What did we learn from Caulfield and Rosehill last Saturday? There were several lessons to be learnt worth storing for the future. The difference 100m makes for some horses was never more evident when Solchow came back from the 1200m she found too far last start to win fairly easily over 1100m in Race 1. It is probably too soon to really can her at 1200m but in future be aware she is best in the 1000m to 1100m range. Race 2 clearly told me Lady Lynette is an extremely classy mare. I knew she was
What did we learn from Caulfield and Rosehill last Saturday? There were several lessons to be learnt worth storing for the future. The difference 100m makes for some horses was never more evident when Solchow came back from the 1200m she found too far last start to win fairly easily over 1100m in Race 1. It is probably too soon to really can her at 1200m but in future be aware she is best in the 1000m to 1100m range. Race 2 clearly told me Lady Lynette is an extremely classy mare. I knew she was good but her run over an unsuitable 1200m from the widest barrier was exceptional and if she does not win this campaign against mares grade it will be due to bad luck in running or injury.A race like the Doncaster would not be beyond her either.
In Race 3 I learnt that when I bag a horse, like I did for Rightfully Yours, I can still be wrong. There was no way I was backing him 1st up over 1400m at wfa and I was quite confident to lay him on Betfair. Halfway down the straight, when Road To Rock, seemed to have his measure I was about to go the early crow and congratulate myself on an easy pick up when he kicked back/and or Road To Rock ran out of condition and I was suddenly poorer for the opinion. At least I was right with Danzylum. In Race 4 I took on Set For Fame hoping Rostova and Irish Lights would at least make her work but she is good and again I was left lamenting. Race 5 only cemented what we know which is that Denman has the three year old males covered but harking back to Race 4 does he have the measure of Set For Fame in the Australian Guineas? Denman is $1.40 for the race while the filly is $6.00 and $1.71 for the place. As there is genuine chance she could win I suspect the $1.71 for the place is value and for a real blowout the $21 for Hanks seems more than fair. His run was full of merit especially for the AJC Derby which I would think he was set for and an Australian Guineas win is not beyond him.
I just could not back Heart Of Dreams nor could I lay him as I thought he would get exactly the run he actually got from about the 1000m mark but the extra work he did early plus second up at 1800m cost him victory. The query now with him is he able to run 2000m third up? He failed over the distance in the Cox Plate but then again so did a few others with high credentials. Personally, I am going against him. The Blue Diamond Stakes again proved why I seldom have a bet in the race these days though this year I backed Beneteau for the place as I believed he would obtain a wonderful trail off the pace. Just after watching the race I declared he was the best of good things beaten (I am quite one eyed during a race) until I saw the run of Star Witness and clearly the best horse won. However seeing as Star Witness is not running in the Golden Slipper Beneteau will be my selection at this early stage.
One wonders what Starspangledbanner would be like when he runs straight as he wobbled all over the place yet as a 3yo he beat some fairly tough competition. His next run will be in the Newmarket and considering the stable feel he has improvement left this campaign let's hope he handles the straight course at Flemington as well as he handles the turns at Caulfield. I rarely back chronic back markers but I really though Flying Tessie was a top class chance in the last and I am here to tell you she should have strolled in. She was three wide most of the way and even wider on the home turn yet kept coming and coming and my place bet was safe only through her courage.
I laid Rangirangdoo in the Apollo Stakes and an apprentice type ride cost him the money. Straight after the race his diplomatic trainer, Chris Waller, cleared Corey Brown by stating he told the jockey to ride him that way, that is, aggressively around the home turn. That's all very well but did he have to shoot him away so far from home as well 2nd up after a hard 1st up wet track run? Years ago current trainer Pat Hyland used to slip them away on the home turn BUT upon straightening he rested his horse for 100m and then kicked again. This tactic won Pat Hyland many races, especially at Caulfield, and I hope Corey Brown gives Pat a call!! Naturally, even though I got the money, honey I thought Rangirangdoo should have won comfortably. It is back to the drawing board for O'Lonhro who had the sweetest run but gave nought. The run by Palacio De Crystal was amazing for a horse that won a Villers handicap, just, with the majority of the field bunched with 4 lengths or so behind her. If she can produce another run like that at wfa or win a lead up handicap she will be very hard to beat in the Doncaster Handicap.
A top days racing once again proving opinion (Rightfully Yours) can be so wrong at times yet when Lady Luck is on your side (Rangirangdoo) grab it with all the energy you can muster. The next few weeks will provide a smorgasbord of mouth watering races in both Melbourne and Sydney. I will be searching for the acceptances within the hour.