Well-fancied flops and forgives from Saturday’s racing

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We assess the runs of some of the more-fancied beaten runners, and a few others, from Saturday’s racing in Melbourne and Sydney.

READ: The Saturday review – star performer, pearler, slaughter, saints & sinners

FORGIVE

Sweet Mercy ($5) – Rosehill R2 (1500m)

The David Payne-trained filly has won three of her 17 starts, but luck has foiled her in a few different ways. She ran into a horse called In Secret in her first two starts, and also Kovalica in a BM68. On Saturday, it was different – she bungled the start and was then tucked away on the inside in a big Midway field, where the leaders slowed the tempo from low 11s early to low 12s midway through which gave the backmarkers none thereafter.

Unravel ($3.90)/Goomeri ($3.50F) – Rosehill R3 (1200m)

Unravel raced keen and pulled up slow to recover with superficial wounds to both hind pasterns. The vets will inspect further there. Goomeri, meanwhile, carried 1kg over, travelled wide without cover and pulled up 3/5 lame in the near foreleg. It was career start No.5 and No.3 respectively, so despite their expectations leading in, its pretty easy to forgive them in the circumstances here. The trifecta had 16, 32 and 16 starts respectively, and experience won the day.

Gelatin ($17) – Rosehill R1 (1400m)

OK, the horse was on the 5th line of betting in a six-horse race, so hardly a ‘fancy’ that we normally assess – but it was a run well worth noting in defeat. Just got a turbulent ride in the straight, and was still only beaten sub-1L.

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Blazing Harry ($4.80) – Flemington R2 (1420m)

It’s not really a forgive, more of a follow. ‘Harry’ bumped into a potential Group 1 galloper here in Steparty but he chased hard and put a real space on the rest of the field (3.5L back to 3rd). He really surged to the line after getting into the clear and is worth sticking with this campaign and beyond.



Party For One ($3.60) – Flemington R5 (1420m)

It’s been a good prep for the ex-NSW mare but she might have come to the end of it, according to jockey Blake Shinn. Shooting for her third win on the bounce, Party For One jumped well to lead and straightened for home in front but could offer little in the straight, giving up meekly after being headed. She was vetted clear but Shinn told stewards she raced like she may have had enough after seven runs this year. Her previous form entitles her to another chance, after a freshen-up.



Monarch Of Egypt ($3.10) – Flemington R6 (1420m)

Monarch Of Egypt was a stylish winner at Sandown when coming from a midfield position but he was ridden upside down here by Coffey. On a tough day for leaders, the well-supported favourite took up the running but was headed at the 200m and just battled home. He was vetted clear but co-trained JD Hayes told stewards the gelding was not suited by leading.

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Artzino ($3) – Flemington R8 (2000m)

He was well-backed after an encouraging second-up run but covered additional ground which seemed to take the dash out of his finale. He’s worth seeing again fourth-up, hopefully from a more favourable gate.

FORGET (SACK)

Maurice’s Medad ($8) – Rosehill R9 (1500m)

Beaten between 1-2L in three of his five starts prior, this was a letdown for ‘Medad’. He’s won two-from-27, and the horse he beat in November (Raffish) has won two-from-17. Not inspiring strike-rates on the surface.



Poland ($5) – Flemington R4 (1100m)

Punters are a forgiving lot but surely this bloke has run out of chances. He’s won just 2 from 21 and hasn’t tasted success since February 2021, but he was strangely well-backed to make a winning return over 1100m. He raced on-speed but was under pressure a long way from home and just laboured to the post for 5th, beaten 3.7L.



Sir Davy ($7.50) – Flemington R6 (1420m)

The very promising Sir Davy appears to have little interest in racing these days. He’s in the right stable to turn things around but he’s best avoided until he shows something. He’s now gone five starts in a row without placing.

JURY’S OUT

Benaud ($18) – Rosehill R7 (2000m)

Again, not a market fancy on Saturday, but worth noting how he has failed to make his mark despite high expectations. Started $11 in a Caulfield Cup, off the back of getting within 2.45L of Anamoe in a weight-for-age G1 Might And Power. He was less than half-a-length of G1 glory in an ATC Derby behind Hitotsu, but that’s been the story of his career – thereabouts without the ultimate glory, his only win coming on debut at Nowra.

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Propice ($3) – Flemington R1 (1000m)

Generally it’s an automatic ‘forgive’ when a horse suffers an internal bleed, but even with that excuse, it might be worth just watching this galloper for a couple of starts. He was backed off the map in this event (where there’s smoke, there’s fire) but he was never in the race at any stage. The 5YO galloper has shown glimpses of decent ability but he’s still only won once and placed once from 10 career outings. He hasn’t been able to string good runs together.



Shaiyhar ($3.60) – Flemington R3 (2540m)

He was a strong winner over 2000m at Flemington earlier this month but the import couldn’t back it up here, despite what looked a suitable distance rise for him. He had the back of shock winner Port Guillaume nearing the 800m but couldn’t sprint in the straight in what jockey Dean Yendall described as a ‘flat’ showing. He was vetted clear, so it’s hard to find too many excuses for Shaiyhar.

Who Dares ($3.60) – Flemington R9 (1100m)

Who Dares doesn’t put in any bad ones but he just can’t find a way to win. He’s been up for a long time, so he may need a break before he can find winning form.

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