Dissident ran to victory in the CF Orr Stakes on the weekend, but how did the rest of the field fare?
Happy Trails (14) $17 – Jumped ok but was slow to begin and settled near the rear, three wide. He started to improve mid-race, going around the tail end of the field, and kept improving into the turn.
He was quite wide coming into the straight and boxed on well considering he was working hard throughout the race. He finished 4.4 lengths off the leader in sixth position. A good first-up effort, looks set for another good prep.
Dissident (7) $2.75 – Was fast out of the barriers and went foward to settle fourth outside of Mourinho. Was in a similar position turning and pulled out wide to give himself room to overhaul the leaders. Took a few strides to get going on straightening then had a big run down the straight, passing the leaders at the 100-metre mark and drawing clear for an impressive win (1.5 lengths).
Will take a good type to beat him this prep!
Mourinho (3) $17 – Began well and pushed forward on the rail to settle in behind the leaders. Was still there on the turn but couldn’t stick with Dissident on straightening. A good run up the straight, passing Java at the 50-metre mark, to finish 1.9 lengths off the leader in third position. Another solid run, looks in good order.
Toydini (9) $31 – Settled near the rear outside of Bagman, still quite far back approaching the turn and didn’t respond when asked to quicken. Gave nothing up the straight, finishing 11.2 lengths back in 13th spot. Not a promising start to the campaign.
Bagman (2) $31 – Started near the rear on the rail, in a similar spot turning with plenty of galloping room but never really got going. Was only fair up the straight, finishing 6.7 lengths back in 12th. Was expecting more after a good run last start.
Beaten Up (15) $51 – Went straight back to last and never came into the race, finishing 12.5 lengths back in 14th position.
Mouro (12) $11 – Settled fifth outside Spillway, still close enough turning but was quite wide, boxed on ok up the straight but never made up any ground on the leaders and never looked likely. Finished 4.5 lengths back in seventh. Maybe suited to drop back in class.
Sonntag (12) $101 – Settled second last, one off the rail, never came into the race and finished a distant 12.6 lengths last.
Aeronautical (5) $51 – Never really came into the race and was only fair up the straight finishing 5.8 lengths back in eighth position.
Star Rolling (10) $26 – Looked to be in a pretty good spot on the turn but couldn’t accelerate and run died early in the straight. Seemed to lack condition and finished 6.1 lengths back in 10th.
Entirely Platinum (6) $13 – Was fast to begin and went to the front to share the lead on the rail. Used the rail on the turn to get to a clear lead and put in a solid run up the straight but just found one better, finishing 1.5 lengths off Dissident in second spot. Was a big run and looks to have a good prep ahead.
Spillway (1) $11 – Jumped well and settled sixth on the rail, hugged the rail on the turn still close enough to the leaders and boxed on well up the straight, hitting the line 3.4 lengths back in fifth position. Good hit out.
Real Love (11) $15 – Was slowest out of the barriers and ended up third last, one off the rail. Started to improve position midway through the race-three wide, was better than mid-field turning, but pretty wide and never really came into the race to finish 6.2 lengths back in 11th. Did too much work during the race, look for improvement next start.
Petrology (10) $8 – Came wide on turning and didn’t offer much in the straight, finishing six lengths back in ninth position. Disappointing.
Java (13) $9 – Jumped well and pushed forward from the wide barrier to share the lead with Entirely Platinum. Challenged for the lead turning and straightening but was unable to stay with the leader. Hung on for fourth in what was a pretty good run from the three-year-old. May have finished a bit closer if he didn’t have to work hard from the wide barrier at the start, looks talented.
Richard Hosnell
Roar Pro
yes, still looks a start or two away from being competitive
Richard Hosnell
Roar Pro
Agreed, would of liked to see a bit more from a couple of the runners though
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Sonntag is a Qld Derby winner, so you'd guess that this was more about fitness and getting back to the races than a serious hit-out.
Cameron Rose
Expert
First four in the run were the first four home, and nothing really made an impression outside of them, a tough race to get a read on. Some were plain and others were just okay. We've seen enough from Happy Trails to know that we can take him on trust, and he worked to the line more stylishly than the others, which he should, given his class. Any one of them could pop up next start over further, particularly the Waller pair.