Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 09 July 2016
Royal Randwick was at it's most testing today in HEAVY conditions, races decided in an energy-sapping slog down the long straight.
No other horse enjoyed the track more than Godolphin's mudlark FAROLITOS, who won the highest rating race of the day at BM 92 level by a widening margin. He's a horse that finds a few lengths over the Randwick mile in the winter months and Bowman produced the perfect ride to conserve him for a barnstorming finish.
James Cummings' promising sprinter BURNING PASSION also scored by a big margin earlier in the day over 1,200 metres. The young trainer has found the key to this son of Northern Meteor now, a big-striding type that was tried over longer distances last campaign. He's the horse to follow from the meeting given he handles dry ground too.
And grinding stayer MAJOR MAJOR found the ideal set-up to sneak another win. He'd won a Randwick staying event by a massive margin two years ago, but had to do with half a length over the bold front-runner LIE DIRECT this time.
In the upset of the day, 60/1 shot THUNDER ROAD thundered home to win the Tab Highway Handicap coming off a lower grade win at Moruya.
A full review will be on-line Sunday at 6pm.
Track Info
| Rail | +11 metres |
| Conditions | HEAVY 9 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
Grinding all chasers into the Randwick turf
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thronum | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Tommy Berry | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Morton's Fork | Lindsey Smith | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Who Said It's Easy | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tim Clark | 8 | 56.0 |
In The Running
THRONUM went to the lead from WHO SAID IT'S EASY. GOLDEN ORGANIC was three wide behind them. MORTON'S FORK pushed along at the back of the pack. OCEAN CITY a few lengths off at the tail. They rolled along at a STRONG tempo.
The Result
THRONUM (1st) came wider and drew clear of the tiring chasers, led by MORTON'S FORK (2nd) up the inside and WHO SAID IT'S EASY (3rd).
The Interest
Dominant. That's the only way you can describe this win, Gai Waterhouses THRONUM coming off a debut win over 1000m and jumping a few lengths in the ratings up to 1200m and on testing ground. Tommy Berry simply ground them into the turf! A strange ride on MORON'S FORK, who was getting the nice trail behind the pack, but Avdulla insisted in bustling him along right from the start. Not a bad effort in the circumstances. Follow THRONUM and MORTON'S FORK.
Race 2 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
More luck this time for Godolphin
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Badajoz | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 5 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Noble Joey | Robert & Luke Price | Ms Winona Costin | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Elemenohpee | Dennis Bush | Christian Reith | 3 | 60.5 |
In The Running
NOBLE JOEY went through to lead from ITALIAN SON and set a FAIR tempo. ELEMENOHPEE just behind the leaders and BADAJOZ taking the trail in fifth.
The Result
BADAJOZ (1st) cruised up out wider and sprinted to challenge, just beating NOBLE JOEY (2nd), who kept kicking and ELEMENOHPEE (3rd) in a close finish. A gap back to 4th.
The Interest
NOBLE JOEY is getting a reputation as a leader that doesn't lie down on these winter tracks and Avdulla had to lift BADAJOZ over the line after he'd looked like a big winner 200m from home. The Godolphin galloper was very unlucky last start and deserved to break through this prep. The top three clearly the best horses in this race and ELEMENOHPEE still the one to follow back to drier ground. Follow ELEMENOHPEE.
Race 3 THE MICK "CRUSHER" KERR MEMORIAL HANDICAP
Another genuine Waller stayer on the scene
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Firebird Flyer | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 1 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Storm System | Robbie Laing | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | More Than Fabulous | David Payne | Andrew Adkins | 7 | 58.5 |
In The Running
FAT CHAP rolled forward to take the lead from LOOKIN' AT YOU and STORM SYSTEM. MORE THAN FABULOUS behind them and MOST EXALTED racing keenly at the back. FIREBIRD FLYER settled OK back on the inside in last place. A steady tempo early and they got rolling for home early, making it FAIR overall (stop-start).
The Result
In a close finish, FIREBIRD FLYER (1st) kept coming through the centre of the pack to nose out STORM SYSTEM (2nd) and MORE THAN FABULOUS (3rd). MOST EXALTED (4th) and FAT CHAP (5th) not far away.
The Interest
A few tempo tricks in this race and FIREBIRD FLYER proved she is the ultimate professional up in distance. What else would you expect from Waller! STORM SYSTEM better back at Randwick this time and the form-line of MORE THAN FABULOUS and MOST EXALTED wasn't disgraced, but they were always too short in the market for horses that rarely win. BON EQUUS disappointing. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 4 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thunder Road | Emma Longmire | James Innes Jnr | 4 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | She's Invincible | Jenny Graham | Tye Angland | 5 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Grand Rouge | Terry Robinson | Sam Clipperton | 9 | 56.0 |
Race 5 MYBOYCHARLIE @ VINERY HANDICAP
Cummings finds the key to this young sprinter
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burning Passion | Mark Newnham | Kerrin McEvoy | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Slydini | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Powerline | Kris Lees | Koby Jennings | 8 | 61.0 |
In The Running
PAINTE went through to lead from COSMOPOL and BURNING PASSION out wider. ALART was slow and got hurried to take the box seat. SLYDINI back to last.
The Result
BURNING PASSION (1st) booted clear of the field for a big win. SLYDINI (2nd) ran home well from the back and POWERLINE (3rd) fought on OK.
The Interest
Wow! James Cummings has found the key to this galloper, who returned with a good run before a very impressive trial win. He put the writing on the wall there and produced a massive performance to win in quick time (1:12.66). Expect him to be kept fresh and pop up again in a few weeks time. SLYDINI an absolute swimmer and POWERLINE in good form. Don't be too harsh on PAINTE, who got into a tricky spot with the off rails bias. And why did they send around poor ALART in the mud? She finished last. Follow BURNING PASSION.
Race 6 ATC HERITAGE SOCIETY 6TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP
Too much grit from this tough guy
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major Major | Gregory Hickman | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Lie Direct | Steve Englebrecht | Ms Deanne Panya | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Swift Lady | John Sargent | Matthew McGillivray | 1 | 55.0 |
In The Running
A steady tempo early set by LIE DIRECT before ZATOPAZ put some pressure on and made sure it was STRONG for most of the race. SWIFT LADY in midfield on the inside with MAJOR MAJOR on her back. DEFROST MY HEART back with them too.
The Result
In a real slog to the finish MAJOR MAJOR (1st) came up the inside and surged late to beat LIE DIRECT (2nd). SWIFT LADY (3rd) and DEFROST MY HEART (4th) just behind them.
The Interest
He has come back in much better form this prep for Greg Hickman following a short stint with Jim Litt. Unlucky at Gosford before running on off steady tempos his next two starts, MAJOR MAJOR got the honest tempo he needed today and showed his staying strength. Winning despite Avdulla weighing in 1kg overweight. DEFROST MY HEART on the other hand didn't relish the testing tempo, she's in great form and has a better sprint than most of these winter stayers. LIE DIRECT and SWIFT LADY both good too. Poor fav' EL NOVIO off for a spell. Follow DEFROST MY HEART (steadier tempo).
Race 7 SHOOT OUT MILE
Horses for courses on a wet Randwick track
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farolitos | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Zayam | Matthew Smith | Tim Clark | 9 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Himalaya Dream | Todd Balfour | Tommy Berry | 2 | 57.0 |
In The Running
SEBRINA went forward to lead with BLACK JAG on her inside and ZAYAM behind them. FAROLITOS in clear galloping room in midfield.
The Result
FAROLITOS (1st) cruised up through the pack and surged clear out wider, from ZAYAM (2nd), who was the only horse that could stick with him. HIMALAYA DREAM (3rd) a few lengths off behind.
The Interest
"Horses for courses". If you believe in that saying at all, wet tracks and Randwick suit FAROLITOS better than almost any other galloper out there. He loves them! ZAYAM clearly ready to win up to 1800m next start and HIMALAYA DREAM ran well again... Is he even a horse to follow this time back to Rosehill? Follow ZAYAM (up in distance).
Race 8 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Big odds for a mare that loves the wet
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monogram | Darren Beadman | Tim Clark | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Harlem Lady | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Lycia | John O'Shea | Andrew Adkins | 1 | 55.5 |
In The Running
FLAMBOYANT LASS went to the lead and set a rolling FAIR tempo from RUSTIC MELODY on her back. TREE OF JESSE moved up and TENDER was stuck wide. They were a couple of lengths in front of LYCIA and MONOGRAM. HARLEM LADY back, but not too slow this time.
The Result
FLAMBOYANT LASS (4th) came wider and fought on with LYCIA (3rd), who had quickened up to join the leader but peaked on her run. MONOGRAM (1st) and HARLEM LADY (2nd) came to the outside and surged late.
The Interest
Not much between these mares with only 2.4 lengths between 1st and 6th. The big surprise was that MONGRAM was up to them first-up, although she had won fresh before. That was her 5th start in the wet for what is now 3 wins so in hindsight a better chance than the 40/1 the market had her rated as. Good runs from plenty behind her, little LYCIA just peaking on her run when it mattered. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 9 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
Terry from Tuncurry wins again!
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arise Augustus | Terry Evans | Mr Lester Grace | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Allez Chival | Lauri Parker | Ms Jess Taylor | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Encostanati | Bjorn Baker | Hugh Bowman | 9 | 60.0 |
In The Running
QUELL sped across to lead from MISS WICKED WANDA at a STRONG tempo from MINNESOTA, who was part of the speed battle early. ALLEZ CHIVAL behind them and ARISE AUGUSTUS ridden quietly back in the pack.
The Result
ARISE AUGUSTUS (1st) swept home down the outside from ALLEZ CHIVAL (2nd) and ENCOSTANATI (3rd).
The Interest
ARISE AUGUSTUS had never won on the heavy (6 starts for 0 wins) or over 1000m (11 starts for 0 wins) before today, but he'd never been in such good form too. A quiet ride and he was simply the strongest in a testing sprint, making it back-to-back city wins for Terry Evans. ALLEZ CHIVAL very brave from nearer the pace and the leaders knocked up badly. Follow ALLEZ CHIVAL.