Race 1 (1600m) Bm 65
It was a wide-open betting affair with the second favourite THE PRES $4.40 delivering easily in the end (2.6L). He'd had a late rider declaration and the explanation for it provided by the trainer satisfied connections. We'd presumed in a scratching in the preview and were burnt. Three were sharing the speed at the 100m with The Pres pushing on after working. BET RED $5.50 and STREET CRED $8 were the only gallopers remotely in touch near the turn and they finished in that order — with the third-placed 4L from the winner. LA VALKYRIE $9 settled rearward and made ground along the rail in fourth. No obvious explanation for the disappointing run from the favourite SUPER VIEW $4.20. The winner was clearly too good on the day.
Race 2 (2000m) CL1 SW
The second favourite delivered again with SUCCESSFUL STAR $3.40 just getting home (0.49L). The well-supported first-elect LAYLA OF MONACO $2.20 didn't have the best of it on straightening losing momentum and will keep for another day. She was one of several runners to meet some trouble as they bunched up for the run home. There were six across the track at the 200m. The winner had settled third on the leader's back and despite being held-up on the bend found enough to hold out BUFF IN DISGUISE $7 who'd settled mid field in clear-air but over-raced in the middle stages — and was also involved in the scrimmage as they headed for home. WILD BUCKEROO $20 settled rearward and did well to finish on into third beaten 2L. A messy race and not much between the better ones.
Race 3 (1200m) Mdn
It was a tricky contest with a drifting Sydney-trained debutant SURFERS ROYALE $11 getting the chocolates by 1L from the local GEMINIDS $18 delivering a strong first-up effort. SANTORINI SUN $5 was a notable drifter and was a clear third 2.7L from the winner after being held up rounding the home turn. It was busy early with the winner finally taking it up from a low gate with the second horse sitting on the colt. They finished in that order with Santorini Sun hitting the line well once clear. ZARINYA $4.80 settled beyond midfield and was widest on turning and didn't see it out. The favourite FIREFLIES $3.20 was a well backed favourite on debut but settled back from the wide barrier and didn't get into it. A nice effort from the winner who showed speed early and was strong on the line.
Race 4 (1300m) Bm 60
SHADDY $3.60 was a firming second-favourite and held off the firm favourite ALLGEMEINE $1.80 by 1L. There was a line of five early and at the 800m the jockey on the favourite decided to push-on and sit outside the leader CARTOGRAPHY $7. Shaddy camped on the speed. Allgemeine sprinted away on turning but after working early was putting in the short ones at the 200m and Shaddy came over the top of them. SQUIGGLES did a good job to hold third after being involved in the early speed battle before easing. YESTERDAY'S GONE$12 settled at the back and improved wide on turning and it was a good effort in third. Shaddy was a deserved winner, but you'd have to say things could have worked out better for the favourite and stick with her.
Race 5 (1000m) Bm 70 – TAB Federal
SMUGGLER'S BAY $2.90F appealed as one of the better bets on the program and despite drifting duly won by 1L from the firming ANNUAL $4 with FEEL THE KNIGHT $5.50, 2L from the winner in third. The other well supported runner EMMA'S GIFT $5.50 began awkwardly and raced three-wide throughout well beaten. Annual showed good speed to be leading at before the 800m but the winner was keen to go and was outside him as they turned in. Smuggler's Bay held an edge at the 200m and was hands and heels on the line. A good effort in third from Feel The Knight who was coming off a 648 day break and was doing decent work late. He's got decent ability and there's a win in him soon. Good efforts all three with Smugglers Bay too nippy with the handy 4kg claim.
Race 6 (1400) Mdn SW
BURGUNDY GIRL $1.95 was heavily bet and was much too good for CHAOTIC BEAUTY $6 winning by 2L. The second-favourite COUDREAH $5.50 was well beaten. Again, it was keen early and after jumping well Burgundy Girl's jockey elected to ease. Of the favoured runners Coudreah settled prominently one-out one-back with Chaotic Beauty on her inside. MY ROCK SINGA $13 had sat outside the leader and sped away on turning but despite wanting to lay in the winner was sprinting hard and came away on the line. Chaotic Beauty found a second wind just nabbing the quinella and it was a good effort after meeting some trouble early and being held up turning and early in the run home. Third-placed WATCH ME NAE NAE $14 was crowded on jumping and settled last. She was widest heading for home and hit the line well beaten 2L. Burgundy Girl looked to have an edge and so it proved, and she will go on from this.
Race 7 (1400m) CL1
An even betting affair with HAUTER $4.40 starting favourite just over the winner GET SHAFTED $4.60 with the first-four home all within 1L of the winner. The favourite was four-out in a bunch vying for the lead and as in an earlier even Heywood elected to use his mount and push forward. He was one-out and leading inside the 1000m. The second placed FLYING MIA $7 held the rail and trailed. At the turn Get Shafted has snuck up on the rail to sit behind the leader who gave a kick on the turn. The three above were in a line inside the 200m with Get Shafted just getting the upper hand from Flying Mia with KAMEA shooting through inside to get third. INTI $41 was also right there just pipping the tiring favourite out of fourth. Doubt there's much between these and Penza's ride on the winner proved the difference. The favourite had too much to do and will keep.
Race 8 (1000) Mdn SW
A tricky race contest to end the day with debutants filling the first four spots. Long-shot local debutant HEART OF VANVOUVER took out the race out in good style. Another local debutant SHEILA $3.3 was well-bet and made second just form RINZAI $26 with the debuting favourite WELCOME GYPSIE $2.60 making fourth 5.5L from the winner and having every chance. The other supported runners LA MIA VIA $5.5 and MRS GLOOP $6.50 tailed the field in with the former being slow away and forded to race wide throughout. The bold-striding winner went straight to the front and gave a big kick at the 200m and never looked like being beaten. Sheila flew down the middle making up many lengths missing by just over a length. She was slow off and ran out passing the 300m It was an eye catcher. RINZAI has raced wide on speed, and it was a decent effort beaten 2L into third. Despite to odds the winner impressed. Sheila will be winning soon.
