TOM HAYES
HORSERACING
By TOM HAYES MOE Racing Club hosted the Early Christmas Race Day, a nine-card program on Saturday, November 26. The track was graded a Soft 7 during the week, then upgraded to a Soft 6 for the opening race. For races two to nine, the track was graded a Soft 5. Roaring Success took out the Race 1 Traralgon Cup Sunday, 27 November Maiden Plate over 1217 metres, in comfortable fashion. The three-year-old gelding bolted from a backfield position, joining the frontrunners on the final bend. Roaring Success then took the lead at the 100-metre mark, stretching his lead to claim the first win of his career, after two starts. The Race 2 Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Maiden Plate (1217m) provided a close three-way finish. Eventual winner Nicking Gracie got a great jump from the barrier and led from start to finish to claim her first win. The three-year-old filly was challenged on the final straight by Bold Response and Ivanov. Yet, she hung on to win by a nose to Bold Response, with Ivanov a close third. He’s A Legend was the third maiden winner of the meet, taking out Race 3’s Ladbrokes It! Maiden Plate (1628m). The three-year-old gelding sat towards the front of the pack for most of the race. It was only at the 450-metre mark that he took the lead around the bend. The $1.60 favourite charged home to claim the third placing of his career, from four starts. Thetoyboy came from a long way back to win the Race 4 Ladbrokes Switch Maiden Plate (1017m). After settling behind the pack, the three-year-old gelding began to come into his stride at the 450-metre mark. With 100m to go, Thetoyboy swamped the frontrunners to take the lead, and run away for his maiden victory by nearly two lengths. After four races in his career, Thetoyboy now has three top-four finishes in his last three races. The Race 5 Ladbrokes Punter Assist 0-58 Handicap (1017m) was won by four-year-old gelding, Obsessive Nature, by almost half a length. He settled with the backmarkers challenging the frontrunners on the home straight. Obsessive Nature was the widest runner of them all, carving the field from the outside to win the race. In a tight race, every runner finished within three lengths of the winner. Bucks cleaned up the Race 6 Ladbrokes Market Controls 0-58 Handicap (2088m), by just over three lengths. Trained in Sale by Damien Walkley, the six-year-old gelding raced the frontrunners for most of the race. Little Brother, trained in Moe by Darryl Blackshaw, held about a four-length lead during the race, as he hoped to make it two consecutive wins. The $3.40 favourite remained composed, bursting into the final bend to pounce upon the leaders and win in convincing fashion. The Race 7 Ladbrokes Same Race Multi 0-58 Handicap BM 0-57 (1217m) was miraculously won by Nicajon. Out of the 11 runners, the eight-year-old gelding sat in 10th place for most of the race. Once they took to the final straight, Nicajon began to make his move through the pack. Inside the final 50m, he darted into the lead to win by a length. Nicajon has displayed fine form, placing in three of his last four races. Eight-year-old gelding Heljinsky won the Race 8 Ladbrokes Mates 0-58 Handicap BM 0-57 (1217m) in a close finish to the line. Heljinsky settled in the midfield and began to descend on the leaders as the pack headed onto the home straight. From the 200-metre mark, a two-way sprint between Heljinsky and Kishstar took place, with the former prevailing by a head. Heljinsky has returned good results, despite only holding two career wins; the gelding has placed in seven of his past eight starts. In the final race of the meeting, there was a local winner, with Stay A While claiming the Race 9 Ian Grants Xmas Party Raceday 9th Dec Shannon Noll Live 0-58 Handicap BM 0-57. Trained by Moe’s Michael Templeton, the six-year-old mare led from start to finish, holding off the fast-finishing field. Stay A While has produced decent outings in the recent past, placing in every race since August and winning three of her last four starts.
