No standout performances apart from some very interesting drives which is the polite way of saying it I think!!
Blackbookers from meeting
Chanceabet
Crash Cart
Sunrise Lady
Ulos
Lola Bromac
Run of The Night
Harley Fella, was 3 wide the trip and still won. The sectional times flattered him a tad as didn't go quickly and make him work but still a top effort
Drive of the Night
Todd Rattray (Blacktie Affair), didn't get sucked into following bolters out 3 wide who would have taken him nowhere and saved a ton of ground going through the middle which might have been the difference between winning and losing in the end
Also thought Natalee Emery's drive on Hamish Sanz was copybook (I might be a tad biased though as had a decent bet on him lol). It might not have looked pretty but she took off at exactly the right time and I couldn't have done it better sitting at home with a remote control but Todd's drive on Blacktie Affair won him the race so he gets the nod
Slaughter of the Night
Paul Williams (Iden Justasmyrk), funny to call something a slaughter when the horse wins by 6 metres but he got himself in a world of trouble due to a couple of poor decisions in the run and was very lucky to get out when he did. Classic case of a drivers mindset thinking he is beatifully placed in the "one/one" but he was behind the bolter of the field who was neither going to pressure the leader nor take him into the race so simply had to pull out when the 3 wide line came. Should have actually drove him aggressively and kept the death to be honest and would have won by 25 metres I reckon
Keith Toulmin on Thabela Brioso came a very close 2nd in this award
Odd Spot
Lead time in race 8 was posted as 32.3!!! If correct its the equivalent of running a 26.5 quarter and with due respect to the horses involved in the race, none of them would go that quickly downhill on rollerskates so is an obvious error in my eyes
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Race 1 - 3YO, 2090m, mile rate 2.01.8, lead time 34.1 (very fast), first half 62.5, last half 61.6
First 4 over the line cleared out from the rest
Daytime Jerry (1st), did a bit of work early but enjoyed a good trip after that and won well
Ark Raid (2nd), funny run, seemed to race in patches but certainly has ability
King Of Jewels (3rd), very fast lead time probably told over the last 200 but still boxed on okay
Scarlett Blaze (4th), much improved run and the fact he beat the rest clearly is a good pointer going forward
Arkabe Jewel (6th), not a bad effort after an early error so best of the rest
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Race 2 - C1-C2, 2090m, mile rate 2.01.8, lead time 35.1 (quicker than average), first half 62.9, last half 59.6
The 2 best horses ran the quinella and first 5 over the line clearly better than the rest
Special Gallenti (1st), good speed to lead and ran even sections and kept going to win. Deserved the win actually after previous 2 runs
Chanceabet (2nd), proved last time was no fluke as best run in the race again, did more work than any other runner and refused to lie down. One to follow
Gurrero (3rd), perfectly driven and whilst it wasn't his best form it was still a big improvement
Prettyboytoby (4th), had his chance and is always going to be running on I think
Crash Cart (5th), outside the first 2 over the line he was the best run in the race. Got a win in him soon
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Race 3 - 2YO, 1609m, mile rate 2.02.4, first half 62.9, last half 59.5
Best horse won the race and the first 2 finished well clear of the remainder
Hamish Sanz (1st), very reminiscent of his brother Mitchell Sanz in racing style, copybook drive and unlucky in some regards that the leader rolled off down the back and gave an inside run to 2nd horse or would have dead set bolted in
Sunrise Lady (2nd), every possible hope but a much improved run and beat the rest clearly. One to follow for sure when back against her own sex
Modern Angel (3rd), very good drive also and whilst no match for the first 2 did hold the rest easily
Gun Filly (4th), another good run after working early, has improved heaps at past couple
Flashy Icon (10th), disgraceful performance, first time she has led though and may improve next time with a sit
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Race 4 - C3-C4, 2090m, mile rate 2.05.6, lead time 38.5 (very slow), first half 64.8, last half 59.8
Winner 3 deep the trip so had plenty on them, sectional times make it hard to take much out of the race though
Harley Fella (1st), 3 wide the journey but they walked which helped but still too good
Mickey Delahey (2nd), led, walked and just went under but never going to get an easier run in front than he did here
New York Fella (3rd), looked a shade unlucky but did enjoy a soft run
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Race 5 - 3YO, 2090m, mile rate 2.02.5, lead time 35.4 (bit quicker than average), first half 64.3, last half 59.6
Winner simply too good and the first 5 over the line clearly superior to the rest
Iden Justasmyrk (1st), very good win, was better than it looked. Got shuffled back and would have been 12 metres off leader and 5 wide at the 400 yet rounded them up easily. He must have run 28.5 himself out wide. Might develop into a pretty handy horse this bloke
Cardinal Dreamer (2nd), did a bit of work to lead but soft run after that, still boxed on well and has a win in him when draws to get a soft lead
Safina Leis (3rd), good drive and an improved performace. Definitely proved that she is purely a sit/sprint mare
Innasbrook (4th), barrier killed his chances from the get go but stuck to task well
Peace Chief (5th), didn't enjoy much luck, barrier 1 didn't suit either as better when can grind home in his races. Forgive run
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Race 6 - C5+ Stand, 2579m, mile rate 2.03.1, lead time 78.8 (average), first half 62.4, last half 57.6
Winner simply in a different class, both placegetters went okay too
Cosmic Under Fire (1st), simply too classy, once he found the front it was a procession and not many horses will lose a race in Tassie running home 57.6
Jumpin Jack Jasper (2nd), another honest run in a stand, never seems to run a bad one. No match for winner though
Ulos (3rd), much improved run, probably the 2nd best run in the race actually as he was off the pegs and 3 wide in the quick last half. Might surprise at next couple
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Race 7 - C1-C2 Mares, 2090m, mile rate 1.59.7, lead time 34.3 (very fast), first half 60.9, last half 60.3
Went way too quickly here, overall mile rate of 1.59 and didn't break 60 the run home just emphasises the fact. First 2 horses cleared right out
Blacktie Affair (1st), very well driven and also relished the hot speed. Was going to win a long way from home. Has to be driven sit/sprint but is flying at present
Jet Black Flyer (2nd), another good drive and unlucky to run into a mre at the top of her game as beat the rest easily
Lola Bromac (3rd), very good run as did a bit of work in the quick early sectionals then kept coming in the straight. One to follow
Sanreos (4th), going very well this mare and another good tough run, might struggle to win until she gets back into the draw but isn't going to be far away in anything
Julias Song (5th), looked disappointing, never travelled the entire race and then just plugged home despite doing no work
Thabela Brioso (8th), suicidal tactics driving a 50/1 pop forward from gate 7 in super quick lead time then a 60 first half death seating. Did well in hindsight to only be beaten 28 metres so run was actually okay
Ashkalini (12th), started odds on and was gassed in front but capitulated very quickly, all her best form has been over mile trips though so was always going to be a query if she led and copped any pressure here. Be interesting to see how she performs next start but would imagine she would be driven with a sit
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Race 8 - C1-C2, 2090m, mile rate 2.02.3, lead time 32.3 (is a record if correct but doubt it), first half 64.3, last half 62.2
Went very quickly early also and form is always going to be very suspect when the final quarter of a race is run in 32.2 so make of it what you will
Phantom Jasper (1st), enjoyed a perfect run in transit and kept plugging home
Still Royal (2nd), was the one I wanted to be on in the run and thought he should have won but just got outplugged
Cancellara (3rd), every hope but no match for first 2
Livin In Heaven (5th), fair effort after copping plenty of pressure
Boozy Rouge (6th), no doubt should have won easily as badly held up but remember that despite looking terribly unlucky they did stagger home which probably emphasised things
Safe And Smart (8th), overdid things early
Cullens Count (9th), forget he went around, went forward early then had to go back to last and also had a flat tyre in the run
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Race 9 - C0, 2090m, mile rate 2.04.9, lead time 36.6 (slower than average), first half 66.1, last half 59.5
Pretty average lot and long odds on pop led and walked which compressed the margins at the end
Denvers Boy (1st), didn't look too impressive, appeared to switch off in the run after getting it very easy. Probably went too slowly in hindsight
Look Look (2nd), good drive to trail the fav and kept coming in the straight
Woodland Chapel (3rd), ran home out wide as usual but might get up in one of these races shortly
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