Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow and forgive from The Valley
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ENNA'S DREAM (unplaced, Race 3)
Slow into stride proved costly as the field strung out behind a trio of frenetic leaders. The Alex Rae-trained mare worked through her gears late to make ground in a blanket finish for the minor prizes behind smart winner TAKEKO. Stablemate JENNI THE FOX also closed off nicely first-up.
Takeko too good!
Grahame Begg and Jordan Childs always a formidable combo and they strike in the third at The Valley ðŸ'° @Grahame_Begg @JChilds47 pic.twitter.com/9sAiXsA3Hr
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
OAK HILL (1st, Race 4)
Whoosh! Oak Hill had them beaten a long way from home in the 1000m Benchmark 100. Dynamite turn of foot going to be hard to hold out in upcoming Valley targets, including the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and ultimately Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m). The lightly-raced five-year-old has won seven of 14 starts to date but only putting things together now manners wise. Nothing but upside.
Oak Hill goes BANG ðŸ'¥
He's becoming a terrific sprinter! Blake Shinn with another pearlerðŸ'Œ @blake_shinn @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/RJTiiMze02
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
Matched motors with the super impressive ESHA early but felt the pinch late as condition gave out. Fitter for the run and should be hard to hold out wherever trainer Mark Walker aims the blue blood filly, a daughter of Snitzel out of Group 1-winner Pippie, next.
She's well above average!
Esha justifies the short quote with a dominant display at The Valley, she's two for two and on the up â� @LaneDamian @shanenicholsrac pic.twitter.com/V5qCErtQUD
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
BERKELEY SQUARE (unplaced, Race 7)
Building nicely towards another win. Only winner RELENTLESS VOYAGER got home better than Berkeley Square last Saturday at The Valley. Three runs under the belt for the campaign and better with each hitout with big weights.
RELENTLESS VOYAGER ðŸ'¥ðŸ'¥
The British import swamps them in the Travis Harrison Cup! What an exciting Cups prospect for @cmaherracing and @Austbloodstock � pic.twitter.com/2j9caZxVlc
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
BUR DUBAI (unplaced, Race 8)
Good effort first-up after a long break. Posted wide early and pressed on to travel off the leader. Rolled along nicely in the 1600m pipe-opener but under pressure once sharper opposition quickened approaching the home bend. The emerging stayer, a 2500m winner at The Valley last campaign, stuck on OK and then raced in restricted room late under fatigue.
Shoeless is as honest as they come!
He wins again as @craig_newitt and @SMathrickracing combine at The Valley � pic.twitter.com/Z1fACmUpID
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
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FORGIVE
MORNINGTON GLORY (unplaced, Race 4)
Better for the run first-up after a long break. The Group 1 Moir Stakes winner tracked the speed last Saturday with the big weight and chopped out of a run at the top of the straight but largely beaten by then.
Oak Hill goes BANG ðŸ'¥
He's becoming a terrific sprinter! Blake Shinn with another pearlerðŸ'Œ @blake_shinn @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/RJTiiMze02
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
SAYEDATY SADATY (3rd, Race 7)
Always vulnerable at 2000m again and around the tight track and situation unfolded accordingly. Sayedaty Sadaty tried hard to build the revs but could not quite bridge gap to leader and eventual runner-up NELLIE LEYLAX. Sayedaty Sadaty should be primed for the Melbourne Cup-qualifying The Archer next month at Flemington.
RELENTLESS VOYAGER ðŸ'¥ðŸ'¥
The British import swamps them in the Travis Harrison Cup! What an exciting Cups prospect for @cmaherracing and @Austbloodstock � pic.twitter.com/2j9caZxVlc
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 9, 2025
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STEWARDS
Jockey BLAKE SHINN received a nine-meeting careless riding suspension, from August 17-25, for allowing BACASH to shift in when insufficiently clear of CAVALRY GIRL in Race 6 at The Valley.
Trainer SHAWN MATHRICK copped a $500 for failure to record in his treatment diary that The Valley winner SHOELESS received a drip last Thursday.
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