Yard to the Post | Run to the Rose Day
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 09 September 2023
Global giant Godolphin made an early spring statement today at Rosehill Gardens, ending the afternoon with a trifecta of impressive wins.
The first of those came from CYLINDER, the stables best two-year-old from last season making it back-to-back wins as a three-year-old in the Group Two 1,200 metre Run to the Rose. He was installed as the $3.5 favourite for the Group One Golden Rose following the race just ahead of Golden Slipper hero SHINZO ($4.5) from the Chris Waller yard.
Next up was GOLDEN MILE's bounce-back to form in the Group Two 1,300 metre Theo Marks. And the third leg of Godolphin's winning run was never in doubt as speedy mare RED CARD backed up her wins from Scone and Brisbane to lead all the way in Race 10.
A full review by Mike Wood and Adrian Sciglitano (yard) is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FAIR |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 MIDWAY HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bunker Hut | Michael Freedman | Tyler Schiller | 5 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Iron Man | Edward O'Rourke | Ms Rachel King | 1 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Glacier Queen | David Pfieffer | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 20 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
BUNKER HUT looked well first-up. DIVINE BREATH seemed to have some fitness improvement to come, MAYROSE and IRON MAN not far off fitness. BUNDEENA well and just a touch on his toes. SPICY HOTPOT warm and anxious, taken out to the barriers early on the pony. MISS CHECKONI a lighter-framed type that was warm in the yard.
In The Running
DEFIANT HEART led with IRON MAN in the box seat and BUNKER HUT getting a nice run in the 2W line on his outside.
The Result
BUNKER HUT too strong late for IRON MAN who had dashed up the inside to hit the lead.
The Interest
BUNKER HUT has produced some strong form on dry tracks in the past and he repeated that here for an impressive first-up win. He's a horse that really knuckles down and chases hard when the conditions suit. IRON MAN one to follow given he hit the lead so early and looks to have some improvement to come. MAYROSE the unlucky runner from the back, finding trouble before a strong finish late.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stormy Witness | Danny Williams | Reece Jones | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Ollie's Secret | Jan Bowen | Zac Lloyd | 6 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Atmospheric Rock | Danny Williams | Tom Sherry | 9 | 55.0 |
In The Yard
MISSILE LEADER well in the yard and looks to have some quality. ATMOSPHERIC ROCK in good shape on the back-up. POSSIBLY SO, MONTEBELLO'S CHARM and STORMY WITNESS seemed to have some fitness improvement to come. KEEP ON GOING a touch anxious in the yard.
In The Running
OLLIE’S SECRET got to the lead and kicked hard into the turn (FAIR tempo: LONG SPRINT), setting things up for the horses behind him on the rails, which including STORMY WITNESS (3rd rails). ATMOSPHERIC ROCK stuck a bit wide with MISS THATCHER on his inside holding him in the 3W line.
The Result
STORMY WITNESS ran down OLLIE'S SECRET with a game ATMOSPHERIC ROCK chasing hard into 3rd.
The Interest
The best two runs might have been from OLLIE'S SECRET (went hard) and ATMOSPHERIC ROCK (wide). STORMY WITNESS had the right run mid-race along with JUST GO BANG, who ran well at odds too (6th 2.2L at $26). In hindsight Kerrin McEvoy should have let MISS THATCHER slide to the rails rather than trying to push Tom Sherry (ATMOSPHERIC ROCK) wider mid-race.
Race 3 GOFFS ORBY SALE HANDICAP
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympic Gaze | Paul Perry | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 3 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Nordic Pride | Ben Brisbourne | Sam Clipperton | 4 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Karmazone | Daniel Robinson | Ms Madeline Owen | 9 | 53.0 |
In The Yard
No knocks on the parade, the stayers parading fine.
In The Running
CASUAL CONNECTION made a play for the lead and got there leaving expected leader TOO MUCH CAVIAR in second on the outside. OLYMPIC GAZE was out the back (7th 2W WC) as the leaders kicked early before the turn.
The Result
OLYMPIC GAZE relished the tempo and ran on well to just beat NORDIC PRIDE sticking on gamely.
The Interest
Not sure this will be much of a form race. TOO MUCH CAVIAR not as effective to 2400m and DUKE OF HASTINGS perhaps not quite as good in Sydney leaving a couple of solid midweek types to fight it out.
Race 4 RANVET HANDICAP
slow tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unspoken | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 1 | 60.5 | |
| 2 | Gracilistyla | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Danish Prince | Marc Conners | Adam Hyeronimus | 5 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
UNSPOKEN seemed to have a touch of improvement in the yard. HIGHLIGHTS looked forward first-up.
In The Running
DANISH PRINCE got control early and kicked early for a LONG SPRINT home. GRACILISTYLA midfield and just eased back a touch letting UNSPOKEN get off the rails in front of him.
The Result
UNSPOKEN too strong for GRACILISTYLA as the two favourites ran on together late.
The Interest
UNSPOKEN the most progressive horse in the race and he did this nicely first-up. HIGHLIGHTS seems to have improved for his new stable (nice trials, good parade) and was a touch unlucky here so could be worth following into the prep too.
Race 5 NSW THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS HANDICAP
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howgoodareyou | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Rachel King | 3 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Marquess | James Cummings | Tyler Schiller | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Foujita San | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Zac Lloyd | 12 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
MARQUESS a nice progressive staying type that looked to have improved between runs. PIEROSSA behaving OK, getting out to the barriers early.
In The Running
HOWGOODAREYOU got control with MARQUESS in the box seat and FOUJITA SAN out the back after a slow jump.
The Result
HOWGOODAREYOU kicked best and held off a late surge from MARQUESS and FOUJITA SAN running on with a big gap to 4th.
The Interest
This could be a good form race. The top three all produced rapid sectionals to finish off and put a gap on the rest of them. Rachel King executed perfectly on the leader to get another win making it four from five for the daughter of So You Think.
Race 6 IRRESISTIBLE POOLS SHERACO STAKES
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunshine In Paris | Annabel Neasham | Ryan Maloney | 6 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Espiona | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 9 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Zapateo | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd | 3 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
I AM ME still sharp into her campaign. ZAPATEO and SUNSHINE IN PARIS both looking more muscular this time in. ATISHU seemed to have improvement to come and CINDERELLA DAYS a touch anxious as she can be.
In The Running
QUEEN OF THE BALL was keen rolling along at a FAIR tempo with I AM ME unable to get across and lead (settled 2nd 2W NC). SUNSHINE IN PARIS back in midfield getting a nice trail.
The Result
SUNSHINE IN PARIS stormed home best for a clear win. ESPIONA (laid in) very strong late too and ATISHU (blocked 150m to 100m, ran 5th 1.96L) should have at least run 3rd.
The Interest
SUNSHINE IN PARIS is an amazing mare that seems to smash the line every time she runs. The honest tempo set things up today and Annabel Neasham had her ready to go, looking healthy and more muscular this time in. ESPIONA also very good from the back and can win again in Sydney if she gets the breaks up the inside (lays in). If not, the left-handed tracks of Melbourne will suit better.
Race 7 ACY SECURITIES MING DYNASTY QUALITY
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encap | Gary Portelli | Brett Prebble | 1 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Ceolwulf | Joseph Pride | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Tom Kitten | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 15 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
TOM KITTEN looking well with some progression likely second-up, a more focussed parade from him. CAFE MILLENIUM also with some second-up fitness and a more settled parade. CEOLWULF a nice type early in his career. ASHFALL and TOWNSEND seemed to have some fitness improvement to come.
In The Running
RAF ATTACK led and rolled them along at a FAIR to STRONG tempo with ENCAP trailing up on the inside. CEOLWULF (7th 2W WC) had to be steered around the turn before he got through his gears in the straight. TOM KITTEN stuck 3W NC.
The Result
ENCAP got the nice run through off a rolling leader and was too good, clearing out by 1.7L from a very game CEOLWULF. TOM KITTEN ran on wider.
The Interest
ENCAP very strong here along with CEOLWULF (shaping as a decent stayer) and TOM KITTEN (flying this prep). CAFE MILLENIUM wound up well, but he got an honest tempo and a fair bias to work with today.
Race 8 JAMES SQUIRE RUN TO THE ROSE
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cylinder | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 4 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Moravia | Michael Freedman | Tyler Schiller | 11 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Nadal | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 2 | 55.0 |
In The Yard
CYLINDER looked well and very strong this preparation. LIBERTAD and BUTCH CASSIDY seemed to have come on nicely from the first-up run. MILITARIZE and DON CORLEONE showing some development over the spell, but both seemed to have some fitness improvement to come.
In The Running
MORAVIA got across and controlled the lead with CYLINDER not far behind (5th 2W WC).
The Result
CYLINDER drove through late after being held up until the 150m mark, beating home the leader MORAVIA by 0.17L on the line.
The Interest
CYLINDER bounced off the narrow first-up win at Caulfield to pull this one out of the fire late after getting held up most of the straight. The others weren't far away though with only 1.9L back to LIBERTAD in 8th. GENERAL SALUTE stuck on nicely to the line in 6th and could be one to follow next start up in distance along with the swooping MILITARIZE.
Race 9 TOYOTA FORKLIFTS THEO MARKS STAKES
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Mile | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | The Inevitable | John Keys | Ryan Maloney | 6 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Waterford | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller | 3 | 53.5 |
In The Yard
ARGENTIA shining in the yard, the daughter of Frankel with a glistening chestnut coat. GOLDEN MILE also very well third-up. NUGGET and CROSS TALK looked ready to go first-up. FLYING CRAZY and COMMANDO HUNT seemed to have some improvement to come with duller coats than the rest.
In The Running
CROSS TALK got across and controlled the mid-race sectionals with GOLDEN MILE in the box seat.
The Result
GOLDEN MILE stayed inside, kicked strongly up the rails and held off a booming finish from THE INEVITABLE.
The Interest
GOLDEN MILE had been unlucky in both starts this campaign, the latest when pulling up with a laceration in the G1 1400m Winx Stakes. He's at his best on dry ground and the Godolphin team came up with a smart plan to box seat and stay inside as the leader CROSS TALK can sometimes roll off the rails at the home turn. THE INEVITABLE with an incredible run first-up and some brilliant closing sectionals (10.59 seconds final 200m according to ATC website), but he is a horse that can mix his from second-up away from his Tassie home.
Race 10 PRECISE AIR HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Card | James Cummings | Adam Hyeronimus | 8 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Smashing Eagle | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 5 | 52.5 | |
| 3 | Airman | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Zac Lloyd | 11 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
RED CARD forward first-up and just a touch fresh. EXTREMELY LUCKY seemed to have improved second-up and was more focussed in the yard. MAOTAI and AIRMAN looked to have some improvement to come in the coat.
In The Running
RED CARD got to the lead and set a FAIR tempo.
The Result
RED CARD kicked on best to beat SMASHING EAGLE and AIRMAN running on from the back.
The Interest
RED CARD ready to go first-up and too zippy back to benchmark grade. She had been beaten first-up last prep when backed from $5 to $4.4, but the market confidence was even higher this time (solid $2.5 fav') and Adam Hyeronimus didn't put a foot wrong out in front. SMASHING EAGLE continued his strong run of form, AIRMAN returned in style and EXTREMELY LUCKY hit the line better this time. HIGH COURT (10th 3.5L) stuck on gamely and can be followed up in distance next start.