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Horses to watch this Spring: 30/08

Puissance De Lune is done for the Spring, time to cash in those chips. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Roar Guru
2nd September, 2014
3

Second up syndrome’ seemed to be alive and well on Saturday with many horses failing to replicate their first up performances. Moment Of Change, Messene, Text’N Hurley & Nostradamus prime examples of that.

Paradoxically the likes of Puissance, Ygritte and Gatewood were only average first up, yet put in much improved efforts in arguably harder races. Perhaps there is a lesson in those two examples? A peak performance fresh can often take a bit out of a horse, whereas a sub par performance under the same circumstances can often be improved upon, sometimes siginifcantly.

Caulfield

The star performer of the day in my opinion was the Memsie Stakes winner Dissident. He ran super time when coming from just off the pace when maybe a backmarker was more suited to winning. The impressive part of his performance was that he was going away from the rest of the field at the finiish. He wintered in Queensland apparently and that has been the making of many a Spring horse in the past. If he doesn’t go backward from here he might be just about unbeatable in races up to 1600m.

He handles wet tracks, and can lead or take a sit, so he is a very handy horse to have on our side now that we know he is top drawer. The only possible weakness with him, is that thus far in his career his form has tapered off after his third run in. He is older and stronger now though and the plan going forward seems to be quite conservative in regard to the number of races planned and the distance range he will get to, so the sky is the limit. I wouldn’t be backing him just yet in the Cox Plate though. Like his trainer has stated, I too would much prefer to see him at a mile or less this Spring.

Puissance De Lune was much better in this race than in the PB Lawrence first up. His last 100m was very good and certainly better than any other runner behind him. He is back on track for whatever goal is set for him this Spring.

Precious Gem was an eyecatching run in Race 4. She finished like a train the last 100m and is much better suited over 1400m or 1600m. Given the right standard of race next start she should be just about winning it at 200m (or more) further.

Vain Queen was the unlucky runner of the day in Race 5. She copped a check about 300m after the start and that put her in unfamiliar territory at the rear of the field. She then hit a dead end in the straight whilst making what could have been a winning bid for victory. I think it is quite evident she would have gone close to winning, and despite the misfortune in running it would appear the addition of Blinkers was a substantial positive.

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Chivalry had everybody searching for superlatives in Race 6, none less so than jockey Glen Boss. His effort was mighty from a wide gate, having to sustain a wide run in the straight and still finish with enough gusto to gain victory in the final stages. He was the two-year-old who looked most likely to improve from Autumn to Spring, and realistically this distance looked well shy of what might be his best. This run had Caulfield Guineas written all over it!

Commanding Jewel returned in great fashion against the mares in Race 7. She switched path half way down the straight and headed inside of horses. Much like Foreteller a fortnight earlier it is doubtful that did her any favours, but the run was excellent from a future viewpoint, taking into account the 12 months between runs here. She is a top class mare and this was her first run in over a year. Already a three-year-old Group 1 winner against her own sex she can do same against all comers this Spring. 1400m next time would seem a logical progression (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes), onto the Toorak. That is dependant on her staying injury free of course, but she seems on track.

Rosehill

Hallowed Crown was super impressive winning first up in The Run To The Rose making him unbeaten from three starts. His time was almost identical overall and 600m sectionally to that run by older horse Weinholt in the last race, but he carried 2kg more than that horse and was lacking the same fitness level. He did it the hard way making up a lot of ground in the straight on a Heavy track. He is yet to be win on anything worse than a Dead rated track which some pundits are going to query, but his mother Crowned Glory was a daughter of Danehill and that breed aren’t renowned as wet trackers. She ran a close second in a Golden Slipper to Belle De Jour, and from memory the track wasn’t wet that day.

Celtic Prince was well beaten in Race 7 but he might be a ‘sneaky’ one to follow this Spring. He was trapped three wide throughout in this race, which was well below his optimum distance. I like the way he toughed it out in the straight despite his tough run, finding the line better than his nemesis from the Auckland Cup, Who Shot The Barman who had the easier run.

His jockey was the subject of a stewards inquiry whilst aboard him first up and the run was okay. Worthwhile noting that he was Gelded during his recent break from racing so he could be a big improver this Spring given the right race and track condition. This wasn’t it but he could be suited in a race like the Metropolitan, Herbert Power, or one of the Victorian Country cups if he doesn’t quite make the grade.

Cluster was six weeks between runs coming into the last race and untested on the Heavy conditons. He got a mile back in the race but unwound a fantastic run down the outside in the straight to make up many lengths. It really did look as though he would win, but a horse with a softer run, and good wet track ability, was superior to him in the concluding stages.

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His fitness just gave out the last bit, but his jockey Josh Parr was extraordinarily effusive in his praise of the horse post race. He thinks he is capable of winning a big race, and that is feasible, if he gets a drier track than this when it really matters. He has already won in very quick time, and can reel off some very slick sectionals.

Hastings (NZ)

Nashville was the unlucky runner in the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Staskes, stopped in his tracks half way down the straight. It is doubtful he would have won the race, but he could well have placed, and he should win at least once this preparation. He did run well when only beaten 2.5 lengths in the Emirates Stakes at Fleminton last Spring which was a useful effort. He isn’t the easiest horse to catch but has a fair deal of talent on his day.

Doomben

You Did What continues to impress with his barnstorming finishing runs. He has done that when winning at three of his last four starts and this one was the most impressive. He isn’t very big, and was beaten at Rockhampton recently with 59kg. But he already has a win over Teronado (close 4th in Randwick Guineas last Autumn), and he is heading to Melbourne for the Spring. He is well worth keeping a close eye on, especially down in the weights.

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