Blackbook: Cameron Happ's horses to follow and forgive out of Sandown
Flash Aah is one to follow. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography
Big card at Sandown but not the easiest of days to fill the blackbook. I've found six runners we should get something out of over winter and beyond.
The track offered no real excuses despite the very inside being avoided as the day went on. When tempo allowed, we had winners leading throughout and when they over did it up front horses like Barbies Fox and Jenny Jerome were able to weave a passage to come from near enough to last at the top of the straight.
It was advantage punters with the five favourites saluting, but it wasn't a complete blowout result with the quaddie proving impossible for most when race outsider Dunwoody took out the VRC St Leger with as much as $101 bet, and Barbie's Fox finishing them off at $12 in the closer.
BLACK BOOKERS
SCHEELITE. Hard to get a gauge on what it beat in a small field, but I feel the ken and Kasey Keys stable have got their hands on another smart type. He showed no speed to be back last all the way to the home turn and building through his gears from the 400m, he's got stronger and stronger to get up on the line with a big gap back to third. Bred to get at least a mile if not further, he'll only keep improving with racing so looks a colt we can stick with into his three-year-old campaign.
Scheelite nails Prinzerro on the line! ???? pic.twitter.com/RLMJppIM2G
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 29, 2023
VAGRANT. This Mitch Freedman-trained filly looks cherry ripe to pick up another race. She won second-up in a much weaker BM58 race at Bendigo and took a huge leap at Sandown to a BM70 Fillies race and she was up against it when squeezed out last at the start. With the winner never going around a horse, Jordan Childs was forced widest, and the daughter of Pariah hit the line like a jump to 1400m would be ideal. Open to a drop in grade, she'll go close next start if they find the right race.
HELLFIRE. On paper it might not look anything special beaten four lengths, but I have no doubt we'll be collecting soon with this lightly raced son of Hellbent. He stormed home winning on debut over this trip on a Soft 7 and taking a monster rise in grade at Sandown, he was in trouble early when missing the kick. Out sprinted to still be back near last at the 300m, he's only got warm late like a horse already looking for longer. Open to a huge drop in grade, we need to be with him next run.
Toronto Terrier holds off all challenges! ????@JyeMcNeil@BallymoreStablspic.twitter.com/odG993z7oG
— 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) April 29, 2023
STELLAR MOFEED. It's never easy to place a two-year-old that's looking for more ground so you can understand why the Kevin Corstens stable took on Listed level at the fillies second career start. Rising from 1100-1400m, the daughter of Akeen Mofeed overdid it when easing to get in and found itself a mile back in last spot to be pushed along from as far out as the 800m. Badly held up 400-300m as the impressive winner exploded for home, she's hit the line in a very similar last 200m split.
FLASH AAH. The Lucas Cranach gelding from the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable is always a good horse fresh and looks to be in for another profitable campaign judging on his fresh run yesterday. Slow early from the inside draw, Linda Meech found herself third last in the run and had no choice but to stay along the rails. Building through its gears, the gelding has run an equal best last 200m split to be storming through the line like a horse that will enjoy a bit longer this prep.
Flash Aah is one to follow. Picture: Brett Holburt – Racing Photos
STAR OF CHAOS. This Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained mare always takes a couple of runs to hit her top and she now looks ready to win. Flying along in front in a race well above standard, the daughter of Zoustar was swamped at the 75m and was entitled to fall away in the run to the line, but 100m past the post the mare was back in front showing her strength. Good on any surface and open to a drop in grade, she looks ready to dominate and take catching at her third run back from a spell.
FORGIVE RUNNERS
ACQUARELLO. Tight in the betting off a good debut win, the filly pulled up with a degree of EIPH (a partial bleed) which could explain the moderate effort.
EYE OF THE EAGLE. Held up 600-300m prior to flashing home in a race best last 200m, you can argue she should have been winning.
STRANGE HAPPENINGS
Not exactly sure what happened with the airborne apprentice Celine Gaudrey at Hillside on Saturday. Firstly, in race three aboard the well-tried favourite Clarity ($3.60-$2.90), she went 12 whip strikes (7 over) prior to the 100m earning a suspension from May 6-15. We then go down to race nine aboard the tricky to ride Buffalo River where she again shattered the whip rule go 6 strikes prior to the 100m to only go down in the last stride, earning herself a suspension extension all the way to the 24th May. I'm sure she'll learn plenty in her time on the side lines, but it's hard to fathom it happening twice in a day by mistake.
