Wow. Ok Punting Gods, can we stand up now? I don't think we can squeeze the cheeks if we tried. It was one of those days for the Mugs, but it wasn't about us, it was all about Zaaki.
If you haven't yet, start putting your weekly paycheque on him to win the Cox Plate, WHO else comes close?
Race 1 – Benchmark 80 Handicap (2000m)
Winner: Prince Of Arragon – Time: 2:05.25
How did we miss this bloke? We’ll tell ya! We’re Mugs!.....with egg on our face. John Thompson’s Prince of Arragon made it three straight wins this campaign with a half-length victory in the 2000m event. After settling towards the rear under Victorian hoop Craig Williams, ‘The Prince’ was able to cruise into the race at the right time and looked the winner a long way from home. The time was slow and nothing jumped really screamed out ‘BACK ME NEXT START, MUGS.’ Put that race in the bin.
Race 2 – Class 6 Plate (1600m)
Winner: Cloak – Time: 1:36.13
We’ve been racing fans for a long time, and we aren’t sure if we’ve ever seen a winning horse run home this slowly. Cloak needed the post, badly, and it came in the nick of time. After Right Or Wrong set a Nature Strip-esque tempo early – fair to say Nash got it wrong - Cloak was the benefactor with a lovely cart into the race with a big margin on the third horse upon straightening. Goldifox was very good late, as was the well-backed Milk Man. The latter hasn’t won since June last year, but we’re confident he can find a race soon and be winning. Add him to your Black Book.
Race 3 – Listed Carter Stakes (1200m)
Winner: Rhapsody Rose – Time: 1:10.68
Fetch won this didn’t she? No? It was a Queensland victory in the first black-type race of the day with Muncey and Huxy combining with Rhapsody Rose. The Star Witness filly has always shown ability, already placing in a Listed and a Group 3 event, so she got her chance to finally win one. It was a blanket finish, so we aren’t sure how well this race will stack up in the J.J. Atkins, but they do look the better of the two-year-old fillies that are up and about this time in. Me Me Lagarde had no luck in behind, so she might pop up in an easier race sometime soon.
Race 4 – Listed IPG Marketing Solutions Darby McCarthy (1110M)
Winner: Kisukano – Time: 1:04:85
Well lets just say a mug favourite or past favourite made us look silly on the weekend. We were lead off by a Streaka and never really recovered from there. It was a race dominated in the first five horses that lead them off and Kisukano from the gun seat one back the fence got around Yes Yup Yay and after doing no work was too strong late, the question on everyone’s lips is, does this mean she is back?
Race 5 – Group 3 Magic Millions Pam O’Neill Stakes (1600M)
Winner: Nudge – Time: 1:36:75
Well this race was an absolute example of set up your mate who’s horse you had a bet on. There was no pace early so Mr Bowman decided he would inject a bit and set up the run on type and boy did he launch. He took off mid field on Yamazaki to try and steal it and all with McEvoy sitting back of the field on Nudge smoking his pipe he would’ve been a happy man coming around the corner into the straight. She rounded them up quickly and was all over in a flash a great win visually but aided by that crazy mid race move.
Race 6 – Listed XXXX Chief De Beers (1110M)
Winner: Varda – Time: 1:04:51
This would have been win of the day if not for the absolute brain job in the Doomben Cup. In a race that had more speed than crack den it probably was always going to setup nicely for run on horse and Lloydy managed to catch Varda. Scratched last start came to this fresh where she goes best and well she was super impressive. Came out of the gates last, settled last, then finished first. Craig knew the horse he had underneath him and just gave her space. Looks the Goldphin juggernaut have another handy sprinter here because she’s towelled up a nice field.
Race 7 – Group 1 Doomben (2000M)
Winner: Zaaki – Time: 2:01.06
What do we say that hasn't been said? A 7L demolition job, that was Winx like.
Whatever the goal is in the Spring it's already over, the ratings gUrUs are jizzin in their mum's basement, the Sky team are creamin left, right and centre, everyone who is anyone was impressed. To sum it up, Toffee Tongue looks the best of a very average WFA bunch.
Race 8 – BRC Sprint (1350M)
Winner: Emerald Kingdom – Time: 1:19:83
Well, have the Garabaldi backers seen the light yet? Bobby Heathcote seems to know, Emerald Kingdom lead at every post to book himself a Stradbroke Start. The son of Horseshoe returned to his best form that had alluded him for so long, no excuses for the beaten brigade. Garabaldi presented up the straight. Tofane flashed brilliantly (At Group 3 level) and Axe the big performer of the race rounding out the trifecta. With an attractable racing pattern, Emerald Kingdom could turn up in 2 weeks.
Race 9 – The Roses (2000M)
Winner: Only Words– Time: 2:04.43
To put into context, this race was 2 seconds slower than the Doomben Cup, which is about 15 lengths. Wowza, anyway a Chris Waller horse won, what else is there too say? Oh he had 5 of the first 6 over the line, the locals just didn't fire on the big stage with Good Soize finishing the closest in 11th. Waller looks to have a stranglehold on the Oaks with this field, it may simply come down to which of this 5 draws the best gate.
Win of the day
Zaaki - WHO ELSE
Comments