‘No horse can go as fast as the money you put on it,” is the wise cautionary from Earl Wilson heeded by prudent bettors. However, knowing exactly how fast horses run remains an essential part of the handicapping puzzle and was the key to identifying long-shot Just Sensual as a possible winner of the R1 million World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas.
The daughter of Dynasty had finished close up to Grade 1 winner Final Judgement when beaten by Miranda Frost on debut before being put away by trainer Joey Ramsden during Winter. On resuming in October she ambled in to win her Maiden against hopeless opposition, but it was her next effort in a lowly handicap that indicated she was up to competing at a much higher level. Her fluent stride was visually impressive, yet to pace orientated handicappers it was her super-swift closing sectional that provided objective evidence that she had the latent ability to mix it with top fillies of her generation.
As it turned out, Just Sensual again used that powerful turn of foot to outrun Safe Harbour down the long Kenilworth stretch on Saturday. They drew clear of a tussling group down the inside including Querari Falcon, Sail and a stiff Lady of the House, with Just Sensual’s closing rally in the centre proving decisive.
Devoted time- orientated analysts currently have to gather sectional times using their own devices to make these discoveries. Hopefully that crucial information will soon become part of officially released data enabling horseplayers to more accurately measure thoroughbred speed. Fractional times require expertise to be understood in the right context and interpreted properly, but just providing accurate raw data of how fast horses are going at different stages of a race will immediately add to fans’ appreciation of the nuances in the sport and be an essential aid to grading performances.
Classical weight handicappers were also counting their riches after Saturday’s World Sports Betting Merchants. Search Party had run to a triple digit merit rating when beating off a bunch of Stakes winners at his most recent start, yet due to anomalies in the handicapping system snuck in to this Grade 2 contest as a light weight racing off a lenient mark of 96, lower than his true rating.
Jockey Corne Orffer took advantage of this rare “gift” from the handicappers, using forcing tactics to dominate from gun to tape and add another win to the expanding haul for hot trainer Brett Crawford. Only the brave but infirm, Silicone Valley got close near the line. This six year old gelding has endured countless physical breakdowns during a curtailed career. Fine horseman, Glen Puller has patched him up repeatedly, extracting five wins and five places from only 13 starts. ‘He really is a miler but we can’t risk him again around the turn so we are keeping him to races down the straight,” explained part owner Ian Robinson.
Racing purists would have loved the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m. Premium quality thoroughbreds, a true run race and world class jocks carrying out contrasting tactics made for a compelling spectacle. Equus Champion Legal Eagle raced more forwardly under Anton Marcus and prevailed narrowly over young pretender Marinaresco in the level weight showdown. Marinaresco probably gave too much start dropping three to four lengths off his rival around the turn, yet Grant van Niekerk’s mount still tried hard to make up the deficit with a bold stretch run.
Both horses probably needed this early season race so were not surprisingly tiring at the finish given the torrid early fractions they chased, yet they delivered tremendous performances and will be formidable in upcoming features like the Queens’ Plate and Sun Met. Legal Eagle has put together a most admirable career, winning eight of 14 starts whilst competing around the country at the highest level. Despite the defeat, Marinaresco’s patient trainer, Candice Bass Robinson was by no means disheartened, “I’m really looking forward to his next run.” she said with a smile…