Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 26 November 2016
Another firm track at Rosehill Gardens for the third week of racing in a row, home track hero Chris Waller racking up another four winners in the first six races.
The Kiwi trainer's dominance came as no surprise, but a winner at 60/1 did! THE RUMOUR FILE had only managed a 3rd in a six horse race at Cranbourne since joining the stable mid-way through 2015. He turned that all around today and swept home to beat the veteran HUNTER JACK by a nose.
Perhaps the best race of the day was the staying event over 2,400 metres. The well-backed MR STEAL set a testing gallop in the lead and Waller's SOVIET COURAGE stayed on best in a slog to the finish. The replay is a beautiful two minutes and twenty nine seconds for supporters of the 15/1 shot, Glyn Schofield weaving his way up the better inside ground from last.
One race later Waller's HOGMANAY led all the way to score a much-deserved win after having no luck first-up, and when the leader SNOOPY repeated the dose one race later the money started to come for the Hawkes-trained speedster INTERSTELLAR in Race 8.
She couldn't hold on though, the very game MADOTTI stamping her Magic Millions form with a narrow victory over the well-backed PEPPERBERRY.
A full review is on-line below.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | NEAR RAILS |
Race 1 BEDFORD CA HANDICAP
A classy filly on the rise
steady tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zumbelina | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 1 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Fiery Trail | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Joshua Parr | 2 | 59.5 | |
| 3 | Cadogan | Kevin Corstens | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 59.0 |
In The Running
FIERY TRAIL went to the lead and controlled a STEADY tempo. GOLD ARTISIAN, ZUMBELINA and CADOGAN the order in a small field. CADOGAN took off from the 500m mark and dashed to the lead.
The Result
ZUMBELINA (1st) got clear and was too strong, beating FIERY TRAIL (2nd) who fought on and CADOGAN (3rd), who's run peaked.
The Interest
She's on the way up and took care of these despite the big weight, a deserved win. A filly on the way to Autumn races now. CADOGAN had probably an ideal race set-up given his rapid sprint, but Avdulla decided to 'press the button' 500m from home. Probably not a wise choice for a horse that has been peaking on his run. Follow ZUMBELINA.
Race 2 GOLDNERS HORSE TRANSPORT GOLDEN GIFT
Gai's girl leads all the way
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serena Bay | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Reflectivity | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 9 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Ipso Facto | Mark Newnham | Blake Spriggs | 1 | 56.0 |
In The Running
SERENA BAY took up the lead from FLORID and IPSO FACTO, rolling along at a FAIR to STRONG tempo as the others chased. TERWILLIKER slow to begin.
The Result
SERANA BAY (1st) kept fighting and held off REFLECTIVITY (2nd), who dived late and only missed because he laid in. IPSO FACTO (3rd) edged out FLORID (4th).
The Interest
She'd had the run under her belt at Kembla over 900m and that helped her fight off the well-backed FLORID from on-pace. As for REFLECTIVITY, he cost himself (and anyone that backed him at $16!) the race with a touch of greeness. IPSO FACTO very solid. ALLIED POWER (6th) not bad out wider after being well-supported. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 3 HQ INSURANCE HANDICAP
Waller gets one home at monster odds
fair tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rumour File | Chris Waller | Joshua Parr | 7 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Hunter Jack | Tim Martin | Tye Angland | 5 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Shalmaneser | Lucy Longmire | Blaike McDougall | 3 | 56.5 |
In The Running
BALMAIN BOY worked around the outside and took up the lead from HUNTER JACK. A honest rolling FAIR to STRONG tempo was set up. MONTAUK was held up early in the straight.
The Result
THE RUMOUR FILE (1st) travelled well into the race from the back, edging wider and running on late to grab HUNTER JACK (2nd) on the line, who had fought off the other on-pacers. SHALMANESER (3rd) ran on well too. MONTAUK (4th) closed off once clear.
The Interest
He had been hitting the line like a pussy cat the last few starts, gets a freshen-up, and now roars home at $61! That's racing? A hard ask for punters to have any idea of what to make of this winner, a former import that finally turned it all around. HUNTER JACK so brave and deserved to win. He settled up on the pace with BALMAIN BOY (beaten 6.4L as fav', going for a spell now) and PIANISSIMO (beaten 9.2L). That's a big effort! MONTAUK didn't get much room 'til the 175m and should have figured in the finish. Follow HUNTER JACK. Forgive MONTAUK.
Race 4 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delightful Feeling | Matthew Dunn | Nick Heywood | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | The Nickster | Joe Cleary | Jay Ford | 13 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Gambled | Kurt Goldman | Brenton Avdulla | 1 | 55.5 |
Race 5 SIRE CUSTODIANS HANDICAP
Courage needed in a testing mile and a half
strong tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soviet Courage | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 12 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Danjeu | John Thompson | Blaike McDougall | 1 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | Zourkhan | Luke Berger | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 56.5 |
In The Running
HERNE'S OAK jumped best to lead and there was some early pressure that joined him. ASCOT RED worked forward and MR STEAL went to the lead under heavy riding. MY GIULIANO was wide early and worked up to second. A testing STRONG tempo was set up and SOVIET COURAGE drifted back to the rear.
The Result
DANJEU (2nd) moved up and took the lead before SOVIET COURAGE (1st) surged through up the inside and stayed on much too well for an easy win. ZOURKHAN (3rd) also ran on from the back nearer the inside.
The Interest
MR STEAL (5th) made this a true test, he's ready to win on a softer track next time, if he's come through this OK. They plodded home in 36.99 for the last 600m. Schofield was meant to go forward on SOVIET COURAGE, but he didn't have the early speed, which turned out to be the ideal. He showed his superior stamina and grabbed a much improved DANJEU. PURSUIT OF HONOUR (7th) made his run wider out and will now be spelled. MAVEN WIZ, HERNE'S OAK and ASCOT RED all poor. Vet: HERNE'S OAK had poor recovery, PINSTRIPE LANE lame in off-fore leg. Follow MR STEAL. Forgive PINSTRIPE LANE.
Race 6 THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS NSW HANDICAP
Young James Innes Jnr lands the plunge
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hogmanay | Chris Waller | James Innes Jnr | 13 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Unbiased | Cody Morgan | Tommy Berry | 2 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Embley | Bjorn Baker | Glyn Schofield | 5 | 58.5 |
In The Running
HOGMANAY was urged to the lead from out wide. FRANCESCO settled on his outside and EMINENT DUKE behind him. A FAIR tempo was set up.
The Result
HOGMANAY (1st) kept going strongly to win clearly, beating home UNBIASED (2nd), who ran on with EMBLEY (3rd).
The Interest
A very light weight and more aggressive riding tactics (which were announced) made the difference for another in-form Waller galloper. He was ever so unlucky first-up and had an amazing 5kg turnaround on UNBIASED from the same race. The money came and he delivered. You'd suggest UNBIASED improved into this run and can win next time on softer ground. SATYA (4th) found a race she could have been aggressive in, but the Hawkes stable took a conservative approach and she stayed on OK out wider. ASINARA and TRAFALGAR ready for further now. Follow UNBIASED, ASINARA and TRAFALGAR.
Race 7 #THERACES HANDICAP
Snoopy the top dog today
strong tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snoopy | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 10 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Unequivocal | Noel Mayfield-Smith | Jay Ford | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Wine Tales | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 2 | 55.0 |
In The Running
SNOOPY darted to the lead and set a STRONG gallop from MOHER, who worked up on the outside and GOLD AMBITION in the box seat.
The Result
SNOOPY (1st) broke clear of the other on-pacers before holding off the swoopers late. UNEQUIVOCAL (2nd) and WINE TALES (3rd) both ran on OK.
The Interest
He deserved a win and on 56.5kg was better weighted than some of the other classier types in this race. Tommy Berry set a very testing gallop, which suited UNEQUIVOCAL and WINE TALES. Don't be too harsh on MOHER (4th), GOLD AMBITION (6th, tightened) and even HIGH MIDNIGHT (5th), who all ran admirably. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 8 ROADWORK SOLUTIONS HANDICAP
A northern raid gets the prize
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madotti | Matthew Dunn | Tye Angland | 6 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Pepperberry | Stuart Webb | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Magic Alibi | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Joshua Parr | 5 | 60.5 |
In The Running
ZIN ZAN ELSIE was revved and settled outside the speedy INTERSTELLAR. DONELLE worked up on the outside of the leader mid-race.
The Result
MADOTTI (1st) came wider and ran on hard, narrowly beating PEPPERBERRY (2nd), who had fought on up the inside. MAGIC ALIBI (3rd) ran on from the back too and INTERSTELLAR (4th) was a couple of lengths behind.
The Interest
Matthew Dunn has been winning Highways for fun and now he's added a Sydney metro win to the mix. MADOTTI had form around Egyptian Symbol in January and proved her class after a 'so-so' prep last time in. PEPPERBERRY good on the firm track and MAGIC ALIBI enjoying being ridden quieter. INTERSTELLAR solid enough and perhaps does want it soft? Follow MADOTTI.
Race 9 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
No luck for young Heywood
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upscale | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Secret Trail | Peter & Paul Snowden | Nick Heywood | 14 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Firsthand | David Noonan | Tommy Berry | 6 | 58.5 |
In The Running
UPSCALE took up the running from NOBLE JOEY and FIRSTHAND. There wasn't much pressure early and they steadily increased the pace. SECRET TRAIL was stuck wide after a slowish jump.
The Result
UPSCALE (1st) kicked clear into the straight and held off a very game SECRET TRAIL (2nd), who cruised into the straight out wider and ran on well. FIRSTHAND (3rd) fought on.
The Interest
Could Heywood have used more vigor on SECRET TRAIL? The Stewards think so (inquiry), but he did give everything over the final 200m and just couldn't catch UPSCALE, who had a very nice run in the lead. Avdulla gets a 10 out of 10. Hard for others to make ground. Follow SECRET TRAIL. Forgive SECRET TRAIL.