Dream turns into nightmare for Pakenham punters Dream turns into nightmare for Pakenham punters It wasn t pleasant viewing for Scream Dream backers
Punters were left screaming after the last race at Pakenham on Thursday evening produced arguably the worst beat of 2021 so far.
The fittingly-named Scream Dream was backed from $3.90 into $2.70 to jump a clear favourite in the fillies and mares BM64 handicap over 1400m.
Piloted by Zac Spain, the Kennewell-trained filly jumped well from barrier one but quickly ended up in an awkward spot back on the fence, worse than midfield.
Spain edged away from the rail around the home turn but was snookered between runners and had no racing room at the top of the straight.
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The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr combination will head into Saturday s Group 1 Kennedy Australian Guineas (1600m) with a two-pronged attack, with Cambourne and Ironedge set to take their place in the $1 million feature.
Mark Zahra has been booked to ride Cambourne after his first-up seventh in the C.S. Hayes Stakes, with the stable expecting sharp improvement out to 1600 metres. He has bounced through his run and we are extremely happy with him, Kent Jnr explained. I thought it was a hidden run, he ended up in an awkward spot and is a big, free-flowing horse and they ran quick time in that race.
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Poland may not be Phar Lap yet - or most likely ever - but trainer Michael Moroney believes his distant relation to the equine legend has improved sufficiently to challenge for Group 1 honours at Flemington on Saturday.
Moroney intends to accept with Poland for the $1 million G1 Kennedy Australian Guineas (1600m). Poland s ninth dam, Fortune s Wheel, was the older sister of Phar Lap and was the first foal of Phar Lap s dam Entreaty.
Phar Lap won 13 races as a three-year-old and Poland will contest the Australian Guineas after winning his second race for the season, a first-up victory in the $200,000 G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 6 by a length.
A fresh Craig Williams will resume from a rare suspension at Saturday’s Australian Guineas meeting at Flemington.
Williams missed last Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes meeting after picking up a careless riding suspension at Flemington on Lightning Stakes day.
Williams said it was only his second suspension in the last 14 months. He took the chance to spend a rare weekend with his wife and four children at his aunt’s property.
“Unfortunately, the timing was bad with three Group One races last week but that’s the way it was,” Williams said. “I was able to spend some quality time with my family, which is unheard of on a Saturday, and hopefully it stays that way.
The Filly: STARSPANGLEDBANNER x POWER BIRD
This is one beautiful chestnut filly by Starspangledbanner, purchased from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Really nice filly, great moving filly that looks a real racehorse.
Danny O’Brien (Trainer) comments: I am very pleased to get the Starspangledbanner x Power Bird filly to train for Blueblood Thoroughbreds. She has a really strong pedigree. The second dam was Miss Power Bird, she was an outstanding racehorse. More importantly 2 of her daughters have thrown stakes winners already. There is no reason Power Bird could not do the same. Starspangledbanner is an elite stallion, a terrific, stakes winners to runners and runners to winners. Lovely filly in her own right, typical of a Starspangledbanner. Athletic chestnut filly. I think she has been bought typically well and I am glad she is joining our stable.