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
ConditionsSOFT 6 (raced like GOOD track)
WeatherFINE
BiasOFF 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 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.



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