Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 07 May 2016
Under smoky skies caused by back-burning to Sydney's west, Gai Waterhouse bounced back with her bold front-runner ECUADOR to capture the day's feature race.
The Lord Mayors Cup shaped as a very tricky race to pick during the week, but on the day the result was never in doubt. Adam Hyeronimus took the race by the scruff of the neck and drove the son of High Chapparal to the lead. He got rolling from the turn and broke clear for an impressive victory.
We also got to see Ron Quinton's little fighter DAYSEE DOOM produce her third win from as many starts, just edging out Waller's PIONEERING in a close finish. The fight she produced to dig in and beat the runner-up impressed jockey Sam Clipperton. One to follow as she goes through the grades.
Other performances worth noting came from two Waller gallopers; ENCOSTA LINE surprising everyone with a dominant win in a good quality three-year-old race and the flying sprinter SIR BACCHUS repeating his first-up effort.
A full review from the yard to the post will be on-line Sunday at 9am.
Track Info
| Rail | +3 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE (smokey!) |
| Bias | FAIR / OFF RAILS later |
Race 1 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
The Hawkes gang starts on top
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legerity | Clare Cunningham | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Baltic Whisper | Bjorn Baker | Tye Angland | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Archives | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Adam Hyeronimus | 1 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
In the yard at Rosehill; ARCHIVES looked big and strong, BALTIC WHISPER has a nice strong build, others OK, perhaps AVIATOR only fair looking.
In The Running
LEGERITY took up the lead from AVIATOR, BALTIC WHISPER and ARCHIVES. LAVENDER HILL was a touch slow.
The Result
LEGERITY (1st) kicked off the turn and held off BALTIC WHISPER (2nd). ARCHIVES (3rd) took a while to stoke up and hit the line late.
The Interest
The time was OK without being an obvious race to follow. Unfortunately for followers of BALTIC WHISPER the jockey lost the whip 200m from home, which could have made the difference, we will never know. Really interesting to see where ARCHIVES ends up in his career, he's the one with scope if the stable can mould him into a professional galloper, hitting the line as the leaders tired. LAVENDER HILL was poor! No Follows or Forgives.
Race 2 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
Pride's master stroke gets another win
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Painte | Brendan McCarthy | Jay Ford | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Disgraceful | Dale Riley | Brenton Avdulla | 6 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Caped Crusader | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 8 | 61.0 |
In The Yard
GRUNDERZEIT and SONIC SWISH both well, only a touch warm. DISGRACEFUL and CONARCHIE strong/well, PAINTE and WELL HARDLEY EVER fit. CAPED CRUSADER 90% fit and FIFTYSHADESOFGREY only plain.
In The Running
CONARCHIE led from CAPED CRUSADER giving a nice trail to PAINTE. GRUNDERZEIT was wide with no cover back in the field. GRUNDERZEIT and SONIC SWISH bumped 300m from home, the smaller SONIC SWISH getting pushed back in.
The Result
PAINTE (1st) came around the leaders and drove to a narrow win over DISGRACEFUL (2nd), who had sprinted into the race before peaking late. CAPED CRUSADER (3rd) stuck on pretty well.
The Interest
Not a very high quality race and the professional place-getter PAINTE had everything go his way. Pride suggested to Stewards he would be ridden with cover and he got the perfect run. A good solid performance again from a genuine horse. The three behind are the ones to follow though, DISGRACEFUL (good fresh here), CAPED CRUSADER (wants further) and GRUNDERZEIT (stuck wide). TURBULENT JET bled and will be retired. Follow DISGRACEFUL and CAPED CRUSADER. Forgive GRUNDERZEIT.
Race 3 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
Good Rosehill form holds true
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Engineer | Mark Mason | Tye Angland | 14 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Flash in the Dark | Keith Dryden | Ms Winona Costin | 9 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Desert Marshal | Jane Clement | Taylor Marshall | 12 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
DESERT MARSHAL, ROYAL ENGINEER and DYLAN'S DYNASTY looked good, strong and well, DE LA HOYA was on his toes, KING'S OFFICER is only light/lean and CORRESPONDENT hot/keen. CIRCLE GAME looked OK, a touch warm.
In The Running
FLASH IN THE DARK and LIPREAD both went forward and put the pressure on. DESERT MARSHAL was behind them with ROYAL ENGINEER on his back.
The Result
FLASH IN THE DARK (2nd) kept going in the straight, but couldn't hold out ROYAL ENGINEER (1st). DESERT MARSHAL (3rd) fought on OK. KING'S OFFICER (4th) flew home and CORRESPONDENT (7th) didn't find much room.
The Interest
ROYAL ENGINEER had a 2nd to Rose of Man to his credit at Rosehill, good form for this! The leaders all ran solid time up front and the swoopers had their chance to run them down. Only KING'S OFFICER and CORRESPONDENT (unlucky) made any impression from the back. Young James Innes sent back to riding school for his 'stop start' ride on CORRESPONDENT. He did look a touch 'green' in the saddle. Follow FLASH IN THE DARK and ROYAL ENGINEER. Forgive CORRESPONDENT.
Race 4 MORE THAN READY HANDICAP
Waller power too much for the fillies
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encosta Line | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 13 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Chandana | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 14 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Romantic Maid | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Michael Rodd | 6 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
No real knocks, ROMANTIC MAID looked neat and strong, RODRICO fit and well, CHANDANA is a nice type but does she have the sprint?
In The Running
POWER OF PATCH came across and led from ENCOSTA LINE and there wasn't much pressure on. RODRICO had a nice trail behind. ROMANTIC MAID started her run on the turn.
The Result
ENCOSTA LINE (1st) broke clear in the straight for a big win over CHANDANA (2nd) who just caught ROMANTIC MAID (3rd) on the line. RODRICO (4th) was close up too.
The Interest
He's a horse that has shown some talent and if you (i) took out all his Warwick Farm form (hates the track!) and (ii) thought he would get the distance, the prospects looked OK. The steady speed suited him perfectly and he simply maintained a long sprint down the straight as the challenges from the fillies waned. Both ROMANTIC MAID and CHANDANA were honest enough, the Kiwi not showing the turn-of-foot she had shown in easier grade in NZ. TATOOSH put in a couple of good sectionals again.. We couldn't make him a follow, could we!? Follow ENCOSTA LINE, ROMANTICA MAID, CHANDANA and TATOOSH.
Race 5 MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS HANDICAP
Another win on the way to Queensland
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Bacchus | Joseph Pride | Rory Hutchings | 3 | 60.5 | |
| 2 | Lucky Fish | Brent Stanley | James Innes Jnr | 1 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Reincarnate | Shawn Mathrick | Andrew Adkins | 13 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
LUCKY FISH looked powerful and ready to go, ZARA BAY looked nice too fresh, SIR BACCHUS muscular and OK, both SAMPEAH and REINCARNATE looked well for Godolphin.
In The Running
LUCKY FISH went forward and rolled along from ROGUISH on his outside and REINCARNATE three-wide no cover. SIR BACCHUS was back in the pack.
The Result
LUCK FISH (2nd) broke a couple of lengths clear, but couldn't hold out the rapid finish of SIR BACCHUS (1st) out wider. REINCARNATE (3rd) and ROGUISH (4th) didn't shirk their task.
The Interest
These leaders got tired and SIR BACCHUS produced a rapid finish, the only horse in the race with more to give on the line. He's a classy galloper and heads to Queensland now. Still some evidence here though that he doesn't love getting cluttered up - a big Handicap could be a risk? LUCKY FISH was the best weighted horse in the race and did well. REINCARNATE good out wider. Follow SIR BACCHUS. Forgive REINCARNATE.
Race 6 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
Another plan comes off for Waller
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Religify | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Rockolicious | Darren Weir | Taylor Marshall | 1 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Grande Punto | Allan Denham | Andrew Adkins | 4 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
The classy types GOD'S IN HIM and START WONDERING both looked fit enough fresh, START WONDERING is a more athletic type. RELIGIFY looked very fit and had a shiny coat.. ROCKOLICIOUS and GRANDE PUNTO looked well. A good race!
In The Running
As expected RELIGIFY took up the running from ROCKOLICIOUS in the box seat START WONDERING got back in the field.
The Result
RELIGIFY (1st) rolled along and kept going to just hold off ROCKOLICIOUS (2nd) in a close finish. GRANDE PUNTO (3rd) ran on solidly in front of GOD'S IN HIM (4th)
The Interest
The dry-tracker RELIGIFY has been in flying form lately and relished getting back to Rosehill's 1350m after a good run at Randwick. He had to give a full 7.5kg to the runner-up! GRANDE PUNTO also had a weight pull on GOD'S IN HIM and managed to beat him into a place. The only other horse with any Rosehill form was START WONDERING, who reeled off rapid sectionals from the 600m to the 200m and unfortunately bled in the run. He'll be banned for three months now. Forgive START WONDERING.
Race 7 LORD MAYORS CUP
Gai's charger leads from barrier to box
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecuador | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 7 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Lady Le Fay | Chris Waller | Greg Ryan | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Havana Cooler | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 15 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
HAVANA COOLER and INDEX LINKED are quite muscular and could suit a firm track, SENSE OF OCCASION paraded quite well second-up, LADY LE FAY holds condition nicely.
In The Running
ECUADOR was aggressively ridden to lead and the roughie DISCLAIMER moved up on his outside. LADY LE FAY and HAVANA COOLER got back.
The Result
ECUADOR came wider on the track and fought gamely to hold a margin on LADY LE FAY (2nd), who ran on well down the outside. HAVANA COOLER (3rd) made ground from the back in-front of a real pack of horses.
The Interest
Clear margins help us here, ECUADOR a very high-rating 2000m horse lately and LADY LE FAY in great form. There were some questions about the winner after a so-so run at Hawkesbury the week before. It's hard to follow the form on that shifty track and he produced the level of performance that saw him come 6th in a G1 Mackinnon. LADY LE FAY very good and the rest just OK. SHOREHAM unfortunately bled. Follow ECUADOR (if he leads over 2000m) and LADY LE FAY.
Race 8 PRO-RIDE HANDICAP
This girl is a real racehorse!
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daysee Doom | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Pioneering | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 1 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Way Too Good | James Cummings | Michael Rodd | 5 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
OUR RENAISSANCE looked well in the yard, WAY TOO GOOD, FREEZE THE CHARGES, DAYSEE DOOM and BONETE also looked good, all muscular. PIONEERING and MINNESOTA are athletic but may lack the power needed?
In The Running
FREEZE THE CHARGES led from WAY TOO GOOD. DAYSEE DOOM moved up to a good spot after a midfield jump. PIONEERING jumped well and wasn't far off them.
The Result
WAY TOO GOOD (3rd) took over briefly before a two-horse war was staged between DAYSEE DOOM (1st) and PIONEERING (2nd), a very close finish.
The Interest
Most of this went to script apart from the last 100m. What was a small muscular sprinter doing showing more stamina late than Waller's 1400m+ horse PIONEERING? She is a serious racehorse and super-genuine. The only worry is whether her smaller frame gives her the scope to get to the higher grades. Follow DAYSEE DOOM and PIONEERING.
Race 9 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moher | James Cummings | Andrew Adkins | 20 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Gambler's Blues | Tim Martin | Yusuke Ichikawa | 4 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | Tender | Joseph Pride | Ms Deanne Panya | 14 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
Waller's LIBERTY ISLAND, MONTAUK and SO WILLIE looked well, MOHER still fine and has a sprint, the mares AMAZON, TENDER and SANTA ROCKS good. ZABEELIONS a touch lean, ZATOPAZ needs further.