Monday Musings for August 7

Tom Baddock - Monday August 7

The Racenet team found six winners across the country over the weekend including the feature winners in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Ability got the better of Lankan Rupee in the Group III Bletchingly Stakes. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Paul Joice was keen on the chances of the Kris Lees-trained Invincible Gem in Saturday's Group II Missile Stakes at Randwick despite stablemate and three-time Group I winner Le Romain being the clear top pick in betting.

Joice was impressed with the mares' recent trials and believed she was well over the odds at the double figures on offer, especially considering her gallant second in the Group I Randwick Guineas last preparation.

The four-year-old travelled well in the run and let down with a powerful finishing burst to comfortably account for her eight rivals, including $1.95 favourite Le Romain which finished a game second giving Lees the race quinella.

Those who took the $11 on offer early were rewarded with for the daughter of I Am Invincible being well-supported late to start as the $6.50 clear second-elect.

The Weekend Winners segment also highlighted the winner of the re-scheduled Group III Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday.

The Robert Smerdon-trained Ability claimed his fourth straight win since returning from a gelding operation in the $150,000 event.

The five-year-old settled last in the 10-horse field before producing a barnstorming finish to pick up multiple Group I winner Lankan Rupee in the final stages and extend his winning streak.

Weekend Winners continued with its good form finding  Mana at $14 in the final event at Randwick on Saturday.

Mana was tipped to have a fitness edge on his rivals and enjoy the wet track conditions.

The son of Conatus sat three-wide no cover on the pace but travelled comfortably throughout given the steady tempo and proved too strong for Alluvion in the sprint to the line.

Brad Waters provided the team's next win with Yogi  in the 1 Oliver St Plate (2500m) at Flemington although many followers would have been ready to throw in the towel rounding the home bend.

Yogi was placed under immense pressure by John Allen but failed to respond in the early part of the straight. Thankfully Allen persisted and Yogi lifted to win narrowly in a ding-dong battle to the line with stablemate Chequered Flag, paying $3.20.

The final winner from Weekend Winners came from Doomben in the National Jockeys Trust Class 3 Plate (1200m).

Liam Birchley's Havasay was coming off a strong win at the Grafton carnival and proved too good again, winning by a comfortable 1-3/4 lengths.

Racenet's Blackbook video analysts also came up with a win at Randwick on Saturday when Tim Martin's King Darci ($3.30 fav) ran down Imperator Augustus in the Cindy Sullivan Memorial Handicap (1400m). The horse was blackbooked after a strong performance behind Calanda on July 1.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Admiral Jello – Both runs in this prep for this Kris Lees-trained gelding have been outstanding and after Saturday's closing second behind Steyne I think he is ready to peak next start. Three of Admiral Jello's four career wins have come when at least third-up and the last time he raced third-up he won by 2-1/2 lengths over 1900m. Expect him to reproduce a comparable performance next start over a similar distance.

Harper's Choice – It was an excellent resuming run for this Australian Derby runner-up in the Group II Missile Stakes over the short trip. I really liked the way he got to the line over the final furlong for fifth and I think he's in for a good preparation. Trainer Gerald Ryan suggested he may be best over a mile so I'm keen to see what he can do in his next few starts up in trip.

FORGIVE FILE

Addictive Nature – Beaten on his merits over the 1200m by what appears to be a pretty handy horse himself in Shogun Son but Addictive Nature was second-up and may be looking for further as his pedigree suggests. Using his brother Savvy Nature as a guide, we may see the best of him at a mile and beyond.

SIN BIN

Gold Ambition – This five-year-old is just far too hard to catch. His career statistics tell the tale, with just two wins from 26 starts (26:2-5-5). His last win came in a class 1 event over 1800m at Bathurst where he fell in by a nose. He loomed as a winning chance again on Saturday but found a couple better once again. I'll be leaving him out.

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