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Horses to Follow: Saturday September 4th

Tim Geers and Trent Crebbin review Saturday’s racing from Randwick and The Valley.

zaaki

Class came to the fore on Saturday with the return of two stars of the Australian turf at Randwick.

Nature Strip was dominant in the Concorde Stakes while Zaaki stamped himself as the best weight-for-age horse in the country with an electric win in the Tramway Stakes.

Meanwhile at Moonee ValleySuperstorm booked his ticket into the Cox Plate with a narrow win in the Feehan Stakes, and Singapore star The Inferno was breathing fire in a dominant McEwen Stakes victory.

Tim Geers and Trent Crebbin have reviewed the meetings at Randwick and Moonee Valley and have provided their horses to follow and forget as Group 1 racing heats up.

Randwick

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Handle The Truth (R5) – Resumed with a good effort behind Nature Strip in the Concorde Stakes, which was obviously way out of his grade and short of his best distance. He ran a similar race over a similar distance first up last prep before winning over 1400m second up, so he should be cherry ripe next time out.

Aramayo (R7) – Hard to miss the run of this horse who had his first start for Chris Waller on the weekend. He flashed home to finish 2nd to Zaaki, who was eased down for the final part of the race, but Aramayo still finished off well. He used to be with Godolphin, as well as spending a bit of time in Singapore, but Waller has him rejuvenated it seems.

Montefilia (R8) – She’s not a horse that I normally side with, but I thought her return on the weekend was sound behind Think It Over. She was beaten a length second up in a Group 1 last preparation so she should improve on what she did fresh.

Atishu (R10) – Well, what to say here? Spotted the leader 20L at one point and just mathematically couldn’t win from where McEvoy had her on the turn. Her two Australian runs have been superb and while she’s likely to be over-bet next start, she’s definitely a horse to continue following.

HORSES TO SACK

Enduring Night (R3) – Can stop getting my money now. The racing pattern of this horse just makes it impossible to win half the time, and Rachel King hasn’t exactly helped it in recent starts.

Furious Stakes (R6) – Not sure what to make of this group of fillies. None of them are really putting their hands up as the dominant filly and I’m not sold on the strength of the form going forward.

All Time Legend (R10) – A horse that promised plenty last prep and has delivered very little this prep. Ran last on the weekend after getting out to a suitable distance so not sure where they go to from here.

Moonee Valley

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Sandy Prince (R1) – Did a power of work on speed and stuck on exceptionally well whilst the other two horses on speed were beaten 3.8 and 11.5L respectively. The winner, Forgot You, has obviously hit the line very well, but Sandy Prince with a softer mid-race wins and can do so again next start.

Coolth (R4) – Wasn’t suited by the race shape here and I doubt The Valley is his track. I’d love to see him right out in trip to 2500m at Flemington where he can build momentum on a big track 

September Run (R5) – If she can find a race down the straight, such as the Gilgai Stakes at Group 2 level on October 2nd, she’d nearly be a complete moral. Not suited over 1000m here, coming home in the meeting’s fastest last 200m, bettering The Inferno’s last split by over a length.

Mac ‘n’ Cheese (R6) – Lovely return from this filly who is going to be much better suited at 1400m in the Jim Moloney at Sandown. She did pull up a bit sore when her action wasn’t great mid-race, but should recover fine and the big track at Sandown will be ideal.

HORSES TO SACK

Dark Dream (R4) – Just hasn’t come back from Hong Kong the same horse. Beaten a long way here and can’t be backed going forward.

Scorched Earth (R6) – Well backed into $5 in the Atlantic Jewel and seemingly had every chance sitting on speed. Can’t see her turning the tables on any of these ahead of her.

Ancestry (R7) – Complete shadow of his former self. Ridden against his pattern when lacking his usual early zip but he looks completely gone and is unbackable.

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