Dean Watling has been hard at work viewing replays and sectional times to find horses you must follow and this week’s review covers The Hunter & Sandown Classics meetings.
Game Of Thorns
- Race: 5
- Distance: 1600m
- Grade: Stakes
What a performance by the Australian Bloodstock, Lee’s trained filly. Was sent out at the $21, right price after coming off a BM64 and C1 races. But she rose to the occasion and reeled off some fair dinkum sectionals. She settled 2nd last and was set a 9L task on a day where horses struggled to make ground from the back in my opinion.
Avdulla peeled her to the out at the top of the straight where she took a little while to balance up when wanting duck in and out. 150m to go she hit top gear and sprouted wings. L600m – 32.17 & L200m – 10.53 that is outstanding by this up and coming filly. I just really love the long sustained run by her. The last 150m tells me she is ready to win. Look for similar grade or back to a midweek/Saturday BM70 now, long straight and tempo key.
Outrageous
- Race: 7
- Distance: 1300m
- Grade: BM
You wouldn’t have seen a worse beat all weekend the Hawks trained All Top Hard Gelding. Lapped up the shot tempo and was 3 pairs back the rail. It was in autopilot coming to the bend where he crept up arrogantly only to find the back of Murillo for the entire straight. Brock Ryan couldn’t have done much else. Darren Flindell summed it up perfectly with his line “He needs a Westpac rescue helicopter to get him out of there”.
The two key factors that have been excited and I want to highlight are; firstly his parade, was an absolute mess last start sweating up and playing up, still was too good winning comfortably. It was noted he was pretty much a different horse come Saturday and it defiantly showed.
Secondly his ability to go from BM78 grade and rise sharply to BM88 and looked to have won with a leg in the air in my opinion. Looks progressive. Looking for a similar grade now 1300+ where he can settle on pace or take a sit behind a good tempo midfield. Keen to follow.
Noire
- Race: 9
- Distance: 1500m
- Grade: Group 3
Was another unlucky story of the weekend, the Waller rained mare was sent down to Sundown 2nd up off a freshened with task at mine the G3 Summoned Stakes. settled 2L last off the 2nd last horse where they went moderately, Jamaican Rains jockey, Linda Meech was able to stack them up. and set Noire a task. Traveled relaxed until the bend where she knuckled badly around the corner, less than ideal, picked herself up and then idled into the race behind the leaders.
Was quickly shut out and was escorted wide where she awkwardly changed legs whilst coming off heels. All momentum was gone by now.
She still was able to balance up and sprint through her gears running fastest L600,400,200. L600 – 33.18 and L200 – 10.50 (fastest of the day). Do concede she hasn’t won in over a year but is now 3rd up and is facing a drop-in class of horses over the summer period where she can take full advantage over her pet trips of 1500m-1600m. A good solid tempo is key for her electric turn of foot.
