THE PETLEY REPORT: SEVERAL RUNNERS THAT NEED TO GO INTO THE NOTEBOOK FOR THE NEW SEASON

By Jack Petley | Sunday, June 20, 2021

It may have been racing in Australia in the winter, but there were some impressive winners who will make their mark into the new season, namely Incentivise, Degraves, Wicklow, No Compromise, Stockman and Dice Roll.

Let’s look at those very, very promising gallopers.

Incentivise, a gelded son on Shamus Award, won his 2500 metre race at Ipswich in a hand canter off the home bend, scoring by just over 9.50 lengths and hard held to the line. He has won five from eight, the five on end and his last three winning margins have amounted to just over 25 lengths in total. I note that well-known owners Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski have taken 50 per cent in the exciting stayer and I gather he heads to Peter Moody in the spring, but not before he may run in the Caloundra Cup. After that win Incentivise’s Caulfield Cup odds have been slashed.

Degraves, a gelding by Camelot, was backed heavily on debut in Australia for Team Williams and Robert Hickmott and he landed the 1600 metre event easily. Over the last 75 metres he ran greenly and, in fact, squeezed up the runner up Think ‘N’ Fly, but kept the race under a ery confident ride by young Will Price. Looks very, very good and already Cox Plate looming. Team Williams out and strong with recent winners Mr Mooj and Hosier.

No Compromise, by Pins won his second on end for Chris Waller in Sydney and the former NZ trained galloper looks headed for the big time. He had a great battle with Godolphin's Lackeen and showed great courage to win. Still owned in NZ by the Thurlow family and bred by Gordon Cunningham at Currraghmore Stud, he is a half-brother to Tofane, by Ocean Park. Already being discussed as a Cup’s contender next season.

Wicklow, a gelding by Twilight Son, has made a big impression in his Australia career for the Waller yard. He now sits at 3 from 3 since arriving from the UK and all the more credible regarding his fine form is that often it takes an import one campaign before hitting form. This fellow has done it off the pat and he looks well above average.

Stockman, by Tavistock, was too strong for his rivals in the McKell Cup in Sydney giving Joe Pride his third win in the race, having won previously with Destinys Kiss and Sense of Occasion. Stockman was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and sold for $170,000 at Karaka. He is the 11th and final foal of the mare Crimson and becomes the 30th stakes winner of the late Cambridge Stud stallion. What a loss. I see Pride may look at a race on the Sunshine Coast with the now winner of five races.

Dice Roll is by Showcasing. The French bred galloper has now won four on end for trainer Nick Ryan and he made winning look easy again over 1400 metres at Flemington. Bigger and better races ahead for this exciting six-year-old.

Looking at the rest of the day, the Waller yard landed four winners at Rosehill, Wicklow, No Compromise, Papal Warrior and Oscar Zulu and gained two quinellas, with Papal Warrior and Tycoonist and Oscar Zulu and Wairere Falls.

Jason Collett was in form with a win on Magic Ruler for Matt Dunn at 18/1 and sister Alysha continued her good form with a win at Kembla while I see Linda Meech landed a winner for the Maher-Eustace yard at Donald, great to see her back.

At Ipswich, there was an impressive winner for Chris Munce, Palaisipan, by So You Think, making it four from four while Lillemor gained a narrow win for John O'Shea at that track in the Waterhouse Classic and the Eyeliner went to Snitch and Tony Gollan while the Ipswich Cup went to the John Gilmore trained Happy Go Plucky for jockey Stephanie Thornton.

Ex Pat, by Makfi, won for Mark Newnham in Sydney and has now won five of eight for Tony McGrath and hails from the female line of Mental Telepathy.

Nice winner in Melbourne … Celestial Fury, a Savabeel colt with the Busuttin-Young yard. Got home narrowly. He cost the stable $120,000 out of the Riverrock Farm draft at a Ready to Run sale.

Queen Elizabeth was on hand for the final day at Royal Ascot and her colours went close to gaining a win with runner-up Reach for the Moon in the Chesham Stakes. Charlie Appleby dominated the finish of the Jersey Stakes providing first and second, Creative Force beating Naval Crown. Oisin Murohy was crowned leading jockey of the five-day carnival with five wins, his last overnight on Foxes Tales for Andrew Balding and his highlight of the meeting, he told the media, was winning the Coronation Stakes son Alcohol Free.