Blackbookers: Cameron Happ's horses to follow out of Flemington
Super day of racing and an easy meeting to fill up our black books with horses for the pointy end of the Spring Carnival.
The track did look as though it may have been tough to come wide on the turn to run down the on-pace types, but horses like Gold Trip and First Immortal were able to overcome this so it may have been more to do with tempo and the best horses being on pace. Upgraded from a Soft 5 to a Good 4 after race six, the track wasn't as bad as many wanted to make out.
It wasn't the easiest day for punters which is nearly always the case at Flemington at carnival time with such big fields and open races. We only had the three outright favourites, but punters did go home winning with the last two Star Patrol and Tamerlane the best backed all day. Surviving early was the key for quaddie players with Future History at $9 and Gold Trip unwanted $11-$19, but then it got easy for a dividend of $1,041.60
BLACKBOOKERS
ELECTRIC IMPULSE. Race one looked a bit of a bunched finish, but I think it's a decent form race. This lightly raced mare already had a good record but the 1200m did look to be short of her best and Henry Dwyer admitted in a post-race interview that he told the owners she couldn't win. Ridden cold with the light weight for Madison Lloyd, she's flashed home out wide to be going clear through the line. Set for a race on Oaks Day, she can keep winning along the way.
STORMBOLT.Out of the same race this lightly raced five-year-old gelding put in a slashing return and he clearly enjoys the Flemington straight. Straight to the front for Daniel Moor and perfectly rated to be under a hold all the way to the 300m, the Foxwedge gelding gave a big kick to only go down in the last few strides. With an unbeaten second-up record, Cindy Alderson will have no trouble finding him the right races over the coming months.
RIFF ROCKET. This is a case of not caring what race he shows up in next he'll just be winning unless something super smart comes down from Sydney. Given a perfect steer by James McDonald as expected from the inside gate, he just had to be patient from the 400-300m and when he balanced up the son of American Pharoah exploded to the front. Despite easing over the last 75m, the gelding has still managed to run the meeting best last 200m split of 11.42. Nothing beats him next start over 2000m either at Caulfield or in the Vase at Moonee Valley.
TIETAR. This filly isn't going to be showing up in any features over the carnival but if the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable drop her back to a maiden, she'll take some beating. This was an enormous jump in grade second-up to the G2 Edward Manifold and she just didn't handle it but was fighting on ok when running out of room over the last 150m. Bred to stay all day, if they can find the right race and not chase black type which she's not ready for, she'll be winning.
WROTE TO ARATAKI. This was an enormous run by the Mathew Williams-trained mare and should have her at her very best for something similar. She jumped well but with a stack of early speed Dean Yendall tried to ease for cover and it never happened, getting exposed three deep from the 1000m. Entitled to stop in the straight, she was going as well as anything through the line. Kept fresh, if she can find a G2-G3 1400m race where she can dictate in front, she's going to take catching.
FIRST IMMORTAL. There isn't a horse out of this race that can beat the Mark and Levi Kavanagh trained gelding as we go forward. The gate was always going to be a problem and Daniel Stackhouse had no luck four deep around the first turn before getting left three deep exposed from as far out as the 1400m. To still loom up to win at the 100m before peaking slightly on his run was an unbelievable effort from a young stayer. Unlikely to get into the Caulfield Cup but there's so many options for a horse like this.
WEST WIND BLOWS. You don't see much better Caulfield Cup trials than the one put in by this Simon and Ed Crisford-trained English visitor. He's the ideal type for the race as a horse with speed that excels around the 2000-2400m trip in Europe and working hard three deep through the first 1300m in the G1 Turnbull to be outside the lead, he toughed it out to easily beat everything else but the super star Gold Trip. Down to 54kg for his main target, if he draws a gate, he's clearly the one to beat.
JUST FOLK. He's always tended to be a horse that needs plenty of racing so this was a super return at his first run for the Gavin Bedggood stable. Damien Oliver pushed forward, and the lead pair were able to completely control the race in good even splits and giving away weight to every runner in the race, he toughed it out for second. He's going to be hitting his peak for the back end of the carnival when a few horses are tiring and should pick up a race.
FORGIVE AND LUCKLESS RUNNERS
BLUE ILLUSION. The Godolphin youngster was unwanted $2.05 out to $2.80 with the good support for Bodyguard and he never fired a shot to be beaten almost ten lengths. He's shown a lot more ability than this and just didn't handle race day one bit. He can take a big leap off this.
LEGACIES. I'm not sacking this filly yet as the tactics were horrible on Saturday. She pinged the gates and was snagged to sit three and four deep while the horse drawn her outside easily crossed to the lead and comfortably held onto third at huge odds. Freshened for a 1400m fillies race, if she can draw a gate, she can bounce hard.
CLIMBING STAR. Ridden quiet after being hampered early, the lightly raced mare looked to have a stack to offer but wasn't tested for a stride from as far out as the 400m. They may have found the best way to ride her.
VIRTUOUS CIRCLE. Already in our black book and not sacking him off the luckless run at Flemington. Hampered to be well back, he then never saw daylight from the 400m when going ok. If he finds a wet track, he's ready to run a huge race.
INTERPRETATION. I sacked this gelding last start, but he did put in another teasing effort with zero luck in the straight, only balancing up at the 150m.
NICOLINI VITO. Three deep exposed the entire trip. He was entitled to stop.
FORGET
BERKELEY SQUARE. He looks to be fried before getting to the feature races. Forget him for the spring, he looks to need easier targets.
