Placid Ark Stakes Day Review

Matt Rigby | On The Money | Mon 28 November, 2011

Placid Ark Stakes Day, although a moderate day of racing, pulled a decent crowd with decent liquidity in the bookies ring. With another bumper day of racing on the horizon next weekend, there were no complaints from us.

Race 1:

They ran down the page 1,2,3 in the first two year old event. Luke's Luck($3 - $4.80) opened very short compliments of a short tote price, but drifted heavily on the back of huge support for Top Stuff ($3.70 - $3.20). Avuncular was also specked at bigger odds, getting as far as $17 with some bookies but finishing a $10 shot. All three had good runs, particularly Top Stuff who sat 1x1 and looked the winner until Harvey got stuck into Luke's Luck, arriving on the line. Brown rode a smart race on the Husson Lightning colt Avuncular, slotting in, one off the fence from barrier 14. They finished within a short head of each other. Impressive trial winner Keep Fath, sat third the fence, chimed in  and ran fourth, beaten just over a length. Looks to have some ability.

Race 2:

Fans of The Tenby Friar didnt desert him in the second and he repaid the faith, winning in a very ordinary spectacle where nothing wanted to lead. King Point challenged for the lead at one point, but ended up second last and in traffic? Whiting showed no interest in leading with Cobble Lane and Even Astar did so reluctantly. This left Metal Talk, pulling his head off and giving Harvey a tough time back in the field. As a result, Metal Talk and The Tenby Friar had a bumping duel for a few hundred before Harvey let the former stride. I'd be putting a line through the fom on this race. Ultimate Fighter came from last the rail and sprinted best and perhaps could have won if not being momentarily held up. The Tenby Friar was backed confidently from $2.70 to  $2.30 with Metal Talk steady at $2.60 and $2.70. Ultimate Fighter would have been "the lot" for bookies.

Race 3:

Ringmeister was all the rage after opening at $2.50, his price hovered around evens throughout betting. He led them easily, got his own way in front, but only fell in over the roughie Oscar Wildly, who has found a new lease of life. There was very little to crow about in this race. Whipsaw got back to last and made some ground which was an ok effort after such a long time off. There wasnt a cent of money for him, easing from $6 to $16.

Race 4:

Night War would be leading and winning the Placid Ark Stakes, according to betting markets. She wa strong throughout betting after opening at $2.30 in some places on Thrusday. She varied between $1.80 and $1.90 on Saturday. Flying Affair was suprisingly strong, getting out to $5 before being crunched back to $4.20. Gracetown was a massive drifter and had already proven he didnt have the goods to go with Night War. In a surprising tactic, Carbery (Night War) elected to hand up to Harvey (Flying Affair), even thought the early pace was moderate. Of course, this meant Night War just came back to the breeze, a much worse position than just leading. Flying Affair was the first horse gone and when Night War kicked away, it looked a foregone conclusion until Waterman's Bay, from last, gobbled her up effortlessly. A big form turnaround from his first up effort behind Success Park, and a big result for the bookies.

Race 5:

Another shortie saw Miss Tipsy Topsy sent out the short priced favourite at $2.10 in most places. It was a disgracefully run affair, with the time 1.54.24 an embarrassment for the 1800m. Volcanic Causeway got the front, with Veracious to his outside pulling hard and Noske applying no pressure at all to the leader. It was a pretty simple equation really, Pintada Prince sprinted best of them all, home in 34.49. Miss Tipsy Topsy, the up and coming stayer, still sprinted well, but couldnt match it with Pintada Prince, who started in front of her and held her to the line. Another line through this race I'm afraid. Veracious is a serious one pacer who wasn't suited at all by the way the race was run. Leading and rolling are his best chance of winning one of these races. Don't sack Miss Tipsy Topsy!

Race 6:

Final Cut was our lay of the day. In another unbelievable turn of events, Pure Heaven, beaten just 3/4 of a length in the Burgess Queen after leading, didnt want to be there. She pulled her head off and ruined all chances. You Want Suma Dis did want to go forward, but there was no pace again. Roman Knows, ridden a treat by Staples, box seated, got the split in the straight and held off the comers. Final Cut got a good run 1x2 but couldnt sprint with Roman Knows. Hartley's Hangover was smashed from $9 to $5.50 but never got into the race. Final Cut was steady aned remained favourite at $3.60 while Pure Heaven had the plague, wobbling from $4.40 to $8 and into the teens on Betfair.

Race 7:

In the staying race, Dancin on the Wind, despite being untried at more than 1800m, started the favourite at $3.20. Senhor Da Gama lobbed outside the leader, but Carbery dragged him back to midfield before taking off and putting him into the race. He was hard to lay, easing from $3.60 to $4. Harvey struggled early with Knight Fury before letting him stride forward. Another that was most likely not going to appreciate the extra distance (much like Metal Talk in the second). Turner took off early to put Dancin on the Wind into the race, but had to chase for too long, sustaining a long effort, wide around the bend. It told in the final 200m. Mystic Hour had his chance and was easy in the ring ($4.60 - $5.50) while Super Hawk showed he is back near his best, finishing off better than anything.

Race 8:

On paper, the last race had absolutely no pace. To see Rose of May and Grand Approach cutting throats in the beginning, then Rose of May careering away from them mid race was unbelievable, given the pace (or lack of) in races five and six. How do you pick it? Anyhow, Donger broke them open on Rose of May, setting the favourite, Romp to Fame, the unenviable task of carting the field into the race. Romp to Fame was strong in the ring, supported from $3.50 to $3.20 but was incredibly easy off course, getting out to $4.60 and even $5 on Betfair. New Time ($18 - $14) was specked to beat him, as was Forever Special ($5.50 - $4.60). Horses like Chanify, Forever Special, New time and Pearlesque all had their chances to win that race. Sky Magic, was not going to be at all suited, getting back, with no pace, but she ended up running on well with the eventual pace. If she didnt lay in at the crucial stage, she probably wins the race and provides the third blowout for bookies on an already profitable day. Rose of May ($26 - $17) folded up in the last 150m and walked over the line.