The Forgive Files – January 12

For documents which offer a wealth of information, most of it very useful, form guides can be deceptive at times. In particular, some runs are substantially better than they will appear on paper when you see that horse’s name appear before its next run and an unplaced last start effort stares back at you. In light of this, “The Forgive Files” will aim to highlight a number of horses each Saturday whose finishing position belied the true quality of their effort. The initial sojourn into this world takes us to the January 12 meetings at Flemington and Rosehill.

Flemington

Double Dee: She got away extremely poorly and was two lengths behind the second last horse well inside the final 600 metres. From that point on, she ran home as well as the eventual winner Spending to just miss the placings. Given that at her two previous starts she led all the way at Mornington and then raced handy to the speed at Flemington, she can be given the benefit of the doubt for one sluggish getaway.

Over Quota: On New Years’ Day he drew barrier number four and somehow ended up being three-wide without cover in the run before fading in the straight. On Saturday, he returned to Flemington, once again jumped from gate four and incredibly, managed to be posted three-wide facing the breeze yet again! If he can get back within striking distance of the inside rail next start, expect a significant improvement in his finishing position.

Girl Gone Rockin: She may have been the most unlucky runner of the day. Barrier one looked ideal on paper, but she was shuffled back through the field as her rivals came across and was then buried back on the fence until the home straight. She eventually hooked out the extreme outside of the field to get a clear passage inside the 400 and motored home to finish unplaced but within a length of the winner.

Rosehill

Silk Pins: She looked a winning chance turning for home but then wobbled haphazardly up the straight as though a few too many Bacardi Breezers had been consumed. In the final 100 metres of the race she finally ran straight and made up significant ground. Given that her seven previous starts include placings at Group 1 and Group 2 level in New Zealand before transferring to Chris Waller, expect her compass to be fixed before her next start.

Panko: The race provided a cacophony of problems for this mare aiming to post a fourth consecutive win. The tempo up front was so slow that Kukri was able to lead for the first 1300 metres and then break 34 seconds for the final 600, making the chase almost impossible. Worse was to come – she was denied clear running for the entire straight and went to the line under a stranglehold. Completely disregard her finishing position.

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