Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 21 January 2017
Sunny skies were a pleasant surprise at Royal Randwick given cooler conditions and a stiff southerly breeze were forecast. The track played well and most horses had their chance on a GOOD 4.
In the feature Carrington Stakes, ECUADOR was once again much too strong over 1,400 metres, settling near the pace and surging through late. The Waterhouse and Bott stable have him in career-best form and their focus now will be keeping him healthy ahead of the early Autumn Carnival races.
It had been a tough start to the day for punters, short-priced favourites EDEN ROC ($1.7, 2nd to EXCEEDS) and GUARD OF HONOUR ($2.5, 3rd to TACTICAL ADVANTAGE) both losing out to improving James Cummings-trained horses.
And new trainer Jay Hopkins, formerly the foreman for John O'Shea, was grinning ear to ear when his tough leader GOT UNDERS narrowly held on to win Race 8. He selected the horse as a yearling, has a big share in the ownership and presented him perfectly third-up.
A full review will be on-line Sunday 9am.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE, breezy |
| Bias | FAIR, slightly OFF RAILS |
Race 1 AUSTRALIAN FIRE HOSE PLATE
Favourite backers rocked in the first
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exceeds | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Eden Roc | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Pandemonium | Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | Glyn Schofield | 11 | 54.0 |
In The Running
MR GRUMPY led them up from PANDEMONIUM. EDEN ROC just off them. They rolled along at a STRONG tempo. WATCHDOG got well back.
The Result
EXCEEDS (1st) came to the outside and ran past EDEN ROC (2nd), who fought on OK, but was never a winning chance. PANDEMONIUM (3rd) stuck on for a place, dead-heating with KRISTENSEN (3rd), who ran on from the back. MARGINS 0.8L x 0.2L.
The Interest
The expensive Snitzel filly EXCEEDS turned her form around to sink the odds-on pop EDEN ROC. She was only plain first-up when 4th to From Within, but did have to sit outside a smart one that day and enjoyed racing with cover today. On face value the fav' EDEN ROC was disappointing and seemed to have his chance. Both Waterhouse runners under-rated in the market! PANDEMONIUM ($31) especially strong up on the pace. WATCHDOG (6th) needs further. MR GRUMPY (8th) in the report [vet: speedy cut to the off-hind leg] along with THE MONT (9th) [vet: poor post-race recovery]. Follow PANDEMONIUM.
Race 2 WILKES QUALITY
The James Cummings yard strikes again
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tactical Advantage | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Spending to Win | Mitchell Beer | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Guard of Honour | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 59.0 |
In The Running
SPENDING TO WIN took up the running from STAR CROSSED, GENERALISSIMO whipping up outside them mid-race and GUARD OF HONOUR patiently ridden at the back. TACTICAL ADVANTAGE in the box seat.
The Result
SPENDING TO WIN (2nd) gave a kick in the lead, but TACTICAL ADVANTAGE (1st) tracked him and was too strong late. GUARD OF HONOUR (3rd) running on down the outside. MARGINS 0.2L x 1L.
The Interest
TACTICAL ADVANTAGE is flying this prep! Back to 1200m now for him, he could even be a Carnival hopeful if the James Cummings yard given him a freshen now. SPENDING TO WIN, GUARD OF HONOUR, GENERALISSIMO (4th) and even ON THE SPOT (5th, clear best final 200m section) all ran well, the fav' GUARD OF HONOUR unable to overcome his 59kg impost.
Race 3 DX SOLUTIONS HANDICAP
Up on pace is the key to this girl
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Via Napoli | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 3 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Anisha | Mark Newnham | Tim Clark | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Queen Misty | Les Bridge | James Innes Jnr | 7 | 54.0 |
In The Running
VIA NAPOLI led at a STEADY tempo from JACQUI'S JOY and SHUTTER BUG, who was more forward today. ANISHA and QUEEN MISTY well back.
The Result
VIA NAPOLI (1st) gave a kick and held them off, beating home ANISHA (2nd) and QUEEN MISTY (3rd) running home down the outside. MARGINS 1.3L x 0.8L.
The Interest
The easy lead helped VIA NAPOLI, who has improved this prep and enjoys being up near the pace when the tempo is like his. ANISHA the run of the race from the back, she's chased the winner twice in her last three starts off slower tempos and didn't have much luck at Gosford in between. Only 3.8L from first to last-placed HARLEM LADY (7th), who featured in the report [vet: lame in the near-foreleg]. Follow ANISHA.
Race 4 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Super Star Bob | Matthew Dale | Bobby El-Issa | 10 | 53.5 | |
| 2 | Nic's Vendetta | Todd Howlett | Hugh Bowman | 1 | 59.5 | |
| 3 | Clipper | Angela Davies | Brodie Loy | 7 | 54.5 |
Race 5 OPTUS SYSTEMS PTY LTD HANDICAP
The best sprint wins a farcical race
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montauk | Graham Browney | Brenton Avdulla | 1 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Embley | Bjorn Baker | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | More Than Fabulous | David Payne | Blake Shinn | 5 | 57.5 |
In The Running
BURNING ENERGY took up the running and set a SLOW tempo only from QUICK DEFENCE and EMBLEY. MONTAUK midfield on the rails. UNBIASED went back to last
The Result
MONTAUK (1st) sprinted through to win easily, beating home EMBLEY (2nd) and MORE THAN FABULOUS (3rd), who made ground from he back.
The Interest
A farcical race and the horse with the most SPRINT won easily. MORE THAN FABULOUS good from the back (doesn't win much) and UNBIASED (5th) completely unsuited on the day and ran OK. A mention to Avdulla for getting the winner to settled nicely mid-race too (can be keen). As for BURNING ENERGY, very odd that a horse back from 2400m left it to a sit and sprint, he ground home for 4th. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 6 REBECCA LOUISE HANDICAP
No luck for the plunge of the day
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympic Academy | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 7 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Sabino Speed | Amanda Turner | Peter Wells | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | King's Officer | Terry Robinson | Tommy Berry | 3 | 55.5 |
In The Running
CAUTHEN'S POWER pushed on to lead from SABINO SPEED with SONG AND LAUGHTER just off them and OLYMPIC ACADEMY sliding up to the box seat. Some steady sections and the pressure went on 600m out, setting up a FAIR tempo overall
The Result
SABINO SPEED (2nd) took over and led until the final strides, when OLYMPIC ACADEMY (1st) got the better of him. KING'S OFFICER warmed up for a place and LIAPARI (4th) desperately unlucky on the heels of the first two for the final 100m. MARGINS 0.1L x 0.8L.
The Interest
There was heavy money for LIAPARI, who was around the $4.5 mark, before getting pushed right into a $2.6 fav'. Punters had to watch as Avdulla steered right up the back of the first two, the breaks not coming when he needed them. More intrigue in the race as Bowman 'dropped his hands' on OLYMPIC ACADEMY over the final yards and almost lost the race as a result. Not a good look for a very experience jockey, but you have to give him the benefit of the doubt. The ride was a gem apart from that! SONG AND LAUGHTER wanted it drier and CAUTHEN'S POWER couldn't repeat the dose. Forgive LIAPARI.
Race 7 TATTERSALLS CLUB CARRINGTON STAKES
Back-to-back for Waterhouse's tough guy
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecuador | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 1 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Shiraz | Kim Waugh | Tye Angland | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Gold Symphony | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 4 | 53.0 |
In The Running
PRINCEFAMOUS led them up from OXFORD POET, ECUADOR and NINTH LEGION at a FAIR tempo. SHIRAZ quiet at the back.
The Result
ECUADOR (1st) moved through the pack and maintained his run, fighting back to beat SHIRAZ (2nd), who had sprinted up to join in 125m out. GOLD SYMPHONY (3rd) ran on nicely.
The Interest
The form out of his first-up win was enormous and ECUADOR proved it was no fluke. As long as there's an honest tempo over this distance range, he can maintain his effort right to the line. SHIRAZ much better and perhaps just peaked late. OXFORD POET (5th) probably needed the run and wasn't ridden out late. NINTH LEGION poor and in the report [vet: lost its off-fore plate in running and had sustained lacerations to both heel bulbs], he's off to the spelling paddock now. Follow ECUADOR and SHIRAZ. Forgive NINTH LEGION.
Race 8 HUAWEI HANDICAP
A breakthrough win for Jay Hopkins
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Got Unders | Jay Hopkins | Nick Heywood | 2 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Louie Sea Kay | Gwenda Markwell | Joshua Parr | 7 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Imanui | Ron Quinton | Mitchell Bell | 4 | 54.0 |
In The Running
GOT UNDERS took up the running from HOGMANAY at a STEADY tempo. AVONACO pushed up to put pressure on 700m out.
The Result
GOT UNDERS (1st) kept lifting on the inside to hold off three others in a blanket finish; LOUIE SEA KAY (2nd) ran on well, IMANUI (3rd) closed off hard late and HOGMANAY (4th) fought on. A gap to the rest. MARGINS 0.1L x 0.1L.
The Interest
He chose the horse, owns the horse and now trains the horse, Jay Hopkins scoring his first official win with family favourite (they've all got a share!) GOT UNDERS. He wouldn't lie down while the in-form LOUIE SEA KAY and improving IMANUI ran on hard late. HOGMANAY good too and he could be ready for 1600m now. Follow GOT UNDERS, LOUIE SEA KAY, IMANUI and HOGMANAY.
Race 9 LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS HANDICAP
No 'Quaddie Killers' in the last
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deploy | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James Innes Jnr | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Noble Joey | Robert & Luke Price | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 13 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | Roaring to Win | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 8 | 55.5 |
In The Running
NOBLE JOEY jumped best to lead from ISORICH, EMINENT DUKE and ALART striding up four wide off the STEADY to FAIR tempo. DEPLOY tracked up behind the leader. QUEEN OF KARIBA dragged back to last.
The Result
NOBLE JOEY (2nd) knuckled down and fought hard, but DEPLOY (1st) worked off his heels and was too strong late. ROARING TO WIN (3rd) and QUEEN OF KARIBA (5th) good from the back out wide. MARGINS 0.1L x 1.5L.
The Interest
He got the gun run and proved too good, DEPLOY in great form. NOBLE JOEY loves Randwick and was brave again here out in-front. Big eye-catching returns from ROARING TO WIN and QUEEN OF KARIBA, who delivered a rapid sectional before peaking late. Follow DEPLOY, ROARING TO WIN and QUEEN OF KARIBA.