Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 13 January 2018
The millions were being raced for at the Gold Coast today and while Royal Randwick didn't have the same quality, the conditions were perfect for a punting raid on the bookies. Fair bias and smart betting plunges got PENDELOQUE ($4.4) CORDERO ($4.6), KAWAIKINI ($3.5), DREAMFORCE ($2.25), SUGAR BELLA ($1.4) and EMPEROR'S WAY ($4.2) all home as favourites.
SUGAR BELLA (pic) is of course the most exciting of the lot, winning her 1,400 metre BM 78 with ease and posting some rapid sectionals along the way. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt was unlucky not to be at the Magic Millions herself, narrowly missing a run as an emergency.
She provided the class and old VOILIER the drama, winning for only the second time today, more than three years after his debut win in an 1,100 metre two-year-old race. Jay Ford had to time the run to perfection from the back and thankfully leader SAMADOUBT fell in a hole late, leaving the famous non-winner with no time to think about it before the winning post arrived!
PENDELOQUE is a tough sprinting filly that continued her rise, while DREAMFORCE is better than ever over the mile this campaign. The stayer CORDERO looked every bit the two-miler as he ground down WAKING MOMENT in an energy sapping 2,400 metre contest.
A full review of each race is provided below.
photo: @racing_nsw
Track Info
| Rail | +4 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
The Goulburn "jet" gets the luck
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtown Bluebag | Emma Longmire | Blaike McDougall | 6 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Fastquest | Vince Jones | Blake Spriggs | 4 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Fui San | Terry Robinson | Jeff Penza | 7 | 55.0 |
In The Running
BRAY took up the running at a STEADY tempo with FUI SAN moving up outside the lead. DANETRILLE stuck three wide outside them and NEWTOWN BLUEBAG on his back in the three-wide line. FUI SAN kicked for home and got a clear lead early in the straight.
The Result
NEWTOWN BLUEBAG (1st) pounced on the leaders to win. FASTQUEST (2nd 0.5L) ran on well up the inside after getting held up and FUI SAN (3rd 0.7L) was run down late. GENERAL HARMONY (4th 1L) wound up well and was blocked late. SO IT IS (5th 1.6L) sprinted down the outside after racing keenly.
The Interest
The time wasn't strong, the margins were small and there was plenty of bad luck in the race, follow this form with caution! Goulburn gelding NEWTOWN BLUEBAG ridden well to score, while FASTQUEST, GENERAL HARMONY and SO IT IS all had some excuses. Even a few back in the pack had reasons to improve next start.
Race 2 2018 ATC MEMBERSHIP SPRINT
Rock solid again from Ryan's filly
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pendeloque | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James Innes Jnr | 3 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | From Within | Danny O'Brien | Joshua Parr | 7 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Kennedy | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 8 | 61.0 |
In The Running
PUPPET MASTER was urged to the lead, ANOTHER SIN moved up on the outside and KENNEDY strode up wider, not much mid-race pressure in a FAIR tempo race (close to steady). LIGHTZ stuck four wide at the back.
The Result
PENDELOQUE (1st) camped off the leaders, joined in on the turn and fought on best. FROM WITHIN (2nd 0.3L) sprinted from the pack and was held late. KENNEDY (3rd 0.4L) kept finding the line, GOLDFINCH (4th 0.8L) didn't fid much room.
The Interest
She is a very tough and reliable filly, PENDELOQUE doing the job again second-up. Not much luck for KENNEDY (wide), GOLDFINCH (held up), LIGHTZ (6th 1.8L wide) and ROMAN TYPHOON (held up badly 7th 2.3L) though, which is half the field! Another race to treat with caution in the future. One thing is for sure, FROM WITHIN has a big sprint and keeps peaking on her run late... she had her chance today.
Race 3 TAB HANDICAP
Stamina wins in an energy-sapping race
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cordero | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jay Ford | 7 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Waking Moment | Chris Waller | Blaike McDougall | 2 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | Rock On Ivy | Tim Martin | James Innes Jnr | 3 | 53.0 |
In The Running
In a high pressure race, COONAWARRA rolled along with BLANCO CARA before LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER took over mid-race after racing keenly. They set a STRONG tempo between them.
The Result
CORDERO (1st) stayed on best late to win, beating home WAKING MOMENT (2nd 1L), who had hit the lead a long way out. ROCK ON IVY (3rd 3.3L) ran on from last.
The Interest
This was a race! LEAD CHOREOGRAPHER (5th 8.6L) not disgraced after going very hard. CORDERO keeps producing strong final 200m surges and that made the difference again here, beating home a well-backed WAKING MOMENT (looks liks stable was confident), who was probably a touch unlucky to be left in the lead so far out. RICHARD OF YORKE drifted heavily in betting late and finished 7.1L behind the winner after finishing alongside him last start. Lets just say it doesn't look like the Waller stable was confident about the gelding today!
Race 4 BOOK SUMMER HOSPITALITY TODAY HANDICAP
The perfect spot gets the right result
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tip Top | Les Bridge | Blaike McDougall | 5 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Reach for Heaven | Kris Lees | Aaron Bullock | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Thaad | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jay Ford | 1 | 57.0 |
In The Running
Not much tempo in this race, BRATISLAVA leading from TIP TOP with REACH FOR HEAVEN (bit keen) and LAST WITNESS out wider. A STEADY tempo set up.
The Result
TIP TOP (1st) fought on best to beat REACH FOR HEAVEN (2nd 0.2L), who had sprinted best and peaked on his run. THAAD (3rd) chased up the inside after getting tightened.
The Interest
A better run in transit second-up for TIP TOP made all the difference. REACH FOR HEAVEN a big talent that sprints hard and can peak on his run, the wide run and annoying LAST WITNESS didn't give him the best of chances today. THAAD, GRAND PUNTO (4th 1.7L) and ARGENT D'OR (5th 1.8L) all did enough in the slowly run race. BRATISLAVA a neat type with limited power that looked like he was out-sprinted.
Race 5 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
The money comes and Jess does the job
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawaikini | Jason Coyle | Ms Jess Taylor | 6 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Machinegun Jubs | Jeremy Gask | Blaike McDougall | 2 | 62.0 | |
| 3 | Leami Astray | Robert & Luke Price | Jay Ford | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
REWARD FOR FASHION rolled along at a FAIR tempo with LEAMI ASTRAY up on her outside. TEARS IN HEAVEN stuck wide midfield.
The Result
KAWAIKINI (1st) got the cheap run on the inside, peeled three wide and ran on best. MACHINEGUN JUBS (2nd 0.2L) fought on well too. LEAMI ASTRAY (3rd 1.2L) edged out REWARD FOR FASHION (4th 1.8L) for a place.
The Interest
She got the favours and the win after plenty of late money sent KAWAIKINI off the favourite at $3.5. To be fair she was unlucky not to beat MACHINEGUN JUBS (blocked) and REWARD FOR FASHION (bias against) her last two starts and got the job done here after a beautiful inside run opened up. Kathy O'Hara got off her back (...or was asked to) and Jess Taylor got the job done. Not that LEAMI ASTRAY ran better with Jay Ford on this time, Kathy was riding that horse too.
Race 6 MAROUBRA MILE
Plenty of force shown again
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dreamforce | John Thompson | Blaike McDougall | 4 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Morton's Fork | Lindsey Smith | Glyn Schofield | 7 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Liapari | Lisa Enright | Mathew Cahill | 8 | 53.0 |
In The Running
COOLRING took up the running with DREAMFORCE on his outside and a FAIR tempo was set up.
The Result
DREAMFORCE (1st) sprinted right away in the straight and held on to beat MORTON'S FORK (2nd 0.5L), who ran on hard late. LIAPARI (3rd 3.5L) made some ground from the back, but couldn't get close.
The Interest
Two very smart horses, DREAMFORCE settling better now and relishing dry tracks. He has such an electric sprint over the mile! The time of 1:34.84 would measure up in the right Listed or even Group 3 race. MORTON'S FORK knocking on the door more than most horses in Sydney if he can hold his form this prep. LIAPARI ready for a soft track and an easier assignment.
Race 7 #THERACES HANDICAP
An old ship finally gets it's bow in front
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voilier | Gary Nickson | Jay Ford | 5 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Samadoubt | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Eusebio | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 58.0 |
In The Running
SAMADOUBT rolled along at a STRONG tempo with CARELESS chasing just off him.
The Result
VOILIER (1st) ran down the outside to just catch SAMADOUBT (2nd 0.2L) late. EUSEBIO (3rd 0.4L) and NEW UNIVERSE (4th 0.8L) ran on OK too. CARELESS (5th 0.9L) kept fighting on.
The Interest
The top five all close together and racing pretty well, even though this probably won't be the best form race. VOILIER (French for "sailing ship") had looked like a sinking ship since his debut win over three years ago, the only time he had ever won until today! CARELESS will be ready to win next start and can handle a soft track too. EUSEBIO warming up to something also.
Race 8 ATC OWNERS BENEFIT CARD HANDICAP
A sweet watch for most at Randwick
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sugar Bella | Kris Lees | Aaron Bullock | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Aquatic | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 4 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Ghostly | Matthew Dunn | Joshua Parr | 5 | 57.5 |
In The Running
GITAN led them up at a STEADY tempo (close to fair), LAY DOWN THE LAW jumping nicely and settling on his outside with SUGAR BELLA camped behind him.
The Result
SUGAR BELLA (1st) pounced on the leaders and broke right away. AQUATIC (2nd 2.3L) and GHOSTLY (3rd 2.4L) chased well behind with a gap to the pack.
The Interest
She could have been a chance in the Magic Millions if she got a run, SUGAR BELLA showing all her class again. It was the first time she had faced a STEADY tempo in her short career and she handled it with ease. Her 1100m form and muscular conformation both pointers to the fact that she might do. AQUATIC and GHOSTLY with very similar form always and can get close again this prep.
Race 9 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Inside barrier, light weight, proves the right way
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emperor's Way | Peter & Paul Snowden | Glyn Schofield | 1 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Atlantic Fox | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 11 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Gamblestown | Joseph Pride | Declan McDonogh | 4 | 60.5 |
In The Running
COYS rolled along at a FAIR tempo (almost STRONG). HURRICANE HARBOUR left to do the chasing, just as he had to last start.
The Result
EMPEROR'S WAY (1st) weaved through from midfield and was much too strong. ATLANTIC FOX (2nd 1.5L) fought on OK and GAMBLESTOWN (3rd 2L) ran on solidly for a place.
The Interest
The up-and-comer with the light weight got the job done here, a tough horse that always puts in. Don't be too harsh on HURRICANE HARBOUR (5th 2.5L) who will love to see the back off COYS next start (10th 7.6L, off for a spell), the bold leader giving him a hard run chasing the last two starts. Old GAMBLESTOWN hit the line pretty nicely too.