Well the week end’s big debate was once again the state of the Flemington track and the perceived fast lane and needing to be within 3 horses of the fence. Michelle Payne was fined $1,500 for her controversial tweet last week where she questioned the track along with Mick Goodie’s future employ. Well twitter lit up again on Saturday from race 1 onwards where some where once again questioning the perceived bias up the inside of the track and others stating tempo of the races was to blame. Was it a bit of both?
You had riders stating in post-race interviews after each race that you needed to be within 3 horses of the fence to find the better ground. You then had David Hayes criticising the state of the track when he had a successful day winning the G1 Newmarket so I wonder if he is in line for some sort or reprimand this week or will that pass through to the keeper? Would the simple answer have been to have move the rail out 3 metres so that we wouldn’t have this debate in the middle of the Autumn Carnival and we could instead be talking about the horses and not the state of the Flemington Track?
Our form analyst Luke Murrell with 1 of his suggested bets Humidor getting the chocolates in the Australian Cup and Just Racing horse to follow Single Bullet got the cash in the Pago Pago Stakes in Sydney so hopefully it was a profitable week end for followers of the site.
Below is Matthew Howard’s weekly just racing 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/
Race 1 – 12:30PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1350 METRES)
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| TORGERSEN (NZ) | Improved 1 length | Only slight improvement between runs, still needs this run to be fit. | 6th |
| EXTENSIBLE | 1st up | Very relaxed and moving well around the yard. 85% fit so good improvement to come. | 2nd |
| SPECTROSCOPE (USA) | Its I’ve seen | Type wise he’s ok, wet track will suit him. Is getting a bit warm in the yard late. | 1st |
| YOUR WAY (NZ) | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| VOILIER | Neither | Not a wet track type at all and if anything put on condition between runs. Nope. | 4th |
| BRING LUCK | 1st up | This is your classic wet track type, generally doesn’t fire fresh but looks reasonably forward today. | 3rd |
| FLY FORWARD | 1st I’ve seen in a long time | How the hell is money coming for this horse? 2nd worst parading horse in the race and I don’t think will handle these track conditions. | 5th |
| Race 2 – 1:10PM SMOOTH FM MAURICE McCARTEN STAKES (1100 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| DOTHRAKI | Improved 2 lengths | Cannot fault this horse today. Great condition and very relaxed in the yard. Top selection | 2nd |
| BALL OF MUSCLE | Neither | No improvement between runs and this horse is not walking well today. | 4th |
| ARTISTRY | 1st up | Only about 85% fit so good improvement to come from this run. | 1st |
| PALAZZO PUBBLICO | 1st up | Quite forward 1st up with veins popping out. | 7th |
| ZELADY’S NIGHT OUT | 1st up | Still carrying quite a bit of condition here. Needs a couple of runs. | 6th |
| ALART | Neither | Been up a while this horse and for mine has trained off. | 5th |
| FICKLE FOLLY | Improved 1 length | Slight improvement between runs. A real light wet track type so gets some favours here but I still give the horse no chance. | 3rd |
| Race 3 – 1:45PM CAFE CULTURE + INSITU PAGO PAGO STAKES (1200 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| DUCIMUS | 1st I’ve seen | In tremendous order. Coat is gleaming in the yard and horse parades without fault. | 2nd |
| SINGLE BULLET | Backwards 1 length | Like this horse, always haVE but did parade slightly better last start at Randwick. | 1st |
| CORUSCATE | Backwards 1 length | Slightly better last start condition wise and the horse today is also getting quite warm. | 3rd |
| ALBUMIN | Improved 2 lengths | Good order. Relaxed, stretching out nicely. Should be competitive at a price. | Late scratching |
| CONDOR HEROES | 1st up | Really liked his trial coming into today and he’s a nice horse with a real strong hind quarter but he is not focused in the yard and getting quite worked up. | Late scratching |
| ALL TOO HUIYING | 1st up | Parades in ok fashion today, reasonably forward. | 6th |
| THE MISSION | 1st I’ve seen this prep | Think this horse will be better suited on top of the ground. Is fit however. | 4th |
| SCHUBERT | Improved 1 length | Out of a Redoutes mare so you think would naturally struggle in these conditions but does have a lot of Lonhro in him so should be ok. | 8th |
| THY KINGDOM COME | Neither | Ok order but I have others parading much better than it. | 5th |
| ALL DAY | Backwards 2 lengths | Parades in plain fashion today. Prefer others. | 9th |
| DESTINY’S CHOICE | 1st up | Big 2 year old this. Looks like he’s 3 already. Quite wound up though which isn’t a good sign | 10th |
| GO DADDY GO | 1st start | Would need a head start to win. | 7th |
| Race 4 – 2:25PM CHANDON S MAGIC NIGHT STAKES (1200 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| TULIP | 1st I’ve seen | Relaxed and walking well in the yard. Fit. | 1st |
| EXCEEDS | Neither | She continues to parade well, been up a while now. | 13th |
| SWEET DEAL | improved 3 lengths | Coat in great order and these sting out conditions really help her. Tricky gate. | 4th |
| LIMBO SOUL | improved 3 lengths | In great order, really athletic filly. Top selection. | 5th |
| DELAGO THUNDER | Backwards 1 length | Looks outclassed here. She is also up on the toes here and getting fired up. | 15th |
| MEMENTO | Improved 2 lengths | Nice your song filly. Displays one behavioural negative but only a small one | 3rd |
| MELIBOEA | Improved 2 lengths | Good muscle definition, rock hard fit now, no upside. | 8th |
| TORVILL | Improved 1 length | Really not happy to be here, swishing her tail around a lot in the yard. Not settling | 11th |
| WHISPERED SECRET | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| COULD YOU BE LOVED | 1st I’ve seen | Light looking thing. | 10th |
| GREATER GOOD | Backwards 3 lengths | Needs a firm track this horse and last race has taken some out of this horse | 9th |
| FIFTH AFFAIR | 1st up | No chance. | 16th |
| SMOOTH LANDING | Backwards 2 lengths | Really plain in the coat today. | 7th |
| ALIZEE | improved 3 lengths | She looks like a colt this girl. Will run a bold race here. | 2nd |
| LA CHICA ROSA | 1st I’ve seen | Athletic wet track type of a horse. | 6th |
| PELLEGRINA | 1st up | Plain Plain Plain. | 14th |
| SEABABE | 1st up | Needs to find a weaker race. | 12th |
| Race 5 – 3:00PM MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS SKY HIGH STAKES (2000 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| GRAND MARSHAL (GB) | Improved 1 length | Only slight improvement and frothing at the mouth here which I don’t like. | 9th |
| MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) | Improved 3 lengths | Very solid improvement between runs for this horse | 8th |
| TAVAGO (NZ) | improved 2 lengths | Lightly boned gelding, these sting out conditions really suit it. | 1st |
| WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | Improved 1 length | Didn’t like this horse in the yard first up and still don’t like it today. | 6th |
| LIBRAN (IRE) | Improved 3 lengths | Another that has shown solid improvement between runs here | 4th |
| LASQUETI SPIRIT | Neither | Strange horse this. Can’t put my finger on what I don’t like but I don’t like it | 7th |
| RED EXCITEMENT | Backwards 3 lengths | Gone backwards since I saw it last and he usually melts in the yard and is doing so again here | 5th |
| ALLERGIC | Improved 2 lengths | Looks much better in the coat today and finally looks fit. | 3rd |
| ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) | Improved 1 length | Improved 1 length between runs which is ok as he had good residual fitness 1st up. | 2nd |
| Race 6 – 3:35PM CELLARBRATIONS PHAR LAP STAKES (1500 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| ECHO EFFECT | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| BEZEL | Improved 5 lengths | This horse was fat fat fat 1st up in the yard. Looks a completely different horse today. | FF |
| INTO ORBIT | 1st I’ve seen | Tall Northern meteor colt. Very Athletic colt, fit, ready to race. | 8th |
| ACHI BABA | Improved 1 length | He looks like his Dad this gelding but I’d prefer on drier track. | 6th |
| REDOUBLE | 1st I’ve seen in a few runs | Strong, dappled coat but needs a drier track in my opinion. | 5th |
| COMIC SET | 1st I’ve seen | Melbourne visitor that parades with quite a few issues in the yard. Not for me. | 3rd |
| ON THE SPOT | Backwards 2 lengths | Not parading well her at all. | 9th |
| ROCK AND SWING | Improved 3 lengths | Nice horse here, nice hind quarter, moving very well. | 7th |
| FOXPLAY | Improved 2 lengths | Top selection here. She’s in very good order. She’s not overly big but moves well and these sting out conditions really favour her. | 1st |
| FRENCH FERN | Neither | Getting fired up again today in the mounting yard and hasn’t improved at all. | 10th |
| PUMPKIN PIE | She’s outclassed here again and playing up in the yard. No hope. | 4th | |
| FARAWAY TOWN | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| ZENALICIOUS | Improved 2 lengths | Fitness wise better today however has behavioural issues and not focusing. | 2nd |
| DAWN WALL | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| SIREN’S FURY | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| Race 7 – 4:15PM COOLMORE CLASSIC (1500 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| FIRST SEAL | 1st up | Has returned in good order this horse. Coat is looking great and condition wise looks forward enough. | 15th |
| DIXIE BLOSSOMS | improved 2 lengths | Like this horse and she parades great again today without issue. Can she find a spot in the run? | 13th |
| IN HER TIME | Neither | Hasn’t improved between runs but hasn’t gone backwards either. Big price for a horse parading this well. | 5th |
| GLOBAL GLAMOUR | Backwards 3 lengths | Doesn’t look any good today. Spell time? | 11th |
| HEAVENS ABOVE | Improved 2 lengths | She always parades well this horse and she does again today. | 1st |
| SINGLE GAZE | improved 2 lengths | Has improved fitness wise between runs but I think she will struggle against these. | 12th |
| LA BELLA DIOSA (NZ) | improved 1 length | Gee this thing must have some heart as there’s not much to her. Not one for the yard judges. | 19th |
| DANISH TWIST | Improved 2 lengths | Kris always presents her well and she is well again here. | 3rd |
| SILENT SEDITION | 1st I’ve seen | Has the double handlers in the yard which I’m not a fan of, but she is a nice horse. | 2nd |
| FRENCH EMOTION | Improved 3 lengths | Another that parades better than her price. | 10th |
| EURO ANGEL (NZ) | Backwards 2 lengths | Actually put on condition between runs. Not for me. | 18th |
| THAMES COURT | 1st I’ve seen | Getting all hot and bothered today. | 8th |
| ZANBAGH | Improved 2 lengths | Was big in the yard first up, fitter today but still not fit enough to be competitive. | 6th |
| OMEI SWORD | Improved 3 lengths | Solid improvement fitness wise and the behavioural issues she had first up are not here today. | 7th |
| ABBEY MARIE | 1st I’ve seen | No bad, has the dappled coat on today. Think the horse would prefer a drier track however. | 16th |
| DENMAGIC | Neither | Great fitness wise and an excellent moving horse. No issues. | 14th |
| DAYSEE DOOM | improved 2 lengths | Very fit now, not carrying any excess condition now. | 4th |
| SOLD FOR SONG | Neither | Looks outclassed in this field. | 9th |
| SHILLELAGH (NZ) | Backwards 2 lengths | Thought she paraded better last start than today. | 17th |
| Race 8 – 5:00PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS AJAX STAKES (1500 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | 1st up | Horse is def forward enough to be competitive. First two laps in the yard was perfect, started to get a tad warm late. | 1st |
| AROD (IRE) | Backwards 1 length | Thought it was slightly better in the yard last start than today. | 10th |
| HE’S OUR ROKKII (NZ) | 1st I’ve seen this prep | Horse is in good order today. Fit, relaxed, no issues from the yard. | 4th |
| LEEBAZ (NZ) | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| DIBAYANI (IRE) | Improved 1 length | This horse normally falls to pieces in the yard. More relaxed today. Long time between drinks. Is today the day? | 9th |
| CYLINDER BEACH (NZ) | 1st I’ve seen | The QLD visitor looks well here. Has the dappled coat on and moving fluently in the yard. | 7th |
| TESTASHADOW | Neither | Great mover this horse, does tend to get warm in the yard this preparation. | 3rd |
| SINGING (FR) | 1st up | Has returned well. Not fully focused in the yard today. | 11th |
| SLOW PACE (USA) | 1st up | Classic sting out horse however others parading better. | 6th |
| NEW TIPPERARY | Improved 2 lengths | Said last start that I thought this horse has returned a better horse this prep. Expecting a better performance today. | 2nd |
| FLOODLIGHT (USA) | 1st I’ve seen | Not relaxed and not fit. No chance. | 8th |
| NO DOUBT | Backwards 3 lengths | Not in good order today. | 5th |
| Race 9 – 5:40PM TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP (1900 METRES) | |||
| HORSE NAME | IMPROVED/BACKWARDS | COMMENTS | FINISHING POSITION |
| GREEN SWEET (USA) | 1st I’ve seen | Reasonably forward and coat in good order. Not bad. | 2nd |
| VATUVEI | 1st up | Few things against this horse today. A few runs short of being fit and in need of a few runs to be fit. | 9th |
| CAUTHEN’S POWER (NZ) | Backwards 1 length | Trained off slightly between runs, may need a freshen up. | 6th |
| VELADERO | Improved 3 lengths | Good improvement between runs from a fitness perspective. | 8th |
| HOGMANAY | Neither | I have this horse on top from the yard. Been up a while now but you couldn’t tell looking at the horse. | 1st |
| DOC HOLLIDAY | 1st up | Looks like a horse that would appreciate the tighter turning tracks, not Rosehill. | 4th |
| GAMBLER’S BLUES | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED | SCRATCHED |
| HUNTER JACK | 1st I’ve seen this prep | He carries excess condition this horse but that’s just him. Improvement to come in the coat. | 3rd |
| MORE ENERGY | 1st I’ve seen this prep | Personally I like nothing about how this horse parades today in these conditions. Would need a head start. | 7th |
| WINE BUSH | Improved 2 lengths | Really like the way this horse moves, as a matter of fact I think a lot of the High Chaps are great walkers. Up against some more seasoned horses here but parading well. | 5th |
HORSE TO FOLLOW: Silent Sedition