Each week Racenet's video review analysts highlight a runner from each state to follow and here are the horses recently blackbooked that are racing around Australia on Saturday.
This new segment will be a weekly regular and we will follow the horses in their two subsequent starts to being blackbooked.
ROSEHILL
FAITH'S ENCORE (Race 5 No. 2)
The horse was blackbooked at the Warwick Farm meeting on July 15 and our analyst said - Hard to miss the run of this Peter and Paul Snowden-trained mare on Saturday. Faith's Encore was a well-backed favourite but she blew the start and settling further back than anticipated before finishing fourth. Faith's Encore was able to get onto the winner's back in the run but wasn't able to sprint as quickly at her first run back from a break but finished her race off solidly and looks a good thing to make amends at her next start. Peter and Paul Snowden place their horses to perfection and will find a winnable race for Faith's Encore but a three-year-old fillies benchmark 72 over 1200m at Rosehill on July 29 would look an ideal assignment second-up.
Odds $4.40 @ Ladbrokes, Luxbet
ZOURKHAN (Race 6 No. 6)
The horse was blackbooked at the Flemington meeting on June 10 and our analyst said - This Chris Waller trained import looks to have taken a good step this time in. It usually takes him a few runs to reach his peak but this prep he's bolted in first-up despite being big odds and he was luckless on the weekend. He was just starting to hit his top when lost all momentum at the 200 metres before picking up to charge home to be in front everywhere but on the line. Only just reaching his peak and already a winner out to 2800 metres in France, he can be followed with confidence at his next few starts and may even head north for races like the Caloundra and Grafton Cups as he is good on wet ground.
Odds $4.30 @ Bet365
CAULFIELD
O'RACHAEL (Race 6 No. 2)
The horse was blackbooked at the Flemington meeting on July 15 and our analyst said - Former Kiwi trained by Chris Waller and showed encouraging signs on Saturday getting back onto a dry track after failing first-up in Sydney on heavy ground. She went well back to get in from the wide gate and was still near enough to last on the turn. She got a slight steady just as she was starting to wind up inside the 200 metres and still ran close to the best final sectional in the race. Right at her top now and capable of racing much closer from a better gate, she can be followed with confidence her next few starts so long as we remain on relatively dry tracks.
Odds $4.30 @ Bet365
BLACK SHEEP (Race 9 No. 3)
The horse was blackbooked at the Caulfield meeting on July 1 and our analyst said - This Darren Weir trained six-year-old always needs his first-up run having only placed once from 6 attempts so to see him return in such good style on the Weekend is a good sign moving forward. He positioned up fifth, couldn't quicken but he did keep finding the line strong to only be beaten just over a length and a half. All his best form is over a mile and he goes on any conditions so if we do happen to strike any wet tracks his chances are only improved. Jump on board now as last preparation he failed first-up before spiking quickly to win over the mile second-up and he's a typical Weir trained horse that's able to hold his form over a long period. He can win a few for us over the rest of winter.
Odds $15 @ Luxbet, Bet365
DOOMBEN
SWEET ADELINE (Race 5 No. 15)
The horse was blackbooked at the Doomben meeting on July 15 and our analyst said - Well-bred Lonhro filly that was having her third run for Brian and Daniel Guy since transferring from Chris Waller. In a good quality Class 3 Handicap over 1400m from her wide gate she was never on the track and settled a long way off them in the big field until the home turn where Jeff Lloyd took her even wider before maintaining a strong gallop down the straight to finish fourth, beaten less than two lengths. Her only previous win was over a mile and whilst there isn't much of her she looks an improving type that is still eligible for Class 1 but with city class ability.
Odds $4 @ Bet365
MORPHETTVILLE
CASQUE (Race 7 No. 5)
The horse was blackbooked at the Morphettville meeting on July 15 and our analyst said - Robbie Laing-trained colt that ventured over the border for the first time with a luckless runner-up effort, against some proven performers. Wasn't entitled to get as close as he did after finding all sorts of trouble at the start and to go down in a head-bobber. Will strip fitter for the run and I also think he'll benefit from something longer than Saturday's 1000m trip.
Odds $51 @ Luxbet, Bet365
BELMONT
BELLS TOWER (Race 2 No. 6)
The horse was blackbooked at the Belmont meeting on July 1 and our analyst said - It was arguably his best ever run on a wet track and it signalled that another victory might be close at hand. After showing speed to lead over a distance he is yet to win at, Bells Tower gave a good kick turning for home only to get tired and be picked off wider over the concluding 100 metres. The fact Bells Tower did all of that while racing on what was probably the slower inside section of the track further underlines the strength of his effort. In drier conditions and back to his preferred short course he can return to winning ways.
THIS IS THE SECOND RUN SINCE BEING BLACKBOOKED – LAST CHANCE
Odds $14 @ CrownBet, Bet365
