Race Day Review - Hawkesbury Race Club's Stand Alone Saturday

Published: 03 May 2014

A race by race analysis of the day is provided below. The complete guide from your team at the track.

Rail: NORMAL
Conditions: DEAD 4 (times suggested a dry track)
Weather: OVERCAST (cold and very windy, helping in the home straight)
Bias: NEAR RAILS and ON-PACE (horses running on from midfield/back out wide at a disadvantage)

Race 1 - WESTAFLEX BENCHMARK 85 HANDICAP – 1300m

Snowden's team sets the tone for the day

GENERALIFE (Peter Snowden)
IMPERIL (Peter Snowden) - 0.2 lengths
SUIT (Peter Snowden) - 0.8 lengths

The three Darley gallopers cleared out from the pack, with Generalife (no. 4) just getting there in time (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

Most looked well in the yard, but LONGSHOREMAN was quite fresh and unsettled. NORMA BETTY’S BOY didn’t look as fit as some of the others.

In the running

In a race that looked to not have much pace, NET WORTH (an 1100m horse) jumped well and set an EVEN TEMPO from the outset, with NORMA BETTY’S BOY in second. TURNLEY over-raced for the first half of the race and SUIT had a wide run in transit. SMART MOOCHI settled at the back.

The result

A trifecta for Peter Snowden on his last day in charge of the Darley team. GENERALIFE (1st) moved into space at the top of the straight and maintained a strong run to the line, from IMPERIL (2nd), who kept on strongly closer to the inside to just miss. SUIT (3rd) was very brave after being stuck three wide with no cover.

The interest

Immediately, the fast time of 1:16.01 indicated that the track was dry and GENERALIFE performs best in these conditions. He and IMPERIL were both strong to the line. SUIT put in a very good run in third and is potentially the horse with more upside than the other two. The performance was even better considering that 1300m was at the upper end of his preferred distance range. The bias that slowly became apparent throughout the day was for horses near the pace and/or near the rails to be at an advantage. Those horses making runs from midfield or back out wider struggled throughout the day, perhaps making the forgive horses TURBULENT JET (put in a few awkward strides in the straight before building up well to the line), TURNLEY (over-raced and came wider), LONGSHOREMAN and SMART MOOCHI. The latter two are smaller horses that just couldn't reel off the rapid sectionals needed to compete when making their runs slightly wider.

Follow SUIT and GENERALIFE (on a dry track again)
Forgive TURBULENT JET, TURNLEY and LONGSHOREMAN

Race 2 - EVERGREEN TURF CLARET STAKES – 1300m

An assault from a very classy youngster

MEURSAULT (Peter Snowden)
FAROLITOS (Peter Snowden) - 3 lengths
RHODIN DRIVE (Gwenda Markwell) - 4.3 lengths

Meursault let down like a good horse at the top of the straight (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

Some very nice looking two year olds in the yard, with many looking well. CHARMING LAD had fitness to come, carrying a bit more condition than most.

In the running

MEURSAULT pushed up to the lead with his stable-mate FAROLITOS outside him. They controlled the race, but set a fair rolling EVEN TEMPO. THELITTLERACKETEER was four wide initially and pushed forward to still be stuck three wide with no cover near the speed.

The result

MEURSAULT (1st) kicked strongly at the top of the straight to clear out from the rest of the field, while FAROLITOS (2nd) safely held second. RHODIN DRIVE (3rd) kept on fairly to just get a place in a blanket finish.

The interest

In what looked like a good race both on paper, and in the yard, MEURSAULT stamped himself as a very good colt by winning clearly. He could not have done any more than he did after travelling under double wraps at the top of the straight when all others were under riding. FAROLITOS also held a clear margin to the other horses. The unlucky horse was THELITTLERACKETEER, after having a torrid run in the race. IDYLLIC SCENERY didn't seem ideally suited by the conditions of the day and is worth considering next time despite his below-par showing. SPINNING DAWN was not genuine to the line.

Follow MEURSAULT and FAROLITOS
Forgive THELITTLERACKETEER and IDYLLIC SCENERY

Race 3 - BLAKES MARINE BENCHMARK 80 HANDICAP – 1500m

Tim Clark keeps harmony while others cause havoc

HARMONIC (Tony McEvoy)
CASINO DANCER (Mike Van Gestel) - 4.5 lengths
CUSHY NUMBER (Joseph Pride) - 4.7 lengths

Harmonic kept a good rhythm from start to finish to outstay his rivals (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

LIBERTY’S CHOICE, SAIL, ACROPOLIS and CUSHY NUMBER all looked well in the yard. HARMONIC was a more athletic/leaner type and was also fit. CASINO DANCER was edgy, as she has been recently, and ROWIE didn’t have the shine in the coat of some of the others. His winter coat was coming through slightly.

In the running

LIBERTY’S CHOICE jumped quickly, but instead of taking advantage of the head-start and looking to conserve energy, Jimmy Cassidy pushed on and set a FAST TEMPO. CUSHY NUMBER was a few lengths behind in second chasing. ROWIE lost the rider at the start.

The result

HARMONIC (1st) maintained his pace better than any other and cleared out for a big win as the rest tired. CASINO DANCER (2nd) stayed on best out of those in the pack, and CUSHY NUMBER (3rd) tired late after looking a chance at the top of the straight.

The interest

Well… LIBERTY’S CHOICE has paraded in great fashion this campaign and perhaps the Waterhouse stable were desperate for a result here after recent performances. The tactics have to be questioned though. The rapid speed Jimmy Cassidy dictated unfortunately gave the horse no chance of performing. HARMONIC was able to use his superior athletic ability to stay on strongest after the fast tempo was set up, while CUSHY NUMBER was brave until tiring late. He was the unfortunate galloper to race nearest to the leader.

Follow HARMONIC
Forgive CUSHY NUMBER and LIBERTY’S CHOICE

Race 4 - RICHMOND CLUB PROVINCIAL STAYERS FINAL BENCHMARK 80 HANDICAP - 2100 METRES

A stayer with scope sneaks up to win

GRAND MARSHAL (GB) (Chris Waller)
PLEASURENA (Allan Denham) - 0.3 lengths
RETORT COURTEOUS (NZ) (Steve Englebrecht) - 0.4 lengths

Grand Marshal kept on well late on the rails after being out-sprinted at the 600m mark (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

Many of the horses paraded well and looked fit. RHYNO CHASER, CARRY ON SINGING and BLACK PIRATE didn't parade as well – especially RHYNO CHASER, who carried condition and had a winter coat.

In the running

BLACK JAG rolled to the front, with RETORT COURTEOUS settling in second. An EVEN TEMPO was set up for most of the race until the leaders made a run for home early before the 600m mark. SENTA DESERT was slightly slow to begin and ended up at the tail of the field.

The result

GRAND MARSHAL (1st) navigated a course near the rails and stayed on well right to the line. PLEASURENA (2nd) and RETORT COURTEOUS (3rd) both put in strong performances after racing nearer the pace.

The interest

GRAND MARSHAL’s win appears the best performance. He needed heavy riding to keep up when they sprinted, before staying on late. The placegetters were just solid to the line, without being exceptional. No other performances stood out, however SOMMERNACHSTRAUM joined the list of smaller horses that couldn’t come into the race down the long and fast Hawkesbury straight, while CARRY ON SINGING stayed on fairly well down the outside despite being a 60/1 chance.

Follow GRAND MARSHAL
Forgive SENTA DESERT

Race 5 - THE 2014 DARLEY CROWN - 1300 METRES

Perfect execution from trainer, jockey and horse

AEROBATICS (Peter Snowden)
PLUCKY BELLE (Peter G Moody) - 1 length
COSMIC ENDEAVOUR (Gai Waterhouse) - 1.1 lengths

Aerobatics was given a dream run and produced her well-known finishing sprint (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

PLUCKY BELLE was a standout in the yard with a shiny coat. MISS STELLABELLE, COSMIC ENDEAVOUR, PLEIADES, BUGABOO and COMMANDING WIT all looked good. The MESSINA NYMPH looked slim and lacked power compared to the rest.

In the running

THE MESSINA NYMPH pushed on the lead and MISS STELLABELLE worked into second, setting up an EVEN TEMPO. AEROBATICS got cover this time just behind the leaders, while CAMEO and LILLIBURLERO were both stuck with wide runs.

The result

AEROBATICS was nicely held together at the top of the straight and let down well to score a comfortable win from PLUCKY BELLE who was not the most genuine in the home straight. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR ran on well closer to the middle of the track.

The interest

The classier horses at the top of the weights performed the best. The Snowden camp set AEROBATICS for this race and she delivered after getting a great run in transit. PLUCKY BELLE was not the most genuine down the straight and COSMIC ENDEAVOUR made ground wider, which was not the trend for the day. Once again LILLIBURLERO lacked early speed lately and the criticism Nash Rawiller got for not riding her forward last start looks unfounded. She simply isn’t the quickest of animals early and would probably prefer a small field.

Follow AEROBATICS, PLUCKY BELLE, COSMIC ENDEAVOUR
Forgive LILLIBURLERO

Race 6 - PANTHERS HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP - 1600 METRES

All class from another up-and-coming Hawke's galloper

LEEBAZ (NZ) (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes)
WISTFUL (Peter Snowden) - 0.8 lengths
KEEP COOL (NZ) (Joseph Pride) - 1.6 lengths

Leebaz was too good for his rivals (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

MOURO, MALAVIO and LEEBAZ were all very well in the yard, with MOURO the most settled and best he has looked before recent starts. WISTFUL appeared fitter than recent runs and THE GREAT SNOWMAN was fit, with well defined muscle.

In the running

MALAVIO pushed forward to take up the lead and set up an EVEN TEMPO, from THE GREAT SNOWMAN. LEEBAZ edged forward in a good rhythm and sat up three wide with no cover.

The result

LEEBAZ (1st) let down well in the straight and maintained his run to outclass the field. WISTFUL (2nd) found room through the pack and finished off, while KEEP COOL (3rd) kept on well after getting a much better run in transit this time.

The interest

LEEBAZ performed as the market expected and carried on his strong form into the contest. James McDonald was able to sit three wide with the confidence that he was on clearly the best animal in the race. WISTFUL is a burly mare that looked fitter in the yard than at previous starts. She could go on with it now. Don’t be too harsh on FLYING BAY. She embarked on a run down the outside, not the formula for success on the day.

Follow LEEBAZ and WISTFUL
Forgive FLYING BAY (in an easier race)

Race 7 - BLACKTOWN WORKERS HAWKESBURY GUINEAS - 1400 METRES

Two classy three year olds flash home late

CHAUTAUQUA (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes)
KATIE’S COVE (Roger James) - 1.5 lengths
BARBED (Peter Snowden) - 2.8 lengths

Chautauqua and Katie' Cove burst through nearer the rails in an exciting finish (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

TWILIGHT ROYALE, SINJOREN, DUBAWI DREAM, NORTHERN GLORY and KATIE'S COVE all looked good in the yard. There was no knock on CHAUTAUQUA, but he took a chunk of bush out of the yard when kicking out. KASIANO LAD appeared a little less fit and well-defined in comparison to some of the others.

In the running

DUBAWI DREAM pushed forward and the Waterhouse horse RYKER took up a position outside the leader. FUERZA loomed up three wide to ensure an honest EVEN TEMPO. KATIE’S COVE and CHAUTAUQUA both missed the start slightly and settled at the back, while KASIANO LAD couldn’t find cover and was stuck wide midfield.

The result

The leaders took the pack off the rails leaving plenty of room for CHAUTAUQUA (1st) and KATIE’S COVE (2nd) to finish off. BARBED (3rd) kept on to the line soundly.

The interest

There doesn’t seem to be much reason to Padraig Beggy leaving the rails, but it left plenty of room for two smart horses to finish off. They put a clear margin on the rest of the field and could go onto better things. NORTHERN GLORY didn’t seem to be in the right spot based on the racing pattern of the day and ESTONIAN PRINCESS wasn’t suited by the lightening quick times being set. She enjoys a tougher test.

Follow CHAUTAUQUA and KATIE’S COVE
Forgive NORTHERN GLORY and KASIANO LAD

Race 8 - XXXX GOLD HAWKESBURY RUSH - 1100 METRES

Too much pure speed down the fast Hawkesbury straight

HURRARA (Garry Frazer)
ICHIHARA (Allan Denham) - 0.2 lengths
MASTHEAD (Chris Waller) - 1.2 lengths

A tongue-twister, Hurrara beats Ichihara (note: photo is before winning post)

In the yard

All horses well, including first-up horses. ROLSTON with more fitness to come.

In the running

ICHIHARA and HURRARA both jumped together to share the lead, their natural pace setting an EVEN TEMPO, which was a bit too quick for some of the other non-sprinters. TOUGHER THAN EVER flattened out under riding mid-race as he struggled to find the pace to keep up. After missing the start in recent Singapore racing, and his trial, MASTHEAD jumped better this time (perhaps getting loaded last helped?) and gently eased to the back. AGENT was stuck out three and four wide without much luck.

The result

HURRARA maintained his speed just a bit better, from ICHIHARA. MASTHEAD found some room closer to the inside to finish the race off.

The interest

Three true short-course sprinters, ICHIHARA, HURRARA and AGENT (unlucky runner), performed well, while LIMES and TOUGHER THAN EVER showed enough to suggest they should be followed as the distances increase. There remain a few questions on MASTHEAD after he got the charmed run up the rails when all others drifted wider. He can play tricks at the start and has only 4 wins from 33 starts. One to be cautious of.

Follow ICHIHARA, LIMES and TOUGHER THAN EVER
Forgive AGENT