Winterbottom Stakes Day at Ascot headlined the racing in Australia last Saturday, while Caulfield, Rosehill and Doomben held strong support cards throughout the day. With top-line racing starting to slow down in Victoria and New South Wales, the three runners that we have chosen for this week’s Follow Files were first- or second-up last weekend. You can add these runners to your blackbook with your chosen bookmaker and receive notifications when they are set to run again.
Ascot
Rail position: +7m entire circuit
Race 7: Listed Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m) | Time: 1:22.75
- Horse to follow: Bonjoy (3rd)
Following her late scratching before the Listed Jungle Mist Classic, where she was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers, the Jason Miller-trained Bonjoy returned for her first run of this preparation last weekend. The daughter of Maschino raced in her usual pattern, dropping out to the back of the field before weaving her way through traffic to run home strongly. Clint Johnston-Porter took a run along the inside rail, and it appeared as though they were going to challenge the leading duo, but Bonjoy peaked on her run and held on for third place.
When to bet: After a decent first-up performance last campaign, this girl rattled off four straight wins over distances between 1500m and 1675m. The Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m) on December 14 looks like the perfect race for Bonjoy, who will appreciate a rise in trip second-up.
Race 9: RTG66+ Handicap (1400m) | Time: 1:23.51
- Horse to follow: The Spruiker (2nd)
The Spruiker was one of very few horses that ran on down the middle and made up a lot of ground against the on-speed bias of the Ascot track. The Steve Wolfe-trained gelding settled last and travelled sweetly for Shaun McGruddy before peeling out to be the widest runner down the home straight. With the winner and third horse gaining runs closer to the inside, this son of I’m All The Talk let down with a blistering turn of foot to finish third, beaten a length by Miss Skyhigh.
When to bet: This setup for The Spruiker looks exactly the same as his last preparation, where he had two good runs over 1400m before stepping up to 1600m third-up to land the prize. If Wolfe can find a similar contest in the same grade over 1600m, The Spruiker can win next start.
Rosehill
Rail position: True entire circuit
Race 10: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) | Time: 1:05.04
- Horse to follow: Jewellery (5th)
Jewellery was one of the worst watches for her followers last Saturday, as the James Cummings-trained mare ran up behind runners for the majority of the Rosehill home straight. After jumping slowly, Adam Hyeronimus settled the daughter of Lonhro at the back of the field, and upon turning for home, he looked for gaps to appear between runners. One gap opened up but was quickly shut, and the pair were held up for another 100m before finally finding clear air when the race was all but over.
When to bet: Although her second-up form isn’t great, it is easy to argue that Jewellery didn’t expend too much energy and should be cherry ripe for her next run. If Cummings can find another 1100m race on a firmer track, she will prove hard to beat.
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