The Forgive Files – February 9

This week’s edition of The Forgive Files takes us to the February 9 meetings at Caulfield and Warwick Farm.

Caulfield

Balaclava Lady: She was snagged back to last place early on from a wide barrier and was towards the tail of the field on the rail when turning for home, before working home nicely without ever threatening the placegetters. Importantly though, it was broadly a replica of her first-up effort last preparation (fifth place over 1200 metres), after which she ran third over 1300, won over 1400 and later on ran fourth at Group 2 level over 1600 and an unlucky fourth over 1400 at Listed level. Keep an eye on her.

Wall Street: He raced must closer to the speed than is typical of his style and ran on strongly to be beaten just over a length. Now, consider the following: (a) he has one win from 10 first-up starts, compared to 11 from 30 starts thereafter; (b) he has one win from nine starts at 1400 metres, compared to 11 from 31 starts thereafter; and (c) he has been unplaced at all four career starts at Caulfield. Expect him to improve with race fitness, over longer distances and on a bigger track, such as Flemington.

Warwick Farm

Laser Flash: At face value, he appeared to have every chance in running – indeed, at the 300-metre mark, he was looming on the inside of eventual winner Court Connection before dying on his run. However, it was his first ever attempt at a distance as long as this at just his eighth career start. More pertinently, he was only second-up and jumping 700 metres in distance. To sack him because he failed to run 2200 metres right out when only second-up would be a dangerous move.

Net Worth: His normal pattern is to race around midfield (or slightly forward of that), but with barrier 14 and 58.5 kilos to lump, Cassidy opted to take him to the front, where he was quite brave in trying to fight off the $1.50 favourite Charge Account before finishing fifth, beaten 1.7 lengths. He was second-up (where he now has no wins and two placings from five attempts, compared to three wins and four placings from 11 other runs) and can be expected to improve third-up, especially with a weight drop and a better barrier.  

Thanks to Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images AsiaPac for use of the photo