Challenging Week for the Nags

It was a challenging week for horse racing with storms across the state. Jye McNeil rode four tracks, kicking off Wednesday, March 17 at Sandown-Lakeside, Thursday at Pakenham, Friday at Mooney Valley and Saturday at Mornington.

McNeil rode twice at Sandown-Lakeside, the circuit either had good grass coverage and cushion or some give in it. Over 1600 metres, ‘Arctic Wolf’ jumped okay from barrier 10 and finished fifth. ‘Carrier Buster’, over 1500 metres, jumped okay, settled down too wide in sixth, straightened up for the home run, battled well for the win, but was no match for ‘Old Fashioned’, finishing third.

The Pakenham Circuit had some give in it. Over 1400 metres an impressive debut for ‘Steinem’, choosing to use ear-muffs pre-race, jumping okay from gate three, slow to begin, finished strong for first place. 1400 metres, aboard ‘Cornucopia’, slow out of the barrier, making contact with the right partition leaving barrier two. Had a good run for third. 1400 metres, ‘Stretto’ was slow out of barrier seven, a final burst down the straight for third.

Mooney Valley track with good grass coverage and cushion turned to a track with some give in it. 1600 metres, Group Three ‘Miss Guggenheim’ jumped okay from barrier four, settled down third on the inside, battled for the lead, followed the leader for fifth. 1200 metres, from barrier three Group One ‘Elite Street’, settled down mid-field, was never happy between horses, straightened up for ninth. 1000 metres, jumping okay from barrier four after having ear-muffs on for the pre-race, ‘Crystal Bound’ kept the inside rail for the lead with a super impressive ride to the finish for the win. 1600 metres, Group Two ‘Scarlet Dream’ was slow out of barrier six for an outside tail run, finishing strong for third.

Mornington was a mix of track conditions with good grass coverage and cushion or track with some give in it. 1200 metres, from barrier seven, ‘Mystery Love’ failed to fire after the bend finishing in eighth place. 1600 metres, from barrier nine, ‘Abreed’ was slow out of the gate, went forward with cover, before the wave took off, didn’t straighten up at the tail, finished ninth. 2400 metres, Listed Class ‘Aussie Nugget’ jumped okay out of barrier one, was a keen leader, held ground in the straight for ninth. 1000 metres, from barrier four, ‘China Affair’ at the 400-metre mark was in third before pulling up lame, finishing tenth. 1200 metres, jumping from barrier five, Listed Class ‘How Womantic’ straightened up wide, soundly finishing second. 1600 metres, from barrier ten, ‘Independent Road’ had a good run under the whip, held ground for the straight, finishing third. 1500 metres, ‘Micro’ from barrier four took over the lead at the 400-metre mark, under the whip to the line for third place.