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 |
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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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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) |
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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) |
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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 |
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 |
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 |