Despite finding one better last week, BREAK FREE ticked an important box when resuming from a let-up over the 1200m at Doomben.
The market had stablemate HEYOKA as the favoured of the two but each were under $10 and given a chance. Luck would determine who finished in front and that is how it panned out.
HEYOKA, with the better draw, settled ahead of BREAK FREE – forced to go back from the wide gate with genuine pace drawn underneath her.
Three of the 8 leaders at the meeting held on to win and nothing came wider than lane 3 around the turn. This was a program that suited horses on pacers.
BREAK FREE got a drag into the race in the three wide line before storming down the outside with race best late splits to grab 2nd, beaten a narrow margin.
Poor HEYOKA got held up back towards the fence and never really got clear – her effort is a total forgive.
The race itself rated well – almost 3L inside standard but was aided but was aided by a hot tempo. The key takeaway for me was BREAK FREE relishing a fast run 1200m contest – it was the first time she has proven herself at this distance and opens the door for a wider range of options going forward.
HEYOKA was resuming and while the pace was hot, she had an economical run and will no doubt improve with this.
FLYING BANDIT was the sole representative at Randwick on Anzac Day. He was 4th-up, back to 1800m on a dry deck and got an above average tempo that should’ve allowed him to drop his head and come home but he finished 9th in a field of 11. Given he was 5 weeks between runs we can forgive this performance – the jury is out as to where he is at but let’s watch him next run as our data is saying a dry track should see him run a peak figure for the prep.
STOCKMAN flew the flag at Flemington with a tick over run ahead of more jumps racing. What a marvel he is and he will derive huge benefit from this run where the pace was on. Expect him to be competitive wherever Symon Wilde takes him during the early part of the jumps season.
Up at Gosford we had OBSIDIAN DREAM race second-up for the first time in her career. It was also her first go at 1200m and with a tempo that was 4L above standard through the first half of the race, she was possibly a tad too close to it. Her average 200m split through the first section was 11.5 on Saturday – previously she had gone 11.7 and 12.0 over shorter trips. This was a real test for her and the numbers say she passed. Her time was bang on standard for the grade. Given she’s now run in two high pressure races over 1100m and 1200m on a tight turning track, she could probably chase a 1400m race in bigger surrounds.
PANOVA gave James McDonald his first win at Morphettville when the filly took out the G1 SA Oaks (2000m). He was 0 from 3 heading into Saturday’s meeting but this filly proved yet again she relishes a hot speed.
They went through the first 1400m 4L above standard and she absorbed that before producing a last 600m that was 3L above and in doing so produced the highest rating of any runner at Morphettville on Saturday.
Can she measure up to the Cups? Probably not but given this was just her second go beyond a mile there is certainly scope for more from this promising girl.
The hard luck story in Adelaide was FLYING FOR FUN, who should’ve won the G1 Sangster Stakes (1200m). She was badly held up most of the straight and was even robbed of a G1 placing when 4th (beaten 0.1 lengths!).
This week Adelaide has the SA Derby and keep an eye on ACCIDENTAL BID. He is a northern hemisphere 3YO and much like RUSSIAN CAMELOT, who won the Derby a few years ago, comes here off a thumping win at Pakenham. Don’t be surprised if he bolts in and the media pundits start talking Melbourne Cup – he could be that good.
No doubt Tom and Jamie will be on weather watch with IN FLIGHT this weekend. The mare loves some cut in the ground and I see there’s some rain forecast for Sydney and Brisbane albeit the latter appears to be getting more. If she gets the right conditions, this mare can win the G2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Nic Ashman is a form expert who has developed his own times rating system to assess races. He is the host of The Beaten Favourite podcast and appears on several other racing media outlets. For a more detailed summary of the past weekend’s racing, you can listen to ‘The Monday Podcast’ episode by The Beaten Favourite HERE.