Pakenham – Tuesday November 11
Heat 1 – Extreme Virtue (1st)
Nice jump-out. Extreme Virtue won the heat, her second jump-out for the campaign. She ran slick time, largely under her own steam. Her first jump-out at Flemington was also impressive and she’s a mare that goes well early in her campaigns.
Miss Castelvecchio worked to the line strongly in second.
Heat 2 – Aqua Storm (1st) and Epeiric (2nd)
Liked how the first two over the line went here.
Aqua Storm looks like a coiled spring ready to rock when he debuts. Clearly a horse that has taken some time to get to the races being an unraced 5yo, but patience may be a virtue for connections. He settled off speed, but trucked up under a big hold, winning this heat with plenty in hand.
Really liked the way Epeiric hit the line in second. She has had six jump-outs total across three campaigns and has shown glimpses of talent. She will likely turn up big odds whenever she debuts.
Heat 11 – La Fiesta (1st)
This was a lovely jump-out from this daughter of Frankel. She has tactical speed, she travelled sweetly and she put her rivals to the sword very quickly, posting fast time in the process. She’s had two jump-outs now this campaign and should be ready to make her debut.
Colac – Wednesday November 12
Heat 1 – Sweet September (1st)
4yo daughter of Lonhro who is already onto her third trainer, which isn’t a great sign. Now with Lindsey Smith, she really improved from her first jump-out this time in at Geelong on October 29 to this heat at Colac, which she won easily. Liked the way she travelled and put her stablemate Big Me (another new acquisition) away over the last 200m. Would want a bigger price to be backing her first up but she could surprise.
Heat 5 – Grande Terre (2nd)
Fileeta won this heat, as she usually does, she’s one of the better jump-out horses in the state. Loved how Grande Terre worked to the line under his own steam in second. He’s had just the one start for a good debut win at Mildura; suspect there’s more wins in store for this bloke.
Mornington – Wednesday November 12
Heat 2 – Next Step Iowa (1st)
She’s a nice mare, Next Step Iowa. This was the quickest jump-out of the morning, she settled off speed before running down Rattle And Bang the last 200m, under her own steam. It was her second impressive jump-out for the campaign and she’s ready to resume now. She should’ve won her first start at Ballarat last time in before breaking her maiden at Mornington. In a good stable – think she will quickly work her way through the grades.
Heat 8 – Lady Verity (1st)
Another nice horse from the Matt Laurie yard. This filly was unlucky on debut at Ballarat before running second in a hot maiden at Sale her only other start. She was brilliant in taking out this jump-out, her second impressive jump-out performance of the campaign. She’s ready to resume her racing career and I suspect she will be winning a maiden very quicky – the challenge may be getting a price.
