Friday Night Previews
Seven infuriatingly difficult puzzles to solve at Hastings on Friday evening, including the first chance for the likes of B.C Oaks third Matsqui to stretch their legs over the long course
Although this his first attempt at 8½ furlongs, BORROWED EQUITY has hit the board in all bar the first of his seven lifetime starts, was plugging on well enough last time to suggest he might enjoy the extra distance and may not have a better opportunity of finally losing his maiden status. All that also applies to CHABI, who was staying on from further back behind Borrowed Equity last time and shouldn’t be too far away again today. DAPPER DON, who has twice finished fourth at this distance and in similar company, would need only to repeat his final effort of last year — when second to Stanford North and with Borrowed Equity four lengths behind, to make short work of his opponents here.
A closing third in last season’s BC Oaks, MATSQUI has been marking time, waiting for the opportunity to take on the long course again and lines up here on the back of two solid enough efforts over shorter. She’ll be fit and is the class of the race. HIGHER IMAGE enjoyed the run of the race under Amadeo Perez when dispatching Weekendindelmar in a professional performance last month and will be a danger if she can perform at the same level over the longer distance. EBONY EYES, meanwhile, had just a head to spare over LICORICE last time when both were rallying well behind the smart-looking American Tsunami and ran well enough to suggest they can make an impact.
TOBESUNNY makes her season debut but was beaten just a length on her first effort last year, in a tougher race than this, and can’t be ignored. WALKINTHEWALK drops back to 6½ furlongs after running well enough over further last time and hails from a barn that is now hitting its straps, while stablemate ANOTHERSUNNYDAY had to remain patient before finally getting a gap last time and ran on noticeably well under Amadeo Perez to snatch third. A repeat of that, with fewer traffic issues, could easily be enough here.
TIARA DAWN was given a patient introduction to racing by Amadeo Perez on her debut last month, sitting well out of trouble before slowly being allowed to find her way forward. She closed to finish an eye-catching fourth at the wire, in what looked an above average maiden and should come on again for the education. BLUEBIRD CAFE makes her first start at Hastings after starting most recently at Belterra Park in Ohio. She’s run just the twice, and is not easy to weigh up, but took them some of the way on that latest run, clearly has some speed and should be be a factor. DAZ LIN FORCE ran well for a long way until fading late behind Tiara Dawn on her season reappearance and should be closer today, while the same applies to SHE’S KIND OF HOT, who bumped into some quality opposition last time and was allowed to come home in her own time once her effort had petered out.
Hard to look past OSTRACIZE here. As often the case, she gave herself plenty to do last time, finishing fast from off the pace on a track that has favoured frontrunners all season and, making a four-wide bid on the home turn, went down by a just a head to Rose of Texas. AMANDA was close to the pace throughout when third to Certifiable earlier this month, with the ever-popular PINEAPPLE TIDBITS, who was given a lovely ride by Silvino Morales, just ahead of her after a dream run through during the latter stages. ICE BREAKER, meanwhile, stumbled leaving the gate when favourite in the same race and is better judged on her previous effort when a rallying fourth behind Miss the Hype in May.
QUEEN OF ATTITUDE sliced through the field from the rear last time to get up by a neck. She’s won at the distance before and looks to be in great form at the moment. ARTISTIC JEWLER excels over the longer distances and should be ready to rumble after finishing fourth behind Queen of Attitude and the gorgeous SILK STILETTOS last month and looks a big danger to the likely favourite. The versatile MISS THE HYPE won first-time out this season and was close enough to Queen of Attitude last time to suggest she’s another for the shortlist.
There was much to like about BUTTONWOOD TREE’s win last month, but this represents a more difficult challenge. The barn is flying at present, however, and there could easily be more to come from the California import. NEIGHBOR looked a big danger and full of running when he got snarled up in horrendous traffic approaching the far turn last time, trailing home last of the eight behind Buzzinga Karma, ROOKIE YEAR and Wisely Played. It’s safe to ignore that effort and he should be right in the mix again tonight. BUZZINGA KARMA was staying on resolutely that day and clearly second best of those who enjoyed a clear run at the winner and he should appreciate the extra yardage tonight, while WISELY PLAYED should also relish this first opportunity of the season to strut his stuff over a preferred distance following two solid efforts over 6½ furlongs.
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Saturday’s Overnights
Lizzy’s Rayne
by Nigel Reid
Sometimes it feels as though it’s always the good ones.
LIZZIE’S RAYNE, last season’s Champion juvenile filly, gave so much joy to everyone who came into contact with her. Tragically, on her return to racing last month, and after a winter spent fuelling the dreams of everyone connected with her, she suffered a freak accident while positioning to make her challenge and broke a hind leg.
As anyone connected with this extraordinary sport can testify, losing any horse is never less than gut-punchingly awful for the breeders, owners, trainers, grooms and hotwalkers; all of whom put their hearts and souls into ensuring their beloved charges receive everything they need to support their fitness, comfort and wellbeing.
Understandably, there have been some forlorn faces around for the past week or two, as connections slowly come to terms with losing a horse they considered part of the family. And, in truth, they were very much a part of her family, too, having shown faith in her bloodlines at the yearling sale for the past several years.
And, why wouldn’t they? After all, faith in the family is important; a fact borne out by the various members of Renfrew Racing and company who, undeterred by what subsequently turned out to be a generally luckless CAROLINA GENT, returned to the CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale the following year to secure the yearling full-sister for a value-looking $8,500.
That filly subsequently became the Stakes performer MATSQUI (who runs on Friday night at Hastings) and she quickly hinted at possessing enough talent to make a third visit to the sale inevitable. This time, connections snaffled up her half-sister for just $7,000 and, in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II, named her LIZZIE’S RAYNE.
Owned in collaboration by Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, Breen Racing, Eugene Chan, Matt Elder and Dave Milburn, the daughter of Emerald Acres stallion LENT quickly put a torrid debut behind her, drawing away impressively to take the B.C. Cup Debutante Stakes by four lengths from the highly-touted Weekendindelmar on just her second career start.
LIZZIE’S RAYNE returned later in August to win her CTHS Sales Stakes division, before justifying odds-on favouritism in the prestigious Sadie Diamond Futurity. The athletic-looking chestnut then completed her juvenile campaign with a solid second-place behind Brooke Magic in the Glen Todd Fantasy Stakes, doing more than enough in the process to suggest she would be crowned leading two-year-old filly.
Of course, Lizzie was more than just a series of racing results. She was doted on by her owners and she quickened their pulses each time they saw her canter at morning exercise, or visited her over the winter to see how she was enjoying her time off. She embodied and sustained their racing dreams and aspirations and, while connections will undoubtedly enjoy success in the future, LIZZIE’S RAYNE will always hold a special place in their hearts.