Blackbookers
Harbhajan
Run of the Night
Brian Buster Brown, had everything made to order in the run but still smashed them late
Drive of the Night
Erin Hollaway (Murillo Bromac), some very strange runs in this race with a ton of horses not wanting to be near the fence over the last 500 metres despite being under pressure. Erin showed them all up by actually going to the pegs from the running line and didn't go round a single horse to win. Its also noteworthy that she took a needle eye opening after falling in the previous race
Nathan Ford also drove 3 horses perfectly on the night so deserves a mention (Brian Buster Brown, Mister Gallenti, Ulos)
Slaughter of the Night
Gareth Rattray (Anoptimist), I am probably harder on Gareth than a lot of other drivers as he sets the bar high but he made a terrible decision to leave the leader's back spot and get on the back of a bolter in the death who was gone at the time and it clearly cost him the race. Was then held up for nearly the rest of the race only to get out late for a close 3rd. Needless to say, the winner was 3 pegs and took the spot he vacated
A very close 2nd was:
Danny Malone (Ultimate Heir), drove a $52 pop as if it was Gammalite, surprised it only got beaten 42 metres actually after what he did early. Drivers must be aware of the abilities of their horse or shouldn't be driving
Voting for drivers
3. Erin Hollaway
2. Nathan Ford
1. Todd Rattray
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Race 1 - C0-C1, 2200m, mile rate 2.02.2, lead time 43.5 (quick), first half 64.0, last half 59.5
Winner a mile too good
Brian Buster Brown (1st), enjoyed a perfect trip but destroyed them late
The Detonator (2nd), honest run and kept coming in straight
Little Elf (3rd), another honest run, lacks speed but does try
Our Last Knight (4th), enjoyed a great trip and plugged away
Liskens Gift (5th), run was a bit better than it looked as was slaughtered mid race coming round in 29.7 second quarter
Flying Jasper (9th), good gatespeed to lead from 7 but the quick lead time plus copping pressure from the 1200 meant he was gone a long way from home
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Race 2 - C2-C3, 1680m, mile rate 2.04.0, lead time 4.4 (very fast), first half 66.7, last half 58.3
Farcically run mile race which resulted in it being fence dominated
Murphys Rocket (1st), led, walked and staved them off. Wasn't overly impressive but was always going to win
Denvers Boy (2nd), showed good gatespeed and sat outside leader and tried all the way
My Centurion (3rd), very good drive to maximise its placing
Touchwood Bucksta (4th), typical opportunist run and another good drive
Sanreos (5th), every hope but she just hasn't the speed to come wide and win in a dash home
Harbhajan (7th), knocked over at the 500 when looked to be travelling extremely well
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Race 3 - C0-C1, 2200m, mile rate 2.03.2, lead time 45.9 (slower than average), first half 62.5, last half 60.0
Funnily run race and they staggered up the straight
Cancellara (1st), as usual when its a slog up the straight its the horse who has the softest run who gets up and this was the case with him
The Jouster (2nd), probably the best run in the race but even so was entitled to get home given the sectionals
Anoptimist (3rd), very unlucky not to win as held up from the 400 until well into the straight
Scarlett Blaze (4th), every hope and just battled
Barooga Billy (9th), galloped again, hate to think how far he would have won by given that he has run home 57 at previous couple of starts but he isn't a horse you can back currently
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Race 4 - C0-C1, 2200m, mile rate 2.02.5, lead time 43.3 (fast), first half 62.9, last half 61.3
Blowout race for punters with favourite being attacked in front and then a fall put paid to the chances of the next 4 in the betting. As the times suggest, totally ignore the form so won't make individual comments as the only ones to finish were the ones in the right spots
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Race 5 - C4-C6, 2200m, mile rate 2.01.5, lead time 44.6 (average), first half 61.6, last half 59.9
Another strangely run race where they staggered home and finished in a bunch which throws huge doubts over the form
Murillo Bromac (1st), best drive won the race, took the short way home
Resurgence (2nd), another teriffic affort and running even sectionals all race. If he can develop some top end speed to finish off his races he might be a decent horse
Mister Gallenti (3rd), every possible and looked winner on turn, was first up so fitness might have told late
King Of Bling (5th), finished off fairly at first try from behind in a while
Loaded Franco (7th), pretty average again, going 50 metres worse than 2 months ago
Harley Fella (8th), pretty average drive taking off a mile too early and then being shunted 5 and 6 wide. Probably went as well as anything in the race despite where he finished
Miami Rocket (9th), forgive run, pulled very hard and nothing left late
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Race 6 - Claimer, 2200m, mile rate 2.01.7, lead time 42.6 (very fast), first half 64.0, last half 59.8
Strangely run race, super quick lead time then walked the first quarter and broke 30 the final 3 quarters. The best 2 horses fought it out
Ulos (1st), perfect drive and going to win a long way out
Albert Jones (2nd), typical honest run and probably went as well as the winner
Bonny Wee Laddie (3rd), another good run, will win one of these shortly
The Cherokee Chief (4th), has really gone better at past few runs, wouldn't surprise to see him bob up soon
Jefferson (8th), pretty plain performance on face value but claimers can do that from time to time
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Race 7 - FFA, 2200m, mile rate 2.01.6, lead time 46.5 (slow), first half 62.0, last half 57.7
Best horse led and won but some decent runs behind him
Cosmic Under Fire (1st), surprising gatespeed to lead easily then always in control
The Musics Over (2nd), never runs a bad race this bloke and again proved he will be competitive in most races when draws well
Topup (3rd), well driven but he just peaks on his sprint so probably better when drawn to follow the pegs at this level
Majestic Emperor (4th), lot better run than past couple, worked home well in quick last half
Castaspell (5th), pretty good effort, surprised me with how well he went
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Race 8 - 3YO, 1680m, mile rate 2.04.1, lead time 5.2 (average), first half 65.1, last half 59.2
Pretty lacklustre race to watch as best horse led, walked and raced away late
Bettor Draw (1st), once he got a soft lead was always going to win over this trip
Brezhnev Leis (2nd), usual honest run, his lack of speed means he is better suited to longer trips
Odins Dragon Rider (3rd), every possible and pretty plain in the straight
Just Dance Baby (4th), encouraging debut, showed enough to think that will definitely win races
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