Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 14 January 2017
Hot muggy conditions greeted punters at Royal Randwick today with temperatures close to 30 degress. It was uncomfortable at times, but nowhere near as hot as the Gold Coast. High humidity at the Magic Millions left most of the TV tipsters looking like they had stepped straight out of a sauna!
Only four horses lined up for the highest rated race of the day, a Hanidcap over 1,600 metres, and the money came for 'non-winner' GOLD AMBITION after he'd run 2nd, 4th and 2nd at his previous three starts.
It wasn't to be though again despite jumping as the $2.10 favourite, Waller's front-runner RELIGIFY breaking clear of the rest to win by three lengths on suitable firm ground.
The best in the saddle was clearly English jockey James Doyle, who has obviously acclimatised to the local conditions now. His four wins on the day took his Australian record to 12 wins from 49 starts since arriving in November.
A full review is on-line now.
Track Info
| Rail | +9m |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR to OFF RAILS |
Race 1 TAB REWARDS PLATE
Another smart Snitzel for the Ryan stable
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menari | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James Innes Jnr | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Taking Aim | Peter & Paul Snowden | Glyn Schofield | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Newburgh | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Jay Ford | 4 | 56.0 |
In The Running
PIRACY took up the running from TAKING AIM. MENARI a touch slow to begin, but found the box seat.
The Result
A big gap opened up and MENARI drove through to beat TAKING AIM (2nd), who tried hard. A big gap to NEWBRUGH (3rd) and MOMENTUM TO WIN (3rd) in a dead-heat. MARGINS 1.8L x 4.8L.
The Interest
The trials were impressive and even better for Gerald Ryan and connections, the race track manners of his latest Snitzel colt were good too. MENARI showed that he can settle with cover and quicken. All ticks for the debut run! TAKING AIM is really genuine in the last 200m and raced just a touch keenly. A horse worth following too. They ran good time and lapped the rest! PIRACY stopping again for last [vet: poor post-race recovery, respiratory distress and heat stress]. Follow MENARI an TAKING AIM.
Race 2 #THERACES HANDICAP
James Doyle and Godolphin make ammends
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raiment | James Cummings | James Doyle | 4 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Sangiovese | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 2 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Butterboom | Joseph Pride | Nick Heywood | 8 | 60.5 |
In The Running
SANGIOVESE took up the running from BUTTERBOOM with RAIMENT just behind them two wide with cover. COUNTESS MARINOV and MODHA raced keenly.
The Result
RAIMENT (1st) came wider and was too strong late under aggressive riding from James Doyle. SANGIOVESE (2nd) held on from BUTTERBOOM (3rd), ALASKAN WOLF (4th) and THELITTLERACKETEER (5th) in a close finish for the places. MARGINS 1.3L x 0.2L.
The Interest
She deserved to win this after an unlucky 2nd to In Her Time the start prior, RAIMENT probably ready for 1400m and better grades now. She's been strong to the line and did win over 1250m on HEAVY ground fresh. SANGIOVESE probably better to 1100m and OK today. COUNTESS MARINOV (6th) too fresh today and wants 1300m+ now. The keen-going MODHA perhaps better back to 1100m too? PIENKA in the report [vet: lame behind]. Follow RAIMENT.
Race 3 ALM HANDICAP
It's hard to beat a filly this tough!
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Improvement | Gary Portelli | Nick Heywood | 1 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Echo Effect | Kristen Buchanan | Paul King | 11 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Reach for Heaven | Kris Lees | Adam Hyeronimus | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Running
IMPROVEMENT drove through to lead from TORNADO OF SOULS and ECHO EFFECT, who was stuck wide with no cover. REACH FOR HEAVEN slowish and got back. PUMPKIN PIE came wider on the turn which pushed TREVISO wider.
The Result
IMPROVEMENT (1st) dug in and fought on to beat a brave ECHO EFFECT (2nd). REACH FOR HEAVEN (3rd) made ground up the inside and PUMPKIN PIE (4th) not far off. MARGINS 0.8L x 0.8L.
The Interest
What a little ripper! Five starts ago IMPROVEMENT debuted at Hawkesbury and was beaten by Montreal in a Maiden, a horse that ran on 5th in a city race next start. She's improved every time (...well, she would), winning her next four, to now be giving weight to the boys and beating up on them. ECHO EFFECT very good and REACH FOR HEAVEN made ground up the inside (not many did on the day). TREVISO (9th of 9) probably some excuses, wide and in the report [vet: poor post-race recovery]. Follow IMPROVEMENT, ECHO EFFECT and REACH FOR HEAVEN. Forgive ECHO EFFECT and TREVISO.
Race 4 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cogliere | Marc Quinn | Andrew Adkins | 8 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Zuzzudio | Norm Gardner | James Innes Jnr | 12 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | Al Cubana | Brett Cavanough | Glyn Schofield | 6 | 55.0 |
Race 5 MAROUBRA MILE
Blaike breaks clear on Waller's flyer
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Religify | Chris Waller | Blaike McDougall | 6 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Gold Ambition | Bjorn Baker | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Kapour | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 5 | 57.0 |
In The Running
RELIGIFY took up the running from GOLD AMBITION, who strode up on his outside. KAPOUR just off them. and HARADA BAY last on the inside.
The Result
RELIGIFY (1st) quickened up going into the turn and broke clear of them. GOLD AMBITION (2nd) battled on and only held off KAPOUR (3rd) by a length. MARGINS 3L x 0.8L.
The Interest
Only four horses and not much to say. RELIGIFY so well suited by leading in a small field and sustaining a long sprint for home, not many Sydney open grade horses can match him in that department. The lack of pressure also meant the 7kg extra he carried over GOLD AMBITION didn't have as much impact. GOLD AMBITION running out of chances this prep and HARADA BAY very poor. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 6 TAB HANDICAP
The Admiral strongest in a real staying test
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admiral Jello | Kris Lees | James Doyle | 6 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Dream Folk | Gregory Hickman | Jay Ford | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Burning Energy | Bjorn Baker | Glyn Schofield | 7 | 57.5 |
In The Running
THEWAYWEARE was urged along to lead, BURNING ENERGY moved up on-pace early and ZATOPAZ was hard-ridden to get to 3rd, before pushing up to 2nd mid-race. A very STRONG tempo set up and the field was broken up as the leaders 'went mad' in-front. ADMIRAL JELLO in midfield and DREAM FOLK back to last. Both THEWAYWEARE and ZATOPAZ under heavy riding into the turn.
The Result
ADMIRAL JELLO (1st) moved up to them and drove to the lead to win easily, from DREAM FOLK (2nd), who ran on down the outside and BURNING ENERGY (3rd) fighting on narrowly in-front of THE RUMOUR FILE (4th). MARGINS 2.8L x 0.8L.
The Interest
Did someone tell Blake Spriggs (THEWAYWEARE) and Leigh Roche (ZATOPAZ) it was a 1000m race? Both jockeys had to get going early on one-paced types, but this was ridiculous! An inquiry to be held after big money came for ADMIRAL JELLO and the strong son of Fastnet Rock got the job done. His dam Demerger a quality stayer in her own right and those genes came through today. BURNING ENERGY cam from the same form-line and also ran very well closer to the mad pace. Follow ADMIRAL JELLO and BURNING ENERGY.
Race 7 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
Mark Newnham gets the best out of Careless
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Careless | Mark Newnham | James Doyle | 12 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Tower of Song | Matthew Dale | Nick Heywood | 11 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Dylan's Rojo | Kim Waugh | Andrew Adkins | 15 | 60.0 |
In The Running
DYLAN'S ROJO jumped best from CARELESS and SABINO SPEED. TOWER OF SONG just behind them. INVINZABEEL stuck wide no cover in midfield. INVINCIBLE KNIGHT checked and dipped early on, losing ground. ARGIOLD keen in the pack.
The Result
DYLAN'S ROJO (3rd) kept fighting on in a close finish, CARELESS (1st) edging past for a narrow win and TOWER OF SONG (2nd) right there too. CHOICE WE HAD (4th) finished on their heels the last 25m up the inside.
The Interest
Only two lengths back to 9th, who was the unlucky INVINZABEEL (9th), stuck wide the whole way. On-pacers dominated, but they didn't go too slowly up-front, CARELESS, TOWER OF SONG and DYLAN'S ROJO all showing good fight. Mark Newnham doing a great job with the ex-Godolphin winner who had feet issues. CHOICE WE HAD very solid again and WE'RE SURE (5th) surged home out wide late, along with LOUIE SEA KAY (6th), who was pushed wide on the turn. The fav' INVINCIBLE KNIGHT (11th) looked poor and only had a couple of minor excuses after that early check [vet: wound to the front of the near-fore pastern]. He's ready for 1600m+ now. Forgive INVINZABEEL.
Race 8 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Lighter, fitter, better this campaign
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Badajoz | James Cummings | James Doyle | 8 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Top Striker | Gregory Hickman | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 61.5 | |
| 3 | Machinegun Jubs | Jeremy Gask | Jason Collett | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
OUR RENAISSANCE led from SCHUMACJER with BADAJOZ striding up three wide. TOP STRIKER got the box seat.
The Result
BADAJOZ (1st) moved up 300m from home and hit the lead, holding on under aggressive riding from Doyle to beat TOP STRIKER (2nd), who wouldn't lie down on this inside. A gap back to MACHINEGUN JUBS (3rd) running on and AWASITA (4th). MARGINS 0.1L x 2L.
The Interest
The reports from the yard were that BADAJOZ was a fitter horse this prep now a gelding, he used to struggle hitting the line as a colt early in the prep. James Doyle got the best out of him here to beat the flying TOP STRIKER. MACHINEGUN JUBS quite good too for a horse that's even better on a wet track. QUANTRILL in the report [vet: poor post-race recovery and heat stress]. Follow BADAJOZ and TOP STRIKER.
Race 9 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
The big bulldozer ploughs up the Randwick straight
strong tempo
Bias:
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Uniform | Gary Moore | Andrew Adkins | 4 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Liapari | Lisa Enright | Rory Hutchings | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Obsidian | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 3 | 55.5 |
In The Running
CLASSIC UNIFORM strode to the lead and set a STRONG tempo out in-front. CHESTNUT ROAD moved up outside him with HAND FROM ABOVE just behind. LIAPARI and OBSIDIAN back in the pack.
The Result
CLASSIC UNIFORM (1st) dug in to hold off the swoopers LIAPARI (2nd) and OBSIDIAN (3rd). CHESTNUT ROAD (4th) sticking on not far off them.
The Interest
He was the best placed horse in the race and he ran so well last time at Randwick, but it could have easily been another close defeat for CLASSIC UNIFORM after Adkins went very hard in-front. Lucky for him Waller's duo of LIAPARI and OBSIDIAN were the only decent quality swoopers that could make ground. He's a big tough horse that deserved this after a brave 3rd last start. CHESTNUT ROAD very brave in the straight too, sticking on resolutely like the winner. HAND FROM ABOVE (8th) and DARK EYES (5th) didn't have the 'SURGE' of the winner. Follow CLASSIC UNIFORM.