CRANBOURNE - 3 May 2021
RIVER VIEWS won a jump out on Apr 20 without blinkers before an Apr 27 jump out and then a comfortable official trial win in Heat 4 on May 3. He’s switched trainers to Price & Kent and has also been gelded following that disappointing debut. He should nice gate speed from out wide here to lead, travelled well throughout and then was asked for an effort briefly for 150m or so where he opened up a couple lengths very easily. He will resume gelded and with blinkers and he’s been given plenty of time since his October 2020 debut, expect a stack of improvement.
Wow this was some sort of run from I AM PILGRIM, a huge run from the back of the field and out wide to win Heat 13 by 1L over 990m in a super impressive performance and probably the top performer. The 3yo son of Shamus Award has had a few jump outs now - on Mar 15 he dropped back to a very clear last, hooked wide and closed really well to finish 5th somehow and was continually making ground even past the line. On Mar 29 he jumped a lot better but was beaten a long way. A couple weeks off before Apr 19 and it was the same as his first jump out, dropping back to last before making a run up the inside to finish 2nd. Doesn’t look like he’ll have a friendly racing pattern as he will get back, but wow has he shown a turn of foot and he looks like he has a bit of talent.
OTHER
Can’t ignore an 8L trial win no matter who it. Peter Moody’s import NICKAJACK CAVE took out Heat 1 over 1550m as easy as you like having competing in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill in his first Australian start last month.
GOLDEN FOURTH was settled clearly back in Heat 9 but really worked her way into it and once she did get going, she made up a fair bit of ground late and hit the line hard. Following 2x runs over 1400m and an 11-week let up, she might be better suited over a mile.
Mentioned after an Apr 19 jump out, FIGHT FOR VICTORY took out Heat 10 alongside Nankervis where they gapped 3rd by 12L! He was given a push here and they didn’t break the clock, so we need to see a BM58 first up to consider him at all.
Actually quite a nice trial from SO SWAY, pulling way from the field late to win Heat 11 by almost 3L and in only his first trial or jump out in VIC. Expect him to resume in a BM64 and he has a handy soft record (2 starts for 1x win and 1x placing) so one to keep an eye on.
CHERRY TORTONI with a swooping run to win Heat 12. He was clearly a class above, as expected.
TAVAJEN was very well backed last week but was scratched at the gates, forcing her to head back to the trials and it was a good performance in Heat 15. Not expecting her to be a big price, but expecting her to pretty much just win first up if she strikes the right MDN. Wouldn’t mind her going straight to 1300-1400m first up now instead of 1200m.
HORSHAM - 3 May 2021
OTHER
ARTY LUCAS was the pick of the 1000m jump outs, closing super from the back to finish 3rd in Heat 3 (yellow).
Wish we knew the dam of the winner of Heat 7… all we know is the Paul Preusker runner is by Atomic and was a massive winner of this heat under the guidance of Declan Bates, running nice time for the 800m in the process. Going to have to keep a close eye on this one as there was no Atomic runners listed on Paul Preusker’s profile either.
BALLARAT - 3 May 2021
SMOKE WINKENS has not been out of place in jump outs against the older horses. The grey 2yo went to the line just behind Lucky Sham in an Apr 19 jump out, defeating other 3yo’s in the process before running over the top of a 3yo and 4yo in Heat 2 on May 3 () with a big swooping run down the middle of the track, running straight over the top of them. He looked to have a really nice stride and closed off really well over the 950m on the Soft6 track and he certainly has some talent. A cheap $16k purchase and by Flying Artie, think they might make that $ back pretty soon.
Very hard to not get excited here. The half-sister to Exceedence and recently Oxley Road was a smart winner of Heat 3 on May 3 (orange and purple), MAC ’N’ CHEESE. Her first Apr 19 jump out saw her drop to last, travel wide throughout and then hit the line under a super strong hold to finish 3rd. This jump out was much of the same, settling last but then working into it slowly before making a run down the middle of the track and being way too classy late. A $300k Gold Coast yearling purchase with this sort of breeding to add to some super jump outs, she’s an exciting 2yo talent for the McEvoy yard.
OTHER
We said that BUCK BAY would be hard to follow with confidence following an easy Apr 19 win, but the 6yo was good again when 2nd to the speedy Meteorite in Heat 1. He’ll resume in a BM58 and if he’s at a nice price, going to be hard not to have something small on him.
Hard to get a gauge of the 1300m jump outs in Heats 7 to 9 with the vision cut off at the start and most of the fields in a near walk late over the line.
SALE - 4 May 2021
OTHER
Nice win by the 3yo filly NIGHT ERUPTION in Heat 2, but she didn’t beat much of quality. She looked like she needed the hit out, being her first jump out and struggling out the back for much of the heat before she finally got it together. Watch for another jump out.
MORNINGTON - 5 May 2021
LA ZUCCA looked a class above, cruising over the top of the leaders in Heat 5 on May 5 (blue with yellow sleeves) to win. She jumped well here, but was restrained and taken back to be ridden off the pace before coming wide around the bend and coming over the top to win pretty comfortably in the end. The 3yo filly has put in some nice efforts now, being quietly ridden to finish 3rd in a 700m Mar 31 jump out before winning an Apr 14 jump out over 750m ahead of Avenue Of Pleasure. This 1000m heat should have her primed now for a debut. Travelling super and can win.
JONTY was quietly ridden in a 650m synthetic Apr 21 jump out, but the 3yo gelding showed his talent in Heat 8 on May 5 (red with green sleeves) as he kicked up along the fence to lead before extending later over the final 200m as he was asked to lengthen out over the 750m, clocking the fastest time of the morning in the process. Mindful that 2nd and 3rd place here were 2yo’s, but the impressive part was the time and how he responded when asked. Another jump out stretching out over 900m+ would be preferred, but he looks good enough to be able to go close on debut where we expect him to be ridden up on speed.
OTHER
Nice easy win for REDEFINE over the 1000m in Heat 3. The 7yo veteran led from start to finish here and did it with ease.
Would love to see KIMBERLEY SPIRIT in a BM58 first up. Her first up win last prep by 4L in a MDN was super, and after dropping out in a Apr 21 jump out over 1000m, she closed super in Heat 7 (pink) once she got room late over the 750m. She can go close first up in a BM58.
FLEMINGTON - 7 May 2021
OTHER
Treading very carefully here, but the win of DIXIE BUILT in Heat 5 was too good to ignore. The 6yo is coming off a 3 week freshen up and has been just ok in 3 runs this prep, so not sure what to make of this bit of work. Taking with a grain of salt, but if he’s double digits in a BM58 he might be worth a small bet.
The clear fastest time of the morning was Heat 7, won by a ridden out BANQUO resuming with a race fit SODBUSTER in 2nd and daylight 3rd. SODBUSTER is the one to take from this having won her maiden by 8L two starts ago and was in an alright BM64 last start when going down by 1.5L. She can go close next start after an encouraging bit of work here.
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