It Pays To Follow

Posted on May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 | Posted by Digby Beacham

FALCON TRADER

Wednesday, April 26 @ Pinjarra

This three-year-old gelding resumed last week off the back of an on-speed trial victory and the avalanche of money for him first-up suggested he was going to be hard to beat. It was smart money indeed. Brandon Louis rode him like the best horse in the race, absorbing the pressure applied by Duchess Of Gossip to win a length. That pair finished five lengths ahead of the third placegetter, Nice By Nature in what was the fastest of three 1200m races on the day.

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SUPER ROMANI

Wednesday, April 26 @ Pinjarra

Forced to do a little bit of extra work in the run, Super Romani was entitled to turn up his toes. Instead he dug in and, with blinkers fitted for a second-up assignment over 1400m, worked strongly to the line to grab second. You would think a 1600m maiden third-up is now on the cards … not to mention a win.

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NOD AND SMILE

Wednesday, April 26 @ Pinjarra

Any horse which wins a race, be it a maiden at Pinjarra or a 72+ event at Ascot on a weekend, by more than eight lengths is worth following. Nod And Smile fits into that category after leading throughout to score by 8.5 lengths in a 1600m maiden. The son of My Admiration even broke 35 seconds for his final 600m on a soft 7 surface.

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ZOUDINI

Wednesday, April 26 @ Pinjarra

It has been more than 15 months since Zoudini won a race. Without being too nasty, he has been somewhat of a money muncher since. In four starts this time in, the six-year-old hasn’t run top three. However, his effort down at Pinjarra last week was proof he’s going along okay. Disappointed for a run in the straight coming from a rearward position — two issues on a leader-dominated track — he was never going to play a part in the finish. But he was sound late when presented with daylight to be beaten less than three lengths.

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POMPEY

Saturday, April 29 @ Ascot

Sent out a $2.80 favourite after winning impressively the start prior, Pompey’s chances were in the gutter after he bungled the start, losing two lengths. From there in a compact field, he was back at the rear of the field and being dictated to by his opposition. Unsurprisingly, the gaps never appeared and he was a hard-luck story when placing fifth behind Pearly Nuggett, who flooded down the centre of the track to record a brilliant first-up victory.

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KNOT SECRET

Saturday, April 29 @ Ascot

Much like Pompey earlier in the day, those who sided with Knot Secret were wincing during the run. The $3.10 punters pick jumped nicely and had the back of He’s Gold, only to lose his position in running when Acermetric moved into the race three-deep. Then Sessions Peak got the back of Acermetric and Shaun McGruddy, through no fault of his own, found himself waiting and waiting and waiting for the gaps to appear. Knot Secret actually did a very good job to pick up under 60kg and run fourth.