Sweet In Defeat
Happy Valley (M22) – Wednesday, 21 November 2018
By Hutchi
05/12/2018
Happy Valley had a track presented in GOOD condition for the first four races with rain during the early part of the race meeting leading to a track downgrade to GOOD TO YIELDING for races five and six. Following a period of no rain, the track was retrospectively upgraded back to GOOD following the running of race 7. The running rail was set in the outermost “C+3” position.
RACE 1: C5 - 1800m
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD
It was a solid win by Smart Baby and the overall race rated quite well for this grade. Smart Baby was the best performance given the even tempo set by the leaders, before they sprinted home and considering the fact he came from back in the field to win. For the same reasons Travel Ambassador was a sound run in defeat.
RACE 2: C5 - 1000m
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD
It was a well-rated ride by Mo on Ocean Roar who led from start to finish. There was little change in order through out and there wasn’t a great deal to learn from it with eight of the top 10 final-400m sectionals coming from this race – a sit and sprint over the minimum journey.
RACE 3: C4 - 1200M
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD
This event’s mid-sectional was solidly run with the best performance clearly coming from Waldorf who stepped awkwardly, covered ground, but sustained a solid gallop to the line. He might be one to follow going forward and the winner, Shining On put in a career-best performance and might be one to stick with considering he remains in the grade. Waldorf makes the Sweet In Defeat (SID) file.
RACE 4: C4 - 1200M
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD
This was a poor rating race and I wont be trusting the form too much out of this one. They went out and came home slowly, which is never ideal and it was clearly the worst race on the card.
RACE 5: C3 - 1650M
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD TO YIELDING
An uncomplicated race in terms of tempo and incident. This race rated okay (track good-to-yelding) given the required adjustments to the overall time with the down grade of the track. The winner Har Har Heart should be competitive again going forward if he can post similar figures to here.
RACE 6: C4 - 1650M
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD TO YIELDING
On raw figures (above) the sectionals were slower than standard but after adjusting for the track (good to yielding), the pace through the middle section was relatively quick and there were some forgiveable runs for some of those on pace. However, the early moves from Clear Choice and Starlit Knight were rather ridiculous and Clear Choice in particular was sound in defeat and makes the SID file.
RACE 7: C3 - 1650M
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD
Clearly the best rating race of the night considering they went inside standard, although track may have dried somewhat by this stage (upgraded back to good) so the figures are a little harder to adjust. Ultimately, the tempo was brutal and it set up nicely for the chasers. From that perspective, My Ally (SID) was excellent in defeat. Note: Racing Luck ‘blood in trachea’.
RACE 8: C3 - 1200M
Course: TURF "C+3" Going: GOOD
The first two sections were run solidly and ultimately those on-pace paid the price late in the race. From that point of view, Strathclyde, who duelled in the lead on a fast tempo was exceptionally good in defeat and he makes the SID file.
Sweet In Defeat "Black Bookers"
-
Waldorf
-
Clear Choice
-
My Ally
-
Strathclyde