Saturday 23/08 Review: Horses to watch this Spring

Preparation for the big Spring races resumed at Randwick & Moonee Valley on the weekend.

Unfortunately rain intervened sporadically throughout the day at Randwick, which made it much more difficult to pinpoint a possible spring star, given some horses handled the going and some didn’t. Lack of fitness was also a bigger issue than what would have been the case had it been dry.

Randwick

Rock Sturdy – Worth a mention after winning the first race and does look like a horse going to the top level. The fact he ran 2.3 seconds faster than WFA winner Tiger Tees did at the same distance later in the day only adds to that assumption. His last 600m was also nearly half a second faster too and he did concede the runner up 3kg on a track surface he hadn’t yet won on in two previous attempts.

Bring Me The Maid – Was super in the Silver Shadow Stakes giving the two placegetters 3kg. She ran slightly faster time than Group 3 winner Terravista with 1kg more in weight so it would appear she is destined for much bigger things in the future, especially if she can get a wet track. It appears the Sydney Autumn three-year-old form is going to hold up, and it’s quite likely this mare would have won the Quezette last week had she been entered.

Valentia – Has to rate a mention out of the Up And Coming Stakes for the colts. This race is a bit of a mystery because the leader Liberation interfered with at least 3 horses in the straight,and it is uncertain just what would have won it had that not happened. It could well have been him, and his effort was excellent given he conceded 5kg to every other horse in the race.

Very hard to give anything a mention out of the WFA Warwick Stakes because the time was just so poor. Yes the conditions got worse as the day went on, but not to the extent that these horses’ failed to get within cooee of the time recorded by BM85 class horses in race 1. That is two weeks in succession that a very poor time has been recorded by WFA horses in comparison to younger horses/restricted grade. That is a concern, but conversely cause for great optimism if you like an up and coming horse that might step up to this grade in the near future.

Moonee Valley

Wrotham Heath – Should have won race 2 but it was a pretty ordinary staying race, and doubtful it will be a guide to the Spring staying races. He still deserves a mention though as he did get close to a horse called Grandeur in England on a couple of occasions, and that horse does have a Group 1 & Group 2 placing on his resume in recent times.

Under the Louvre – Did well against an obvious on pace bias in R3. He ran on powerfully again, and had there been a decent tempo he almost certainly would have won. Not sure what the plans are for him, and whether he can sustain his campaign throughout the Spring, but it is worth noting he is yet to win a race with less than 15 days between runs, so fresh is best for him.

Rich Enuff – Put in a stellar performance in the McKenzie Stakes for three-year-old Colts and Geldings. Ran considerably faster time than the Girl Guide and Trust In A Gust who won BM90 races at the same distance. This was only his second start in a race and I think it’s fair to say he would have won on debut too but for missing away two lengths or so.

This time he led them up, and went fast enough to set the race up for a back marker. The fact he showed speed at both ends of the race and still won quite comfortably, is a very good sign for his future.

Caveka – Was hellishly unlucky in this race. He was jog trotting behind the leaders before the turn, but just never got a look in at all down the straight. He was highly fancied in the betting and this was a total forgive. Looks to have a load of ability, and I think it’s fair to say he would have at least run second if a run had presented itself.,

Angelic Light – The one to follow out of the Carlyon sprint. Whilst there were many good runs in the race, hers is at the top of the list, given she hadn’t run for 18 months, and missed the start quite badly. After 200m she was 6-7 lengths behind Angels Beach, and at the finish she was only 1 length behind that mare.

Many would have picked out the finishing burst of Shamal Wind, but it’s interesting to note the margin between her and Angelic Light at the 200m was still maintained at the finish, with AL beating her home. She also beat h SW in the Sangster Stakes the run before her long spell, so It’s fair to say she is the better mare. She has always had ability which was highlighted by a Group 1 second, and an arguably better performance when 2nd to Norzita in three-year-old mares company at this track during a night meeting (February 2013). Both ran close to track record time on that occasion.

United States & St Jean – Deserve an honourable mention in the last race given both got back in a race that was dominated by the on pacers. The time for the last 600m of this 1500m race was only just shy of the 1000m speedsters in the Carlyon, and was the third fastest of the meeting, so anything midfield or back in the race didn’t have a hope of winning.

Both ran on well against the bias, with US probably the better of the two given he carried more weight, and was pushed very wide on the turn. It’s quite pertinent that this horse had beaten a galloper called Manalapan in Ireland. That horse recently ran 2nd to the Dermot Weld trained Pale Mimosa who subsequently won the Group 2 Lonsdale Stakes.

That mare is being talked up as a big Melbourne Cup hope. In that same race Manalapan split both she and Mutual Regard. The latter went on to win the Ebor Stakes at York on Saturday, which also put him in the Melbourne Cup picture. It’s quite likely this horse won’t get the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup but he is targeting both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. Given he is yet to win at more than 2000m in his 3 wins to date those races look a little more realistic for him.

St Jean – had vastly inferior form in the UK but was quite impressive here in Autumn staying races. He only put in the one bad run at 2000m and beyond, and that was on a bog in the Warrnambool Cup. He looked a ‘ dyed in the wool’ type stayer with tactical speed and a ton of courage. This was nothing like the right race for him, but he finished off well enough to suggest that he could pick up a win in a decent staying race this Spring. A country cup or a race like the Herbert Power could be well within his capabilities, and if he continues to improve, and the tracks stay dry enough for him, he could put himself in contention for something even better.