Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 22 October 2016
“It’s like a dream. Simple as that.”
Chris Waller was emotional after WINX destroyed the best Australia has to offer in the Cox Plate today for the second year in a row. Everyone that watched the race knew they were witnessing something special, a mare that has the heart of a warrior and the elegance of an equestrian.
Up at Royal Randwick, the racing was competitive if not the same quality as The Valley's card. MORE TO GAIN (picture) produced another big finish to score a much deserved win over 1,600 metres and a few races earlier ROCK FORTHE LADIES and RELIGIFY gave the crowd a stirring duel down the length of the straight.
After morning rain the track managers decided that a SOFT 7 was appropriate. An odd call it seems as the times ran were fast and dry trackers ran well all day.
A full review from the yard to the post is on-line now.
pic credit: @atc_races
Track Info
| Rail | +4m |
| Conditions | SOFT 6 (raced like GOOD track) |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 #THERACES HANDICAP
A better behaved filly this time
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Invincibella | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 3 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Man From Uncle | Dane Smith | Bobby El-Issa | 4 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Miss Ballantine | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 1 | 55.5 |
In The Running
MISS BALLANTINE led from a keen CHAPELCO at a FAIR tempo, with WALK RIGHT IN a touch keen behind them and INVINCIBELLA settled well in the box seat.
The Result
INVINCIBELLA (1st) moved through and quickened, striding away for an easy win. MAN FROM UNCLE (2nd) made some ground up the inside and MISS BALLANTINE (3rd) battled on). MARGINS 2.8L x 0.8L x 4L.
The Interest
Some keen going horses in this and the one that usually races keenly settled like a lamb! Jason Collett got the promising INVINCIBELLA to do everything right and she did the rest. CHAPELCO ran himself into the ground and WALK RIGHT IN didn't do himself any favours, especially for a horse that doesn't seem to stay 1400m. MISS BALLANTINE very honest in the lead. Straight away from the times you could see this was playing like a GOOD track. Follow INVINCIBELLA.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fifteen Sunflowers | Clare Cunningham | Jason Collett | 11 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Lunar Duchess | Brett Cavanough | Jay Ford | 2 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Bulls 'n' Bears | Cody Morgan | Matthew McGillivray | 4 | 59.0 |
Race 3 GEOHEX SPRINT
Too much power back in distance
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nieta | John Thompson | Joshua Parr | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Top Striker | Gregory Hickman | Jason Collett | 10 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Rose of Man | Terry Robinson | Tommy Berry | 1 | 56.5 |
In The Running
TOP STRIKER jumped well and led at a FAIR tempo from BROOKLYN STORM. ISORISH was behind them and CLEAR THE BEACH wide no cover. NIETA had a nice trail in midfield. EMINENT DUKE was slow to begin.
The Result
NIETA (1st) peeled to the outside and dashed past a brave TOP STRIKER (2nd). ROSE OF MAN (3rd) couldn't match them running on from midfield. MARGINS 1L x 1.8L x 0.3L.
The Interest
Two dominant performances over the short trip. NIETA had everything laid out for her and she showed her class after a poor 1400m run last start. What a sprint!(10.49 second 400m to 200m). TOP STRIKER very strong on-pace, while ROSE OF MAN (better second-up) and CLEAR THE BEACH (5th, stuck wide) both did enough fresh. Once again note this was NOT a SLOW track. Treat it as GOOD. Follow NIETA and TOP STRIKER. Forgive CLEAR THE BEACH.
Race 4 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
Tim Clark teaches them a lesson
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reincarnate | Shawn Mathrick | Tim Clark | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Sir Plush | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 1 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Onerous | Mitchell Beer | Rory Hutchings | 6 | 61.0 |
In The Running
REINCARNATE took up the lead and controlled a STEADY tempo from KING'S OFFICER and SIR PLUSH, who was a touch keen on the inside.
The Result
REINCARNATE (1st) produced a big sprint into the straight and held off SIR PLUSH (2nd), who chased hard. A big gap to ONEROUS (3rd).
The Interest
Tim Clark took control of the race and rated REINCARNATE perfectly in the run. He's a big strong horse that proved he can sustain a sprint more than most of these (more POWER) and SIR PLUSH simply couldn't keep up his max speed for as long. ONEROUS on the improve and SUSPENSE just OK. Follow SIR PLUSH in more suitable race.
Race 5 FILANTE HANDICAP
A stirring duel down the straight
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rock Forthe Ladies | Clare Cunningham | Tim Clark | 2 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Religify | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 7 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Destiny's Kiss | Joseph Pride | Jason Collett | 3 | 59.5 |
In The Running
LUNAR RISE jumped well and took up a posi'. RELIGIFY worked across to lead from MR GUSTAVO, who held the rails. ROCK FORTHE LADIES stalked in midfield.
The Result
RELIGIFY (2nd) strode up and took over, before ROCK FORTHE LADIES (1st) joined in and edged him out. A gap back to DESTINY'S KISS (3rd) running on.
The Interest
The margin to 3rd suggests there's only two horses to focus on in this race. RELIGIFY has come back in great form and was very brave, only losing out to the well-ridden ROCK FORTHE LADIES (Tim Clark agani!). Note again the GOOD track these horses were racing on, it wasn't as wet as labelled, which suited RELIGIFY. Both horses to follow. MR GUSTAVO was well-backed and looked fit in the yard so it remains to see if the Kiwi import has any improvement in him. DESTINY'S KISS will improve up in distance. Follow ROCK FORTHE LADIES and RELIGIFY.
Race 6 IGA LIQUOR HANDICAP
Waller's gang dominates again
slow tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Giuliano | Chris Waller | Joshua Parr | 9 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Hipparchus | Glenn Thornton | Rory Hutchings | 8 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | Encosta Line | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 10 | 58.5 |
In The Running
SOVIET COURAGE took up the lead from ENCOSTA LINE at a SLOW tempo. MY GIULIANO in the box seat.
The Result
In a sprint home, MY GIULIANO (1st) dashed up the inside of the pack and held off HIPPARCHUS (2nd), who chased gamely. ENCOSTA LINE (3rd) and SOVIET COURAGE (4th) just behind them. MARGINS 0.5L x 2L.
The Interest
Five out of the six that ran were Waller horses and the fav' out of those ran last. A familiar tale? MY GIULIANO has a good record on SOFT tracks, but this was a GOOD surface and he sprinted well once again, just like he did at Rosehill a couple of starts ago. HIPPARCHUS not suited by the tempo and the one to follow, along with ENCOSTA LINE, who is best on a dry Rosehill track. VASSAL not himself. Follow HIPPARCHUS.
Race 7 ALCONEX FIRE HANDICAP
'Street fighter' Daysee knocks them out
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daysee Doom | Ron Quinton | Andrew Adkins | 7 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Countess Marinov | David Payne | Ms Deanne Panya | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Circular | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Nick Heywood | 6 | 60.5 |
In The Running
COUNTESS MARINOV went to the lead at a STRONG tempo from SORT AFTER and HEAVENLY ANNA. DAYSEE DOOM settled in 4th and LANI GIRL was stuck wide no cover. CIRCULAR was slow to begin and moved up the inside into midfield.
The Result
DAYSEE DOOM (1st) came wider and dug in to surge past them late. COUNTESS MARINOV (2nd) fought on well and CIRCULAR (3rd) just grabbed SORT AFTER (4th) on the line. LANI GIRL (5th) didn't shirk her task. MARGINS 1.3L x 0.3L x 0.1L.
The Interest
The horses back in the field had their chance here and DAYSEE DOOM proved she can handle the 1400m with ease. A small genuine daughter of Domesday, all the signs were there that she would enjoy it and Ron Quinton got her right on the day. COUNTESS MARINOV going very well in Sydney, but this was a 'gut buster' for her. SORT AFTER (better at 1300m?) and CIRCULAR (would have preferred an actual wet track) both good too. And what about LANI GIRL at massive odds, her form ratings were fine and she did well after getting stuck wide. Follow DAYSEE DOOM, SORT AFTER, CIRCULAR. Forgive LANI GIRL.
Race 8 CAPITAL BLUESTONE HANDICAP
Peter Wells weaves through the pack
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | More to Gain | Amanda Turner | Peter Wells | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Balmain Boy | Les Bridge | Tim Clark | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Happy Hannah | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Joshua Parr | 12 | 59.0 |
In The Running
DANCE OF HEROES was stuck wide and strode to the lead from O'REILLY'S REVENGE and BALMAIN BOY. MULTIFACETS stuck wide. FALKENBERG, MORE TO GAIN and HAPPY HANNAH all got back.
The Result
BALMAIN BOY (2nd) moved up and took over, but MORE TO GAIN (1st) sliced through the pack and hit the line very hard to win. HAPPY HANNAH (3rd) and FALKENBERG (4th) both ran on well out wider. MARGINS 1.3L x 0.8L x 0.3L.
The Interest
Class rose to the top in this race, MORE TO GAIN, HAPPY HANNAH and FALKENBERG all producing very strong runs from the back. MORE TO GAIN has the bias against last start and chased home a G1-placed horse so no surprise to see him win. BALMAIN BOY honest, but HAPPY HANNAH and FALKENBERG produced bigger efforts. FALKENBERG crying out for 1800m+ now. NOT A GYPSY well-backed and out-sprinted before hitting the line late. The firm track didn't suit, although the form out of that Warwick Farm race didn't measure up. Follow MORE TO GAIN and FALKENBERG (up in distance).
Race 9 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
Nose and nose to the line
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muraqaba | Jackson Pallot | Jason Collett | 15 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Choice We Had | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Man of Choice | Brad Widdup | Joshua Parr | 13 | 61.5 |
In The Running
MON PERE took over to lead from NAT KING KU and MURAQABA wide no cover. WINE'N'DINE just behind them. MAN OF CHOICE wide with cover. CHOICE WE HAD in the box seat.
The Result
CHOICE WE HAD (2nd) moved through the pack and challenged MURAQABA (1st), who both chased very genuinely to the line and only the judge could split them. MAN OF CHOICE not far away in a close finish. A gap to 4th. MARGINS 0.1L x 0.5L x 1.5L.
The Interest
CHOICE WE HAD is a very honest type and MURAQABA usually is too. The problem with the winner had been poor form last prep and two weak looking trials. But, the Cummings stable have a habit of 'making' their horses look bad in the warm-ups before they run well. He's back now! MAN OF CHOICE very brave and MON PERE (4th) once again would have preferred it to be a 'real' wet track. ALL BUT GONE and DINGHU MOUNTAIN OK. They both prefer a stronger tempo. No Follows or Forgives.