Yard to the Post | Warwick Farm
Race Day: Warwick Farm on Wednesday, 08 February 2023
A good fair track for midweek racing at Warwick Farm. Only 73 acceptances and one field of six (Race 3), but there were a number of exciting finishes and some horses to follow.
Two-year-olds TOM KITTEN (1st) and MAKE A CALL (2nd) rounded up the field quickly and dashed clear to put over 2.5 lengths on the chasing pack in Race 1. The small robust MAKE A CALL shaping as a youngster that could relish the longer distances of the Fernhill or even Champagne Stakes during The Championships.
In the upset of the day LOMANDRA ($6.5) got control and fought back to beat PEREILLE ($1.4) after being headed 150 metres from home in Race 2. The biggest winning margin was delivered by MISSION VALUE in Race 7, leading all the way to defeat the always honest SILENT AGENDA by two lengths.
A full review by Mike Wood is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | +3 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 YES YES YES FIRST YEARLINGS PLATE
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Kitten | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 6 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Make A Call | Joseph Pride | James McDonald | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Autunno | Richard Litt | Robbie Dolan | 5 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
Most of the younger horses parading OK. MAKTABI looked ready to run well on debut AUTUNNO just a touch fizzy, while ROOM FOR SQUARES and SCORPION JACK had some improvement to come in the coat. MAKE A CALL a smaller, lighter-framed robust type that should be suited by the extra distance.
In The Running
MAKTABI took up the running and set an honest FAIR tempo. TOM KITTEN (6th 2W WC), MAKE A CALL and AUTUNNO all getting back in the pack.
The Result
TOM KITTEN (1st) ran on best down the outside with MAKE A CALL (2nd). A gap back to AUTUNNO in 3rd.
The Interest
TOM KITTEN wasn't at his best on debut when getting hot behind the barriers and he turned things around here ridden with cover off an honest tempo. MAKE A CALL (dam won up to 2000m) should keep improving up in distance, especially considering he is such a small robust type. AUTUNNO has some upside too once he settles down a touch and learns to jump better.
Race 2 VINERY YEARLINGS HANDICAP
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lomandra | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jason Collett | 8 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Pereille | James Cummings | James McDonald | 5 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Ring Ahoy | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 55.0 |
In The Yard
WARBY looked unsettled in the yard and had improvement in the coat. RING AHOY and CLEAR CHOICE both a bit fresh in the yard but fit enough to run well. PEREILLE a big heavy colt that probably had some fitness improvement to come. LOMANDRA carries less condition and looked pretty fit first-up.
In The Running
LOMANDRA jumped OK and took control at a SLOW tempo with PEREILLE moving up on her outside.
The Result
LOMANDRA (1st) fought hard to win from PEREILLE (2nd), who had sprinted up to hit the lead marginally 150m from home.
The Interest
LOMANDRA was disappointing on debut when she lined up in a G3 race at Caulfield. Perhaps she didn't handle the track that day given all her trials have been the Sydney way of going. A positive ride following a sharp parade and she proved too strong for the heavily-built PEREILLE, a colt that might find more with some extra fitness (he might even benefit from gelding). RING AHOY did enough in a race that didn't suit. Expected leader FIRST CLASS MOLLEY was scratched before the parade after playing up back in the stables.
Race 3 CASTELVECCHIO FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wollombi | Peter & Paul Snowden | Sam Clipperton | 5 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Moscow Night | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | James McDonald | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Estilete | Annabel Neasham | Ms Alysha Collett | 4 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
MOSCOW NIGHT warm and unsettled in the yard, but he was fit enough to run well. ESTILETE with some more scope to her frame than most others and perhaps a little bit of fitness to come second-up. ATLANTIC OCEAN and the strongly built filly WOLLOMBI paraded best.
In The Running
MOSCOW NIGHT got control in the lead at a STEADY tempo with ESTILETE moving up on his outside. WOLLOMBI in a nice spot trailing the leaders 4th 2W.
The Result
WOLLOMBI (1st) picked up and ran on best to win clearly from MOSCOW NIGHT (2nd) and ESTILETE (3rd).
The Interest
WOLLOMBI an in-form filly that got the perfect ride behind two leaders that didn't quite shine in the yard and tired over the final 200m. The winner more muscular than the boys in this race and she handled the 59.5kg handicap with ease. ATLANTIC OCEAN wound up and was strong late. The Waller-trained gelding would have been right in the finish if there was more tempo upfront and can show up in the right race next start.
Race 4 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mikasa | John Thompson | Brock Ryan | 5 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Tympanist | David Payne | Keagan Latham | 8 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Handsome | Kris Lees | James McDonald | 4 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
MIKASA a big robust well-balanced mare that was well in the yard, as was the favourite HANDSOME and TYMPANIST. No obvious knocks in the yard, IZFALLINGDOWN just a bit curious looking around at the small crowd gathered around the fence.
In The Running
MIKASA jumped well, pushed on to lead and got control of the race (STEADY tempo) from IZFALLINGDOWN working up on her outside. HANDSOME ended up at the back (not James McDonald's intent) and TYMPANIST was deliberately taken back.
The Result
MIKASA (1st) was revved up on the home turn and kept going to hold off TYMPANIST (2nd) sprinting down the outside and HANDSOME (3rd) winding up well late.
The Interest
MIKASA is one tough mare and once she got such an easy lead she was always going to be hard to run down, Brock Ryan revving up the pace as they approached the home turn and keeping her going to the line running very similar sectionals for her final three furlongs. Her win at Canterbury was brave and she had some excuses (keen early when crossed) at Kembla Grange last start when a close 2nd to Lady Redwood. HANDSOME (pulled up 3/5 lame) strong to the line and will enjoy even further (preferably on softer ground with more tempo) in the future. TYMPANIST executed up in distance with an ice cold ride out the back. YGGDRASIL also pulled up lame (2/5).
Race 5 TAB HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cotton Fingers | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James McDonald | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Unwritten | Gregory Hickman | Tyler Schiller | 7 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | So Good So Cool | Sara Ryan | Dylan Gibbons | 9 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
LE VIZIR a bit warm when he first came into the parade, but he looked fit enough and settled down OK. Most of them looking fine in the yard. COTTON FINGERS also a touch warm with the afternoon sun coming out. SO GOOD SO COOL fit first-up and CARDONE looked well, he just seemed to lack the power of some of the other sprinters. KATTEGAT muscular and perhaps had a little bit of fitness to come.
In The Running
ESPIRITO took up the running at a FAIR tempo from CARDONE up on his outside. COTTON FINGERS stalked them (4th 2W) with room and cover. NIPOTINO had a dip for the lead early after jumping well before getting restrained back and wide when he couldn't cross.
The Result
COTTON FINGERS (1st) pounced to win from UNWRITTEN (2nd) and SO GOOD SO COOL (3rd) running on, both place getters experiencing some interference in the straight.
The Interest
The top three all ran well here. COTTON FINGERS was in the right spot, while SO GOOD SO COOL (held up on inside) and UNWRTTEN (held up, got tied up with LATENIGHTTOUGHGUY) had to overcome difficulty and they only just missed. LATENIGHTTOUGHGUY's extravagant stride made it almost look like he was trying to trip UNWRITTEN as he made his run down the straight. CARDONE didn't have the power of others in the yard and may need a spell (or further).
Race 6 TOO DARN HOT FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jayanthi | Ciaron Maher | James McDonald | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Diamond Dealer | Bjorn Baker | Jett Stanley | 10 | 62.5 | |
| 3 | Zanzibar Gem | Kris Lees | Chad Schofield | 8 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
DIAMOND DEALER one of the best in the yard all day, a long, well-balanced and athletic type with decent muscle coverage. JAYANTHI and MISS FOX good strong muscular sprinters that looked well. EYE PEA OH not far off first-up (improvement in coat). ZANZIBAR GEM on her toes.
In The Running
PETULANT led from FLYING ANNIE and DIAMOND DEALER moving up out 3W NC. JAYANTHI landed in the ideal spot 6th 3W WC from the wide barrier.
The Result
JAYANTHI (1st) sprinted up and ran home best from a brave DIAMOND DEALER (2nd).
The Interest
James McDonald took the opportunity to find the back of DIAMOND DEALER mid-race and that made the difference in the end. A bunched finish (2.75L from first to last) so the form should be followed with caution. MISS FOX tied up on the inside and ran on well late. EYE PEA OH found trouble on the inside and looked unlucky.
Race 7 DAVALI THOROUGHBREDS HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mission Value | Joseph Pride | Tyler Schiller | 8 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Silent Agenda | Joseph Pride | Jason Collett | 6 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Minouche | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 9 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
MISSION VALUE a big, strong and robust galloper looking well. TRAVEST unsettled in the yard like he often is. FANTASTIC BABY, VIADELAMORE and SOVEREIGN EXPRESS all seemed to have some improvement to come first-up. MINOUCHE very quiet in the yard.
In The Running
MISSION VALUE got control in the lead with MINOUCHE on his outside and SILENT AGENDA in the box seat.
The Result
MISSION VALUE (1st) picked up and was strong to the line for a clear win. SILENT AGENDA (2nd) chased OK 2.1L behind.
The Interest
This was a bit of a non-race. MISSION VALUE and SILENT AGENDA are both rock solid types that enjoy dry ground and they didn't find much competition here. MINOUCHE (poor recovery) had her chance. SOVEREIGN EXPRESS and ALL IN THE MIND two that can improve into their campaigns after late-finishing first-up runs into 4th and 5th.