Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 09 December 2017
The brave mare TEST THE WORLD (photo) took another step towards black-type company today, winning a very competitive 1,100 sprint from the classy BON AMIS and powerful TO EXCESS. Tim Clark used the inside barrier to good effect, positioning the daughter of Testa Rossa in the perfect spot before fighting hard right to the line despite copping a check in the straight.
Her time of 1:02.94 suggests a Listed level win isn't too far away.
A sunny afternoon of racing started with another impressive win by the two-year-old filly GONGS, who did the job with style after settling outside the leader. The luck didn't continue long for favourite-backers though, HELIOSPHERE stuck three-wide in Race 2 before getting edged out by SPARKY LAD in a dash home, a horse he had beaten easily the start before.
Later in the day INVINZABEEL once again kicked off the quaddie at odds like he did two weeks ago, winning Race 6 at $14, the quaddie ending with KING DARCI's breakthrough win after they gifted him in the lead in a very weak race.
Check back Monday 5pm for a full review.
Track Info
| Rail | +6m |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 to GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 MERRY CHRISTMAS ATC MEMBERS HANDICAP
Too early for Golden Slipper talk?
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
GONGS jumped best and settled outside the leader COUNTERCURRENT, who was urged forward from midfield causing some interference as Rachel Hunt crossed CARNINA, REAGAN and CHARGE. ROCK ZONE left out wide. After some early pressure they controlled a slow mid-section, setting up a STEADY tempo overall. CHARGE over-raced.
The Result
GONGS (1st) booted clear and kept going. ORCEIN (2nd 1.5L) powered home down the outside from last and CHARGE (3rd 3.8L) ran on steadily when clear.
The Interest
She's talented and the stable says she's super professional too, GONGS with all the ingredients of a future star. ORCEIN produced yet another hard-finishing effort and will be tough to beat over 1200m next start. CHARGE clearly with some improvement to come. The market almost got this 100% right, favourites finishing in order apart from COUNTERCURRENT (4th at $21) and CARNINA (5th at $11)!
Race 2 #THERACES PLATE
Too much spark for the favourite
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
POETIC CHARMER controlled the lead (racing keen) from STAR SENSATION on his outside. HELIOSPHERE moved up three wide and SPARKY LAD settled just off them with cover.
The Result
SPARKY LAD (1st) got into the clear and sprinted best, just hanging on late from a very game HELIOSPHERE (2nd 0.2L). STAR SENSATION (3rd 2.5L) safely held a place.
The Interest
They came out of a very hot form race, HELIOSPHERE surging past SPARKY LAD over 1200m last start making him look much more likely up to 1400m. The STEADY tempo gave SPARKY a chance to show his sprint though, HELIOSPHERE still with much more upside to come. Watch out for him in a race with tempo next start! They destroyed the other form-line, headed by STAR SENSATION. POETIC CHARMER (7th 8L) in the report and off for a spell [vet: slow to recover].
Race 3 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
Race 4 ATC OWNERS BENEFIT CARD HANDICAP
All class from Waller and McEvoy
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
POSITIVE PROBLEMS took up the lead with LEAM ASTRAY on her outside, they countrolled the first couple of sections before quickening early, setting a STEADY TEMPO with a LONG SPRINT overall.
The Result
NOIRE (1st) peeled out from the box seat and was too strong from MISS BALLANTINE (2nd 1L) and QUEEN MISTY (3rd 2.3L) chasing just behind.
The Interest
She stamped her class first-up on an easier field and went on with it today. Hard to say if NOIRE is worth following, McEvoy giving her a peach of a ride from the inside barrier. MISS BALANTINE ready to win now third-up if she finds the right race. POSITIVE PROBLEMS (4th) and LEAMI ASTRAY (5th) fine on the pace after going for home early. Even the backmarkers could improve next start after getting way back on a firm track. QUEEN MISTY always good for a place!
Race 5 NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST HANDICAP
The gamble finally comes off!
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
D'BEAK was urged across to lead at a STEADY tempo with STRIKE FORCE moving up on the outside. MORNINGTON in the box seat and GAMBLER'S BLUES behind him on the rails. LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER moved up 3W on the turn to take over.
The Result
GAMBLER'S BLUES (1st) drove through to win in a sprint home from LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER (2nd 0.2L), who fought on. CARZOFF (3rd 0.4L) flew down the outside to grab a place from MORNINGTON (4th 0.8L). A gap to the rest.
The Interest
GAMBLER'S BLUES, LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER and MORNINGTON all very solid from near the pace, but how about the run of CARZOFF! He was miles back and reeled off a 33.64 final 600m to only just miss out. The form out of his last race has been strong and he's got to be followed next start. No knock on GAMBLER'S BLUES, who finally broke through for his 3rd win. Horses like MORTAR PLATOON (5th 3.2L), SCREAMARR (7th 3.5L) and IMPAVIDO (8th 3.9L) [vet: lost plate] simply out-sprinted on the firm track.
Race 6 BEANIE FOR BRAIN CANCER HANDICAP
Brilliance and humiliation from the apprentices
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
In a strange race, FLOW, INVINABEEL and FIRST HAND (three wide) pushed hard for the first 400m, before backing off mid-race. Overall a STEADY tempo with some early work for FIRSTHAND. INVINZABEEL dropped back behind the leaders and there was a gap to the chasing field.
The Result
INVINZABEEL (1st) strode up 3W and proved too strong for VOILIER (2nd 0.5L) sprinting down the outside late. NEW UNIVERSE (3rd 0.6L) ran on to catch FLOW (4th 0.9L).
The Interest
What an odd race! Blaike McDougall rode like a man possessed on FIRSTHAND (6th) early, only to ride like a churchmouse after that and get out-sprinted in the straight. He ran through the line better than anything! INVINZABEEL rated similarly to FLOW last start and the better ride won out, Lee Magorrian doing the job in style getting room for his quirky galloper. VOILIER impossible to catch, but racing well. NEW UNIVERSE solid and might prefer the sting out. LIAPARI (7th) did enough.
Race 7 MARK HUGHES FOUNDATION HANDICAP
Bjorn's golden mare raises the bar again
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
PRINCEFAMOUS led out at a STRONG tempo with HIGHLY GEARED on his outside, TEST THE WORLD In the box seat and PERFECT DARE out wide. Some early interference resulted in OZARK getting check back onto SINGLE BULLET, who lost about 4L.
The Result
TEST THE WORLD (1st) kept fighting hard to hold off BON AMIS (2nd 0.2L), who had loomed up to win. TO EXCESS (3rd 1.2L) ran home hard from the pack. A big margin to OZARK (4th 3.5L).
The Interest
A big margin to 4th, a red hot time and three very likeable horses. TEST THE WORLD, BON AMIS and TO EXCESS will go on to win many more races after this. Especially TEST THE WORLD, who will be even better to 1200m+ next time, a mare with such fierce determination. SINGLE BULLE (10th 11L) did cop the check, but the tale of his run was told before he even jumped, a huge drift suggests he wasn't working well at home.
Race 8 2018 ATC MEMBERSHIP OPEN NOW SPRINT
Clark "counts to ten" and arrives on time
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
WAITANDWATCH took up the running at a STRONG tempo with PIPELINE on his outside. MAN OF CHOICE in the box seat, THE HIPSTER outside him.
The Result
DRACHENFELS (1st) ran on to just catch a game PIPELINE (2nd 0.1L) on the line. LANCIATO (3rd 0.4L) ran on through the pack.
The Interest
He's a tricky ride, a horse with a good sprint that needs to make a dash at them, DRACHENFELS guided home by Tim Clark to win again. PIPELINE very tough on-pace and ready to get a win now third-up. LANCIATO, MAN OF CHOICE (5th 1.9L) and TORPENHOW (6th 2L) all putting in nice fresh runs, TORPENHOW producing some of the best sectionals of the day to run on from an impossible spot. WAITANDWATCH not as good fresh with an excuse [vet: lame off-foreleg].
Race 9 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
The King gets control and wins
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
KING DARCI took up the running and controlled a SLOW tempo, kicking from the 600m for home.
The Result
KING DARCI (1st) held on from BASTIA (2nd 0.2L), who fought hard from just behind the leaders. CELLARMAN (3rd 0.3L) ran home powerfully out wider.
The Interest
Lee Magorrian is really finding his way in Australia now after a couple of 'false starts' for Waller. He rode Invinzabeel perfectly earlier in the day and now did the job on KING DARCI perfectly, a wet-tracker that stole this race from the front. CELLARMAN was clearly the run of the race though powering home. GOLD AMBITION luckless at the back (blocked).