Yard to the Post - Hobartville Stakes Day
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 21 February 2015
Hobartville Stakes day at Rosehill Gardens had it all. Future stars, genuine fighters and a feature race that sent tingles up the spine.
Heading the list on the 'future stars' category was the Hawkes colt Headwater, who made a talented field in the Silver Slipper look ordinary. The two-year-old son of Exceed and Excel was every bit the future Stallion in the mounting yard, a career that awaits if he can go on and take out the Golden Slipper in four weeks time.
In the Hobartville itself, the Cummings galloper Hallowed Crown (picture above) fought right to the line to beat the impressive Sweynesse. Kermadec and Shooting to Win were just behind in what could be a serious form race for the Autumn Carnival.
And a mention has to go to the ever reliable Catkins, who seemed beaten early in the straight before delivering a sustained surge to the line. A popular grey, she deserves all the credit she gets.
A race-by-race review is provided from the yard to the post, the complete guide from your team at the track.
Track Info
| Rail | +6 METRES |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 (slightly sticky track) |
| Weather | OVERCAST |
| Bias | FAIR early / OFF RAILS later |
Race 1 IRRESISTIBLE POOLS & SPAS HANDICAP
'A tough girl takes the opener.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Just a Girl | Luke Griffith | 1 | 55.0 | ||
| 2 | Tahitian Black | David Pfieffer | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Earnest Ernest | Joseph Pride | Ms Winona Costin | 6 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
HURRARA, KENCELLA, TAHITIAN BLACK, INSIDE JOB and EARNEST ERNEST all looked well, with power to sprint. HURRARA was fit enough and I'M IN THE MONEY also fit. JUST A GIRL was a bit keen / smaller. SINGING FLAME not the type
In The Running
KENCELLA was slowish, but mustered speed to lead and set a FAIR TEMPO. HURRARA, INSIDE JOB and JUST A GIRL were just off the leader.
The Result
JUST A GIRL (1st) tracked up and kept chasing to hit the lead, from TAHITIAN BLACK (2nd) and EARNEST ERNEST (3rd), who ran on late.
The Interest
The favourite KENCELLA is out of form for Walller, he missed the start and didn't do much late. JUST A GIRL got the plumb ride and she chased hard off an honest speed. The new stable has her going well (....more evidence ex-trainer Walller isn't really a trainer of sprinters). TAHITIAN BLACK is flying and EARNEST ERNEST does what he does! HURARRA came back with the thumps, so could be forgiven. Forgive HURARRA.
Race 2 BLACKWOODS GEARWRENCH HANDICAP
'Fine margins are all you need.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Mist | Paul Murray | Jason Collett | 10 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Bullpit | Jason Warren | Brodie Loy | 12 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Washington Heights | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Brenton Avdulla | 11 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
SHAUMARI impressed in the yard. LAW and BULLPIT also had power and ready to go. FINE MIST was a bit hot/unsettled. MUSCOVADO and STATTON not sprinters
In The Running
BULLPIT sped to the lead and set a FAIR TEMPO, from FINE MIST and WILD'N'FAMOUS in the box seat. WILD'N'FAMOUS was stuck wide with no cover.
The Result
FINE MIST (1st) and BULLPIT (2nd) settled down to a two horse battle. WASHINGTON HEIGHTS flashed at them late.
The Interest
FINE MIST is racing in great form and had to sit in a strong speed last time. He was well backed and took the cash. The one for the future is WASHINGTON HEIGHTS though, he is ready for the better classes now. Forgive ORUJO after a wide run, but can you forgive SHAUMARI? She doesn't seem to be trying every start. O'Shea stated post-race that a step up in distance might be on the cards, we will see if that helps the powerful filly hit form. LAW was very plain. Follow WASHINGTON HEIGHTS. Forgive ORUJO.
Race 3 BLACKWOODS SIDCHROME MILLIE FOX STAKES
'A big cheer for a popular grey.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catkins | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Plucky Belle | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Ms Linda Meech | 6 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Avoid Lightning | Les Bridge | Tim Clark | 2 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
LILLIBURLERO and IL MIO DESTINO both looked well in the yard, fit and strong. AVOID LIGHTNING was fit enough. CATKINS solid, looks normal. PLUCKY BELLE lacked power
In The Running
MARDI rolled to the front with LILLIBURLERO and set an honest FAIR/STRONG TEMPO, with BREAKFAST IN BED and AVOID LIGHTNING just in behind.
The Result
CATKINS (1st) pulled to the outside and sustained a strong surge to beat PLUCKY BELLE (2nd), who had moved up to hit the lead. AVOID LIGHTNING (3rd) picked up well for a place.
The Interest
The honest speed meant the class rose to the top and PLUCKY BELLE could compete at her best (lacks a turn of foot). CATKINS just kept coming - she is tough! Follow the top three when the conditions are right, and maybe forgive LILLIBURLERO and MARDI in the right races too. Follow CATKINS and AVOID LIGHTNING.
Race 4 BLACKWOODS BOSCH BLUE HANDICAP
'Big strides right on the line.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | John O'Shea | James McDonald | 9 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Mahican | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Ms Linda Meech | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Oxford Poet | Kim Waugh | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
Mixed bunch in the yard. OXFORD POET, NOTHING LIKE LUCA and EXTRA NOBLE all short course types and well. TALES OF GRIMM and MAHICAN looked fit, well and leaner, can finish off
In The Running
OXFORD POET went to the lead, from MAHICAN, FOREIGN PRINCE and WOODBINE, setting a FAIR TEMPO. NOTHING LIKE LUCA and EXTRA NOBLE were stuck wide.
The Result
SAN DIEGO (1st) came with big bounds down the outside to get there in the last metre, grabbing MAHICAN (2nd) and OXFORD POET (3rd).
The Interest
He's got talent this winner, a horse that can go on with it over a mile and beyond. TALES OF GRIMM missed the start, but didn't have the same finishing burst this time. EXTRA NOBLE was well backed and got stuck wide, you could forgive him. OXFORD POET is going very well and WOODBINE does what he does - it was tough with the weight. Follow SAN DIEGO. Forgive EXTRA NOBLE.
Race 5 BLACKWOODS UVEX SILVER SLIPPER STAKES
'Hawkes eyes up the Slipper.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headwater | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Blake Shinn | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Voilier | Gary Nickson | Tye Angland | 3 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Mishani Honcho | Shane Edmonds | Chris Whiteley | 5 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
PACEMAN, HEADWATER and OTTOMAN all Strong & Balanced. Very impressive. MISHANI HONCHO, ALART leaner. VOILIER solid. SNITZEL'S GODDESS plain
In The Running
HEADWATER went to the lead and set a FAIR TEMPO, from PACEMAN, who was stuck wider in second. VOILIER and SNITZEL'S GODDESS were just in behind. OTTOMAN was wide with the trail.
The Result
HEADWATER (1st) surged clear of them, from VOILIER (2nd), who chased gamely. MISHANI HONCHO (3rd) made ground late to catch OTTOMAN (4th).
The Interest
The money told the story and the horse did the rest. HEADWATER is one serious youngster. He can win the Golden Slipper in this run. PACEMAN and OTTOMAN found the race too hot today trying to chase him. The tougher types VOILIER and MISHANI HONCHO did well. Follow HEADWATER.
Race 6 BLACKWOODS CRC HOBARTVILLE STAKES
'Pure grit from a very classy colt.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hallowed Crown | Bart & James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Sweynesse | John O'Shea | James McDonald | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Kermadec | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 9 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
Classy colts and geldings. SHOOTING TO WIN, SCISSOR KICK and SWEYNESSE all looked well. HALLOWED CROWN fit enough, DELECTATION nice but 1400m? MEURSAULT very fit, DIAMOND VALORES looked good too
In The Running
MEURSAULT went to the lead and got rolling on the turn, setting a FAIR TEMPO. PANZER DIVISION and SHOOTING TO WIN were just behind. DELECTATION over-raced out wider.
The Result
HALLOWED CROWN (1st) chased hard up nearer the inside and got there after SWEYNESSE (2nd) had loomed and hit the lead. KERMADEC (3rd) stormed down the outside and SHOOTING TO WIN (4th) fought on.
The Interest
These classy colts are close to each other on ratings and on the track. HALLOWED CROWN is a neat athletic type that fights so hard. Maybe the one for the future is SWEYNESSE first-up, on his way to a possible Queen Elizabeth start. SHOOTING TO WIN and KERMADEC are serous horses too. Follow SHOOTING TO WIN, HALLOWED CROWN, SWEYNESSE and KERMADEC.
Race 7 BLACKWOODS PACIFIC HOISTS PARRAMATTA CUP
'The final furlong is all that counts.'
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greatwood | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tommy Berry | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Burbero | Bjorn Baker | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Diametric | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 3 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
A lottery in the yard. LESS IS MORE and DIAMETRIC looked good, but both keen. BURBERO was strong, but 1900m? BLACK JAG nice as always. SCREAM MACHINE, PERMIT and GRAND MARSHAL all looked well.
In The Running
GREATWOOD went to the lead and set a STEADY TEMPO, from BLACK JAG, HONORIUS, DIAMETRIC and PERMIT.
The Result
BURBERO (2nd) cruised up into the straight, but the weight and distance told. HONORIUS (1st) kicked back and DIAMETRIC (3rd) stuck on.
The Interest
The run of SCREAM MACHINE was very good from the back, but you wonder if the form from this race will be good. The top three did put a margin on the rest off a slow speed though - a good sign. GRAND MARSHALL probably did enough after getting a low way back off a Steady Tempo. TREMEC and TUPAC AMARU wouldn't have liked the slow speed either, so their runs were inconclusive at the back. No follows or forgives.
Race 8 BLACKWOODS GALMET HANDICAP
'The Duke pulls too many punches.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devonshire Duke | Michael Moroney | James McDonald | 3 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Idance | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Zin Zan Eddie | Matthew Smith | Blake Shinn | 8 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
SPACECRAFT, BLACK REVOLVER and ADORABEEL paraded well, not too many knocks though. PAEDEROS looked a bit plain and IDANCE a touch keen. ZIN ZAN EDDIE small compact - 1500m?
In The Running
SPACECRAFT took up the running and set a FAIR TEMPO, from PAEDEROS, IDANCE and ZIN ZAN EDDIE just in behind.
The Result
DEVONSHIRE DUKE (1st) sustained a run through the pack to get the edge over IDANCE (2nd), who was brave out wider, and ZIN ZAN EDDIE (3rd), who made a short dash.
The Interest
It was hard for ADORABEEL and DEFINE off the pace today. They both hit the line and could be ready for 1800m now. ZIN ZAN EDDIE was solid enough up to 1500m. The very tough DEVONSHIRE DUKE was in the right spot - a horse that sustains his run right to the line. BLACK REVOLVER and ABSALON never really got into the race. Follow ADORABEEL and DEFINE.