Cameron Happ's horses to forgive and forget from Flemington
Aurie’s Star Handicap 2023 winner It’sourtime, photo by Getty Images
The first of the ten race cards and no shortage of black bookers for the early part of the Spring Carnival.
After the debacle at Moonee Valley last week, it was great to be back on the always perfect Flemington circuit. It was no disadvantage to be up on pace but when tempo allowed Brayden Star was able to storm home out wide, and the straight races had a winner right on pace and from back last with It'sourtime storming home. Overall, no excuses for any runner.
Overall punters fared well with five outright or equal favourites saluting and another two winners that were a close second elect. The quaddie was going to plan early and the good thing of the day won the last, but the trick was finding the $51 outside Edison that bolted in race nine to ruin most punters' day for a dividend of $2,091.60.
BLACK BOOKERS
OUR LAST CASH. He's obviously had his issues having only had the twelve starts as a six-year-old but there's clearly a lot of talent there. Resuming off a good run in the Country Championship in Sydney, the Donna Scott trained gelding showed speed to be right on pace and left on his own at the 400m Craig Williams let him stride and the race was all over to bolt in. Even better suited over 1200-1400m and still with a few lower grades to work through, he can keep on winning.
CITY THUNDER. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable obviously have a good opinion of this son of Starspangledbanner to kick him off in Saturday metro grade and he showed why. Settling midfield for Luke Nolen off a fast early speed, he couldn't match the more experienced winner's acceleration at the 300m, but he chased hard through the line to easily hold second. With so much upside for the run and options to go all the way back to maiden grade, he's going to be winning soon and often.
SHAIYHAR. We got a glimpse of this imports' ability last prep, but he was looking like a horse with no speed that could maintain a long run. Returning from a short break with blinkers going on, he nailed the start and Blake Shinn pushed him along to take advantage on what was only a moderate tempo. Off the leaders back to take over at the 400m, he showed a turn of foot and only got stronger as the race got longer. A winner out to 2900m in France and only lightly raced, he's only going to keep improving on his way to better races.
WIN O'CLOCK. It's not often you black book a horse that runs last but I'm sure trainer Mathew Williams went home happy with what he saw from this English import. Returning off a two-year injury enforced spell at his first run in Australia, Dean Yendall rode him cold and was still back closer to last straightening and up against some slick race fit milers, he didn't flash home but racing like the stayer he is, he lost no ground in the run to the line to be beaten just over three lengths. He might need a few more runs but once out beyond 2000m, he's got a few grades to work through.
PIPPALI. Good signs from this older mare having its first start in the care of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable. Taken a long way back from the wide gate, Carleen Hefel found herself back last on the point of the home turn and racing a little tight between runners she's run the race best last 600m and 400m taking almost five lengths off the winner that totally dominated the race in front. She's never been a first-up horse but with a super second-up record, she's one I want to be on next start.
BERKELEY SQUARE. With spring plans in place, Dan O'Sullivan would have left Flemington in a good place Saturday. He missed the Autumn after going around a luckless favourite in last year's Victorian Derby and he returned yesterday looking every bit a horse that's going to thrive once he gets out beyond a mile. Hard ridden approaching the home turn with only a few behind him, he didn't accelerate but kept on building through his gears in splits almost identical to the race best. Giving away 5kg to the quinella pair, this was a great trial for wherever he shows up next.
BENEDETTA. She might not have beaten a lot with a few perennial non-winners flashing home behind her, but there's no doubt this Jason Warren trained mare is an exciting talent. Resuming off an amazing first prep which saw her string four wins together before a close-up placing at Listed level, she showed good speed to sit third off the flying leader and taking over at the 200m, she was far too strong. With a stack of upside, she's got options galore as the stable look to rack up black type wins.
FORGIVE AND LUCKLESS RUNNERS
JEAN VALJEAN. Not much went right for this Adelaide visitor. Awkward out of the gates to be well back, he looked to have plenty to offer when held up 300-200m before closing in the same last 200m split as the impressive winner.
QUEEN AIR. She clearly wasn't ready yesterday. As short as $5 in early markets, she opened $9 and blew all the way out to $12 and racing super fresh, she ran accordingly.
MIMI'S AWARD. This was just a simple case of one run too many and she didn't fire a shot. Punters knew as she eased at every call in what looked a suitable race.
PRIX DE TURN. He was beaten a long way but it's just not possible to sit four deep exposed at this level and expect to finish much closer. Total forget run.
DO YA PUNK. His race was over at the start when slow out and then tightened to be back near last. He's run sharp splits 800-200m doing a big job to finish so close.
FORGET
GENERAL BEAU. You'd love to own this gelding but he's simply not a betting proposition. He never runs poorly but now hasn't won in almost two years.
POLAND. A little like General Beau, he rarely runs a bad race, but he now hasn't won a race since February 2021 and he's more often than not tight in the betting. He's a money muncher.
