Melbourne racing snapshot: Five to follow, sectional stars
Sweet Ride won, while Ashford Street (left) hit the line well
Thankfully there was no fast lane to contend with at The Valley on Saturday with the rail back into the true position and there were some standout performances as we start the early days of spring excitement, but there were also a few we can certainly forgive.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
ASHFORD STREET (Race 9)First-up in eight months and went super to get within ½ length of the winner, especially when not necessarily suited by a tight-turning track and fast ground. The talented Warrnambool sprinter, a noted mudlark, usually needs a couple of runs to hit top gear. Looks set for a good preparation.
What a race! 🙌
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 12, 2023
Sweet Ride gets there on the line under a perfectly timed ride from Michael Dee. 👌@ANeashamRacing pic.twitter.com/6GUW499KC6
RECOMMENDATION (Race 5)
Ridden cold and almost got the result. Sprinted sharply from back in the field, a change of tactics reported to stewards prior to the race, and surged to within a half head of the tiring winner MAXIMILLIUS. Recommendation won a midweek in Sydney second-up last campaign and then claimed the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes.
SHOW SOME DECORUM (Race 5)
Stuck behind a wall of horses on the bend and only saw daylight inside the last 100m. Show Some Decorum responded to the urging of jockey Michael Dee to match motors with BELLE ET RICHE (4th) over the concluding stages to run fifth, beaten 1.4 lengths. Should be hard to beat third-up.
MANTUA (Race 1)
Poised behind TITLE FIGHTER, a last start Valley winner, only to be held up from the 400m to 100m when the early leader, who pulled up with a slow recovery, dropped out of contention quickly. Liked the way he picked up again once around Title Fighter and off the heels of EPIC PROPORTIONS.
Close finish in the first at The Valley!
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 12, 2023
Lakota Fire gets it on the line. @LaneDamian @MarkKavanaghRac pic.twitter.com/aO7ELwTHDY
HAVISHAM (Race 6)
Faced the breeze three and four wide the trip almost outside the leader but fought on gallantly to run second, beaten ½ length. In stark contrast the winner SUPERSTOCK enjoyed a saloon trip behind the leader on the rail and only went around the two speed horses to get the job done. Early leader GIRELLO dropped out to run 12th, some 5¾ lengths away, while runner-up Havisham maintained a neat length on third.
FORGIVE
LIEVORE (Race 3): A post-race veterinary inspection revealed a throat condition might have affected the mare's performance. Settled second in the run and appeared to be doing it comfortably but once the pressure ramped up the five-year-old dropped out of contention quickly.Alors Tu Crois goes back-to-back! 👏@WILLPRICE50 @HDwyerRacing pic.twitter.com/R1BKlr1RfO
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 12, 2023
ASPEN COLORADO (Race 4): Jumped cleanly but beaten for early speed and got shuffled back in the field, as customary. Always needs luck to perform, given racing pattern, and got none on Saturday. Hemmed away between horses, compounded by a sluggish early tempo, saved ground around the bend but ultimately went to the post untested. Barrier trial for prizemoney.
BOTANY (Race 8): Raced keenly outside the leader in the early and middle stages. Restrained at the 900m and 700m to avoid the heels of eventual third-placed JUKILA.
INUNDATION (Race 9): Clearly hampered by deteriorating throat condition. Further scoping tests to be done to determine extent of problem and possible intervention. The talented sprinter showed trademark speed but weakened from the top of the straight under competition pressure.
CRUNCH TIME
TWIN PERFECTION (Race 2)The Phillip Stokes-trained speedster topped The Valley timesheets with the fastest last 600m (33.27sec), 400m (22.01sec) and 200m (10.90sec) sectionals last Saturday.
Impressive win!
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 12, 2023
Twin Perfection speeds away from them. 💨@lil_spaino96 @pstokesracing pic.twitter.com/YovJch0qLT
MANSIERE (Race 1)
Beaten for early speed but rattled into third on the back of the fastest last 800m sectional (44.23sec) of the day and second quickest last 600m (33.54 sec).
TRACK TALK
"It's important for him, there's a bit of pressure on the horse this prep to get up and get mobile with his win record, but he's been very consistent and running well. Since being gelded he's gone to another level." Trainer James Cummings after PEREILLE powered to victory in the Benchmark 70 at The Valley."There's plenty more in store, for sure, he's certainly got the good natural speed, whether he sticks to this sort of trip or out over further, I think Annabel (Neasham) was of the opinion 1100m probably sees him out, so I think 1000m and if he's able to take a sit it probably gives him more options." Jockey Michael Dee after SWEET RIDE won the 1000m Benchmark 100.
"It's not the way that horse should go (leading) in the future I don't think, when they go like that on 'D Oliver' you know they're pulling fairly hard, don't you? He's a rider that likes to be in a nice position and ride with a sense of timing, so I'm thinking that horse took off a bit, I think we'll keep him to 1200m for the meantime and hopefully that run takes the edge off him." Trainer Mick Price after MAXIMILLIUS led all the way to victory under jockey Damien Oliver.
Maximillius JUST holds on! 🤯
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 12, 2023
Recommendation backers on the floor. 😶🌫️@MickPriceRacing pic.twitter.com/2sL6ZnlQEW
"She's only a tiny little filly but she doesn't know that, she's pinned the ears back and really tried hard." Jockey Wiremu Pinn on tenacious 2500m Benchmark 78 winner PEARL RAIN.
"Third start in you don't really put them down to a set pattern of racing but certainly in his trials and in his earlier runs he's been in a more forward position, but it (come from behind win) makes him more versatile the way he's run today." Trainer Levi Kavanagh on the progression of LAKOTA FIRE, winner of the opening race.
STEWARDS
Jockey Michelle Payne received an eight-meeting suspension for a whip breach in Race 8.Payne used her persuader 10 times before the last 100m - twice the legal limit - aboard eventual third-placed gelding JUKILA. Payne, who was also fined $200, will be ineligible to ride from August 16-23.
Jockeys Wiremu Pinn (Race 3) and Harry Coffey (Race 6) escaped with severe reprimands for separate careless riding indiscretions.
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