Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 02 July 2016
The sun was out for a beautiful afternoon at Rosehill Gardens and racing took place on a genuine SOFT 5 track.
Two Listed-level races highlighted the card and they were both won by rising seven-year-olds, the 2,400 metre ATC Winter Handicap taken out by TUCANCHOO and the 1,350 metre Civic Stakes by NINTH LEGION.
Age wasn't all they had in common, TUCANCHOO a member of the Hawkes stable and NINTH LEGION a new recruit for Peter Robl after spending most of his career with the Hawkes team too. Robl has shown real patience and was rewarded with back-to-back Listed wins for his new stable star.
Chris Waller once again registered a couple of winners and the day had kicked off with an exciting duel between his talented two-year-olds AWOKE (Rip Van Winkle x Viviane) and FOXPLAY (Foxwedge x Butters).
FOXPLAY was favoured in markets, but AWOKE managed to sneak home by a small margin after a tussle down the length of the Rosehill Gardens straight. There was a massive four lengths back to COGLIERE in third.
In other races, Gerald Ryan's SUBORIC continued an unbeaten campaign in Race 6 and THUD was the unlucky runner of the day, getting held up on the inside before a close second to Waller's PIONEERING in Race 8.
A full review will be on-line Sunday 7pm.
Track Info
| Rail | +7 metres |
| Conditions | SOFT 5 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
A stirring duel to start the day
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awoke | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Foxplay | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 7 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Cogliere | Marc Quinn | Andrew Adkins | 4 | 57.0 |
In The Running
MOOHARIBA led from OCTAVIAN AUGUSTUS and FOXPLAY, who had jumped well. AWOKE was in midfield.
The Result
AWOKE (1st) came to the outside and duelled with FOXPLAY (2nd) down the straight. They put 4 lengths on COGLIERE (3rd) running on.
The Interest
A stirring finish to start the day between two very promising Waller youngsters. Stewards questioned Shinn about his ride on FOXPLAY, riding hands and heels as Avdulla descended on the winner with vigour. It's just the way they ride most days of the week. Both good horses to follow given the margin. Follow AWOKE and FOXPLAY.
Race 2 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
Stick with the best form in a mares race
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pindan Pearl | Tim Martin | Tye Angland | 4 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Song And Laughter | Richard Litt | Jason Collett | 7 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Destination Tucson | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 6 | 53.0 |
In The Running
KONTIKI DANE took up the running from PINDAN PEARL early while MY FAIR LADY and SHELLEY'S GIRL over-raced behind. MY FAIR LADY was allowed to stride to the lead mid-race.
The Result
PINDAN PEARL (1st) quickened to the lead and held off SONG AND LAUGHTER (2nd), who ran on from the back. DESTINATION TUCSON (3rd) sustained a solid run.
The Interest
A tricky race in paper and the two in-form mares ended up beng the ones to follow. PINDAN PEARL and SONG AND LAUGHTER both at the peak of their powers. DESTINATION TUCSON shapes as a horse that could handle further (..but that failed last time she tried). MY FAIR LADY was never comfortable stepping up in distance quickly. Forgive MY FAIR LADY.
Race 3 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
Way too strong at the finish
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Sasso | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 3 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Glenbawn Dame | Peter Robl | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Hurrara | Garry Frazer | Koby Jennings | 1 | 61.0 |
In The Running
FREEZE THE CHARGES led from AROUSED with GLENBAWN DAME and EL SASSO getting the nice trail behind. HURRARA couldn't muster and settled in midfield.
The Result
EL SASSO (1st) moved up and surged clear late to beat home GLENBAWN DAME (2nd) and HURRARA (3rd), who ran on up the inside.
The Interest
He found the right run, relished the soft conditions and didn't get out-sprinted like he sometimes does at Rosehill, a great win to EL SASSO. He can get even better over 1200m at Randwick. And what about HURRARA! In hindsight, his run was very similar to Decision Time (since run well) at his previous start. Great to see the old guy back near his best. FREEZE THE CHARGES weak at the finish. Follow EL SASSO.
Race 4 ATC WINTER CUP
Patience from Reith gets the fav' home
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucanchoo | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Christian Reith | 5 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Junoob | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 4 | 61.0 | |
| 3 | Foreign Prince | David Payne | Jason Collett | 6 | 56.0 |
In The Running
JUNOOB worked across to lead from TUCANCHOO, but SWIFT LADY took off to lead mid-race and got then rolling for home early.
The Result
TUCANCHOO (1st) fought on best to beat JUNOOB (2nd), who stuck on bravely. FOREIGN PRINCE (3rd) a few lengths behind.
The Interest
A stop start affair and Reith held his nerve as the pressure went on. A great ride. The way the race set up suited JUNOOB nicely, but he was still brave with the big weight. LOOPHOLE didn't stay the trip and can improve next start. FOREIGN PRINCE an OK run. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 5 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erika | John Bateman | Blake Shinn | 9 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Rosaruby | Joe Cleary | Shaun Guymer | 3 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Just Good | John Sprague | Andrew Adkins | 1 | 54.0 |
Race 6 CLUB MARCONI HANDICAP
A big win from an impossible position
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suboric | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Mitchell Bell | 4 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Dubaiinstyle | Kris Lees | Tye Angland | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Classic Uniform | Gary Moore | Tim Clark | 10 | 60.0 |
In The Running
CLASSIC UNIFORM took up the running from VANDERKEMP and they controlled a STEADY tempo.
The Result
In a blanket finish, SUBORIC (1st) got to the outside and powered late to narrowly beat DUBAIINSTYLE (2nd), who also hit the line. CLASSIC UNIFORM (3rd).
The Interest
Only 0.9 lengths between 1st and 7th thanks to the slow speed, making the runs of the first two even more impressive. SUBORIC is a different horse this prep and DUBAIINSTYLE will be very hard to beat over a mile at Randwick next start. Hard to see them both not winning next time, unless they are in the same race! Follow SUBORIC and DUBAIINSTYLE.
Race 7 CIVIC STAKES
This warhorse is much too tough
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ninth Legion | Peter Robl | Sam Clipperton | 9 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Better Not Blue | Michelle Ritchie | Taylor Marshall | 7 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Vergara | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Jason Collett | 5 | 55.0 |
In The Running
OXFORD POET took up the running from NINTH LEGION, who was urged forward. VERGARA got the box seat and MARENOSTRO stuck wide.
The Result
NINTH LEGION (1st) got rolling for home early and held off the late challenge from BETTER NOT BLUE (2nd), who charged late. VERGARA (3rd) snuck through for a place.
The Interest
The ex-Hawkes galloper NINTH LEGION is going great guns for Robl, winning back-to-back Listed races now. He was simply too tough up on speed. BETTER NOT BLUE settled better than usual and produced a career best here. Not much between the rest, including the solid, but unspectacular OXFORD POET (5th). Forgive MARENOSTRO.
Race 8 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
Young James goes bang as Shinn hits another wall
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pioneering | Chris Waller | James Innes Jnr | 4 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Thud | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Butterboom | Joseph Pride | Tim Clark | 5 | 58.0 |
In The Running
BUTTERBOOM led from FLAMBOYANT LASS and BONETE out wider. THUD found the box seat and PIONEERING was in midfield.
The Result
PIONEERING (1st) found space and surged at them late, from THUD (2nd), who was badly blocked and just missed. BUTTERBOOM (3rd) and FLAMBOYANT LASS (4th) just behind.
The Interest
The best two runs came from the top two places, but they should have finished the other way around! No luck again for THUD with Shinn on board, who is now to serve a suspension for his ride on the horse last start. PIONEERING fitter now, she finally hit the line. WINE TALES and MANDALONG KISS two nice runs back in the pack for next time. Follow THUD.
Race 9 TAB MORE THAN JUST WINNING HANDICAP
Joe Pride dines out in the last
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wine 'n' Dine | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 2 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Final Decision | Jason Coyle | Brenton Avdulla | 16 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Avonaco | Chris Waller | Koby Jennings | 9 | 61.5 |
In The Running
VITE LONI jumped nicely from the rail to hold out GAMBLER'S BLUES who had to work across from out outside gate. AVONACO led the chasing pack. CONSIGN and FINAL DECSION went back after the jump, while BOLD CIRCLE raced wide without cover.
The Result
AVONACO (3rd) ran up out wider to lead at the 150m only to peak late and see WINE 'N' DINE (1st) finish best on his inside in front of a wall of horses including FINAL DECISION (2nd) who weaved through late from the fast finishing OBSIDIAN (4th).
The Interest
Only two lengths covered the first six over the line so be careful with the overall form out of the race. WINE 'N'DINE' is thriving on the winter tracks and is right at the peak of his fitness. FINAL DECISION hadn't showed a great deal of form this preparation and enjoyed the step up to his more favoured distance and track. AVONACO did the chasing and his run may have peaked in the straight and look for him back in trip. Eye-catchers from OBSIDIAN who flashed home out wide and CONSIGN through the pack. Follow OBSIDIAN and CONSIGN. Forgive BOLD CIRCLE (wide throughout)