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Gilbert Gardiner’s Monday Racebook: Horses to follow, forgive from Cranbourne on Saturday

Gilbert Gardiner dissects Cranbourne Cup and The Meteorite Day at Cranbourne on Saturday, identifying the horses to follow and forgive

Refusetobeenglish (NZ) ridden by Ben Melham wins the Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap at Cranbourne Racecourse on November 23, 2024 in Cranbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images)
Refusetobeenglish (NZ) ridden by Ben Melham wins the Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap at Cranbourne Racecourse on November 23, 2024 in Cranbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Racenet and The Herald-Sun’s racing writer Gilbert Gardiner dissects Cranbourne Cup and The Meteorite Day at Cranbourne on Saturday, identifying the horses to follow and forgive.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

REFUSETOBEENGLISH (1st of 6, Race 1)
Highlight of the card until NADAL and GLOBE claimed the features. Only a Three-Year-Old Handicap at the end of the spring but the Clinton McDonald-trained gelding won like a very smart horse. Glided past hard-fit ROMANI ITE DOMUM, who has won twice previously, and saluted with ears pricked. Options abound in the New Year for the son of Churchill. STORMBOURG (3rd) finished nicely from back in the field.

DASHING (3rd of 10, Race 9)
Boxed on boldly, helped by the track pattern, but should be more than competitive in similar or slightly easier company going forward. Struck a strong Cranbourne Cup on Saturday and only beaten a length. Lots of options for the hardy Warrnambool-trained on-pacer.

MISS TARZY (8th of 10, Race 7)
Tracked winner WINGS OF SONG around the bend but hunted for a run on the rail and outsprinted first-up. Unable to build any meaningful revs racing close to heels the entire straight. Better for the run and has won second-up previously.

SPACEWALK (5th of 14, Race 8)
Last on straightening and crabbed around the bend but found the line nicely once balanced up. Only fourth run for the campaign so a bit left in the tank and could be worth slot-holder consideration for the $1m The Supernova next month at Pakenham.

RUSSIAN METEOR (4th of 11, Race 10)
Hard to win from back in the field but Luke Nolen got Russian Meteor out in time to rally late and run into fourth. Only third-up on Saturday so should benefit from the run and be competitive next start.

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FORGIVE

PINSTRIPED (6th of 10, Race 9)
Always needed luck from barrier one and got none. Cluttered up three back the rail inside horses and never fully tested late. IT’S A WILD NIGHT (5th) in a similar boat.

ARKANSAW KID (11th of 14, Race 8)
Never going to threaten the winner NADAL, who exploded inside the last 200m, but Arkansaw Kid certainly entitled to finish a lot closer. Inside Nadal approaching the home bend and forced to swing back to the rail. Disappointed for runs and cantered to the post.

AHURIRI (5th of 9, Race 3)
Track pattern and pace made it impossible for backmarker Ahuriri to work into the picture. The Chris Waller-trained mare worked to the line as she could against the grain and reeled off the fastest last 1000m, 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the race. One to watch next campaign over a trip on a big track.

CHARMED RUN (7th of 9, Race 5)
Big weight second-up and forced to get off heels in the straight. Worked to the finish in a line of four and finished as well as any. DON’T HOPE DO (3rd) and EMPRESSIVE ENUFF (4th) were equally good late and recorded the fastest last 200m on the card. Half a length separated third to eighth place.

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STEWARDS CORNER
UK jockey SAFFIE OSBORNE received a 14-meeting suspension — from November 25 to December 8 — for careless riding aboard DUKE OF CONDICOTE in Race 6. Osborne crossed to the rail aboard the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper when not sufficiently clear of COMMANDO DRIFT at the 200m.

Originally published as Gilbert Gardiner’s Monday Racebook: Horses to follow, forgive from Cranbourne on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/gilbert-gardiners-monday-racebook-horses-to-follow-forgive-from-cranbourne-on-saturday/news-story/ae9ef024e9a38e9c9de94c9738534bf4