Monday Musings

Tom Baddock - Monday October 9

It was a solid weekend for the team with 11 winners tipped on top by Racenet’s tipsters despite a few well-supported runners falling short for punters.

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To forgive or forget? Almandin disappointed as even-money favourite in the Group III Bart Cummings on Saturday at Flemington. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Both Clinton Payne and Paul Joice bounced back to form this week, tipping followers into four good things.

Joice was bullish about the chances of favourite Interlocuter , declaring it a ‘good thing’ in race three, paying $2.40.

The promising five-year-old was never in doubt, shouldering into the clear on the corner to race away for an easy win.

Payne was impressed by the last start victory of Sir Plush and expected the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding to be extremely difficult to run down again with a light weight on his back.

After being as much as $3.50, Sir Plush was crunched in betting to start $2.25 favourite and was an easy watch, leading all the way for a comprehensive victory.

The Roman Consul Stakes was next and Payne was keen to stick with unbeaten colt Viridine , which he had been on at all three previous starts.

The three-year-old lived up to expectation and put in an impressive performance, racing away for a big win and stamping himself a Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes contender.

Both Joice and Payne agreed that the race set up perfectly for Dixie Blossoms to turn on the tables on her stablemate Daysee Doom in the Group III Angst Stakes.

Things went as predicted with the Ron Quinton trained mare forging to lead in the straight and proving too strong in the finish to hold out Daysee Doom and the fast finishing Zenalicious.

The Weekend Winners segment was another source of winners, finding the Spring Champion Stakes winner Ace High on top at $3 and each-way selection All Our Roads filling a place at $3.40.

Greg Polson has been tipping in white-hot form of late and the trend continued on Sunday with all of his on top selections saluting at Hawkesbury and Coonamble.

Polson had three selections salute at Hawkesbury; Our Belisa ($2.40), Krystal ($2.35) and Dynamic Bid ($4). He backed this up with another winner at Coonamble, Stoney Rise at $2.80 – making it a perfect Sunday for followers.

Country Crackers also provided a couple of winners for those looking far and wide on Saturday.

Apoloboom ($1.80) proved too good at Toowoomba and Wallangarra ($1.75) was a class above at Port Macquarie.

SORTING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF

Below are jockey comments from Rosehill which highlight some hidden runs plus those runners that have been given the biggest pushes as coming winners.

Randwick

Race 1 – BRMM BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1400m)

2nd

OUR MANTRA

Blake Shinn

Great run. The barrier was just a bit costly and probably looking for 1600m.

Race 4 – TAB CLASS 3 HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1600m)

2nd

CASCATA ROSSA

Tye Angland

It was a good run. He was just a little bit strong the whole way and I reckon if they back him up it might help take that sting out of him.

Race 5 – BOWERMANS OFFICE FURNITURE HANDICAP (1400m)

4th

SOUCHEZ

Andrew Adkins (a1.5)

Great run, obviously the tempo suited the front runners and I had a bit of work to do to get there from the back and his last furlong was the best. Going to a mile will be suitable.

Race 8 – GROUP III MOSTYN COPPER GROUP ANGST STAKES (1600m)

4th

SAVAPINSKI (NZ)

Christian Reith

Really tough run, she's going to improve with some blinkers and probably 10 furlongs but ran really well.

7th

SHAZEE LEE

Tye Angland

Actually really good. I was back, got her to relax, cut the corner, tried to sneak a few runs but I gave her a squeeze, she was picking up strong but as soon as I had to stop her momentum because there were no runs there she spat the bit and the race was over.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

All Our Roads – It was an excellent Australian debut performance from this New Zealand import to finish third behind the flying Sir Plush. Being from the Chris Waller yard you’d only expect him to improve from the run and I don’t think it will be long before he breaks through in Australia.

Sully – It was an excellent closing performance by this Victorian visitor in the Group I Spring Champion stakes. I particularly liked the way he closed off the race after struggling for clear galloping room down the straight. Another step up in distance looks ideal.

FORGIVE FILE

Almandin – Disappointed the market on Saturday after failing to finish in the top three as even-money favourite however there is no doubt the stable will have him peaking come Melbourne Cup day. They are masters at getting their horses to peak on the big day and Saturday was not his grand final. After his brilliant display at his previous start it's impossible to drop off.

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