A successful Saturday

No big winners in Melbourne or Sydney on Saturday but hard to be unhappy with the runs of our talented gallopers Brazilian Pulse, King Pulse, Absolutelyawesome and Platinum Passion.

The trio were all brave in defeat, putting in early campaign runs that suggest there are exciting times ahead.

Getting to the lead a little too soon first up in the Kewney Stakes, Brazilian Pulse fought on gallantly to run second to the fitter up-and-comer Do Ra Mi.

"She did a fair bit wrong," Craig Williams reported, "she was fairly aggressive during the running and wanted to over-race."

"When the gap came for her she went 'woosh' really quickly and even though she was tired near the line she just kept wanting to be competitive."

Michael Moroney was also pleased - "she just got out-sprinted that last bit but it was a good run and she will derive plenty of benefit from it."

Also encouraging was King Pulse's performance to finish fifth in the Newmarket at only his second run back from a long injury enforced spell.

In what appeared not to be the best part of the track, the lightly raced four-year-old loomed up at the 200m and battled on nicely over the final stages.

And, in chasing the superstar Black Caviar, he ran very good sectionals, breaking 11 seconds for each of the furlongs between the 1000m and the 200m.

Platinum Passion really pleased connections with a game second in the Gr.3 Matro Stakes, going oh so close to a black type win.

Only just nosed out on the line by promising three-year-old Pinker Pinker, the classy grey took off a little too early - rider Mark Zahra electing to do so as in the past the mare has hit a flat spot when asked to go.

However there was no flat spot this time, the four-year-old more mature this time around and she found the line well.

"She spent lot of energy fighting off Gail (third)," Zahra reported, "and the other one just came at us that last bit."

Meanwhile in Sydney Absolutelyawesome was absoutely luckless in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas but he ran so bravely - severely interfered with mid-race and stuck behind horse on the rails in the run home.

Not getting clear at any stage, he was hard on the heels of the placegetters - a 1.1 length fourth, justifying the high opinion rider Glen Boss has of him.

Meanwhile it was good to see the lightly raced and promising Can Get Thirsty kick off his preparation with a soft half length victory at Echuca.

Having only his fourth start and his first since June last year, the four-year-old New Zealand bred gelding bolted in with his maiden before heading to the paddock and has therefore won two in a row.

Congratulations to his owners Rohan Aujard, Paul Williams, James Banaghan, Rhett Tregunna, Ross Latham, Graham Jennings, David & Paul Duchen, the GG Syndicate and & 3d Syndications.

[13 Mar 11]

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