Yard to the Post @ Warwick Farm
Race Day: Warwick Farm on Saturday, 22 December 2018
There were some turnarounds in form at Warwick Farm today, the wet conditons and tighter track a big change from the dry track racing we've seen at Rosehill so much lately. SIR BACCHUS (pic) was one of those that enjoyed a trip to Sydney's south west, the swooping grey getting a great ride from Tommy Berry too, conserving energy and surging through the pack late to beat the Godolphin galloper SPECTROSCOPE.
SIR BACCHUS was the second of two winner's for Chris Waller on the day after he completed the amazing feat of training the top five across the line in the staying race. The James McDonald-ridden NAVAL WARFARE beat home stable-mates MUTARAKEM, SOLO MISSION, ARAAJA and FOLLOW SUIT. Such was the trainer's dominance in that race, the closest non-Waller runner THE GETAWAY couldn't get within two lengths of fifth place.
Waller also spoke to the media about the plans for Winx this Autumn, the mare returning to the stable to be targeted at an Autumn campaign. The UK, spring racing and the breeding season in September all remain on the table for the champion mare later in the year.
In other races, two-year-old GIRLS ARE READY and three-year-old HEART CONQUERED continued their wet track dominance, and local trainers performed well with MONSIEUR SISU (Paul Cave), NICCI’S GOLD (Gary Portelli) and EASY EDDIE (Jo Pride) all getting the prize.
A full review will be on-line Monday 12pm.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | HEAVY 8 to SOFT 7 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR, OFF RAILS later in day |
Race 1 MEMBER GET MEMBER HANDICAP
Wet track form is the right form
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Girls Are Ready | Joe Cleary | Ms Jess Taylor | 9 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Sebrakate | Tom Dabernig | Jean Van Overmeire | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Aeecee Vinco | Mark Newnham | Joshua Parr | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Running
AEECEE VINCO took up the running from GIRLS ARE READY (tempo tbc). SEBRAKATE stuck wide near the back without cover. WAR BARON was held up on the turn behind the second fav' DETERGE, who was going nowhere.
The Result
GIRLS ARE READY (1st) fought on best, much too strong late for AEECEE VINCO (3rd 2.8L). SEBRAKATE (2nd 2L) ran home well and WAR BARON (4th 2.9L) really surged late.
The Interest
Canterbury form held up here, GIRLS ARE READY coming off a win over Devachan last start and proving too strong for AEECEE VINCO (vet: galloped on) in an on-pace battle. AEECEE VINCO had beaten GIRLS ARE READY on debut, but that was on a firm track at Canberra. WAR BARON also came through that Canterbury race and was unlucky not to grab at least a place here. DETERGE (poor recover) getting in his way. Jean Van Overmeire dropped the whip on SEBRAKATE at the 200m.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moobi | Cody Morgan | Greg Ryan | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Hemmerle | Danielle Seib | James McDonald | 1 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Saarim | Warren Ganderton | Brock Ryan | 2 | 53.0 |
Race 3 SUMMER RACING HANDICAP
Too much heart from this Hawkes sprinter
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart Conquered | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Revenire | Garry Neale | James McDonald | 7 | 59.5 | |
| 3 | Ghostly | Matthew Dunn | Jason Collett | 9 | 59.0 |
In The Running
HEART CONQUERED took up the running from LUCY ROSE on his outside (tempo tbc).
The Result
HEART CONQUERED (1st) booted clear for an easy victory, putting a big gap on the chasers REVENIRE (2nd 3.5L) and GHOSTLY (3.6L).
The Interest
A 3YO on the rise that loves wet tracks and leads for fun, that was the recipe for the Hawkes galloper HEART CONQUERED, an easy watch for punters that took the $2. He looked like a star in the mounting yard and looks like one to watch for the future. Not much else to mention apart from LUCY ROSE, who unfortunately bled and now has three months off.
Race 4 2019 MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP
James Mac fires his shot at the right time
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naval Warfare | Ron Leemon | James McDonald | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Mutarakem | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 6 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | Solo Mission | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 9 | 53.0 |
In The Running
BEIJING BOARD took up the running from NAVAL WARFARE on his outside. KEEP UP wide from the 800m making a move at the back.
The Result
NAVAL WARFARE (1st) booted for home from the 550m, got a break and held off MUTARAKEM (1L), who chased from the box seat, and SOLO MISSION (1.2L), who ran on up the inside.
The Interest
An amazing feat from Walller, training the first five across the line! ARAAJA (4th 3.4L) and FOLLOW SUIT (5th 3.5L) easily accounting for THE GETAWAY (6th 5.9L). NAVAL WARFARE has been going well this prep, coming off a slowly run race at Rosehill, he enjoyed making this more of a test. The wet track was some concern for him, but it had started to dry by this stage of the day and he got through it fine. MUTARAKEM, SOLO MISSION and FOLLOW SUIT (good job first-up) all worth following. ARAAJA perhaps needs a freshen-up now, he tends to race best after a break. THE BANDIT (8th 10.6L) came back with the thumps.
Race 5 EVENTS BY ATC HANDICAP
All the boxes were ticked for this local winner
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monsieur Sisu | Paul & Martha Cave | Jason Collett | 6 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Astoria | James Cummings | Joshua Parr | 3 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Intueri | Doug Gorrel | Tommy Berry | 10 | 57.5 |
In The Running
MONSIEU SISU took up the running without any pressure (tempo: tbc). INTUERI moving up on his outside with ASTORIA stalking behind them.
The Result
MONSIEU SISU (1st) held on under riding to beat ASTORIA (2nd 0.2L), who sprinted into it well, and INTUERI (3rd 0.4L) fighting on. The lack of pressure meant there were only 2.1L between 1st and 7th (SPARKLY LAD).
The Interest
MONSIEU SISU is a tough little horse that was a touch scratchy out in the lead on his own, Collett really having to encourage him to sprint and hold them off, he may be a better horse trailing an honest tempo rather than trying to generate it himself. All was in his favour today (home track, heavy track, leading, fourth-up!) and he got the job done from ASTORIA, who enjoyed the lack of tempo and made a bold bid, he usually peaks on his run. Plenty of other OK runs. C'EST DAVINCHI (9th 4.9L) was a touch keen and didn't seem to enjoy the wet.
Race 6 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
Local form is golden at the Farm
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicci's Gold | Gary Portelli | Jason Collett | 9 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | The Art of the Bar | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 10 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Sweet Victory | Mark Newnham | Joshua Parr | 4 | 59.0 |
In The Running
THE ART OF THE BAR led them up and rolled into the turn (tempo tbc). MADDISON AVENUE wide chasing with BELLA SUCCESS and VELOCITA near the pace too.
The Result
NICCI'S GOLD (1st) hooked out wide from the back and stormed over the top to beat THE ART OF THE BAR (2nd 2L), who fought on solidly. SWEET VICTORY (3rd 3.5L) found the line well, LUCKY LOUIE (4th 3.6L) kept chasing and STROME (5th 3.7L) made her run up the inside.
The Interest
Local trainer Gary Portelli's nippy sprinter NICCI'S GOLD was the right type to sink the fav' and she got the job done. A leaner agile galloper, the tight track, wet conditions and honest tempo suited her perfectly. The run of the leader was strong too, THE ART OF THE BAR rolling along and easily holding 2nd. BELLA SUCCESS (7th 6.8L) was lame, VELOCITA (8th 10.2L) had a poor recovery and SO MAGIC (9th 23.2L) didn't handle the wet it seems.
Race 7 DECEMBER HANDICAP
Waller's enigmatic grey hits back
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Bacchus | Joseph Pride | Tommy Berry | 7 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Spectroscope | Natalie McCall | James McDonald | 9 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Conarchie | Clarry Conners | Jay Ford | 12 | 52.0 |
In The Running
CONARCHIE came across and led from CATESBY moving up too (tempo: tbc). INVINZABEEL pushing up wider with no cover (NC).
The Result
SIR BACCHUS (1st) got clear out wide and was too strong for SPECTROSCOPE (2nd 0.4L), who ran on well down the outside and CONARCHIE (3rd 0.7L) fighting on from on-pace.
The Interest
SIR BACCHUS was great first-up, plain second-up (bit wide) and put it all together here third-up, firing through from the back to win. He has been stabled down at Warwick Farm of late, which has clearly done the trick. SPECTROSCOPE honest as always and CONARCHIE loved the conditions, a great effort racing out of his grade. INVINZABEEL (4th 2.3L) and CATESBY (5th 2.5L) probably better on dry. TEST THE WORLD (7th 5.4L) may need to step back to 1200m. PECANS (8th 5.6L) was very plain.
Race 8 TAB HANDICAP
Jockeys matter as James shows his class again
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gongs | James Cummings | James McDonald | 12 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Let's Party Marty | Erin Maher | Robbie Dolan | 9 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Skyray | Clare Cunningham | Tommy Berry | 7 | 57.5 |
In The Running
LILITH led them up from DIVINE BREEZE and LET'S PARTY MARTY out wider. KAPAJACK was out very wide no cover with GONGS on his back.
The Result
GONGS (1st) came to the outside and sprinted over the top to bear LET'S PARTY MARTY (2nd 0.5L) fighting on and SKYRAY (3rd 0.7L) making ground. Only 2.9L between 1st and 10th (EMSHALKY).
The Interest
Not the best of rides from Brock Ryan on the fav' KAPAJACK (5th 1.6L), stuck wide and struggling to keep his horse straight down the final 300m. GONGS had similar form a couple of starts ago and showed that she loved the wet when very unlucky last week, James McDonald producing a far more effective steer. CHARRETERA (badly crowded 300m) without much luck and worth forgiving, it was a very bunched finish.
Race 9 AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB HANDICAP
Strong wet track form rises to the top again
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easy Eddie | Joseph Pride | Robbie Dolan | 11 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Bel Sonic | Jason Warren | Tim Clark | 4 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Redouble | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 16 | 56.5 |
In The Running
SAMADOUBT led them up, COONAWARRA and EASY EDDIE tracking up behind him. (tempo tbc).
The Result
EASY EDDIE (1st) was very strong wide out, holding off BEL SONIC (2nd 0.2L) and REDOUBLE (3rd 1.5L) coming down the outside to grab BON AMIS (4th 1.7L) for a place.
The Interest
The time was good here for a SOFT 7 and these gallopers could be worth following. EASY EDDIE loving a SOFT track again, BEL SONIC going well this prep, REDOUBLE desperate to win soon and BON AMIS lumping 60kg into 4th. A gap back to the chasing pack. EASY EDDIE could have even more progression this prep too, a big-striding on-pacer that can improved third-up and into prep. He was only second-up here.