Race day performance analysis — April 2, 2018
RACE 01: $350-300,000 CLAIMING (THREE-YEAR-OLDS & UP) 1200 METRES/6 FURLONGS
The field was reduced to five with the early withdrawal of Play Station and the starter’s disqualification of the perennially unruly Sundance. In the absence of competitive speed, Cheers was able to go to the front and dominate the early fractions. Markofaprince and Zugulu pursued early and both, never going well, dropped away from contention at the top of the stretch. It was left to the hard-ridden Danos La Paz to get to within six lengths of Cheers, while Shade Of Beauty was badly outpaced in the stretch run.
RACE 02: $350-300,000 CLAIMING (THREE-YEAR-OLDS & UP) 1200METRES/6FURLONGS
Uncle Wal changed hands privately, being acquired by Sydney Roman from the Wayne DaCosta stable. The colt had only one convincing performance in eight starts when he led and came to the distance with a five-length lead on New Year’s Day and somehow lost by a neck to Willowdeen. New trainer Johnny Wilmot seemingly has lost no time in correcting whatever problems Uncle Wal carried. In a field with no rival having anything remotely resembling early speed, Uncle Wal led easily and remained well clear throughout.
RACE 03: RESTRICTED ALLOWANCE IV DIV1 (5YOS&UP/NW3) 1500METRES/7 1/2FURS
From a good break, Newton’s First Law tracked pacemaker Buckaluck until shifting off the rails to deliver a challenge with just over 800 metres to come. Reassurance, on the bridle, was also tracking the two leaders along with Boffo, but clipped a heel or a hoof of Newton’s First Law, went down and unseated rider Javaniel Patterson. Newton’s First Law established a comfortable lead 600 metres out and went on to win unchallenged with Melissa Ward having little to do. There was a near-record lengthy steward’s inquiry with the debate as to whether or not when Newton’s First Law changed position to go outside of Buckaluck it contributed to the misfortune of Reassurance. The stewards eventually decided that it did not.
RACE 04: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT (3-YEAR-OLDS) 1000METRES/5FURLONGS STRAIGHT
Although having worked well, the overwhelming support at 3-5 for Formal Gladiator was an overlay as he broke well but was unable to establish any advantage and ended only fourth. Precocious Value, joined by Tradition entering the last 150 metres, galloped gamely but failed by a short head to deliver the major slice of the purse. Tradition looked particularly well in the post parade and, having finished well behind the likes of Outrageous Taj, Western Legend and Peking Cruz, was obviously happy to compete against less-talented rivals, but still had to fight gamely for her success.
RACE 05: $180,000 CLAIMING (4-YEAR-OLDS & UPWARDS) 1500METRES/7 1/2FURLONGS
Captain Granville, who looked quite fit in spite of his flawed forelegs, was sent into a clear early lead with his rider hoping he would last, but was passed early in the upper stretch. Maria’s Glory made a sharp move, three-wide, to get to the front with less than 400 metres remaining. Small mare Chief Secretariat was asked for a serious run at the leaders for 300 metres out and responded well to catch up with Maria’s Glory at the distance and actually pointed entering the last 150. Trying to defend her marginal advantage, Chief Secretariat kept on gamely, but in the final stride found giving 3.5 kilos to Maria’s Glory a little beyond her and conceded by the narrowest-possible margin.
RACE 06: MAIDEN CONDITION (THREE-YEAR-OLDS) 1600METRES/8FURLONGS
Reigning King was renewing rivalry with Ricky Ricardo who had to find at least three lengths to reverse their last placings. The former made the running and was waited with in front of a field devoid of anything else with competitive early pace. Shaken hard from 800 metres to come, Ricky Ricardo responded and increased his pace to gain on the leader, but became unbalanced and went three wide at the top of the stretch to give more of an advantage to Reigning King. Recovering to attack at the distance, Ricky Ricardo joined and pointed entering the last 150 metres. Reigning King battled back under skilful handling and regained the ascendancy close in a battle of champion jockeys, former and current, which drew a tremendous response from the Easter Monday audience. Nelson’s supporters were able to claim, possibly justifiably, that he gave Walker a riding lesson.
RACE 07: RESTRICTED ALLOWANCE IV DIV11 (5YOS&UP/NW3) 1500METRES/7 1/2FURS
Based on recent form Urban Principal and My Angel Brianna were justifiably made joint favourites at 7-5. The rider on My Angel Brianna got the tactics completely wrong in trying to deny short runner Cue Three a comfortable lead for the first 300 metres. On the other hand, Urban Principal, who actually turned for home ahead of My Angel Brianna in their previous encounter, was held up. My Angel Brianna therefore simply did not have enough speed or stamina to withstand the challenge of the tactical superiority of the smartly ridden Urban Principle inside the last 100 metres.
RACE 08: RESTRICTED ALLOWANCE V(5YOS&UPWARDS/NW2) 1100METRES/5 1/2FURLONGS
Storming Flyer was a weak favourite at 2-1 and as is customary was the leader turning for home with several pursuers. Smokescreen mended purposefully from mid-pack on the inner rails to gain on the leaders with every leap. With 300 metres to run under a left-handed whip, Smokescreen shifted to his right, making life uncomfortable for Prince Kamali still travelling fairly well. Hard driven over the last 150 metres, Smokescreen, although finding Storming Flyer a lot more game than usual, prevailed by neck, but unfortunately the stewards decided the Prince Kamali interference and intimidation could not go unpunished, thus awarding the extremely lucky Storming Flyer the major slice of the purse.
RACE 09: RESTRICTED ALLOWANCE 11 (3YOS&UP/NW2) 1100METRES/5 1/2FURLONGS
Adonis was ridden to lead early and made the running to the top of the straight when the inexperience of his rider led to him being unbalanced and wide in the final part of the turn for home. Storm Born and Harry’s Train were carried wide by Adonis no credit to their riders. At the start Yaya’s Dream went sharply to her left, thus slamming into the 74-1 chance She’s A Banker drawn alongside. Racing behind the leaders into the stretch, the seemingly improving Yaya’s Dream struck the front inside the distance, but had to be hard driven to repel a late challenge from She’s A Banker. Having recovered so well from the early collision to be only denied by the neck of Yaya’s Dream, the stewards deemed the placings should be reversed. Dane Dawkins was the fortunate recipient of chance rides on winners Maria’s Glory and She’s A Banker, both of whom should have been ridden by Javaniel Patterson.
RACE 10: OVERNIGHT ALLOWANCE (3-YEAR-OLDS&UPWARDS/NW2)1100METRES/5 1/2FURS
Talented Tony K went to the front from post position 12 and showed that even at seven years he still has the pace to compete at this level. He led to the 200-metre mark before giving way to Polly B in the middle of the track and Cartel on the inner rails. With three of the four top-rated speedsters — Cartel, Talented Tony K and Twilight Dreams along with the improving and eventual runner-up Dragline — declared, it was a contest made to order for the finishing speed of the winner. Once she commenced her run at the leaders 500 metres out, it was just a matter of whether or not Lottery Ticket would secure a clear run through rivals ahead. No such problems arose as she sped to the front inside the last 150 metres to score by nearly two lengths — perhaps an indication that Lottery Ticket is better suited by distances short of 1400 metres.