GOLD COAST WRAP WITH LADBROKES’ TOM HACKETT
WINNERS
Tziporah (Race 5)
Tziporah was one of the bestbacked runners of the day and she justified the support with an excellent performance. She was forced to do a fair bit of work in the early stages but cruised up to her rivals at the top of the straight and was dominant late.
Sultry Testa (Race 7)
There was shades of The Autumn Sun’s win in the Randwick Guineas about the victory of Sultry Testa in the penultimate race at the Gold Coast. Shijin looked as though he had the race won, but Sultry Testa absolutely savaged the line to record her first race win in 10 starts.
Cornrow (Race 8)
There was talk that Cornrow might be retired after this race start, but connections might reconsider. The former Blue Diamond Stakes placegetter clearly relished the return to the Gold Coast and reeled off an excellent last 200m to record his first race win in over a year.
LOSERS
The Great Boombino (Race 3)
The Great Boombino won by more than 10 lengths a couple of starts ago but has been unable to replicate that effort since. He went straight to the front and looked as though he had his rivals under pressure, but he tired badly in the concluding stages to miss the placings.
Euro Hustler (Race 6)
Euro Hustler was slow out of the gates and was simply never able to get into this contest. He spent the majority of the race trying to catch up and offered very little in the final stages of the race. It will be a while until he starts as such a short favourite again.
NEXT TIME
Spirit House (Race 1)
Spirit House may have been beaten as a clear favourite, but there is no doubt the horse has ability. She got shuffled back in the early stages and was caught four-wide but was still able to find the line strongly. She will be tough to beat at her next start.
Shijin (Race 7)
Shijin returned to a semblance of his best form. He had to do plenty of work to find the front from the wide barrier draw but he kept on finding to be narrowly denied by a flying Sultry Testa.
BIG BETS
Race 1
Spirit House – 2nd 1000 @ $3 Race 2
Undaunted – 2nd $1000 @ $2.40 Race 3
Okochi Archer – Winner $2000 @ $3.50 Race 4
Mistoffelees – 3rd $1000 @ $5.50 Race 5
Tofu Mick – 4th $2000 @ $6.50 Race 6 Sir Husson – 3rd $3000 @ $3.90 Race 7
Sultry Testa – Winner $3614 @ $4.40