Races

It Pays To Follow

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

DESERT NYMPH

Wednesday, March 15 @ Belmont

This filly has been a horse to follow already this preparation and there’s no reason why she can’t be again. The maiden win last week was full of class and confirmed she possesses better than above average ability. Troy Turner gave her an 11 out of 10 (as he is doing to a lot of his mounts at present) and she did the rest, appreciating the clear air that she hasn’t always received. The effort of Pacific Boxer (6th) in the same race was also impressive.

BECALOTTI

Wednesday, March 15 @ Belmont

Just over half an hour after Desert Nymph broke through, the Tiarnna Robertson-trained Becalotti dished out a good old-fashioned beating to her rivals. Jade McNaught found the top and with her main threat Valdarena settling rearward from a high draw, this race was as good as over. Becalotti won by more than six lengths and never looked like she was at her top. Valdarena worked home into second and third placegetter Celebrity Icon, though having her 10th start, recently finished fifth in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy. Expecting the form to hold up.

ZOUBOLTZ

Wednesday, March 15 @ Belmont

Those who have tumbled into Zouboltz on more than one occasion this preparation might disagree with this assessment, but we’ll stick to our guns and slide this three-year-old into the “Pays To Follow” category. Yes, he has been costly, but his fast-finishing third (he ran the fastest last 600m of the race) behind Missile Storm was encouraging. Whether being ridden quiet early in his races in the future will be a tactic employed remains to be seen. What you are unlikely to witness however at his next start is a price in the double figures again.

CITY ANGEL

Saturday, March 18 @ Ascot

Westspeed Platinum Handicap events on a Saturday can throw up an odd result or three. Leica Jaguar snapped an 812-day drought when successful on the weekend. In behind him was City Angel, a lightly-raced four-year-old from Jayce Buckley’s stable who was strong to the line over 1000m. Considering she is a C1 horse and beat home the likes of Some Sort and Sir Mambo, runner-up in a 66+ 1000m race the start prior, she will be awfully hard to toss in a suitable assignment.

SUPERSESSION

Saturday, March 18 @ Ascot

Adam Durrant went to Ascot on Saturday believing Supersession could chalk up a fourth successive victory. He was not alone. He left disappointed. Again, he was not alone. From the moment the three-year-old didn’t jump on terms, he was at the mercy of his rivals and the tempo set out in front. Through no fault of his own, Chris Parnham couldn’t find a clear path in the straight, resulting in a fifth-placed finish. It was a forgive run with a capital F.

TENACIOUS REWARD

Saturday, March 18 @ Ascot

Bunbury trainer Paul Roberts could have chosen a far more accommodating assignment for Tenacious Reward than Saturday’s graduation handicap over 1400m. But I loved the fact he threw the gelding in the deeper end of the pool after a powerful 1500m maiden win at Pinjarra. Tenacious Reward dropped 6kg with the step up in class and Victoria Corver’s 3kg claim and hit the line strongly to grab fourth, only two lengths off a very capable mare in Stellar Vista. He’ll take some stopping if Roberts switches back to a midweek meeting … or maybe even in another 60+ race.




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