THE BLACK CLOUD nearly stole The Warra (1000m) at Kembla on Saturday — a race billed as a Group 3, depending on how seriously you take that label.
The Warra isn’t recongnised as a Group 3 race internationally. Australia has long standing arrangements with other jurisdictions that it is currently abandoning. To be fair, its Racing NSW acting alone here.
The Asian Pattern Committee governs this region of the world. They reportedly have requested an explanation as to why Racing NSW continues these upgrades outside the recognised framework.
The reason why this matters is because Australian is currently in Part 1 of the Blue Book – an international standards book. Should we continue to ignore our international agreements then it could be demoted to Part 2 of this book, which means the highest any of our races would be classified on the international stage is Listed. This outcome would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Stay tuned for more on that.
Is the glass half full or empty? That is what THE BLACK CLOUD owners have to ask themselves. Their mare had The Warra sewn up before CATCH THE GLORY snatched it inside the last 50m. But when you own one that has won just shy of $500k, it’s hard to be too negative. They clocked 56.9 seconds on a heavy track which is good going and they came home in 33.25, again above standard for the conditions. Figures like this would win stakes races elsewhere. THE BLACK CLOUD would be well suited staying at 1000m and a race like the Bribie Handicap in Brisbane has her name written all over it.
While we’re talking about stakes race in Brisbane, CHAMPAGNE LANE will get her chance in the Listed Mode Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 6. It’s a race Proven has targeted previously. Who could forget STROLL’s epic win in 2022 beating SUNSHINE IN PARIS and CHINNY BOOM? Off a fast tempo last Saturday at the Sunny Coast, CHAMPAGNE LANE clocked the 2nd fastest last 200m of the day which was more than 3L above standard. She relished a quiet ride. The two queries for her heading to the Mode will be 1200m and Doomben. At this point, she has shown a liking for big tracks/long straights and 1000m.
Also at the Sunny Coast last weekend was the consistent NAVAL TRADER. He was beaten only by race shape. They went 6L below standard through the first 800m in his BM85 contest. The overall time for the 1400m was 5L outside standard time meaning the backmarkers had little hope. NAVAL TRADER clocked the fastest last 200m of the race and he’ll be cherry ripe next start.
TOWN CRIER felt the pinch late with a month between runs in his BM78 1200m race. The long Sunshine Coast straight worked against him but he was nonetheless brave and will strip fitter next time.
Still on Saturday and HIT THE SWITCH stormed home with the best last 800, 600 and 400m of the day when resuming at the Gold Coast. He was last at the 600m in his 1000m maiden but he came home in a sizzling 22.52 for his final 400m on soft going. I would think the Sunshine Coast will suit him if the team can find a maiden over the same trip in the coming weeks.
Earlier in the week, INDEFENSIBLE resumed at Canterbury in a BM64 for mares aged 4 years and up. The 1200m was run at a moderate tempo and the overall time was just fair. But she over-raced and covered ground in what appears to be a forgive run albeit I hate following horses out of plain races. That said, this race was passable but had they rated 1L worse I would’ve binned it.
TAKE A BOW was back up to 1200m and copped a fast tempo at Doomben on Wednesday. She ran the fastest split of the race between the 600m and 400m but her last 400m was below standard. Perhaps a cold ride over 1000m is more her go but its hard to be critical as she wasn’t beaten far.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what unfolded at Ascot last Saturday where WATCH ME ROCK took out the feature – the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
WATCH ME ROCK ran bang on G1 average with a below average last 200m suggesting he was ‘Johnny on the spot’. I couldn’t back him in a G1 Northerly Stakes off this rating.
KING OF LIGHT was handed the G2 WA Guineas with a lead speed more than 3L below standard. He came home in 11.38, not much faster than NOTEWORTHY (winner of the BM72+ 1400m). I won’t pot him for the Northerly Stakes but I won’t be taking $3.
COSMIC CRUSADER was 3L inside standard time winning the Listed Carbine Club (1400m) and his last 200m was quicker than KING OF LIGHT. I’d back him over the 3YO in the last G1 of the year.
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.