The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – December 2nd Edition

Arcadia Queen stamped herself as the next superstar of Australian racing, some madness was seen at Doomben and the eagle will eventually land in Sydney. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.

KEY NEWS:

Arcadia The Queen Of WA

Admittedly she had 50kg on her back, but the easiness of her Kingston Town triumph at Ascot on Saturday really was something to bold. The race was over 400m out and when Willie Pike clicked her up, the turn of foot we’ve seen since day one was there to see again and she blew them away. Her target now will likely be the Golden Eagle at Rosehill next year.

The Eagle Has Landed

Peter V’Landys and Racing NSW are taking no prisoners when it comes to expanding the racing brand in the state and they are ruffling a few feathers after announcing several new races to lengthen the Sydney Spring Carnival, highlighted by the $7.5 Million Golden Eagle, a race specifically for four year olds, the first major race for that specific age group on the Australian racing calendar. Like it or not, V’Landys is doing his job and is doing it superbly.

Boom Filly Passes Away

Smart Melody looked a Group l winner in waiting for Kris Lees but unfortunately during the week the filly passed away from a colic related illness, with Lees confirming the news on Twitter. The Gooree owned filly showed amazing talent from day one when debuting with a stunning win over 900m at Newcastle before racing at Group l level in the Thousand Guineas where the mile saw her out behind Amphitrite.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:

Hard to ignore what Arcadia Queen did in the Kingston Town. Yes, she had 50kg, so perhaps a touch flattered, but only a minimal touch. Majority of it was her brilliance and the arrogance in which she put them away is only saved for the elite class, which she is. Her stablemate Galaxy Star was also a huge run in defeat and should she head towards a Perth Cup, she’d just about be winning.

DEBUT OF THE WEEK:

It was hard not to be impressed by the debut win of Lady Lupino on Friday night at the Valley. Was relatively unwanted in betting but did jump out well prior and showed good speed to lead under Olly and despite burning the candle to find the front, she was strongest late, led all the way in a field where there were a few highly talked up babies. Interesting she ran two lengths quicker than Brooklyn Hustle and did it from the front. She looks a beauty.

RIDE OF THE WEEK:

There were a host of cracking steers on Saturday. Jackson Murphy on Cadogan was a peach, likewise D Browne on Awesome Pluck in the Doomben get out. But the gong has to go to Glyn Schofield and his ride on Bon Amis. Tricky gate, could have eased back, but Glyn gave him a squeeze and had the horse parked off the speed and from the 600m onwards, he was always in control and won accordingly.

SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:

There were a few steers to make mention off. Chris Caserta on Tenderly, three deep in a field of six. What’s doing? Harry Coffey on Platinum Angel was just a nightmare watch if you were on. Michael Murphy and Jamie Kah in the Brisbane Handicap…that was madness, borderline stupidity from both riders. And making mention of the beaten riders in the third at Pakenham and the Towton Cup at Ascot. Linda Meech and Dean Yendall respectively made the beaten riders in their races look rather ordinary, walking them in front and rightfully kicking on to win thanks to a lack of initiative from those behind.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

Rox The Castle- He’s a Saturday winner for sure. Loved his win on Friday night
Zalatte- There is a touch of Egg Tart about her # SAOaks #QueenslandOaks
Smartedge- Wins if he jumps clean. He’ll be winning either next start or start after
Asterius- Coming winner
Awesome Pluck- Now he’s won, he can go right on with it

ONE MORE CHANCE:

I wouldn’t sack Tenderly from Morphettville. It was just an odd steer from Caserta. The horse probably wouldn’t have won given the race shape, but he did no favours for the filly by sitting three wide without cover, a spot where no horse won on Saturday, combined with against her pattern, and she was a beaten horse before the turn. Her couple of runs prior suggested a win is nearby.

NEVER EVER AGAIN:

Life Bans To:
Etymology- Eeyore
Sold For Song- Eeyore x 100
Fastnet Latina- Milk drinker who just isn’t wanting to win
Redouble- Was okay yesterday, but a long time since he has won