This was the first meeting held on the track in many months after some much needed remedial work but still the rail was out 9.5m protecting over a massive 31 feet of the circuit. The times were dreadful all day and the fastest 1400m time was in a Benchmark 72 (three grades at least above maiden class) race where two riders (one an apprentice and other a senior rider) went absolutely ballistic in front drag racing clear of the rest yet the time was only 1:23.59. That time is still just inside standard maiden time, so the footing was iffy for sure as it was rated by the officials as a Good3 and that does not wash with logic or common sense. The starting points may have been off with the rail out so far or the footing was not conducive at all to horses pinging off the ground or both. The winners and where they turned for home in order were led, co-leader outer, seventh (three lengths off the lead), fourth, led, second outer, second outer and second, so the manmade bias was blatant. This G3 over 1400m for 3yo fillies saw the favourite Media Sensation lead out then be headed but importantly she was popped off the fence and sat second the outer across the top to the home turn. The Australian bred filly took the lead at the 300m and kicked well to be comfortably holding at the 150m to the line to win by just over three-quarters of a length in 1:25.36. The time was ordinary and more a reflection of the track presented as being peculiarly iffy and tellingly in the official stipes report there is a follow up on 6 runners on the day that flopped inexplicably. Where they finished and what margin beaten and starting price they ran at said a lot about the presented track with Final Suggestion (tenth of eleven runners beaten over twelve lengths at $6.20), Demonetization (sixth of nine runners beaten over two lengths at $1.90), Queen Of The Air (last of twelve runners beaten thirteen and a half lengths at $3.60), Ugo Foscolo (tenth of eleven runners beaten almost twelve and a half lengths at $8.90), Tiptronic (eighth of eleven runners beaten almost four lengths at $4.80) and Surrey (tenth of fourteen runners beaten over nineteen lengths at $4.90). A lot of bettors money was lost on the above runners performing well below par or in some cases absolutely shockingly. Media Sensation was winning her fourth race from five starts today and the only time she has been beaten was a fourth beaten less than a length. Today was her first blacktype attempt and she now has a G3 on the resume with better and more to come, as she has tactical dash but can take a sit then surge. Rocket Fuel, also an Australian bred and in the domain that is the strength of a New Zealand racing system geared totally towards female gallopers, formed the quinella and this should be setting off alarm bells The filly trailed the leaders and worked off and into second at the 250m thereafter trying hard but chasing in vain. She had in her prior start finished third at G3 behind two much more proven types. Annie Okay won her maiden on debut and was able to sit fourth the outer and reach third at the 250m and hold that blacktype placing to the line. Valalie was a good fourth after being trapped wide eighth she moved up deeper and was fifth and the widest runner turning for home. The Australian bred filly kept coming gamely to be beaten just over two lengths and is certainly finishing second or third with a better draw and trip in transit. London Express the third favourite was not away well and settled own seventh the inner before running on late up the ruck for fifth to be beaten just over two lengths. Elate fought on for sixth after racing thereabouts that position throughout while Power Of Strength ran on from back and wide. Patsys Lass ran on late from the rear duo and caught the eye while the rest were either outclassed or in the case of the last finisher Queen Of The Air over-raced too much and taken to the lead then stopped badly. The manmade track bias clearly assisted several of these fillies but the winner Media Sensation was too good regardless. Not sure this is a thoroughly meaningful result with such manmade track bias as the fourth finisher Valalie is a certain placegetter but for the track presented and a wide ride. There will be several winners out of this race by fillies back to their proper grades or pecking order but that is natural out of a G3 race though it should be noted this was not really of that standard overall.
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DIJON BLEU
(NZ)
3F BURGUNDY (NZ) - PRISTINO (AUS) MORE THAN READY (USA) |
L G INNES | 56.5 | L LATTA | 3 |
|
ASTARA
(NZ)
3F DALGHAR (FR) - SVITA (AUS) SUCCESS EXPRESS (USA) |
SAMANTHA COLLETT | 56.5 | D LOGAN | 5 |
|
NO MORE TEARS
(NZ)
3F DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - OCEAN OF TEARS (NZ) MINARDI (USA) |
M T COLEMAN | 56.5 | STEPHEN MARSH | 10 |
|
SPELLBINDER
(NZ)
3F O'REILLY (NZ) - SCENIC SPRINT (AUS) SCENIC (IRE) |
M CAMERON | 56.5 | JASON BRIDGMAN | 11 |
|
MISSTRUM
(AUS)
3F STRATUM (AUS) - MALAGRA MISS (AUS) BARATHEA (IRE) |
L G INNES | 56.5 | R JAMES | 3 |
|
HOLY MOLY
(NZ)
3F HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR (IRE) - CLARISSA (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
V A COLGAN | 56.0 | R JAMES | 4 |
|
SINGAPORE SLING
(AUS)
3F STARCRAFT (NZ) - GIN SLING (AUS) WESTERN SYMPHONY (USA) |
V A COLGAN | 56.0 | LISA ANDERSON | 7 |
|
MASQUERADE
(NZ)
3F NO EXCUSE NEEDED (GB) - DISGUISED (NZ) O'REILLY (NZ) |
A CALDER | 56.0 | STEPHEN MCKEE | 15 |
|
AWESOME PLANET
(AUS)
3F GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (USA) - DANCE ON THE MOON (IRE) FASLIYEV (USA) |
O P BOSSON | 56.0 | GRAEME ROGERSON | 1 |
|
LOVETRISTA
(AUS)
3F ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) - TRISTALOVE (NZ) SIR TRISTRAM (IRE) |
J L WADDELL | 56.0 | J G SARGENT | 6 |
|
IMANANABAA
(AUS)
3F ANABAA (USA) - IMAN (AUS) ZEMINDAR (NZ) |
B R JONES | 56.0 | JIM GIBBS | 6 |
|
VEGAS SHOWGIRL
(NZ)
3F AL AKBAR (AUS) - VEGAS MAGIC (AUS) VOODOO RHYTHM (USA) |
A CALDER | 56.0 | GRAEME ROGERSON & STEPHEN AUTRIDGE | 7 |
|
LA SIZERANNE
(NZ)
3F STRAVINSKY (USA) - TRICIA ANN (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
B S HERD | 55.0 | R JAMES | 10 |
|
SARAH VEE
(AUS)
3F END SWEEP (USA) - CAPTIVATING (AUS) CAN'T FIGHT FATE (AUS) |
O P BOSSON | 55.0 | M MORONEY & A SCOTT | 2 |
|
VOLKSINI
(NZ)
3F VOLKSRAAD (GB) - INDOCHINE (NZ) GROSVENOR (NZ) |
L J ALLPRESS | 55.0 | ROBERT PRISCOTT | 13 |
|
MODENA BAY
(NZ)
3F VOLKSRAAD (GB) - REGAL FLIRT (NZ) VICE REGAL (NZ) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 55.0 | P O'SULLIVAN | 1 |
|
ST THERESE
(AUS)
3F DEHERE (USA) - MOON SCENT (AUS) ALOE (IRE) |
G COOKSLEY | 55.0 | C MCNAB | 5 |