TOPPA DAWOZZA jumped best before Jason Whiting perfectly positioned the gelding behind the leader, I Done It. There would have been a few nervous moments for connections when turning into the straight as Jason Whiting was hoping for the tiring I Done It not to fall back on his face. Whiting got the run and bustled the gelding over the line to record his third win at his 45th start.
Brad Parnham’s ride on ELEVEN SECONDS is what every backer would like to see. The jockey putting his horse into the race if the race is not being run to suit. Although he didn’t win, he gave the horse every possible chance and just went down by a short neck.
I DONE IT was backed into $4.60 and second favourite. He led with Sarah Bonner aboard but he was out of gas on turning into the home straight.
Race 2 - 12:58PM PENANG TURF CLUB TROPHY (1100 METRES)
THE WINNER
Despite connections hoping for a cold ride from the wide draw, jockey Chris Parnham was forced to go forward when RIASC jumped too well from widest barrier, barrier nine. The son of Rogano sat three-wide but was clearly the superior horse of the race.
THE GOOD
Finishing a close second was $31 chance AL DI LA. Troy Turner let the son of Dick Turpin lead and he almost pinched it after being rated very well in the run.
THE BAD
GOLDEN TRIGGER was disappointing on face value, especially when considering he was second up and fitter, he had the blinkers on first time and he enjoyed the run of the race behind the leader. The only excuse could be is that the track was favouring those right on top of the speed.
FASTEST LAST 600M
RIASC – 34.90
Race 3 - 1:38PM YELLOWGLEN HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
THE WINNER
CONSEATED was the class of the field and, once she lobbed outside of the leader on a day which was favouring those on-speed, she was always going to be hard to run down.
THE GOOD
PRESENTATIE dashed home along the inside, from last, to run an eye-catching second. Be wary of what grade she starts in next though.
THE BAD
UNIVERSAL MOON led and looked to travel like the winner but did not give a kick up the straight and vetted out clear after the race.
FASTEST LAST 600M
PRESENTATIE – 33.97
Race 4 - 2:18PM SINGAPORE TURF CLUB TROPHY (1100 METRES)
THE WINNER
A cheeky ride from Peter Hall got TENTERDEN the prize for trainer Ben Pearce and owners Lex and Shirley Piper. The son of Danehill Express led from barrier seven and continued the theme of on-pace winners.
THE GOOD
JUST ACT NATURAL jumped much better than last start. He got a sit behind the leader and eventual winner but couldn’t run Tenterden down, missing by a long head. If there was a knock on the performance, it was that young apprentice Kate Witten didn’t hold the lead from the inside draw. It was still a game effort in defeat
THE BAD
PATRIMONIO did not run on at all from the back of the field. Maybe the track pattern didn’t suit or maybe he is just a genuine fresh horse. Still inconclusive.
FASTEST LAST 600M
JUST ACT NATURAL – 33.78
Race 5 - 2:58PM LEX PIPER STAKES (1600 METRES)
THE WINNER
The second galloper, on the card, to win from off the speed was GANGBUSTER. The son of Blackfriars has a devastating turn of speed and has now shot into serious WATC Derby contention.
THE GOOD
FINAL SALUTE ran on strongly form second last and looks to lead Bob Peters’ chances heading into the WATC Derby lead up races.
THE BAD
GATTING was backed into favourite but was niggled along by Glenn Smith on rounding the home turn. He has been up for a while now but they will push on to the Derby.
FASTEST LAST 600M
GANGBUSTER – 34.71
Race 6 - 3:40PM PERAK TURF CLUB TROPHY (1200 METRES)
THE WINNER
MORE ACES jumped best from the inside draw and was not for catching. Randy Tan’s first ride for Jim Taylor was a successful one. The gelding took his record to six starts for four wins.
THE GOOD
STORM DANCER copped some buffeting in the early stages of the race and probably got a bit further back than rider Shaun O’Donnell would have liked. He still found the line well and is a black booker for next start.
THE BAD
BOUNCE DOWN was very disappointing after not having many excuses in the run. She finished a surprising second last.
FASTEST LAST 600M
STORM DANCER – 34.98
Race 7 - 4:20PM DETONATOR STAKES (1800 METRES)
THE WINNER
POUNAMU was breathtaking when coming from the back of the field to win the Listed Detonator Stakes. He beat some handy horses but it was more about the way he did it. Glenn Smith, on Falcon Crest, held Pounamu in on the turn so Patrick Carbery went via this inside of the course to win imposingly.
THE GOOD
TONTO was second again to Pounamu but lost no admirers when going down by under two lengths. FALCON CREST ran third and looks ready for the 2000m of the Bunbury AHA Cup.
THE BAD
The rest were all beaten by seven lengths or more and fairly plain from a form perspective moving forward.
FASTEST LAST 600M
POUNAMU – 35.00
Race 8 - 5:00PM GET THE TABTOUCH HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
THE WINNER
Glenn Smith got a charmed run through along the fence on DEZZIES DREAM. The speed was on from the word go and Smith snuck runs along the inside to score by nearly two lengths.
THE GOOD
RED PADDY was brilliant for second after getting a long way back on a day where it wasn’t suitable to get back and run on, especially wide on the track. Simon Miller has him flying. CUANZO also made up good ground from well back in the field to fill the other minor placing.
THE BAD
IT’S IT had to do too much work in the run when leading and subsequently faded badly. Not ideal considering he was on the sharp one-week backup. Don’t be surprised to see him freshened up.
FASTEST LAST 600M
RED PADDY – 34.30