WINNO'S WINNERS: GOLD COAST, MARCH 16
By Darren Winningham | Friday, March 15, 2019
AQUIS PARK GOLD COAST - SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2019
Some milestones were set around horse racing last weekend that grabbed my attention.
Glen Colless rode his 2000th winner in Australia at the Gold Coast. A pretty good effort.
Andrew Gibbons, who rides around Newcastle and Mid North Coast and sometimes in Brisbane (when I am not here), has been riding in career best form this season. He has managed to ride 100 winners in the season already last week – just seven months into the season.
Let’s hope he stays safe and keeps on chasing them winners and can ride another 100! I promise to see you at Grafton for the Carnival Gibbo – if not before!
Then there were some sad events as well that I must mention.
A horrific fall at the Country Championships at Tamworth last Sunday saw five jockeys hospitalised. I was sitting at home and my stomach churned when I saw the incident. The latest update on the jockeys’ midweek was:
Josh Adams has lower lumber spine fractures that appear stable and he sustained a femur fracture that requires surgery. Kath Bell-Pitomac suffered concussion and possible broken ribs. Kath is still hospitalised. Rachel King sustained a bad clavicle fracture that she had surgery in Sydney during the week. Wendy Peel has a nasty shoulder fracture which required surgery. Greg Ryan suffered a mild concussion and was discharged from hospital earlier in the week.
I am sure that you will join me in wishing them all a speedy recovery and we hope to see them all back in the saddle shortly.
Then one of Queensland’s promising female riders – and winner of the Kilcoy Cannonball Series in 2018 – Bek Williams posted on social media during the week “A fall at track work in December has left me with a minor Disfuse Axonal brain injury, which unfortunately means I’m not allowed to ride again. Although it’s a shitty prognosis I appreciate how much worse it could have been.”
This is a similar injury that lead to the end of a promising career for fellow female rider Gina Mitchell. Bek and Gina always took the time to say hi and speak to me at the races. Whilst I may not see them as often I do cherish the time and interactions that I have had with them both. Take care ladies and all the best in whatever your future endeavours take you!
I just would like to yet again bring to people’s attention the danger of the thoroughbred racing everywhere in the world. Regardless whether it is licenced jockeys, track riders, or those caring and strapping the horses the risk is real – careers can be ended. I wiser man than me once told me at the races “Winno it is the only profession where an ambulance tails you around all day”.
It probably leads me to my next point of the social media trolls – what the heck – the GRUBS who hide behind their keyboards and rubbish these people continually. I just wish the governing authorities could act against these oxygen thieves and ban them from the track or other venues – then the playing field may be fair.
Well that is my rant for the week!
All roads lead to AQUIS PARK Gold Coast this weekend with the running of a massive ten race program featuring the 2YO & 3YO Jewel and the TAB Goldmarket!
What a great day of racing – make sure you get along and watch a wonderful day of racing.
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The track is rated “GOOD” (Thursday) and the rail will be in the true position for the weekend.
There is a hot day (like 31 degrees) forecast for Saturday – that means there will be plenty of drinking and partying occurring on course!
They are forecasting some rain in the latter half of the week in South East Queensland, however, I do not see it making any difference to the track. You will remember on Magic Millions Day back in January the track was considered too firm and hard for that meeting – hopefully we will get a fair track this weekend.
With massive fields this weekend – I will attempt to keep it short and to the point – I did say attempt.
NB: As this form assessment was made prior to race-day, please check final fields and track conditions for any changes on the day.
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Race 1
The local trained Chris Waller horse See The Master comes off a midweek win here over the distance. On that occasion he was impressive, and I think he should be able to transition to Saturday company. Robbie Fradd retains the ride.
Colt Prosser from the Mid North Coast trains last start winner at Randwick Haames (2) who was ridden to perfection by Blake Shinn. He will run out the 1800 metres – however, does like to race back in the field. I just hope Paul Hammersley can navigate a path in the straight and not lose any momentum.
Larry Cassidy stays aboard Drumadoir (10) who just keeps finding a better one each weekend – this is her first look at 1800 metres.
The roughie for mine is the Jason Edwards trained Sir Barnabus (6) who will appreciate the longer distance third up from a spell – look for a big run at some good odds of around $10.
Selections: 4-2-6-10 rough chances 7 & 13
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Race 2
This is a tough race – many of the runners are backing up from last weekend.
I like the Kevin Kemp trained Fighting Teo (7) - down in the weights. He has performed well here at the track. Dale Smith resumes his association with the gelding (3 rides – 2 wins). Last start he was sent out favourite and ran home strongly at Eagle Farm – he looks well placed here.
Cormac (6) is a runner that went around last weekend at Eagle Farm and finished off the race late - will be right in this race.
Wu Gok (8), Cormac’s stablemate, and was making solid ground late last weekend in the same race as Cormac (6). He meets his stablemate on worse terms at the weights and that may be a prudent factor.
The Rodrico (1) is trained by Bjorn Baker and Jeff Lloyd will ride after his tumble last weekend at Eagle Farm. Baker has an excellent strike rate here at the Gold Coast and always enjoys success when he brings his runners here. Do not underestimate this runner – especially if there is money for him in the lead up to the race.
Selections: 7-6-8-1 rough chance 3
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Race 3
The traditional 900 metre sprint at the Aquis Park Gold Coast track – these are always exciting!
This race draws a massive field of No Metro Winners that makes our task super difficult.
There is some serious speed in the race and there are a few runners that could lead drawn wide – will they take their place in the field?
I have gone for Killerman’s Run (8), first up this weekend with Mark Du Plessis in the saddle. He is drawn well in barrier 3. He can lead or can take a sit in behind the leaders if they come across and take up the running – I expect him to be somewhere in the finish.
Redex (5) is a $41 chance in some markets. He loves these short distances and was not disgraced last start over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm a month ago when defeated by Capital Connection. That horse was dynamic last weekend at Eagle Farm winning again – I think that form line will be great for this race.
Redex is trained by Michael Nolan and the jockey is probably unknown to many of you – Michael Schrapel. Do not worry about him – he rides very well and will give this runner every chance. He also has three wins on the Golden Archer gelding!
Bachelor’s Art (12) won here over 1100 metres a month ago. He is down in weight, drawn well and has the “King of the Gold Coast” Daniel Griffin aboard.
Bonsho (2) is a Toowoomba trained runner (Tony Sears) who will be ridden by Clayton Gallagher and he has drawn the rails. They say the fastest way home is along the paint – he will push up when he jumps and will be prominent throughout the run.
Selections: 8-5-12-2
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Race 4
Not a race that I have much of an opinion on. It looks very hard to find the winner!
Tony Gollan trains Boom Boy (5) who has drawn the rails and has Brad Stewart aboard. In seven starts at the Gold Coast track he has never been out of the placings. I think that he was unlucky at Ipswich last start and, if you forgive him that effort and go on his previous win here a month ago, he rates well.
Ben Currie continues to post win after win each weekend. He has Cool Drafts (6) nominated here. Last start she powered home and nearly knocked off Cool Consequence at Doomben – on that occasion there was some confidence in the markets with her being well backed at a long price.
Baylee Nothdurft continues to pump out winners – on Wednesday he journeyed to Western Australia and rode in the National Apprentice’s Challenge and won the leg aboard a $41 shot – Fearhildi. He is certainly making his mark as a talented rider. He will need all his skills to get this mare home from barrier 13 – she should get back but will storm home.
Miss Amanda (14) is trained at Beaudesert by Ben Ahrens and resumes here this weekend. He normally gets his runners ready for a bold effort first up and this lightly raced mare has won first up previously – she is $31 in some markets.
Masterati (2) has drawn wide in barrier 14. That difficulty aside, I think he would be right in this race.
Selections: 5-6-14-2
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Race 5
Bold Warrior (5) is trained at the track by Gary Doughty and will be ridden by Jag Guthmann-Chester. He has drawn well and has had a month between runs. He should race fresh and is dropping back in distance to 1200 metres this weekend.
Reindeer Moon (7) is trained at the track as well by Helen Page. She resumed a month ago over 900 metres and won well. She is only lightly raced with six starts and four wins – with two wins here at the Gold Coast. Daniel Griffin has a 100% record aboard her with 3 rides for 3 wins – maybe this record will continue this weekend!
Winter Passage (12) also has drawn well and will be piloted by Jimmy Orman. She has a win and a second here at the track and I think is well placed in this field.
Chris Anderson trains Char Char (6) who is only lightly raced. He is resuming after 11 months away from the track, however, his barrier trial on 26 February was very good. I think he will be one to follow as he reaches race fitness in the coming months.
Selections: 5-7-12-6 rough chances 10 & 11
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Race 6
The Gold Coast Stakes under Quality conditions.
It is another open and tough race – do we expect anything different!
Mishani Vaidra (9) resumed from a spell a fortnight at Doomben for Ben Currie and was just amazing. The run was great with Jeff Lloyd in the saddle – granted it was in No Metro Win class, however, she has a tremendous second up record and goes down in the weights. Josh Oliver is in the saddle this weekend and he rides the Gold Coast track very well. There is some $6 around about this mare and she represents good each way value.
Jaminzah (5) ran last weekend at Eagle Farm and finished off the race very well. My only concern is that his is third up this weekend and he has never been placed in three starts third up. Jeff Lloyd may make a difference!
Xebec (6) is third up like his stable mate Jaminzah (5). The difference is that this Chris Waller runner (trained here) has had five starts third up for two wins and a third. Maybe he is the stable runner to be on here. Last start he was desperately unlucky being held up at a vital stage at the 600 metres before shifting out and working home well. He will test this field and Larry Cassidy is riding in great form.
Looks Like Elvis (11) returns to Queensland after four runs in NSW and Victoria. He has done some kilometres and despite this has not finished outside the first four in every run. He is a horse that likes speed in his races and loves to storm home late. He may just need a longer straight than the Gold Coast – however, he has won here previously.
Selections: 9-6-11-5 rough chance 8
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Race 7 – JEWEL Two Year Old Plate
We are warming up here with the first of our feature races – worth $500,000 in prizemoney.
Tony Gollan has three runners in the race. I think the two that you must consider are Ready to Roam (3) and Perudo (6) – they will be ridden by Ronnie Stewart and Brad Stewart respectively. Ready to Roam (3) was beaten convincingly last start by The Odyssey (2) at Doomben. He will be better for the run and despite still being a maiden runner I think he will be in the finish.
The stable mate is Perudo (6) who was second up and was just defeated by his stable mate Niedorp last start at Doomben. She ran home well last start and will have derived some benefit from her first run over 1200 metres.
The Odyssey (2) was sensational returning from a disappointing run in the Magic Millions when he resumed at Doomben a fortnight ago. In that run Jimmy Orman bounced him out from barrier 3, took up the running and dominated the race from the front with nothing really making any inroads on him in the straight. This weekend the barrier gods have been looking after this runner as he has drawn the rails. He looks the likely leader unless the other Gollan Racing runner – Sugar Boom (10) comes across from the wide barrier and places pressure on him.
Sugar Boom opened in some markets at $12 and has been smashed into $4.20.
The Joe Cleary runner Girls Are Ready (5) resumes here after a disappointment also in the Magic Millions. This runner has won both starts on heavy tracks – that does concern me. If the track is wet or rain comes you will need to consider this runner.
The smoky for me in this race is the Michael Nolan trained Miss Cavallo (7) who was second up at Doomben when she stormed home late to beat Sugar Boom (10) at Doomben when he was sent out at $61. The run was enormous. I am not entirely sure what to make of the run – but it was only 1 second behind the time The Odyssey (2) ran when he won last start. Maybe something each way here would not go astray.
Selections: 2-3-6-7 rough chance 5
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Race 8 JEWEL Three Year Old Plate
The second of our feature races – this is worth $200,000 in prizemoney.
There have been some serious market movers since the markets were posted.
Matt Kropp trains Spirit’s Choice has won her past three starts carrying massive weights at Dalby and the Sunshine Coast. She likes to get out in front and set the speed – drawn barrier 7 she should get across and take up a forward position. This runner was put up in some quarters at $13 and has been smashed into $5.
The other runner that has been well found is the Ben Currie trained Soxagon (9) who resumed at Toowoomba in a maiden race and settled off the speed before being sent forward by Beau Appo and striking the lead at the 600 metres and surging ahead to win by around 10 lengths – it was impressive! The money has flooded in and he has been backed from $25 to $12 in some markets.
That has meant the more favoured runner from the Ben Currie stables – Mishani Hustler (1), who has drawn wide in barrier 13, has blown from $2.70 to $3.20.
Despite the wide draw this runner has proven in previous wins that he does not have to lead and can chase down runners if something goes forward. Taylor Marshall continues his great affinity with this colt – he has had 5 rides for 4 wins and 1 second. I really cannot see many runners finishing in front of this one at the set weights – granted the barrier may pose some problems but he has raced consistently now for months.
Having said that, after taking consideration of the barriers and the likely speed in the race, I think the Les Ross trained Defence Missile (3) gets his chance to turn the tables on Mishani Hustler (1) from barrier 1. Jeff Lloyd is in the saddle and knows every blade of grass on this Gold Coast track. This is his fourth run from a spell and his second this preparation over 1200 metres – I think he is the one to be on in this feature race!
The two Gollan Racing runners – Macewen (4) and Trail of Glory (15) - despite drawing poorly are also not without a live chance.
Selections: 3-1-12-4 rough chance 4 and 15
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Race 9 TAB Goldmarket
This is the last feature race on the program and it always draws a superb field each year.
This is an interesting race. The two runners in the market are to be ridden by apprentices in a no claim race.
The favourite is Mr Marbellouz (5) trained by Kevin Kemp at Toowoomba who ran a barnstorming race in winning in a front running display that was superb last start at Doomben. Baylee Nothdurft rode him last start and has retained the ride – he is riding with great confidence. It is wonderful to see trainers putting their faith in these apprentices riding so well currently.
The other runner is Tyzone (1) who is trained on the track by Toby Edmonds and will be ridden by Jag Guthmann-Chester who rode him to victory back on 5 January carrying a big weight here at his home track. He has a great first up record and can run time. He will be sitting off the speed here – but will storm home.
King Lear (14) is surprisingly backing up this weekend after a mighty performance last weekend at Eagle Farm. Trainer Tony Newing would not have backed him up unless he has done well. He has performed well in the past on a short back up when at the Grafton Carnival in 2018 he won two races in just five days. He drops six kilograms from last weekend’s massive 60-kilogram impost. Yes, he is up in class – but watch out for a bold performance here in this feature race.
Freddie Fox Trot (12) resumes after a 19-week spell and is a track specialist with four runs and three wins over the track and distance. He has always shown some ability – trained locally by Les Kelly and he will be ridden by Daniel Griffin for the first time.
From Within (3) comes back to her home track after going around in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate. A month between runs – third up – seems like she is well in here. Another Edmonds Racing runner with a genuine chance.
Munce Racing has Skate to Paris (15) in the race – drawn well in barrier 1 and coming off a 3-week break – one to keep in your multis if you want to play wide here.
It’s a tough race – if the favourites struggle – the exotics will pay a fortune!
Selections: 5-1-14-12 rough chances 3, 9 & 15
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Race 10
On Show (18) was scratched last weekend for this race. The mare is trained locally by Ben Rodgers & Gillian Heinrich and is looking to post her fifth win in a row. Drawn handy and loves the track – maybe a nice way to go in the last race in a very open field.
Toby Edmonds trains I Am Impinge (10) who is second up at his home track. He races well here and 1400 metres second looks ideal.
Benfica Princess (8) is trained here as well by Kelly Doughty – she comes off a nice win a month ago at Eagle Farm over 1400 metres. On that occasion she beat Bargannon (9) from the David Vandyke stables.
Bargannon has drawn wide, however, has the claim for Jag Guthmann-Chester and does meet Benfica Princess (8) this week better at the weights.
Brains (1) from Gollan Racing is well placed as well despite the large weight.
Tawfiq Boy (2) is third up here and has drawn well weekend – his record third up is very good – do not leave him out.
Selections: 18-10-8-9 rough chances 1 & 2
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Jockey Challenge
It is a tough assignment this weekend – an open field. Jag Guthmann-Chester, Matthew McGillivray and Jeff Lloyd all have chances – it is too hard to pick one this weekend.
Early Quaddie (races 3 to 6 NSW only)
2,5,8,12 / 2,5,6,14 / 5,6,7,12 / 5,6,9,11 - cost is $256 to $1
Quaddie (races 7 to 10)
2,3,6,7 / 1,3,4,12 / 1,3,5,12,14,15 / 8,9,10,18 - cost is $384 to $1
Value Quaddie (races 7 to 10)
2 / 1,3 / 1,5,12,14 / 10,18 - cost is 16 to $1
Treble (races 8 to 10)
1,3,4,12 / 1,3,5,12,14,15 / 8,9,10,18 - cost is $96 to $1
Value Treble (races 8 to 10)
1,3 / 1,5,12,14 / 10,18 - cost is $16 to $1
FLEMO v WINNO
FLEMO claimed a massive win last weekend in our tipping competition – I think he tipped 4 or 5 winners on the program – well done mate! We both cleaned up the visitor Michael Charge who is down in the big smoke for a couple of weeks – he will need to lift his game this weekend! Remember to check out our last-minute tips and preview on Facebook on Saturday morning after the track and final scratchings have been sorted out!
Good luck and good punting!
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