ROYAL RANDWICK MOUNTING REPORT…….by Matthew Howard

06/02/17

Racing in Australia really heats up this coming week with the first Group 1 of the year being run in Melbourne, the C F Orr Stakes and the 2 year old’s sorting themselves out in The Diamond Preludes. In Sydney, we have the first appearance of the year with Winx to be taking on Hartnell from Godolphin along with the rest of the Waller army.

Followers of Matthew Howard’s Mounting Yard Report were rewarded again on Saturday with Dal Cielo saluting on Saturday at Randwick after being very heavily supported. Below 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 with 3 of his top selections saluting on Saturday and his second pick getting home twice.

https://facebook.com/mountingyardlive

Royal Randwick: Australian Turf Club Saturday 04, February 2017

Race 1 – 12:45PM ALM HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

KAPOUR

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

GOLD AMBITION (NZ)

Backwards 2 lengths

Has strapping today on one leg and not moving freely in the yard. Condition is fair.

2nd

SURVIVED (NZ)

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

MONTAUK

Backwards 1 length

On top here from the yard despite parading slightly better last start.

1st

SHALMANESER

Backwards 5 lengths

Really plain today in comparison to when I saw last time. Coat looking very dull, all patchy and getting quite warm late.

4th

VASSAL (GB)

Backwards 2 lengths

looking very light Vassal now. Might need a little freshen up.

5th

KING’S OFFICER

Improved 3 lengths

Not a horse I spot from the yard. Wouldn’t win a beauty contest however for this horse, he actually looks better than most in the yard.

3rd

MORE THAN FABULOUS

Neither

In good order today and displays no behavioural negatives.

6th

Race 2 – 1:25PM HINCHINBROOK PLATE (1100 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

VERANILLO

1st up

Nothing much to look at this horse but if there is a stable that can get these little 2yr old’s to perform its Godolphin.

1st

ACE HIGH

1st up

Not for mine. Not flash, coat has a lot of improvement to come, light, long barrelled colt.

6th

TAKING AIM

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

EDEN ROC

Neither

OK, so this horse parades at the top of its game now. Not a lot of improvement to come. Coat looks great but unlike last start the horse now displays behavioural negatives in the mounting yard.

3rd

LIGHTZ

1st up

Still has to come up at the front however nice strong hind quarter on him.

4th

MOSSMAN GORGE

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

MOMENTUM TO WIN

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

CUBA

1st up

Nice horse this but still a couple runs short of being fit. Couldn’t back today.

5th

MOLTEN

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

THE MAN

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

EXCEEDS

improved 4 lengths

Finally this horse looks good. Coat finally looks healthy and the horse has improved sharply fitness wise. Top selection.

2nd

GRASSLANDS

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

Race 3 – 2:00PM SCHWEPPES GARDENIA HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

ALLERGIC

1st up 126 days between runs

Returned in ok order. Horse is healthy however still carrying a lot of excess condition.

5th

RELIGIFY

Neither

Missed this horses last start as was on the GC. In very good order today, relaxed, fit, can’t fault. Top selection.

1st

STRAWBERRY BOY

improved 3 lengths

Sharp improvement since I saw this horse on the GC. Is he just a non winner now though?

3rd

TESTASHADOW

Improved 2 lengths

Love how this horse walks. Shown couple lengths improvement between runs but is getting warm again today. Did this up on the GC but not as bad today.

6th

REDNAV

1st time I’ve seen this horse

What is this doing here??

7th

GOLD SYMPHONY

Improved 2 lengths

Fit as a fiddle now and moving great. 2nd selection from the mounting yard.

4th

SONG AND LAUGHTER

neither

Light and warm, as usual.

2nd

SABRINO SPEED (NZ)

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

Race 4 – 2:35PM THE CHI-X SPRINT (1000 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

STRATURBO

Backwards 1 length

Thought this horse paraded just slightly better up on the GC.

6th

DENMAGIC

1st up 91 days between runs

Really like this horse. Has good residual fitness. Coat looks great. Follow if runs well. 2nd pick from the mounting yard.

2nd

HIS MAGESTY (IRE)

Backwards 3 lengths

Really don’t like this horse today. Doesn’t look a 1000m horse to me.

8th

HEART TESTA

1st time seeing in some time now

Not the Heart Testa of old I know well.

7th

DAL CIELO (NZ)

Improved 1 length

Looks fitter today than when I saw at Warwick farm however doing a few things wrong in the yard. Not focused. Most of these are doing things wrong so still top selection.

1st

BULLPIT

 

3rd selection from the yard. Hard to trust visitor form however thins horse is very fit and moves very well around the yard.

3rd

AEGEAN SEA

1st time since returning from Melbourne

Really parading poorly today. Not liking the warm conditions.

5th

RUNSATI

1st time seeing horse

Coat in good order but I can spot at least 3 behavioural negatives in the horse today.

4th

VOILIER

Improved 2.5 lengths

probably 1/2 a run short of peak fitness. Moves well.

9th

Race 5 – 3:10PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

ALL SUMMER LONG

1st up

80% further with improvement to come in the coat.

12th

NIC’S VENDETTA

3 lengths improvement

Sharp improvement between runs fitness wise and coat looks great

10th

STEEL FROST

1st I’ve seen horse

Horse carrying excess and quite patchy in the coat.

7th

TOUCH SENSITIVE

1st I’ve seen this preparation

This thing looks like the witch in Wizard of Oz. Its melting.

9th

I TOLD GEORGIE

Improved 1 length

OK fitness wise but not enjoying the heat today.

1st

SUPER STAR BOB

Improved 1 length

We found this horse at double figures last start. Again parades very well. Great long stride on it.

5th

NICOF

Neither

Not a good walking animal this one.

6th

SUPREME LAD

1st up

I have no words.

11th

L’ELU

Improved 2 lengths (since 31 Dec)

Great overstep on this horse. 3rd selection.

2nd

OUR METEOR

1st up

Needs a few runs and not walking freely today.

13th

BEAU HOFFA

1st up

This horse would need a head start, and a big one.

8th

SHOTGUN ROULETTE

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

CLIPPER

Backwards 1 length

Fit but not focusing well in the yard.

3rd

DIA DE REVES (NZ)

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

YAMA MAGIC

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

TIGER BY THE TALE

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

GREENBACK BOOGIE

 

 

4th

NO QUALM

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

Race 6 – 3:45PM AUSTRALIAN CHINESE JOCKEY CLUB ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES (1200 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

COMIN’ THROUGH

1st up

Coat looks well however the horse needs a couple of runs to be fit.

5th

GUARD OF HONOUR

Improved 1 length

Presents in faultless order. Clear top selection.

2nd

OMEI SWORD

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

BEZEL

1st up

Parading poorly 1st up here. Someone has been eating all the pies.

8th

BRYNEICH

Neither

Parades as did when it won at Canterbury. Hasn’t improved but doesn’t carry a lot of excess.

7th

GENERALISSIMO

Neither

Hasn’t improved since its 1st up run here.

3rd

SPENDING TO WIN

Neither

Hasn’t improved but hasn’t gone backwards either. Not sure there’s a lot of improvement in this horse

4th

MAN FROM UNCLE

1st up

Well put together horse. Reasonably forward, touch warm late.

1st

ON THE SPOT

2 lengths improvement

Relaxed, moves well. No major issues.

6th

Race 7 – 4:25PM CHINA HORSE CLUB BREEDERS CLASSIC (1200 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

FRENCH EMOTION

1st up

Parades poorly today. Not moving well and coat looks very plain.

8th

TSARITSA

1st up

still carrying excess condition. Moves ok but others better today.

6th

DANISH TWIST

1st up

Reasonably forward here. Should be competitive.

4th

EGYPTIAN SYMBOL

Improved 2.5 lengths

Parades with good improvement between runs. Relaxed, focused. No issues.

2nd

FLIPPANT

Improved 3 lengths

Really catches my eye today. Strong hind, moving well.

3rd

I AM ZELADY

Improved 3.5 lengths

Looks much better today. She’s a strong mare this. Good shoulder and hind, dappled coat on and not plying up in the yard which she can do. Top selection.

7th

CIRCULAR

76 days between runs

Needs a couple of runs.

5th

IN HER TIME

Neither

Hasn’t improved since her last start. Tough ask here but she’s in good order again.

1st

MAGNAJOY

Backwards 1 length

Looks light compared to these. Needs more give in the ground for mine.

9th

Race 8 – 5:05PM THE STAR CLUB HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

ESTEBAN (NZ)

1st I’ve seen this horse this prep

Missed both two starts this prep but on looking at the horse, doesn’t appear as well as it did last prep. Legs all strapped up, not moving well. Nope.

10th

CLASSIC UNIFORM

Neither

condition wise horse is well however, not stretching out in the yard today as well as usual.

3rd

LAST WISH

1st up

Forward but very warm in the mounting yard. Very warm.

11th

INVINCIBLE KNIGHT

backwards 3 lengths

This is such a nice strong horse yet falls to pieces in the mounting yard and today is no different.

8th

ZAUNKONIG

Neither

Hasn’t improved between runs but no signs of training off yet. Nice horse this. Should run well. 3rd selection.

4th

HOGMANAY

backwards 1 length

not sure this horse runs a strong mile. Parades slightly backwards from last start.

5th

HAND FROM ABOVE

Missed last two runs

Small, well put together gelding. Still with some improvement to come. Others better.

12th

LIAPARI (NZ)

Improved 3 lengths

very good improvement between runs. Parades much better today than last start when got caught in traffic. 2nd selection.

1st

NIGHT VOYAGE (NZ)

1st I’ve seen

First time looking at this horse and I like what I see. Nice enough horse here. Could run a cheeky race at odds.

7th

SNITZEL KNIGHT

backwards 2 lengths

Think this horse parades just ok today, one big behavioural negative.

13th

CHESTNUT ROAD

Improved 1 length

No major knocks this horse. Personally, I’d prefer over 1400m but good condition and relaxed.

9th

IMANUI

3 lengths improvement

Nice horse on the rise here. Gets back so always will come with risk, but moves well, long striding gelding. Coat looks great.

2nd

MERCURIAN

Neither

Outclassed here.

6th

Race 9 – 5:45PM IT’S ON! IN SYDNEY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

HORSE NAME

IMPROVED/BACKWARDS

COMMENTS

FINISHING POSITION

DEPLOY

Improved 3 lengths

There you go, much better today. Not sure what happened to him last start in the ring but he’s back to his best today. 2nd selection.

1st

PRESS REPORT

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

VELADERO

1st up

Horse looks healthy in the coat and moves ok. Big weight 60 kgs to carry first up. Not overly big horse.

4th

TOWER OF SONG

1st time I’ve seen this prep

Nice horse this. Strong, fit, relaxed, no knocks

3rd

GOT UNDERS

Improved 2 lengths

Fit today, not reacting to the heat like others.

2nd

ROARING TO WIN

Improved 3 lengths

Like this horse. Next run will peak fitness wise but expect a good run today. Top selection.

5th

TAP THAT (JPN)

1st I’ve seen

Hasn’t raced for a while and actually looks pretty fit however I can spot half a dozen behavioural negatives.

11th

DISGRACEFUL

Improved 3 lengths (since 31 Dec)

Missed this horse’s last run as was on the GC. Needs one more, coat starting to come through.

6th

WE’RE SURE

1st time I’ve seen this preparation

Good order, fit, looks focused. No major issues.

8th

ART NOUVEAU

Neither

Think this horse needs more give in the ground. Not really improving much.

10th

SALTHOUSE (IRE)

1st up

Just plain.

9th

DORF STAR

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

LIE DIRECT

1st up

Reasonably forward but expect next run to be more competitive.

7th

NIKITAS

1st up

Great in the coat but that’s about it. Not walking freely and needs the run.

12th

TOP OF MY LIST (EMERG)

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

SCRATCHED

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

DENMAGIC

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