Well-fancied flops and forgives from Saturday's racing at Rosehill and The Valley
Mollynickers was poor with no obvious excuse
We assess the performances of some of the more-fancied beaten runners from racing at Rosehill and Moonee Valley on Golden Slipper day - Saturday, March 16.
READ: Saturday racing in review, including all the Saints & Sinners
FORGIVE
ROBRICK ($3.80F) - Rosehill R4 (1200m)
The Victorian was well-backed in the fourth event to start favourite but he was slow away and raced like a horse looking for 1400m. Having his third start in a row over 1200m, he failed to show the same turn-of-foot which saw him run second in the Inglis Sprint down the straight. If Price/Kent step him up in trip fourth-up, he's certainly capable of bouncing back.
PRIVATE EYE ($6.50) - Rosehill R9 (1100m)
Forced to race wide throughout which made it tough for the Joe Pride-trained galloper considering he carried top weight and it was a fast-run race. Wouldn't be dropping off him ahead of the TJ Smith Stakes in a few weeks time where he gets back to weight-for-age and steps up to 1200m.
What a finish in the @kiaorastud Galaxy!
Zapateo 🤠salutes at huge odds over Sunshine In Paris and a gallant Front Page ðŸÂ´@KPMcEvoy times his ride perfectly for @godolphin@JamesCummings88#ExpectItAll#TABGoldenSlipperpic.twitter.com/ergnbO93KM
- Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 23, 2024
OZZMOSIS ($11) - Rosehill R9 (1100m)
He blew from $4 out to $11, so he clearly wasn't 'well-fancied' but given he opened favourite, he's worth a mention here. First-up after winning the G1 Coolmore Stud (1200m), Ozzmosis bombed the start badly and basically took no part in the G1 Galaxy (1100m). Sadly for his backers, he was declared a starter.
"I don't think he had any feet on the ground when the gates opened. His head was somewhere between his legs so the race was over," jockey Rachel King said post-race.
SPYWIRE ($2.80) - The Valley R2 (1200m)
This was just a horror show and a poor ride by John Allen. First he handed up the lead on a very fast horse, then he stuck to the fence when there was seemingly room to come one-off to give himself more options. The favourite was badly held-up for the entire Valley straight and couldn't be properly tested.
READ: John Allen explains Spywire ride to stewards
Growing Empire runs them into the ground 😤
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 23, 2024
It's proving to be a front runners day early from The Valley ðŸŽ@cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/Uzw7rhuWv3
CAMPIONESSA ($4.60) - The Valley R5 (1600m)
He got Imperatriz home in the feature race but this wasn't Opie Bosson's best work in the G2 Sunline Stakes. Campionessa jumped cleanly but Bosson wasn't aggressive enough early to hold a forward position, ending up in a poor spot three-back on the fence. The star Kiwi had nowhere to go until the quinella pair of Eternal Flame and Rumbled Again were off and gone.
Eternal Flame 🔥@Brown_ethan8 has a double at The Valley âœŒï¸ pic.twitter.com/ZQgugdvTA3
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 23, 2024
FORGET (SACK)
TOM KITTEN ($3.20) - Rosehill R6 (2000m)
The inside wasn't the absolute A-ground but he was entitled to at least place and simply wasn't good enough. It seems as though he hasn't come up anywhere near the sort of form that saw him take out the Spring Champion Stakes in dominant fashion last preparation.
What a ride from @nashhot! ðŸ˜ÂÂ
RIFF ROCKET completes the Victoria Derby-Rosehill Guineas double for @DKepitis@WoppittB@cwallerracing, joining Tarzino, Helenus and Octagonal in the last 50 years! ¸ÂÂpic.twitter.com/9Jq7FGT4JQ
- World Horse Racing (@WHR) March 23, 2024
OLENTIA ($2.50F) - Rosehill R10 (1200m)
Had her chance and while picking up a cheque for owners, she's proving to be very costly for her followers. Had weight relief on the winner Chain Of Lightning but never looked like picking her up.
Chain Of Lightning wins the G3 TAB Birthday Card Stakes, giving @blake_shinn a treble!@aus_turf_club @moodyracingpgm @kscoleman pic.twitter.com/fgkCaCKu4J
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024
YARRAWONGA ($6) - The Valley R3 (2500m)
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained on-pacer pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia but if the stable do press on with him this campaign, he'll be going around without our cash. He was racing in good form in NSW but his last two efforts at The Valley have been horrid, beaten a total of 24.2L when $2 and $6.
MOLLYNICKERS ($2.05) - The Valley R6 (1600m)
There was no excuse at all for Mollynickers' poor showing here. She had the back of the winner Vibrant Sun but was left standing when the pace quickened. Vets couldn't find anything amiss with her and jockey Ben Melham was left scratching his head post-race. She either doesn't get around The Valley or isn't at the level required to be winning Group races this autumn - leaning the latter.
Vibrant Sun reels in Grinzinger Belle late 🎣 pic.twitter.com/RBh4U6a5EL
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 23, 2024
JURY'S OUT
THINK IT OVER ($2.60) - Rosehill R5 (2000m)
Regular rider Nash Rawiller came back and was concerned with how Think It Over finished off in the Ranvet but a post-race veterinary examination didn't reveal any abnormalities. If any issues come to light in the next few days, he's probably a 'forgive' but this was plain effort on face value.
Rawiller's full comments post-race were interesting ...
READ: What the jockeys said after the G1 Ranvet Stakes
VIA SISTINA wins the @RanvetPtyLtd Stakes!
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 23, 2024
The @cwallerracing import far too good in claiming her first Australian Group 1 at her local debut and she leads a @YulongInvest quinella as Place Du Carrousel edges out Buckaroo for second. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/AFnb4tYO5v
SWITZERLAND ($5) - Rosehill R8 (1200m)
Had his chance in the Slipper but he's a colt with a good deal of ability so he's not in the 'sack' file just yet but we're putting him on notice as this was a fail in his first big test.
MILITARIZE ($5) - Rosehill R7 (1500m)
No doubt he's a talented colt, but from what we've seen this year, he's not the superstar many might have thought after that Golden Rose win. Similar to the Randwick Guineas, he had his chance but was just outgunned.
VEIGHT WINS HIS MAIDEN GROUP 1 ðŸÂÂŽ💨 pic.twitter.com/naJgYTlCwn
- 7HorseRacing ðŸÂÂÂŽ (@7horseracing) March 23, 2024
MARQUESS ($3.10F) - The Valley R1 (2040m)
Marquess appeared to have his chance after peeling out around the leaders but his finale was weak. He was set to be a 'forget' but a post-race vet examination revealed the Godolphin galloper to be lame in the right hind. Wouldn't be rushing to load up on him next time but you could make a case for giving him one more chance.
Magnaspin as tough as it comes to start the day 💪😤 pic.twitter.com/dhlcCAFKyK
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) March 23, 2024
WISHLOR LASS ($3.40) - The Valley R5 (1600m)
Wishlor Lass led at what was just a steady tempo but came under pressure early and faded to be beaten 4.15L. Melham told stewards she didn't feel totally comfortably in her action but vets couldn't find anything amiss with the $3.40 second-favourite.
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