Monday Racebook: Aleppo Pine stamps Blue Diamond credentials

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from Ballarat Cup Day.

Aleppo Pine ridden by Jye McNeil wins the The Courier Handicap at Ballarat

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from Ballarat Cup Day.

READ: Kennedy brings up milestone with Ballarat Cup triumph

FOLLOW

ALEPPO PINE (1st, R1)

How could you not? Trucked along behind the speed and when the neat gap appeared the Blue Point colt, half-brother to Group 1 winner Savatiano, powered through in a matter of bounds to bank a most impressive debut win. Godolphin trainer James Cummings has form with smart colts in Melbourne this time of year that go onto bigger and better things — think Anamoe, Broadsiding and Traffic Warden. Runner-up NEVERENOUGHLEGO closed on nicely late and should go on with the job after a nice debut experience.

Impressive win on debut for Aleppo Pine! 👏@[e-mail]/Sbn2Kak2WO

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 7, 2024

AIN’TNODEELDUN (unplaced, R9)

Loomed up at the top of the straight along with BERKELEY SQUARE (1st) and FUTURE HISTORY (5th) but peaked on the run inside the last 150m. Only third-up last Saturday so open to further improvement, especially from a kinder draw and being allowed to settle closer to the speed.

SAMUEL LANGHORNE (2nd, R8)

A stayer for the future, lightly raced as a five-year-old, won four of 13 starts and placed four times. Far from ideal chasing a hot speed last Saturday first-up off a long break but the Shocking gelding refused to give in. Could he sneak into a Pakenham Cup (2500m) in a fortnight as a 78-rater? Think ‘N’ Fly and Glitter ‘N’ Gold scraped into the field last year off similar marks.

PRINCE ERIC (3rd, R5)

No luck over the concluding stages, bailed up behind a wall of horses. Jockey Craig Williams eventually got Prince Eric off heels and into clear galloping room but impossible to do any better than third. Only second-up at Ballarat so plenty of improvement to come and should be right up to winning a similar race next start. Imported stayers DEAKIN (unplaced) and KENGERO (unplaced) solid in only their first and second Australian starts.

Place Of Gold dashed away to win by two lengths 🥇@DylanBrowneMcMpic.twitter.com/4lSm2hddIS

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 7, 2024

BOSSY NIC (unplaced, R4)

Tough ask first-up against race fit MISS ROUMBINI (1st), PHARARI (2nd) and BIZOT (3rd) with stakes targets on the horizon. Bossy Nic, a Group 3 winner last year, stuck to her guns late, only beaten two lengths, and looks set for a good preparation.

FORGIVE

FUTURE HISTORY (unplaced, R9)

Raced well under the circumstances. Always going to be tricky from barrier 14 and ended up being so, with Future History posted wide without cover, outside the eventual winner BERKELEY SQUARE. Future History stayed in the fight and tried doggedly late but never seriously threatened.

DREAM ALL DAY (3rd, R2)

Slow into stride not helpful but booted up to hold a position behind the leader JUGGERNAUT JOAN, who then denied the short-priced favourite a rails run in the straight. Jockey Jordan Childs switched back around heels and tried to muster a second effort but JUST FOR SHOW and ILLUMINANCE were off and gone with all the momentum.

Just For Show wins the Emerging Stars Final to continue his incredible start to his career with win no.2 💪@lindsayparkrace 🤝 @CWilliamsJockey combine for another win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/dOTMNrwo21

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 7, 2024

SAVOIR FAIRE (unplaced, R8)

No world beater but certainly better than what he displayed last Saturday. Settled well back in what turned out to be a very fast run race, the winner set a new 2000m track record at Ballarat, 30 lengths faster than standard comparison time for the class and distance, and Savoir Faire never quickened on the Good 3 surface. Jockey Craig Williams told stewards the horse would be better suited on tracks with more give in the ground.

STEWARDS SAY

Jockeys BEN ALLEN and JETT STANLEY were suspended for separate whip indiscretions in respective races at Ballarat.

Stanley received an eight-meeting ban for using the persuader eight times before the last 100m in Race 3 - three times over the limit - and fined $500.

Allen copped a seven-meeting holiday and fined $2000 for going over the limit by two in Race 9.

Jockey JORDAN CHILDS pleaded guilty to failing to ride out KATSU to the end of the race and was $1000.

Originally published as Monday Racebook: Aleppo Pine stamps Blue Diamond credentials