Monday Musings for July 31

Tom Baddock - Monday July 31

The Racenet team picked up four winners and a number of placings despite gale force winds at Caulfield limiting selections on the final day of the metropolitan season.

D'argento kept his unbeaten record in tact at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Bradley Photographers

Paul Joice got off to a flying start at Rosehill on Saturday, steering punters into the first two winners on the card.

Joice insisted punters take the $2.85 available about Chris Waller's flashy grey colt D'argento on Thursday, predicting the horse would start much shorter on the day.

As forecast the son of So You Think was truck-loaded late in betting to start a dominant $1.75 favourite.

D'argento charged clear for a comfortable victory with Waller now considering his options for the colt heading into the spring.

Joice followed up with Greg Mcfarlane's Clear The Beach in the ATC Owner Benefits Card Handicap (1100m).

The four-year-old was taken on from the out-set with Gary Portelli's Wide Acclaim shading it on the outside to set a strong tempo.

Fortunately for followers Clear The Beach proved too tough, fighting off a late challenge by Jeff Englebrecht's Difficult To Get to cling on for victory by a head.

Weekend Winners' 'Sneaky SA Tip' was the next to salute.

James Cummings sent promising two-year-old Bandipur south for the Listed UBET Lightning Stakes (1050m) and despite taking on rising four-year-olds proved too strong to win by a comfortable 1-1/4 lengths.

Clinton Payne found the team's final winner on Saturday at Gosford.

Kris Lees' Bollinger Rose put the writing on the wall with an impressive trial behind multiple Group I winner Le Romain and proved too good on debut to win by a long neck in the Harvey Norman 3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).

Although Payne suggested taking nothing under $2 for the daughter of More Than Ready those brave enough to take the short odds of $1.50 were rewarded.

Also worthy of a mention is Brad Waters on top selection Charlevoix which was clearly unlucky not to win the VOBIS Gold Stayers (2400m) after being held up and untested until the final 50m to only be beaten 1-1/4 lengths. The son of New Approach is clearly a horse to follow.'

It has also been paying to follow the Racenet Lays which have been on fire the past two weeks. The team has managed to strike two clean sheets with all eight runners selected failing to win, sending home followers with a healthy profit.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Esperance – This Godolphin-trained two-year-old made a stunning debut at Echuca on Thursday in the ERC Membership Only $85 Maiden Plate (1100m). The son of Bernardini made a mess of his rivals, strolling in to win by 8-lengths eased down. He recorded the fastest 1100m time on the day of 1:03.99, with the Benchmark 64 winner Credible Witness recording 1:05.29 and the 2YO Fillies Maiden winner Baduzzi finishing in 1:05.78. While it is hard to get carried away with a maiden win at Echuca Esperance is clearly a horse with plenty of talent and he can make his way through the grades quickly.

FORGIVE FILE

Insensata – After being slow away this Jason Coyle-trained galloper just simply got too far off the leaders to be a chance of winning on Saturday in the Sydney Spring Carnival On Sale Plate (1400m) won by Arbeitsam. Although the daughter of Beneteau recorded the fastest last 600m of 33.31 she was still unable to make up the ground with Arbeitsam recording 34.08 for his last 600m.

SIN BIN

Suspense – This Peter and Paul Snowden-trained four-year-old started off his career in fine form, remaining undefeated in his first four starts. However, in his next twelve starts the son of Keano has only managed one win and one placing. After Saturday's ninth-placing behind Most Exhalted Nick Heywood suggested that the gelding's effort was lacking.

"He's not trying," Heywood said. "Maybe he just needs a bit of a change."

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