from @MollyBourke7 for Matthew Smith 👠pic.twitter.com/hi2Ipaz8Pn
THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Sapphire Coast, Tamworth
Tuesday: Taree, Wellington
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Coffs Harbour
Friday: Kensington, Mudgee, Canberra
Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle, Gunnedah, Cowra, Cooma, Albury
Sunday: Hawkesbury, Armidale
RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT
RUN OF THE DAY
There were some big wins on the day but none more than Private Eye who returned to his best with a brilliant win.
With his big weight he worked outside the lead and just owned the race bursting away doing it with his head on his chest.
FORGET THEY RAN
Townsend got hampered at the start and couldn’t take up his usual forward position, he did a good job to get as close as he did while Jewellery was similar with a slow start and not much clear running late.
THE BLACK BOOK
Cambar is a nice country horse on his way, he could well be even better over further when left alone early coming with a big finish.
The other one that really impressed was the last winner Eye Of The Fire who might be much better than I thought.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Nash Rawiller was brilliant on his two winners Belvedere Boys and Private Eye showing his strength while a special mention to Molly Bourke who showed initiative winning her first stakes race on Floating.
Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Festival Stakes day
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