Race Day Review - Stakes Day at Royal Randwick

Published: 27 Apr 2014

A race by race analysis of the day is provided below. The complete guide from your team at the track.

Rail: +3M (2000m - 1400m) +9M (remainder)
Conditions: SLOW 6 (seemed a very sticky track with tough horses performing well)
Weather: OVERCAST (not drying weather, slightly humid)
Bias: NO BIAS (out wide favoured later in day)

Race 1 TAB EARLY QUADDIE HANDICAP (3YO&UP BM97) - 1400m

The relaxed professional gets the job done

KAYPERS (Greg Bennett)
LOADED (Grant Allard) - 0.2 lengths
HAUSSMANN (Peter Snowden) - 1.0 lengths

Kaypers just did enough to score a much deserved victory

In the yard

Some very relaxed professionals in the yard, with SAID COM looking well and JET STYLE in good shape. LOADED was noted as a very heavy set type in comparison to some leaner sprinter/milers. KEITH'S LEGACY was just a touch unsettled in the yard. KAYPERS looked as per usual, a very calm gelding.

In the running

KEITH'S LEGACY worked over to the lead and set up an EVEN TEMPO. He seemed to settle ok, but was a little keen to go faster. JET STYLE and HAUSSMANN were just behind the leader.

The result

KAYPERS (1st) was produced at the top of the straight and worked home strongly. The jockey kept the big LOADED (2nd) very well balanced in the run and he sustained his effort, while HAUSSMANN (3rd) kept on up the inside.

The interest

KAYPERS deserved the win after some good recent performances, he did what he had to do to win and nothing more. LOADED produced a good effort in Saturday class, with Sammy Clipperton giving him a great ride. HAUSSMANN was probably the unlucky horse in the race after losing a bit of momentum at the top of the straight and then trying to finish off hard against the rails, which may have been slightly inferior ground. SAID COM confirmed that he is not the most genuine of horses when seeming reluctant to take a small gap and then shirking from the battle over the last 100m, a very tough horse to follow. As for KEITH'S LEGACY, the mood in the yard continued onto the racetrack. Perhaps he is still a bit fresh early on in his preparation and will settle down with more racing.

Forgive HAUSSMAN and KEITH'S LEGACY

Race 2 TICKETEK HALL MARK STAKES (3YO&UP) - 1200m

The lean and mean snitzel beats the flashy dart

HOT SNITZEL (Gerald Ryan)
KNOYDART (Peter Snowden) - 1.3 lengths
AERONAUTICAL (Lionel Cohen) - 2.6 lengths

Hot Snitzel sustained a strong sprint right to the line

In the yard

KNOYDART paraded in great fashion as he has done recently, while SEE THE WORLD looked in good shape after his tough run last time. AERONAUTICAL looked well after seeming out of his grade in the TJ Smith. It was noted that EMBLEMS looked to have more power this preparation, but carried a bit of condition with improvement to come. He has developed well. HOT SNITZEL was lean and hard-fit in the yard.

In the running

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA wasn't that quick to jump, but worked across to the lead. Once he got there the speed was backed off for a furlong before he started to role again setting up a STOP-START TEMPO. EMBLEMS and HOT SNITZEL settled just behind the leader. KNOYDART pushed SEE THE WORLD three wide mid-race when the pace was slow.

The result

HOT SNITZEL (1st) edged his way into the contest at the top of the straight and sustained the long sprint home, KNOYDART (2nd) chased but couldn't pick up the leader. AERONAUTICAL (3rd) worked up on the inside to finish evenly.

The interest

There are a couple of questions on KNOYDART after the race; (1) did he show signs of not being completely genuine again, something that appeared to be in his past after being gelded ahead of this preparation? The way he laid in over the last 200m suggested he wasn't keen to run past the leader. And, (2) was the 1200m too short for him this time? He is a beautiful athletic type that still looks more of a 1300m - 1400m sprinter. The Brisbane carnival races will suit well. HOT SNITZEL is tough and genuine and is a horse that will make sure he takes advantage of the chinks in the armour of others. SEE THE WORLD didn't have much luck, but it will be tough for Joe Pride to get him ready for another effort and perhaps needs a freshen up. EMBLEMS looks a nice type now, he raced to expectations with improvement to come.

Follow HOT SNITZEL and EMBLEMS
Forgive KNOYDART

Race 3 BMW HANDICAP (3YO&UP BM85) - 1200m

True blue toughness from a super genuine mare

TWO BLUE (Kristen Buchanan)
YOU'LL NEVER (Chris Waller) - 0.1 lengths
MOUNT NEBO (Allan Denham) - 0.2 lengths

Two Blue put her head down right on the line to win

In the yard

YOU'LL NEVER, GREEN BERET and BOSS LANE all paraded well. COINS looked like a horse that needed more racing, a big and gross type of mare. NOTHING LIKE LUCA was quite edgy and TWO BLUE sweated up a bit.

In the running

CASINO SWOOP pushed on to the lead and set up a GOOD TEMPO, with GREEN BERET outside of him facing the breeze. BOSS LANE got a nice trail behind the leading two and most others settled into a good rhythm. NOTHING LIKE LUCA couldn't slot in and was stuck three wide.

The result

TWO BLUE made a strong and genuine run to the line and put her head down right at the post, from YOU'LL NEVER (2nd), who just missed out after making a long run from last. MOUNT NEBO (3rd) had hit the front at the top of the straight and just got bloused late.

The interest

She looked a little bit hot in the yard as the day became slightly humid but TWO BLUE is one of the tougher mares going around. The sticky conditions at Royal Randwick suited her and she is sure to be around the mark this preparation. YOU'LL NEVER continued his upward spiral and is a typical Waller galloper building confidence with every run. The best performed 1200m horses were MOUNT NEBO (came up on the inside) and GREEN BERET (sat outside a good tempo), but the first two perhaps have more promise.

Follow TWO BLUE and YOU'LL NEVER

Race 4 JOHNNIE WALKER FRANK PACKER PLATE (3YO SET WEIGHTS) - 2000m

The filly floats across the sticky surface to beat the boys

ARABIAN GOLD (David Vandyke)
PHEIDON (Gai Waterhouse) - 1.3 lengths
MALICE (Peter Snowden) - 2.6 lengths

Arabian Gold produced a nice sprint in the slow conditions

In the yard

HOOKED paraded ok after a tough Derby run, while SHIKRA had a nice shine to his coat. EQUATOR still had some condition as per previous runs, but had started to tighten up slightly with a bit more muscle definition. TAKEWING looked hard-fit and tough, he seemed to lack the class of the others in the yard.

In the running

EQUATOR jumped to the front and set up a SLOW TEMPO, while MALICE took a while to work up to a position outside the leader in second. PHEIDON secured the box seat behind the leader and HOOKED settled in fourth. The pace increased from the 600m mark when EQUATOR made a long run for home.

The result

ARABIAN GOLD (1st) found a run up the rails and sprinted well in the conditions, from PHEIDON (2nd) who kept on well and MALICE (3rd).

The interest

There was a lot of confidence in the betting for ARABIAN GOLD and she justified the strong money to produce an easy victory. Once EQUATOR had started long run for home before the turn only three horses travelled well, ARABIAN GOLD, MALICE and HOOKED. The latter two didn't let down as well as the winner in the conditions. The campaign for HOOKED has been very unlucky, striking unsuitable wet tracks in most runs. He just doesn't let down on either slow or heavy tracks. EQUATOR produced an improved performance after only being passed at the 200m mark, one to watch next start.

Follow ARABIAN GOLD
Forgive MALICE, HOOKED and EQUATOR

Race 5 MOËT & CHANDON CHAMPAGNE STAKES (2YO SET WEIGHTS) - 1600m

A dynamic sprint from a powerful and classy filly

GO INDY GO (Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas)
ZULULAND (David Hayes) - 1.0 lengths
KUMAON (Peter Snowden) - 1.1 lengths

Go Indy Go used her impressive fore-quarter strength to drive her home

In the yard

BACHMAN paraded well, a much bigger type than most others, looking more like a three year old. SCRATCH ME LUCKY, PEGGY JEAN and VEUVELICIOUS also looked good. UNKNOWN DESTINY was clearly much smaller than all others and GO INDY GO was noted as having good strength and depth in the fore-quarter.

In the run

UNKNOWN DESTINY rolled to the front and set a SLOW TEMPO. ZULULAND settled well in second and KUMAON found the spot in the box seat. PEGGY JEAN made a mid-race move out wide to try and come into the race given the slow speed.

The result

GO INDY GO (1st) took a trail up behind PEGGY JEAN (5th) and let down with a great finishing burst to win. ZULULAND (2nd) and KUMAON (3rd) fought on from their on-pace positions.

The interest

GO INDY GO is clearly a very smart filly with a good sprint driven by her strong front half. The slow tempo didn't suit her coming from behind, but it didn't appear as though ZULULAND, KUMAON or SCRATCH ME LUCKY were able to take full advantage of their charmed runs by producing good acceleration in the home straight. SCRATCH ME LUCKY in particular looked to have more to give on the line, he could have done with a faster tempo and just lacked the top speed to win. PEGGY JEAN (made a long run) and VEUVELICIOUS (missed the boat and pace didn't suit) were both unlucky, while BACHMAN was disappointing back in the field. The big colt didn't raise much of an effort.

Follow GO INDY GO
Forgive SCRATCH ME LUCKY, PEGGY JEAN and VEUVELICIOUS

Race 6 SCHWEPPES ALL AGED STAKES - 1400m

A mighty warrior from Japan sprouts wings

HANA'S GOAL (JPN) (Kazuhiro Kato)
WEARY (FR) (Chris Waller) - 2.0 lengths
TIGER TEES (NZ) (Joseph Pride) - 2.5 lengths

Hana's Goal put her head down and ripped through the Randwick turf

In the yard

WOODBINE sweated up slightly and ATLANTE was quite unsettled in the yard. REBEL DANE looked a class act and HANA'S GOAL paraded slightly better than before previous Australian races, a nice shine to her coat.

In the running

ATLANTE rolled around the field to take the lead, and while he was going at an even speed, it was SLOW TEMPO for a Group 1 1400m contest. TIGER TEES and WOODBINE settled just off the leader. HANA'S GOAL had missed the start and was out the back travelling very calmly, while REBEL DANE over-raced slightly out three wide mid-race.

The result

HANA'S GOAL was let loose at the top of the straight and produced a devastating turn-of-foot to sprint straight past the leaders. WEARY (2nd) maintained a good run to the line, whilst TIGER TEES (3rd) ran on evenly closer to the inside.

The interest

HANA'S GOAL leaves our shores with an impressive victory and Nash Rawiller spoke of his supreme confidence in her finishing burst after the race, she clearly is a classy mare who had excuses in both of her previous runs. It didn't appear to be the race for REBEL DANE, who is more of an athletic sprinter that likes to peel off in the straight and produce a final effort. The three wide run in transit made it very difficult for him. There is also the possibility his energy sapping first-up effort on a wet track had an impact. WEARY was impressive given that the tempo and distance probably weren't entirely in his favour.

Follow HANA'S GOAL and WEARY
Forgive REBEL DANE

Race 7 BACARDI UNTAMEABLE J H B CARR STAKES (3YO F) - 1400m

The tough Scott Aspery filly proves she is not such a princess

ESTONIAN PRINCESS (Scott Aspery)
NORTHERN GLORY (Gai Waterhouse) - 0.1 lengths
LADY LAKSHMI (Stephen Theodore) - 0.2 lengths

Estonian Princess just kept lifting right to the line (note: she is the widest runner in blue and yellow)

In the yard

An impressive group of mares stepped out into the yard for this race, with many looking in good shape. Kris Lees had HERA looking well, although it was noted that she lacked the size of some others and looked more of a middle-distance type. MINIATURE had impressive strength in both her fore-quarter and hind-quarter.

In the running

CALMING INFLUENCE and LADY LAKSHMI both rolled to take a joint lead and set up an honest rolling EVEN TEMPO. MINIATURE resented travelling in between horses and over-raced, while ESTONIAN PRINCESS was out the back in last. HERA couldn't get cover and was stuck three wide in midfield.

The result

ESTONIAN PRINCESS made a sustained run down the outside, after NORTHERN GLORY (2nd) and LADY LAKSHMI (3rd) had pushed up closer to the rails and stole a margin at the top of the straight.

The interest

Some of the mares races in recent times have shown good margins between the leading group and the chasing pack, suggesting the form out of them could be good. ESTONIAN PRINCESS was impressive, but given the trend of the day for tough horses to perform well on a sticky Randwick track, it may pay to follow those around her. HERA produced a great first-up run in Australia, her smaller size didn't give her the speed needed in the straight and the three wide run didn't help either. MINIATURE was also an eye catcher, she is a very talented sprinting mare with great scope to improve.

Follow NORTHERN GLORY, LADY LAKSHMI and HERA
Forgive MINIATURE

Race 8 CRUST GOURMET PIZZA JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION PLATE (3YO&UP) - 2000m

No Aussies reach the podium for the last race of the Autumn Carnival

SPILLWAY (GB) (David Hayes)
DANCHAI (GB) (Chris Waller) - 2.5 lengths
SLOW PACE (USA) (Kris Lees) - 2.7 lengths

The classic looking stayer Spillway stayed on strongly down the outside to win

In the yard

PERMIT looked to have a bit more fitness to come after missing a few recent runs, while WAZN paraded in much more relaxed fashion and looked to have improved after his first-up run. Many of the horses down the bottom of the weights looked well and DANCHAI fit the profile of horses that were succeeding on the day - tough and very genuine. ZEPHYRON just looked slightly soft and lacked the muscle definition of some of the others. DIAMETRIC was keen in the yard again and may be more settled next preparation.

In the run

STRAWBERRY BOY rolled to the lead and set up an EVEN TEMPO. I'M IMPOSING was stuck out three wide with no cover near the pace and SLOW PACE had a trail up behind him.

The result

SPILLWAY (1st) came to the outside in the straight and made a sustained run to the line. DANCHAI (2nd) ran on well also, but closer to the inside, and SLOW PACE (3rd) kept on well from nearer the pace.

The interest

The form from I'M IMPOSING's first-up third looked strong, with WEARY, DESTINY'S KISS and KAYPERS all performing well out of the race. His effort to run fifth after such a tough run was very good, however he has looked supremely fit at both runs this campaign and is not the type of horse to have a long preparation. DANCHAI was suited by the tough conditions, an extremely honest galloper. SPILLWAY looks to be a classy stayer of the future. SLOW PACE and ALZORA put in good efforts.

Follow SPILLWAY, SLOW PACE and ALZORA