Yard to the Post @ Canterbury Park
Race Day: Canterbury Park on Saturday, 05 November 2016
A firm and fast track was presented at Canterbury Park today and the gallopers flew around the tight hairpin at a rapid rate. So much so that the 1,250 metre track record was broken by John O'Shea's REINCARNATE in Race 6 the Tab.com.au Handicap.
Other winners of the day included another Godolphin galloper GRUNDERZEIT (picture), who built on his amazing Canterbury record with a dominant win in Race 5, while RED EXCITEMENT caused a boil over in the Open Handicap (Race 7).
With an on-pace bias shaping before the race, plenty of money came for RELIGIFY to win Race 7, but DYLAN'S ROJO softened up the favourite in the lead and Josh Parr found the right run camped just behind them.
It was a day that called for skill from the jockeys to ride the pattern of the track and no-one did it better than Tim Clark. The under-rated jockey saluted five times for his best ever metropolitan meeting.
A full review from the yard to the post will be on-line Sunday 9am.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | ON-PACE |
Race 1 TAB PLATE
A dash of early speed makes the difference
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teaspoon | Ron Quinton | Jay Ford | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Milanese Girl | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 1 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Ipso Facto | Mark Newnham | Blake Spriggs | 8 | 56.0 |
In The Running
TEASPOON led from IPSO FACTO and MILANESE GIRL at a FAIR tempo. ZINZI was slow and got back to last.
The Result
TEASPOON (1st) fought on from MILANESE GIRL (2nd), who came at her late, and IPSO FACTO (3rd). MALAHAT (4th) and COOL MOVER (5th) made some ground. MARGINS 0.3L x 1.3L x 0.5L.
The Interest
The ON-PACE bias showed itself early and TEASPOON got the job done from the front. A daughter of Snitzel that had trialled well alongside Champagne Cuddles (won on debut too). MILANESE GIRL well backed ($2.7 into $2.35) and lost no admirers chasing home. MALAHAT just as good though against the bias. Forgive MALAHAT.
Race 2 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
A big market push misses
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaussure | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 3 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Miss Ballantine | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 5 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Show 'em | Richard & Will Freedman | Joshua Parr | 1 | 60.5 |
In The Running
SHOW 'EM took up the running and MISS BALLANTINE moved up on the outside. CHAUSSURE found the box seat. A FAIR tempo was set up.
The Result
MISS BALLANTINE (2nd) fought to the lead, only for CHAUSSURE (1st) to stoke up and surge past the last 200m. SHOW'EM (3rd) beaten down the straight and FIFTY WAYS (4th) hopeless. MARGINS 1L x 2.8L x 12.9L.
The Interest
Too easy in the end for CHAUSSURE despite a last minute betting drift ($1.6 to $2.3) as money poured in for the stablemate MISS BALLANTINE late ($3.6 to $2.8). He still started fav' and backed up a strong Maiden win a couple of weeks ago first-up. The horse he lost to on debut First Approval won next start so the ratings around him are very good. One to follow! Follow CHAUSSURE.
Race 3 #THERACES HANDICAP
Jo Pride's speedsters dominate
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr Manhattan | Joseph Pride | Tim Clark | 7 | 60.5 | |
| 2 | Painte | Brendan McCarthy | Nick Heywood | 2 | 59.5 | |
| 3 | Lucky Meteor | John Shelton | Adam Hyeronimus | 3 | 56.0 |
In The Running
LUCKY METEOR took up the running from PAINTE and EMINENT DUKE, who was pushed up the inside after a slowish start. SARAJEVO got back. HURRARA was wide no cover with ISORICH on his back.
The Result
PAINTE (2nd) moved up to take over and MR MANHATTAN (1st) ran on best in a close finish. LUCKY METEOR (3rd) hung on from EMINENT DUKE (4th) and SARJEVO (5th). MARGINS 0.2L x 1L x 0.1L.
The Interest
How do you read much into this race! LUCKY METEOR was the one that had every chance and HURRARA pulled up lame, but the rest ran well. The 1L margin that Pride's pair PAINTE and MR MANHATTAN put on them is about as much as they could do on the lightning quick track, even if they did get near pace favours (an ON-PACE bias played out all day). SAREJEVO and ISORICH (6th) did OK too. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 4 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunny Fame | Matthew Dunn | Joshua Parr | 4 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Cliff | Joe Cleary | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 9 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Whirlwind Ascent | Mark Schmetzer | Christian Reith | 10 | 58.0 |
Race 5 RANVET HANDICAP
The King of Canterbury reigns!
steady tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grunderzeit | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 1 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Kuro | John O'Shea | Nick Heywood | 5 | 62.0 | |
| 3 | Snoopy | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Christian Reith | 4 | 55.0 |
In The Running
KURO went to the lead from FINE MIST, GRUNDERZEIT and SNOOPY, who had jumped well. INZ'N'OUT snagged back to the end. Only a STEADY tempo in the first half.
The Result
GRUNDERZEIT (1st) found space up the inside and dashed through for an easy win, from KURO (2nd), who wobbled around but hung on. SNOOPY (3rd) good to the line with SUSPENSE (4th).
The Interest
He loves it here! GRUNDERZEIT keeps winning at Canterbury. He must conserve more energy than most around the long hairpin turn and he's got enough power to quicken as they balance up into the straight. An ON-PACE bias and a STEADY tempo so be very forgiving of the backmarkers. An odd ride on SNOOPY, this looked like a race he could have really attacked from the lead, but they chose to be conservative. Follow GRUNDERZEIT (at Canterbury!).
Race 6 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Tim Clark and Godolphin again
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reincarnate | Shawn Mathrick | Tim Clark | 1 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Dark Steel | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Sir Plush | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 5 | 58.5 |
In The Running
DARK STEEL pushed forward at set a rapid STRONG tempo from RAIJINZ on his outside and REINCARNATE in the box seat. There were many lengths back to WELL HARDLEY EVER and COMMISSION, with SIR PLUSH behind them after being restrained early.
The Result
DARK STEEL (2nd) battled on and REINCARNATE (1st) strode straight past to win. SIR PLUSH (3rd) made an early run on the turn and couldn't get there late.
The Interest
A good late betting move on DARK STEEL ($6 to $5) showed their hand, they went hard and tried to take advantage of the bias! A bold effort, which simply gave fav' REINCARNATE the dream run behind them. He had many lengths on his main threat SIR PLUSH mid-race and that made the difference in the end given the ON-PACE bias. SIR PLUSH ran a rapid 21.92 from the 600m to the 200m trying to chase before he peaked late. Collett heavily questioned by Stewards for his riding tactics on SIR PLUSH, he was instructed to find cover, but simply put himself out of the race by going so far back. He gave WELL HARDLEY EVER 2L and beat him by 2L on the line so his PIR Rating (rating against Position in Run) will be good. Forgive SIR PLUSH.
Race 7 ASHBURY HANDICAP
Favourite backers see red
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Excitement | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Joshua Parr | 7 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Religify | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | God's in Him | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Christian Reith | 8 | 55.0 |
In The Running
DYLAN'S ROJO took on the fav' RELIGIFY (slowish jump) for the lead early and they went at a strong clip for the first part of the race before getting a couple of softer sections 800m to the 400m. We've graded it a FAIR tempo overall, but on the stronger side.
The Result
RED EXCITEMENT (1st) quickened past on the turn and into the straight to get to the lead. RELIGIFY (2nd) caught in a flat spot on the turn and fought on to beat home GOD'S IN HIM (3rd) and WINE'N'DINE (4th) narrowly.
The Interest
This simply didn't work out for fav' backers. The ON-PACE bias and strong recent form produced a lot of confidence for the free-striding leader RELIGIFY in the market ($1.7 to $1.6). He was slightly slow, taken on for the lead early and then Rory Hutchings might have not realised he had saved some energy down back. Josh Parr pounced on the slowing speed with a great sprint and RELIGIFY wobbled around the turn then stuck on. His 400m to the 200m was a weak spot and Rory missed the boat. No knock on the winner though, who did finish 2nd in a G3 mile a few starts back and showed some of that form again. GOD'S IN HIM a better effort, but he still only finished alongside WINE'N'DINE on similar weights. DESTINY'S KISS a forgive in unsuitable conditions. Forgive DESTINY'S KISS.
Race 8 MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS HANDICAP
This stayer smashed the line!
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Opinion | Kris Lees | Tim Clark | 5 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Eschiele | Mark Young | Nick Heywood | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Be Like Dad | David Payne | Andrew Adkins | 11 | 56.0 |
In The Running
ADABOY ROSS took up the running from BE LIKE DAD with ESCHIELE and MY GIULIANO. The tempo was steadier early and they built into the race. On the FAIR side overall. HIGH OPINION found a spot in 5th.
The Result
BE LIKE DAD (3rd) cruised up to lead on the turn before ESCHIELE (2nd) took over. HIGH OPINION (1st) came off their heels and produced a big final 200m. MY GIULIANO (4th) honest back on the inside. MARGINS 0.3L x 1L x 1.4L.
The Interest
The money came for HIGH OPINION and he was simply too good. A big final 200m suggests he could be ready for a jump in grade now and even more distance. Adding the blinkers did the trick! ESCHIELE ran well and BE LIKE DAD and MY GIULIANO continued their strong form. Looking for horses running home against the ON-PACE bias, DIAMOND MADE hit the line back in grade and might be ready to fire after a poor prep so far. Follow HIGH OPINION.
Race 9 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
'Top Cat' Tim Clark makes it five
steady tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Infra Dig | Darren Beadman | Tim Clark | 9 | 53.5 | |
| 2 | Untamed Diamond | Richard Collett | Ms Deanne Panya | 6 | 61.0 | |
| 3 | Allez Chival | Lauri Parker | Nick Heywood | 10 | 60.5 |
In The Running
ECCELLERE took up the running from ZIN ZAN ELSIE and UNTAMED DIAMOND (restrained out wide) at a STEADY tempo. MAGIC ALIBI snagged back in the pack and ROSE OF MAN back to last.
The Result
ECCELLERE (4th) was still there early in the straight until UNTAMED DIAMOND (2nd) and ALLEZ CHIVAL (3rd) fought past and INFRA DIG (1st) sprinted past late.
The Interest
This race shaped as though it would have a strong tempo on paper earlier in the week, but a couple of scratchings and smart conservative ride from Panya on UNTAMED DIAMOND (..that's why jockeys sit side sometimes!) didn't put any pressure on early. The result, 2.7L from 1st to 10th! INFRA DIG very good though, able to sprint on the tight turn, and MAGIC ALIBI very unlucky. Plenty of other forgive runs too. ZIN ZAN ELSIE drifted in the market and ran poorly, this wasn't her normal form. Five wins for Tim Clark on the day. Follow INFRA DIG. Forgive MAGIC ALIBI, FIFTEEN SUNFLOWERS and ROSE OF MAN.