Reading Races

Sun Herald

Sunday February 13, 2005

By TONY BRASSEL

RANGY PONTE PICCOLO was never at home around Canterbury but, second time out on roomy Randwick she clocked scintillating time - 0.34s outside Maestro Maker's five year old track record.

VILLA BLED took off in the early stages, carving out the first 800m in 46.96s but Chris Munce positioned Volksraad filly Ponte Piccolo second, then urged her into the lead down the rise.

Nothing touched her from that point although she did wander wider on the track as fatigue set in.

ERTHAKIT couldn't sustain a short charge and BUT I'M SERIOUS was thoroughly outpaced.

Finish Horse Fastest

Final 400m

1.Ponte Piccolo 23.14

2.Erthakit 23.65

3.But I'm Serious 23.68

6.Florilegium 24.02

5.Class Act 24.24

FUTURE: Play the Piccolo again.

RACE 2: GUNSYND WELTER 2000mFav: Art Official ($3.50) 4th

DAVID PAYNE scratched probable favourite Nevis yet still provided the quinella - GRANDLY and NKUNI.

A well made Grand Lodge mare, the four-year-old travelled comfortably in second last then unleashed a slick burst to seal the race 200m from home.

Considering this was only her third run in, this four-year-old can progress. She did run fourth in Special Harmony's 2003 VRC Oaks.

Stablemate Nkuni travelled ahead of the winner but didn't get too much of a go for a while in the straight. Once clear he pressed on reasonably and winding up for third was LINDY'S GROOM which made steady ground without looking a chance. He can win one this preparation.

FinishHorseFastest

Final 400m

1.Grandly 23.59

2.Nkuni 23.81

3.Lindy's Groom 24.03

4.Art Official 24.55

5.Spinning Con 25.34

FUTURE: Grandly the class here.

RACE 3: LARA'S BIRTHDAY HCP 1600mFav: Pentelikon ($2.60) 7th

NO horse presented in finer order at Randwick than Hurricane Sky mare SHALIMAR SKY, now a winner of four from six.

Guy Walter has brought the leggy bay along from a Goulburn maiden victory commencing this campaign, to being a prospective stakes winner, such was yesterday's finishing power.

Out the back, well almost out the back (PENTELIKON was eight lengths behind her), Shalimar Sky whittled down FICTITIOUS LADY'S margin in sterling fashion to pounce late.

Barring the favourite, Pentelikon, nothing had an excuse. Fictitious Lady was 38 days away from the races, yet performed in the manner of a fit racehorse and NARELLAN, second until the last 200m, paddled in the closing part.

FinishHorseFastest

Final 400m

1.Shalimar Sky 23.13

2.Fictitious Lady 23.43

4.New York Style 23.44

3.Narellan 23.48

7.Pentelikon 25.75

FUTURE: Shalimar Sky sure can sprint.

RACE 4: MERITON SERV. APARTMENTS HCP 1200m Fav: Written Tycoon ($3.00) 2nd

THE Redoute's Choice breed carved a swathe through the juvenile ranks yesterday with none more impressive than Reef Beach's half sister FASHIONS AFIELD.

From the family of Wrap Around and Beach Gown, Gai Waterhouse's filly pinged onto the pace, then defied big WRITTEN TYCOON which slipstreamed the two leaders and loomed menacingly, seeming to have every hope.

Plucky WRONG CALL ran a nice race for third but the best of this strong lot could be MANTON, a $1.1 million yearling purchase.

A Danehill brother to Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars, he wasn't as nippy or forward as some rivals but didn't concede one bit in the straight. STRATUM may have suffered when a couple of rivals delayed the jump. Unlike his trials, he began poorly.

FinishHorseFastest

Final 400m

3.Wrong Call 22.59

1.Fashions Afield 22.84

2.Written Tycoon 22.84

4.Manton 22.85

9.Power Of Destiny 23.05

FUTURE: Manton's future is assured.

RACE 5: HYLAND RACE COLOURS HCP (C6) 1300m Fav: Peking Tom ($3.90) 8th

RESISTOR has occasionally stirred himself up in pre-race parades but the Danehill gelding's demeanour was first class yesterday.

As a result the racy bay throttled back comfortably for Zac Purton even though clocking course record time. It should be noted few 1300m races are run at Randwick.

First and second throughout, Resistor and LEEWARDS dominated proceedings to fight the race out, but first-up from a spell, HAIRPIN, couldn't get a crack at them when necessary.

This Octagonal filly sweated in the birdcage and looked a fraction above herself in condition. Nearing the line, she closed rapidly in one of the finest first-up outings of the afternoon.

FinishHorseFastest

Final 400m

4.Silver Fun 22.69

3.Hairpin 22.80

7.Pelennium 23.03

5.Bazaars 23.06

9.See The Bell 23.07

FUTURE: Hairpin stuck out.

RACE 6: APOLLO STAKES 1400mEqual fav's: Grand Armee 1st, Our Egyptian Raine 4th ($3.10)

SENSATIONAL GRAND ARMEE cracked the $4 million in earnings mark yesterday and, thanks to the flying COURT'S IN SESSION, there's a new 1400m track record holder.

The pacemaker went through his initial 800m in 46.48s, to hold a five lengths lead half way home. From the rise though, classy Grand Armee had his measure but the multiple group 1 winner needed to dig deep for victory - Court's In Session refused to concede.

At one stage both DESERT WAR and OUR EGYPTIAN RAINE seemed bound to nail the runner-up, yet there he was, completely outgaming them.

Epsom winner Desert War wasn't up to the testing weight-for-age task yesterday, but what a return! Not as forward as the first pair, he did sweat up a shade and will be seeking further now.

FinishHorseFastest

Final 400m

3.Desert War 22.75

1.Grand Armee 22.89

4.Our Egyptian Raine 23.17

5.Royal Mask 23.22

2.Court's In Session 23.39

FUTURE: Giant Desert War will get fitter.

RACE 7: BIGPOND HOBARTVILLE STAKES 1400mFav: Dance Hero ($1.45) 3rd

WELL made colt OUTBACK PRINCE returned to his sparkling best by worrying the favourite DANCE HERO big time.

Although the first 800m sectional wasn't all that slick (48.27s), this winner applied just enough pressure to diminish the favourite's 'kick'.

Once the serious business started inside the last 200m, Dance Hero was unable to match the winner's stamina.

Getting up for second was another handsome individual - EREMEIN which trekked deeper than anything in the race. The Timber Country youngster darted up late and is looking good for some group class middle distance affairs.

And Lonhro's kid brother SPIKES warmed to his task impressively. Lacking early zip, he also stamped himself as a horse better suited over longer journeys.

NOTE: Times not available at time of publication.

FUTURE: Eremein is due for better luck.

RACE 9: MONTE CARLO HCP 1300mFav: Shannon Bank ($3.80) 2nd

AN appropriate name for the last race winner STIRRED - late scratching AQUA D'AMORE caused all sorts of bother behind the barriers pre-race.

Forcing the race to start six minutes late, the short-priced favourite did not go around and Stirred dictated terms upfront for Mitchell Bell, then defied all attempts to run her down.

Bell was able to rate the Langfuhr mare through her first 700m in 42.52s, or about a second slower than Resistor's sectional. Consequently her final 600m sectional (34.17s) was impossible for these mares to better.

Little SHANNON BANK almost pulled it off. Slow out and wide around the final bend, the chestnut sped down the outside but mathematics beat her - not the winner.

NATURAL WOMAN, very much on the toe and sweaty, ran a respectable race second-up. She'll keep.

NOTE: Times not available at time of publication.

FUTURE: Natural Woman next time.

RACE 8: TIME MAGAZINE HCP (C6) 1600mFav: Lutalo ($3.40) 2nd

CHARACTER determined the outcome in this donnybrook between fancied runners RED HOT PEPPER and LUTALO.

A beautiful sort and another David Payne-trained Grand Lodge winner for the day, Red Hot Pepper enjoyed a charmed run behind a solid pace but things looked grim when Lutalo drew alongside.

For 50m, the rangy favourite edged ahead but suddenly his speed tapered off. One now suspects the chestnut doesn't relish a battle as Red Hot Pepper certainly outgamed him.

CONQUEST, the largest animal in the race, wound up reasonably well for third but he's not the fleetest of steeds. The son of Fuji Kiseki appears to need everything to fall into place if he's to land one.

NOTE: Times not available at time of publication.

FUTURE: Red Hot Pepper is hot.