Snip Of Brilliance Does It Again

Snip Of Brilliance has maintained his perfect record at the Queanbeyan track, making it five wins from five appearances at the course. His latest victory, in a Rating 72 Handicap over 1460m, was full of merit. He had to draw on all of his fighting qualities to maintain his unbeaten record at the track.

As soon as the field jumped away, jockey Peter Robl wasted little time in indicating his intentions, taking Snip Of Brilliance straight to the lead. To ensure that Snip Of Brilliance wasn't taken on in the event, Robl set a fairly good tempo out in front, but the 5yo Snippets gelding was always travelling comfortably. Approaching the home turn opposition runners started making their moves, and the race was on in earnest soon after straightening. Halfway down the home straight Snip Of Brilliance was under siege, and was clearly headed by at least two other runners. At this stage Snip Of Brilliance's perfect record at the Queanbeyan track was under huge threat, but he was having nothing of it. He fought back tigerishly under the hard riding of Peter Robl to get up off the canvas and claim a very courageous win by the barest of margins.

This was Snip Of Brilliance's sixth career win from 24 starts. He also has five placings to his credit and over $40,000 in prizemoney. He's starting to build quite an imposing record and it appears that the more often he races at Queanbeyan the more likely he is to add to that record.

Back in the Swing of Things

The first meeting of the new racing season at Canberra has seen the Joseph stable start off on a winning note, with Island Swing saluting in the Open Handicap over 1280m. The gelding was first up from a spell and carried top weight in the event, but that wasn't enough to stop him proving too good for his rivals.

Starting from an outside barrier in the ten horse field, jockey Peter Robl was in no hurry in the early stages, letting Island Swing find his feet and settle towards the back of the field. In transit Island Swing was travelling comfortably enough, but it was still going to take a good effort to reign what was a quality field. It was a challenge the 8yo Celtic Swing gelding was up to though, and after being extricated to the outside in the home straight, he responded superbly under the urgings of Robl to put himself in the picture. Then in a tooth and nail battle to the winning post, Island Swing was able to display all the qualities that have made him such a great competitor over the years, knuckling down for the fight and getting there by a narrow margin.

Island Swing has been a great campaigner for the Joseph stable. Purchased for only $15,000 at the William Inglis and Son 2002 Autumn Yearling Sale, he won his first two races as a 2yo in the 2002-03 racing season. He has gone on to record at least one win in every racing season since. This latest win at Canberra was the ninth of his career to date, and takes his prizemoney earnings just a fraction under $200,000.

Brilliant Performance at Queanbeyan

When using the old saying of "horses for courses" you need look no further than Snip Of Brilliance. The 5yo Snippets gelding has had four starts at the Queanbeyan racetrack and his record is unblemished, chalking up four wins. His latest effort was in the Rating 67 Handicap over 1100m where, fresh from a short break, he showed too much dash for his rivals. Earlier in the day his stablemate, Royal Singer, narrowly missed making it back to back wins when she was edged out in a three way photo finish.

Simply racing at Queanbeyan was a big enough advantage for Snip Of Brilliance, but on this occasion he was also aided by the perfect ride by jockey Brendan Ward. Within the first few hundred metres of the race Ward had Snip Of Brilliance settling in the box seat, third one off the fence with a trail. Soon after straightening Ward then peeled Snip Of Brilliance around the heels of the two leaders and gave him clear running all the way to the finishing post. Having given him a gun ride, the rest was left to the Snippets gelding, and he didn't let the stable or his followers down, surging to the lead in the home straight and going on to record a comfortable win.

While it was Snip Of Brilliance's fourth win at the track, it was his fifth career win overall from 21 starts which is an impressive record for any racehorse. As he now looks to add to this record, the fact that there are no Queanbeyan meetings scheduled until the new racing season might not please Snip Of Brilliance or his connections, however the strength of this latest victory suggests he should continue to race competitively wherever he is placed.

A Dynamic Win by Royal Singer

Royal Singer has recorded her fourth career win, and her first for the Joseph stable, with a tough performance in the Open Handicap over 1750m on the Acton Track at Canberra. It was only her fourth run for the Joseph stable having done the majority of her previous racing in South Australia. Later in the day Ciro ran a terrific race, run down in the shadows of the post to finish third, while Louisianna Flyer and Rock Vegas both put in decent efforts to run fourth in their respective races.

Ridden for the first time by Jon Grisedale, Royal Singer was ridden aggressively out of the barriers to find a forward position. The early pace made it hard for Royal Singer to get across easily, but once the pace slackened she came back nicely under Grisedale and settled in second place. A mid race move by Konedobu then saw Royal Singer get a nice trail in the race, and in a position where she was close enough to strike. As heads turned for home four horses strode away from the remainder of the field to fight the race out. Despite those around her looking major threats at the 200m mark, Royal Singer was only just getting warmed up, and it was the 4yo Royal Academy mare who was able to find the most under pressure over the concluding stages. In the end she asserted her authority as the superior stayer, and ground out a good tough win.

The Dynamic Syndications runner put the writing on the wall with some good performances since moving across to the Joseph stable. She ran a gallant second over 1400m at Goulburn first up, before running a close fifth in the Nowra Gold Cup which has proven to be a very hot form race. Then she didn't handle the heavy conditions at a Canterbury meeting before recording this solid win at Canberra. Royal Singer has already proven that she is a very promising middle distance/staying type, and it will be interesting to see how her career progresses over the longer trips.

Winning Double at the Sapphire Coast

A successful afternoon at the Sapphire Coast for the Joseph stable with Gone Golfin and Polynesianprincess recording a winning double. Gone Golfin took out the Maiden Handicap over 1400m, while Polynesianprincess saluted in the Rating 67 Handicap over 1600m. Both winners were ridden by Peter Robl. Other runners to perform well for the stable on the day included Rock Vegas and Skilful Time, who both finished their respective races off nicely to get into the placings.

Gone Golfin was the first to win for the stable on the day, and he did so with a controlled ride from Peter Robl. Having his first start over 1400m, Gone Golfin appreciated the slower early tempo, and from a good barrier he was able to put himself right on the speed. He travelled comfortably throughout the run and despite looking under siege on several occasions down the home straight, the 3yo Bellotto gelding simply kept finding under the urgings of Robl and managed to hold out his rivals including the fast finishing stablemate, Skilful Time. It was a courageous effort from Gone Golfin who had to draw on all of his fighting qualities to get home in front. He will now look to take that form into higher class races.

Fresh from hopping off Gone Golfin, Robl was saddled aboard Polynesianprincess in the very next race on the card, and she was able to deliver a similar result. Driven out of an inside barrier, the 4yo Belong To Me mare found the front with relative ease, and was able to set her own tempo out in front. Coming around the home turn it was obvious that Robl had a lap full of horsepower under him, and as soon as he unleashed it, Polynesianprincess quickly opened up a race winning lead. Despite getting a little bit weary over the concluding stages, Polynesianprincess was never in any danger of defeat, and she went on to record a good solid win. This was Polynesianprincess' third career win, and she has demonstrated in her brief career to date that when she is on song, she can prove very hard to beat.

Clearly Superior at Wagga

Clear Cat has broken through for a thoroughly deserved win, proving too good for his rivals in the 2yo Maiden Plate over 1000m at Wagga. The Tale Of The Cat gelding started favourite on the back of two good performances, and was able to assert his authority over the field assembled at Wagga.

Starting from barrier 2, Peter Robl ensured that Clear Cat was never too far away from the action, getting him away well from the gates and having him positioned amongst the leading division of runners. Throughout the run Clear Cat was always in a threatening position and ready to strike, all he had to to was wait for Robl to let him know it was time for the supreme effort. That moment came shortly after straightening, when Robl guided Clear Cat around heels and gave him clear running to the winning post. Clear Cat had been given every opportunity to produce his best, and over the final stages he did just that, running away from his rivals to record a solid one and a quarter length win. The betting for the race indicated that Clear Cat was the best horse in the field, but most importantly he was able to go out and prove it.

Clear Cat put the writing on the wall in his first two career starts where he ran on strongly on both occasions to finish in the placings. Cases could be made for him being unlucky in his first two outings, but he put those disappointments behind him to prove clearly superior at career start number three. The exciting thing for connections is that despite being extremely competitive every time he has hit the track, he is still learning what the racing caper is all about, and there is still plenty of scope for improvement.

Follow The Command Leads By Example

Follow The Command has continued his exceptional recent form, recording his third win from his past four starts. It was another dominant display by the 5yo Commands gelding, who on this occasion took out the Rating 72 Handicap over 1200m at Canberra. The stable was around the mark for most of the day with Kitty Up and Skilful Time both placing, Rutterberg and Louisianna Flyer running close fourths, and Ciro running a respectable fifth.

It was Follow The Command who led by example again though, producing a carbon copy display of his recent wins at Wagga and Albury. It is no secret now that Follow The Command runs his best races from the front, and after firing out of the barriers, jockey Peter Robl rode aggressively in search of the lead. Follow The Command got to his favourite position easily enough, and after coming back under Robl, he then went about his own business, setting his own tempo out in front. Just as he had done in his recent successes, Follow The Command tried to break opposition hearts early in the home straight, booting away to a commanding lead. The biggest danger halfway down the home straight looked to be his stablemate Kitty Up who was running a terrific race. However, Follow The Command was able to edge away again over the concluding stages, defeating the fast finishing Demandehere by three-quarters of a length, with Kitty Up just over a length away from Follow The Command. In a satisfying race for the stable, Rutterberg finished his race off nicely as well, coming from last to run a good fourth.

The new owners of Follow The Command, all ex-Bombala boys, must be pinching themselves. They only acquired Follow The Command this preparation, and they are now involved in a horse that has really stepped up to the mark in recent months. Overall, this was Follow The Command's seventh career win, and while he has always shown some ability, he has never raced as well as he is at present. The dominating nature of his recent performances in the country will now probably earn him the right to contest for some city riches in the very near future.

In this Section
Snip Of Brilliance
Island Swing
Royal Singer
Ciro
Louisianna Flyer
Rock Vegas
Gone Golfin
Polynesianprincess
Skilful Time
Clear Cat
Follow The Command
Kitty Up
Rutterberg