Races

It Pays To Follow

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

WEDNESDAY – September 25 @ Belmont

Race 1 – HEAVY METAL

From the moment this filly made her debut in the Listed Supremacy Stakes (1000m), there’s always been a level of expectation surrounding her. We know she dislodged Chris Parnham shortly after the start first-up this time in at Northam, which effectively meant she was having a fresh run at Belmont last week. Settling rearward from her high draw over the 1000m, it appeared as if she caught Patrick Carbery by surprise with her turn of foot soon after straightening. Though she ran third, beaten less than a length, behind DIVINE IMPACT and CATCH CARTER, it was an eye-catching display. Her final 600m of 33.40sec. was clearly the fastest in the race.

Race 5 – PROPHET AND POWER

Now, please, bear with me. I’m following a horse beaten by UNCLE GERARD, who won for the second time in his 28-start career. The Jim Taylor-trained PROPHET AND POWER was first-up at 1400m after a good trial and only beaten a neck. Adding credit to the run was his ability to fight on and be the only on-pace runner to be in the finish alongside two runners who settled further back in the field. Look out for him in and around the Class 3 grade second up where he’ll strip fitter and with a favourable racing pattern, will be hard to beat.

THURSDAY – September 26 @ Northam

Race 2 – ZORBRIST

The three-year-old had the right formlines going into his second career start having run third on debut in a race containing GOD’S GATE and RED AUTUMN, the pair franking their Northam displays in subsequent starts. But unfortunately ZORBRIST had no luck early on and was forced to cover extra ground to sit in a prominent position. That took its toll late, although he still finished third in a showing that was full of merit. Don’t go to sleep on him.

SATURDAY – September 28 @ Belmont

Race 2 – SAINTY CULLITY

The son of Star Witness has plenty to learn. He also has a motor. The parade from SAINTY CULLITY on debut left a little to be desired and he probably didn’t appreciate the modest tempo set early doors on the weekend, no to mention racing in restricted room. Clint Johnston-Porter was unable to build momentum at any stage in the straight, yet he was still able to weave through and grab third behind TRUE APOSTLE and BLUE ROCKET. It’s not a stretch to suggest he could have prevailed with an uninterrupted run.

Race 8 – SUPER SMINK

The star juvenile from a couple of seasons ago hasn’t been able to return to the lofty heights that saw her win the Karrakatta Plate and WA Sires’ Produce Stakes brilliantly, but there were signs on Saturday. She presented magnificently in the mounting yard before a slashing run to finish third in the Black Heart Bart Stakes. She jumped from the widest gate which forced her to be ridden negatively, but her final 600m of 33.38sec. was clearly the fastest of the race, with her final 200m being her best of the race. The upcoming mares’ series sets up well for her, unless Dan Morton and his team have their sights set on higher grade races.




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