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Date
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Horse
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Comment
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Rated Price
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Result ( TAB price)
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Notes
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August 21st
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Pinwheel
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He has had 12 starts for 6 wins and 6 seconds. Last
start he showed how good he was when jumping nicely and settling just behind
the pace. When he got out into the clear he quickly took the lead and won
strongly in the fast time of 1.08.42 which was the same time Takeover Target
won the race in a few years ago. It was a couple of lengths off the track
record. He has drawn to lead early and then Nikolic can either dictate or
take a sit if something gets serious and wants the lead. Either way I can’t
see a lot of pace in the race as most of these have bigger assignments in
mind and he has been tuned up for this. He had a trial here on his home track
on Monday to get him ready for this. He has won on Dead and Good tracks and
looks very well placed to take this out. RP $2.00 Currently $3.60 on overseas
markets.
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$2.00
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2nd
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Held up on turn and got clear
too late to run a fast closing second.
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August 21st
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Curtana
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On debut she ran a strong second at Flemington up
the straight 1000m. Then next up she showed she had improved nicely to win at
Caulfield over 1000m. Peter Moody gave her a 126 day break and she ran at
Caulfield again. I was keen to see how she would go as I thought they may
have gone too fast for her over 1000m. She jumped nicely and settled well 5th
inner. Just before the turn Nolen asked her to go and she took a few strides
to get going but once she got out into clear air she balanced up and this
strong looking filly simply ran up to them 150m out and went to the line with
a bit up her sleeve beating the boys. He Speed Rating was the best of the
day, including Shoot Out’s and she ran her last 600m in 33.81. She definitely
needs 1200m now and with 5 runners looking to be on the pace Nolen will let
her find her feet early. She will settle about 6th or 7th
and with a strong pace likely, she should be able to track into this and you
would expect her to outfinish these as she will have improved with that first
up run. The track conditions are currently Slow and her dam won twice on a
slow track and up to 1500m at Group 3 level. RP $1.60 Currently $2.40 on
overseas markets.
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$1.60
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Missed
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5th in
ruuning,battled on for fourth in on pace bias day
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August 13th
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Speeler
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She
jumped quickly on debut and led. Her first 550m was run 3 lengths faster than
the R70 race yet she was able to come home slightly faster. She looked to
have a determination to win as well and a couple of winners have come out of
the race. But it was later found that she had caffeine in her blood. It was
administered in a substance called Itz Magic and the trainer was totally
unaware that caffeine was in it. It had stopped being given a couple of days
earlier because she had run out of the substance. Sp it was an innocent
mistake but cost her in the pocket. So how much did it affect the horse?
That’s anyone’s guess. But looking back at her trial win where she showed the
same early pace and acceleration on a heavy track to draw away to win easily,
means she is a smart mare and from the draw can lead these from the 1000m
start and with her determination should be able to kick on these and be too
good. Left handed and the track conditions shouldn’t be a problem.
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$1.60
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1st $2.40 Tote and FF
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Opened $2.40 FF
Led quickly, steadied, nad
was just too fast when let go 150m out.
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August 1st
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Opal Ombra
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Last start he was caught 3 wide on a good pace and kept finding right
to the line and almost got up. The winner drew the rails and had all favours.
The Speed rating was very good and the sectional splits indicate he can win
more. He has won here on a slow track ( 1.14.22) and it is a similar surface.
He has drawn 2 and has good early speed so should be able to get the lead or
take a sit. From there he is going to be very hard to beat on his favourite
track.
There seems to be no bias to outside runners.
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$1.70
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2nd $1.00
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Trailed, got to right spot
200m out but was outfinished for a close second. Maybe hard first up run had
edge off him.
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July 31st
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Don Dixit
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Last
week at New Plymouth he raced keenly early when behind others but was able to
get through and lead. After 600m he settled better and pinged along setting a
good pace. Coming into the turn there was a strong head wind from the left
which favoured Tudor Bubble ( a very good mare) which got outside him in the
straight and had a shield from it for most of the straight. He ran a game
second. The Speed Rating was faster than the Opunake Cup’s rating on a Slow 9
track so it was the effort of a horse that is ready to win in the right race.
His run before that he ran an improvers third behind Winter star Eric The
Viking. This looks ideal for him and the Slow 8 track should be no problem
despite all of his winning form on heavy tracks. He should lead with
Agamemnon on his outer. He was keen to go fast early last week then relaxed
once in front. Frank Ritchie doesn’t back his horses up within 7 days very
often so he must be right at his peak for this. The 4kg claim means Jenny
Whiteside just has to keep him rolling along and if he can get a break near
the turn, he is going to be very, very hard to run down with 51.5kgs on his
back.
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$1.90
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2nd $1.50
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Led and worn down late.
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July 31st
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Guessing
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She flew late on debut for second then had no luck next up at Wanganui
when looking full of running. She was then given 22 days off and after settling
midfield, she was travelling like the winner a long way out. I liked the way
she accelerated into the gap on the turn and kept up a strong gallop right to
the line beating Miss Kaela which won strongly at New Plymouth last week.
Plus her Speed Rating put her right up with the R70 runners on the same day
and she had a bit up her sleeve.
They went out in a very similar first 600m as Bedlum’s yet she came
home in 38.24 and Bedlum came home in 38.92 and Bedlum bolted in next start.
So we know she is a smart mare and strikes an average bunch here.
She has been kept on the fresh side again and James McDonald should be
able to settle her just behind the pace from her draw. There looks to be an
even speed in the race and he should be able to pick his time when to ask her
to go and with similar conditions the last time she won here she looks too
good for these.
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$1.80
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1st $1.80
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Nice run and asserted late in the race.
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July 24th
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King Victor
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Two starts back the Blinkers
went off and the shadow roll went on. He jumped evenly and worked through to
lead. Once there he relaxed well and Walker gave him a dig 600m and he was
going so well he just upped the tempo and gradually increased his lead and
kept going to win by 8.8 lengths. He ran his first 800m 4 lengths quicker
than the R70 race on the same day and came home 8 lengths quicker and ran a
speed rating of 106 which tells us he can win up to R80 class at least. Then
next start he had to be ridden up right from the start as he didn’t want to
go early and settled about seventh. He was a clear last with 600m to go but
unwound with powerful late strides over 1400m. That was too short for him and
there were some handy horses in there. This time, the side winkers go on
which often sharpen gallopers up. In fact, in Hong Kong, they have been the
one most influential gear change all season. He had the blinkers go on here
on April 1st and he jumped away evenly and was ridden up to settle
handy 3 wide in the open, so the winkers going on could just do the trick. So
if Vanessa Johnston can get him out evenly and ride him out hard, he could
lead and if he does, I really can’t see any of these beating him. But he is
more likely to settle about midfield as there are five others that will be
looking to either lead or be up on the pace. From midfield, he can still work
into it before the turn and I can see him challenging soon after turning and
being too strong for these. So either way he can win, but I’d prefer to see
him in front and then we can enjoy the ride a bit better.
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$2.00
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1st $5.90
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Opened $8.50 FF and stayed at that price for
about 15 minutes then gradually dropped to $5.50
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July 24th
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Squamosa
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On debut he was confidently
expected to win after two easy trial wins. He led quickly, was taken on
midrace, but after turning Rawiller gave him a shakeup 300m out and instantly
responded in the heavy ground and accelerated away and won easing down. He
went out 6 lengths faster than the other two 1150m races on the day and won
in a time almost 7 lengths quicker. His speed rating was easily the fastest
on the day. He steps up to 1400m here on a heavy track with 57kgs. He has a
nice leg action for heavy tracks and should be able to get a soft lead here
and Nash Rawiller knows him well after that win. He should be able to kick on
these and be very, very, hard to run down.
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$1.50
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1st $1.70
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Won very easily
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July 10
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Atomic Force
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3.Atomic
Force. (Sectional Special.) Two starts he was very unlucky when held up and
would have gone close to winning. Then next up here he jumped first, was
eased to trail and settled the best he has done this campaign as he has
tended to over-race. Just before the turn he was that relaxed the rider had
to get into him just before the turn. When he found a gap on the inside he
soon poked through and accelerated away impressively on the heavy ground to
soon put 5 lengths on them. He was eased down to win by 4.5 lengths. The
speed rating was by far the best on the day and they went out in 35.67 and
came home in 36.63 so it suited off pace runners and he won it on his ear. He’s
only won four from seventeen but the penny has dropped with him and being his
fourth run back from a spell he will be right at peak fitness. He has drawn
out at 7 but he has early pace and maps to get outside the leader early then
ease to the 1x1 after they settle which will be perfect for him. The pace
looks even and with the 3kg allowance against a similar field on a similar
track condition on the same track he looks very, very hard to keep out. RP
$2.00 Currently around $3.70 after Opening at $4.00 overseas.
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$2.00
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2nd $1.50
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Sat 2nd outer to the turn but
winner kicked too well and won easily
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July 7
Perth
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Master Power
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Fresh up he
showed good early speed to drive through and lead, set an even pace and kept
kicking strongly to win. The sectional splits and speed rating showed he could match it with better
horses. Next start on this track he drew wide and was used up to get second
outer, led soon after straightening and when challenged late fought back
gamely and was run down by a horse with a cosier trip. The Speed Rating and
sectional splits showed it was an above average effort as well. From the
handy draw he should be able to lead or take a sit and will be even fitter
now. In the same class of race with the speed and determination he shows, he
looks very well placed to win.
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$2.50
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1st $3.70
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Led, was taken on, but kicked strongly after
turning and won strongly.
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July 3
Avondale
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Paisley Street
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She led all the way here last
start and I was impressed with her effort. She went out just 2 or 3 lengths
slower than the R70 and R80 races but was able to come home about 5 lengths
faster than the R70 race and 9 lengths faster than the R80 race. She was
strong on the line and the 1400m should be ideal for her now. She has natural
early speed and will be able to lead or sit outside the leader and with only
a couple of others looking to be on the pace, she can get a soft time on the
pace and with the 4kg allowance, kick on the turn and be very hard to run
down. This is a very average R70 field and the Slow track should be ideal for
her. RP $2.70
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$2.70
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1st $3.90
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Opened $4.40 FF and dropped to $3.80FF. Soon
led and held out challenger comfortably.
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