THE WEEK THAT WAS 23.01.2023
Join Jack Dickens, Lindsay Bowles and Will Elford as they share their views on the highlights and lowlights of racing during the week. They share thoughts to ponder from a different angle. Find their thoughts on races, horses, jockeys and trainers along with presenting their horses to follow in the Week That Was 23.01.2023.
THE DON & THE KING
DON CORLEONE announced himself as one of the horse’s to beat in the G1 Golden Slipper. He recorded the best PuntingForm benchmark of any 2yo so far this season winning race 1 at Randwick.
“ -10.4 is almost a group figure & he’s done that on debut, the last 600m was 10.3 faster than the all average, 10.3. That was over 1000m & given the way he hit the line, 1200m is no issue especially with his final 200m split being fastest of the entire meeting ”
- Jack Dickens
He’s a colt by Extreme Choice out of Snipzu and was purchased as a Weanling for $650k, big boy shit from Newgate & co.
It will be interesting to see what unfolds over the next few months with placement with the Snowden camp having a great hand to unveil ahead of the 2yo features. With managing director of Newgate hinting towards a Slipper preparation similar to 2021 winner - Stay Inside. Keeping that in mind it poses questions regarding the ace card the Snowden’s may be keeping close to their chests back at Randwick
King’s Gambit is the horse on everyone’s lips at the moment, and if he isn’t on yours he should be. His simply scintillating debut to the eye was backed up on the clock, rating -8.6 on PuntingForm’s All Benchmark System. Although barely asked at any stage from an effort, that performance has him 1.8L inferior to Don Corleone on the data.
A recent Sydney trial seems to be a better measure of horse flesh to the eye however, with King’s Gambit finding the line ahead of The Don. The King found the fence and did everything that was asked of him (which wasn’t much), while Don Corleone was bashed with the whip and shoved along managing to get within 1.3L of him on the line.
“Dare I say it, but the 1 ish lengths from Don Corleone’s nose to King’s Gambit’s backside in that Randwick trial may be the closest he’ll ever get ever again if they meet under race conditions”
- Lindsay Bowles
JUST SMILE AND WAVE
SMILE AND WAVE was super impressive winning at Flemington on Friday, hands & heels whilsts bleeding both nostrils. 3 month spell required but expect it comes back for some of the softest kills of all time in late Winter or big boy stuff early Spring.
SHUFFLE DANCING TO THE QUEUE
SHUFFLE DANCER looks smart. “She has improved at each of her 4 career starts. She had plenty up her sleeve on Saturday & still clocked the 13th fastest last 200m of the day after being held up for a very uncomfortable amount of time for any punters taking the red odds.
“ She is a 3yo I Am Invincible filly who’s getting out to a trip, fascinating horse moving forward ”
- Jack Dickens
TIDE TURNING FOR FREEDMANS?
The yard resumed their turn around of form on Saturday as Unflinching justified his $1.85 SP, staving off the late challenges of LADY SOLLY and JOSEYLIN under the urgings of NSW apprentice Amy McLucas. As usual, Unflinching wasn't the fastest out of the barriers but mustered quickly to be amongst the contest for the early lead alongside YOUNG LIAM and WAY TO THE STARS. The early pace was even for the class (-4.0), allowing Unflinching to find an early rhythm before unleashing the fourth fastest 4-2 split of the meeting, which ultimately awarded him victory. Despite just 8 career starts, a clear pattern in UNFLINCHING’s form is beginning to emerge (1000m at Moonee Valley) and therefore I’m sure we’ll be seeing the majority of his career astutely placed in similar races.
After underperforming the highly demanding expectation of the market for the best part of six months, Anthony and Sam Freedman amassed four winners across the weekend, a glimmer of hope represented by the sharp incline in the graph shown below staking their runners proportionally. Buy the dip?
AIN’TNODEELDUN was once thought of as a Derby prospect before a series of unfortunate serious injuries. Confirming his early promise, AIN’TNODEELDUN’s win on Saturday was his first in just 809 days. The early pace was fast for the class (-6), setting it up for a well-executed swooping ride by Mark Zahra aboard the $4.00 favourite, rewarding the stable's patience with a convincing victory.
The stable completed a quadruple of victories over the weekend as STRIKING PLAINS won the seventh race on Camperdown Cup day.
There was a slight hint to this before the weekend even started, with the stable taking a plethora of what looks to be very talented horses to the Flemington jump outs on Friday.
COLEMAN & MOODY
The other stable who notched up a quadruple of Victories was the not-so-out-of-form, Peter Moody AND Catherine Coleman.
Only a month ago Moody Racing was victorious with FORBIDDEN CITY at this track and distance and proved again why they are one of the leading stables in Victoria at present with her full sister SHUFFLE DANCER bolting up in the fourth race on the card. Although her win was not as visually appealing as her sisters’, Ben Melham eventually found clear galloping room after an agonizing run in transit for odds on backers and the filly powered home in the 13th fastest last 200 metres of the meeting. Interestingly, when there is a push for her in the market, she tends to run well.
Bendigo 1300M Maiden ($8.00 out to $13.00). Runs accordingly.
Sandown Lakeside Maiden ($12.00 into $7.00) Bolts up.
Flemington BM70 ($6.00 into $5.00). An unlucky loser in a high-rating race.
Dance To Dubai solidified herself as a mare in form in the seventh event on the program, under the urgings of her regular rider Carleen Hefel. Controlling the race from the outset, the mare remained undefeated over 1200m at Moonee Valley running an overall PUNTINGFORM figure of -7.2.
Moody Racing added to their tally of victories in this year's edition of the Camperdown Cup, staving off the late challenge of Turbeu in the dying stages of the 1600-metre feature event as the short-priced $1.65 favourite.
Pounding made it two on the bounce winning the feature race at Moonee Valley under Jamie Kah, taking advantage of the Slowly run (-3.4 to the 600) race and outsprinting the last start Blamey Stakes winner CORNER POCKET. Having been the ninth run of the geldings campaign.
“ I have no interest in following Pounding into his next start, but nonetheless, it is a credit to the stable for maintaining his form for such a period of time “
- Will Elford
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Lindsay Bowles - Meg’s Magic (Phillip Stokes)
Meg’s Magic managed to run on well after racing very greenly and fresh on Saturday. In her jump outs before her debut she sat close to the speed and shoed a whole lot was under the hood sticking on well. On Saturday she was ridden out of what seems to be her natural pattern and was unsuited around the tight turning circuit off a slow tempo.
She will improve immensely when getting to a bigger track into a even/strongly run race where she draws a gate. With no SP anchor from debut she may be a betting prospect too.
Will Elford - Explosive Jack (Maher/Eustace)
EXPLOSIVE JACK piqued my interest late on in the feature race of the card. As a three-time Derby winner resuming from a 57-week lay-off, he was entitled to be finishing down the track. However, he was not entitled to be running the third fastest last 100 metres of the entire meeting while being heavily interfered with on the corner. While I don't think he should be bet next start, this was a perfect kick-off point for a race like the Sydney Cup or even the Australian Cup deeper into the Autumn.
