One of the biggest talking points over the week end was the scratching of 1 of the race favourites Jukebox on the eve of the Blue Diamond. Was it the correct decision or was it the incorrect decision? Is the process currently in place the right way of doing it or should the process be looked at? I certainly know from an owners point of view if the trainer was happy with the horse’s action and said that is his normal action then you would be devastated to have your plans come undone on race eve especially after you reportedly knocked back a big money offer. What happens now when he next goes to the races? Do the stewards scratch again and say he is lame? What if it is the Golden Slipper, will the stewards in NSW have the same opinion?
Talking of owners point of view I have a very small share in Tosen Stardom and it was fantastic to see him come out and perform so well against arguably 1 of Australia’s best horses in Black Heart Bart. After a very well publicised Spring that unfortunately went pear shaped with Tosen having no luck in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes then sustaining a cut to his leg on the float heading up the Hume Highway to take on Winx. The cut unfortunately became infected and after another false start with being scratched the day before the Toorak the Spring that had looked so promising was over before he had his chance to show what as an ownership group we were very hopeful of showing to the Australian racing public. Fingers crossed he can have a smooth preparation and we get to see the best of him.
Talking of Tosen Stardom the man who purchased the horse and syndicated him, Luke Murrell who contributes with Friday night previews on Just Racing each Friday night foreshadowed with his overview of the Futurity the level of ability he believes Tosen possesses. He also just missed in the Oakleigh Plate with 1 of his selections Fattinah running a very game 2nd at 40/1 so you still would have won on the race backing each way but it could have been a great result.
Here is this week’s mounting yard live report which you can also read live Matthew’s thoughts on his Facebook page each Saturday prior to the race to assist with backing winners each Saturday.
https://www.facebook.com/MountingYardLive/
| Royal Randwick: Australian Turf Club Saturday 25, February 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 – 12:45PM AUCKLAND RACING CLUB TROPHY (2000 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| MONTAUK | Neither | Alarming drift here mostly due to the up in the weights on a rain affected track. Horse however parades in good order. | 2nd |
| DARK EYES | improved 1 length | Very fit horse, due to the milder conditions is not getting warm today in the yard. | 1st |
| HOGMANAY | Improved 2 lengths | Slight lean to this horse in the yard despite a few parading within a few lengths of one another. Fit, relaxed and focused. | 3rd |
| KING’S OFFICER | Neither | Classic wet track type, not much to look at but gets conditions to suit today. | 5th |
| ZAUNKONIG | Neither | Like this horse but doesn’t parade like a horse that will get the distance nor appreciate the heavy conditions here. | 4th |
| MOST EXALTED | Haven’t seen since Canterbury win | Horse is well in the market here but not for me. Prefer on drier surface. | 6th |
| Race 2 – 1:25PM TAB HIGHWAY PLATE (1600 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| GLITRA (NZ) | 1st I’ve seen | Big drifter here but horse is a light walking gelding that should be ok in the going. | 9th |
| GRAND ROUGE | Neither | Big strong gelding this, has good wet form but personally don’t like him in these conditions. | 4th |
| RUTHLESS AGENT | Backwards 1 length from 2 starts ago | Strange walk on this horse. | 3rd |
| DREADLOCK | 1st I’ve seen | Not a wet track type, will sink in the mud. | 7th |
| MEDIEVAL | Improved 1 length | Looks classic wet track animal. In good order. Top pick. | 10th |
| MISTER MARMALADE | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| TRYING | 1st I’ve seen this prep | Another wet track horse. Doesn’t have great form but will enjoy these conditions. | 2nd |
| MR SPIN | Neither | Horse is fit but that about the only thing I can say nice. | 1st |
| LIPPY AND PEARLS | 1st I’ve seen this prep | Rough chance in an average race. | 5th |
| KISS IN THE DARK | Improved 1 length | looks like she will handle the conditions today. Good order. | 6th |
| HALBERD | Backwards 1 length | Looks plain today. | 8th |
| DIA DE REYES | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| Race 3 – 2:00PM VALE EDGAR BRITT OAM SWEET EMBRACE STAKES (1200 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| TEASPOON | Neither | Lightly framed Snitzel filly. Wet track suits. No knocks, top selection. | 3rd |
| ARCTIC ANGEL | 1st I’ve seen | 3rd pick from the yard. Horse is in good order and should get through the ground. | 2nd |
| EXCEEDS | Improved 1 length | Nice horse this. She’s the strongest of this bunch. Would prefer her on slightly firmer though. | 7th |
| ONE MORE HONEY | Neither | Like this horse and continues to parade well. Would prefer on firmer surface. | 1st |
| DELAGO THUNDER | 1st I’ve seen | Still needs this run. | 8th |
| SAVATIANO | Improved 2 lengths | Light walking filly should get through ground. Lots of money coming late on course. | 5th |
| MELIBOEA | Backwards 3 lengths | Looks outclassed. | 10th |
| GREATER GOOD | 1st up | Won’t like these conditions. | 9th |
| SHUDABEEN | LATE SCRATCHING | LATE SCRATCHING | LATE SCRATCHING |
| SMOOTH LANDING | 1st up | Nice horse this but needs a few runs. | 6th |
| SONGLIKE | 1st up | Trailed ok coming into this. Has the frame to say she will get through conditions but this is a tough ask on a heavy track 1st up. | 11th |
| TORVILL | 1st up | Should handle conditions but I have others parading better. | 4th |
| Race 4 – 2:35PM SCHWEPPES SKYLINE STAKES (1200 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| DIAMOND TATHAGATA | First run since December | Probably 90% fit, moves well. | 1st |
| MENARI | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| SINGLE BULLET | Improved 3 lengths | Like this horse. It’s the best moving animal in this race. | 3rd |
| COLESBERG | Improved 3 lengths | Solid improvement between runs. Looks good | 6th |
| EDEN ROC | Neither | Very fit but not focused in the mounting yard. | 4th |
| EPHESIAN | 1st I’ve seen | This horse out of all of them will hate these track conditions today. Needs firm. | 9th |
| CORUSCATE | Improved 2 lengths | Moving particularly well today. | 2nd |
| DRACARYS | Improved 3 lengths | Horse parades in great order today. Moves well, very athletic. No knocks. | 5th |
| CUBA | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| ALL DAY | 1st up | Good moving animal, but others parade much better. | 7th |
| SOUFFRANT | 1st up | Too light, needs a meal. | 8th |
| Race 5 – 3:10PM OPENMARKETS & BMYG LIVERPOOL CITY CUP (1300 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| LEEBAZ | Neither | Still quite fat in the yard. Needs the run. | 7th |
| AROD | 1st I’ve seen | Type wise he is a nice horse but don’t think he will like these heavy conditions. | 2nd |
| CHETWOOD | 1st I’ve seen this prep | Clear top pick here. Looks fantastic. He is great order, very fit, good muscle definition. | 5th |
| BIG MONEY | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| MCCREERY | 1st up | Looks to have returned in good order. Doesn’t carry a lot of excess condition and gets conditions suit. 2nd pick from the yard. | 1st |
| SNIPPETS LAND | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| TESTASHADOW | improved 1 length | He is a great walker this bloke but I’d prefer his horse on soft going rather than heavy. | 3rd |
| NEW TIPPERARY | 1st up | Not the fittest of the Waller runners but this horse has returned a much better horse this preparation. Has the dappled coat on and strengthened up nicely. | 6th |
| WOULDN’T IT BE NICE | Neither | Never been a great walker this horse. Loves the wet so gets a tick there but that’s about it. | 4th |
| Race 6 – 3:50PM THERACES.COM.AU SURROUND STAKES (1400 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| GLOBAL GLAMOUR | Neither | Condition wise looks great however she can play up a bit in the yard and she is doing that again today. | 3rd |
| FOXPLAY | Improved 2 lengths | Doesn’t carry much condition but she a very fluent walker and these wet track conditions suit. | 4th |
| LA BELLA DIOSA | 1st I’ve seen | Should get through conditions, 85% fit. | 1st |
| OMEI SWORD | 1st up | She looks much better today than what she did her exhibition gallop last week but she displays some behavioural negatives today. | 2nd |
| SPRIGHT | Neither | Needs firmer and don’t think this horse will run the distance. | 8th |
| FRENCH FERN | Improved 2 lengths | Long striding filly, don’t think she will like conditions today though. | 10th |
| SEZANNE | Backwards 1 length | Not walking well today. | 6th |
| PUMPKIN PIE | 1st I’ve seen for a few runs | Looks outclassed here, light and playing up. | 9th |
| ZENALICIOUS | Improved 1 length | Coat is pretty good but needs this run. Still quite big. | 7th |
| LUBITON | Improved 2 lengths | She’s in good order today. | 5th |
| Race 7 – 4:30PM TAB CHIPPING NORTON STAKES (1600 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| HARTNELL | improved 1 length | how many races would this gelding have won without Winx around. Looks great in the yard today as usual. | 8th |
| PREFERMENT (NZ) | 1st up | Still carrying excess but geez he is a cracking looking animal. | 10th |
| GRAND MARSHALL (GB) | 1st up | Still quite fat here. | 9th |
| WHO SHOT THE BARMAN (NZ) | 1st up | Probably only 75% fit at this stage. | 3rd |
| LIBRAN (IRE) | 1st up | Nice stayer this. Doesn’t carry a lot of excess condition but looks to have returned well. | 7th |
| MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) | Improved 2 lengths | Still waiting to see that Magic Hurricane from a few preps ago walk into the yard. | 4th |
| TAVAGO (NZ) | 1st up | Really quite agitated in the yard here. Has the double handlers and still carrying fair bit of excess. | 5th |
| ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) | Neither | Haven’t really seen much improvement between runs. Others better. | 6th |
| WINX | Improved 2 lengths | Such a good moving animal she is. Sometimes can get a little worked up in the mounting yard buts he looks super focused today. Just wins. | 1st |
| LASQUETI SPIRIT | 1st up. | About 85% fit. Looking for further. | 2nd |
| Race 8 – 5:10PM GUY WALTER STAKES (1400 METRES0 | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| FIRST SEAL | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| ZANBAGH | 1st up | Not fit at all, needs a couple runs. | 2nd |
| DANISH TWIST | improved 1 length | Parades well today. 2nd pick from the yard. | 7th |
| DIXIE BLOSSOMS | improved 2 lengths | Like this horse, have a lot of time for her. Parades great and top selection from the yard. | 1st |
| THAMES COURT | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| FLIPPANT | Neither | I give this horse no chance today. Don’t think it will run the distance nor not build for heavy tracks. | 3rd |
| HAPPY HANNAH | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| SHILLELAGH (NZ) | Improved 2 lengths | Good improvement between runs for this horse. No heavy form but parades like it will get through the ground. 3rd pick. | 4th |
| PRESS REPORT | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| I TOLD GEORGIE | Neither | Being an absolute pig in the yard today. Double handlers can’t even control it. | 5th |
| MALI ROSE | 1st I’ve seen this prep | One thing it’s got going is it’s a real wet track type however looks outclassed here. | 6th |
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| MERSAULT | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| KUDERO | Neither | I know this horse has no real wet track form but I think he will get through it. 2nd pick. | 2nd |
| GRANDE PUNTO | Improved 1 length | I know this horse had wet track form but geez, looks plain. | 3rd |
| DENPURR | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| LOFTY’S MENU | 1st up | The fattest horse in the yard all day. | 4tg |
| ENCONSTANATI | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| QUATRONIC | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| YOUR WAY | Improved 2 lengths | Should win. Clear top pick. | 1st |
| MACHINEGUN JUBS | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| ZARA BAY | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| HORSE TO FOLLOW: | OMEI SWORD |