Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 04 February 2017
The Anthony Cummings stable is famous for a betting plunge and they pulled off a big one at Royal Randwick today in the first of the feature Group races.
MAN FROM UNCLE was the despised outsider in early markets, but the "stable faithful" (as Anthony Cummings called them) backed him into $14 late. After running on for 3rd at Listed level at his last start he resumed fresh with a swooping win to take out the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes, beating home GUARD OF HONOUR in the closing stages.
There was another plunge in the race, the money coming for BRYNEICH (into $6.5 into $3.6) after John O'Shea had said he was a better chance than stable-mate and early favourite BEZEL on Sky Radio early on Saturday morning. The Godolphin trainer was right, BRYNEICH running 7th ahead of BEZEL back in 8th!
In the other feature, the super tough mare IN HER TIME took on classy sprinters in the Group 2 Breeders Classic and won, holding off EGYPTIAN SYMBOL in an exciting finish. Racing 10kg out of her grade, she fooled all the racing analyts through pure determination.
In other races, the talented DAL CIELO continued on his winning way and VERANILLO stamped himself as a top quality two-year-old and Golden Slipper hopeful.
A full review will be on-line Sunday 9am.
Track Info
| Rail | +6m |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE / WARM |
| Bias | FAIR, slightly OFF RAILS |
Race 1 ALM HANDICAP
Avdulla holds the key to this gelding
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montauk | Graham Browney | Brenton Avdulla | 6 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Gold Ambition | Bjorn Baker | Tye Angland | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | King's Officer | Terry Robinson | Blake Spriggs | 4 | 53.0 |
In The Running
GOLD AMBITION led from SHALMANESER at a STEADY tempo. MONTAUK back in the pack. They got going into the turn and quickened up early. MONTAUK didn't find much room early in the straight.
The Result
MONTAUK (1st) got out and dashed past GOLD AMBITION (2nd), who kept on OK and KING'S OFFICER (3rd) running on out wider. SHALMANESER (4th) not far off them.
The Interest
Avdulla has taught MONTAUK to settle and he's always had a SPRINT. The STEADY tempo helped him deliver yet another dominant victory, a horse that hits the line over this distance when there isn't too much pressure on. GOLD AMBITION bridesmaid again and KING'S OFFICER was pretty good given he took off early on the turn. VASSAL plain even with the blinkers on today. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 2 HINCHINBROOK PLATE
Pure determination from this blue-blood
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veranillo | James Cummings | James Doyle | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Exceeds | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 12 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Eden Roc | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 7 | 56.0 |
In The Running
The jump was level, EDEN ROC going to the lead from VERANILLO and LIGHTZ in the box seat. CUBA just behind them. CUBA moved up strongly at the 250m.
The Result
VERANILLO (1st) was too strong late for the other on-pacers, breaking clear of swooper EXCEEDS (2nd) and EDEN ROC (3rd) after CUBA (5th) had peaked on his run. MARGINS 1.5L x 0.2L.
The Interest
He showed real quality on debut too, that's twice VERANILLO has settled on a STRONG speed and out-toughed them late. Don't be too harsh on EDEN ROC, who did go a bit quick, but he isn't the star everyone thought he was after the trials. Debutante CUBA one to follow with more fitness next start after showing a big sprint here. Follow VERANILLO and CUBA.
Race 3 SCHWEPPES GARDENIA HANDICAP
All the way for the flying leader again
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Religify | Chris Waller | Blaike McDougall | 5 | 61.5 | |
| 2 | Song And Laughter | Richard Litt | Jay Ford | 8 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Strawberry Boy | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 61.0 |
In The Running
RELIGIFY pressed on to lead from STRAWBERRY BOY and TESTASHADOW. The early sections were STEADY until he got rolling about 700m out.
The Result
RELIGIFY (1st) maintained the long sprint best to clear out from SONG AND LAUGHTER (2nd), who sprinted down the outside. STRAWBERRY BOY (3rd) not fat off. MARGINS 2.3L x 0.5L.
The Interest
He did exactly what he did to them last start! RELIGIFY getting one or two cheap sections early before setting off for a long sprint for home, something he can execute better than most. The track wasn't his favoured bone dry surface so a very impressive win overall. SONG AND LAUGHTER better ridden this time. GOLD SYMPHONY (4th) and TESTASHADOW (6th) had their chance. Follow RELIGIFY.
Race 4 THE CHI-X SPRINT
Another big swoop down the outside
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dal Cielo | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 8 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Denmagic | David Pfieffer | Hugh Bowman | 9 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Bullpit | Jason Warren | Blaike McDougall | 5 | 55.5 |
In The Running
AEGEAN SEA shot out of the barriers and set a STRONG tempo from HEART TESTA on her outside. HIS MAJESTY in the box seat. RUNSATI three wide just off the leaders and DAL CIELO a touch keen moving up on his outside. HIS MAJESTY tied up behind the leaders as they tired.
The Result
DAL CIELO (1st) swept down the outside to beat home DENMAGIC (2nd), who ran home hard late. BULLPIT (3rd) ran on too. MARGINS 0.4L x 1L.
The Interest
The leaders went quick and the well-backed fav' DAL CIELO finished hard. He seems to be relishing these fast run 1000m scampers. A horse that can go keenly, he still over-races a touch even over this distance! Bowman did what he said he would do and followed the winner all the way on DENMAGIC, a very good return. RUNSATI a bit wide and HIS MAJESTY sweated up and didn't find room. Follow DAL CIELO and DENMAGIC. Forgive HIS MAJESTY.
Race 5 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Told Georgie | Danny Williams | Tye Angland | 12 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | L'elu | Rodney Northam | Tim Clark | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Clipper | Angela Davies | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 53.5 |
Race 6 AUSTRALIAN CHINESE JOCKEY CLUB ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES
The Cummings clan land a big plunge
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man From Uncle | Dane Smith | Jason Collett | 9 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Guard of Honour | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 7 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Generalissimo | Garry White | Tye Angland | 1 | 56.0 |
In The Running
SPENDING TO WIN was urged to lead from GUARD OF HONOUR moving up on his outside. BRYNEICH behind them and MAN FROM UNCLE out wide no cover. GENERALISSIMO in the box seat. COMIN' THROUGH was snagged back with BEZEL. A FAIR tempo set up.
The Result
GUARD OF HONOUR (2nd) cruised up and got a small break, but MAN FROM UNCLE (1st) sustained is run best to win. GENERALISSIMO (3rd) chased through to grab a place in a close finish. 2.2L separated the top 7. MARGINS 0.3L x 0.2L.
The Interest
The despised outsider in early markers, the "stable faithful" as Anthony Cummings called them backed MAN FROM UNCLE into $14 late and he showed why with a determined win. Clearly a better horse this campaign, he was fired up in the yard and too strong on the track. GUARD OF HONOUR had his chance and wasn't far off. COMIN' THROUGH hit the line pleasingly. BEZEL didn't. Follow MAN FROM UNCLE and COMIN' THROUGH.
Race 7 CHINA HORSE CLUB BREEDERS CLASSIC
The biggest of wins for young Ben Smith
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In Her Time | Kris Lees | Andrew Adkins | 4 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Egyptian Symbol | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 5 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Flippant | Peter & Paul Snowden | Corey Brown | 1 | 54.0 |
In The Running
MAGNAJOY drove to the lead and set a STRONG tempo from FLIPPANT and IN HER TIME, who both kept the pressure on by moving up before the turn.
The Result
IN HER TIME hit the lead on the turn and fought very hard to beat EGYPTIAN SYMBOL (2nd), who cam off the leaders heels, sprinted up and just couldn't get past late. FLIPPANT (3rd) and DANISH TWIST (4th) not far off. MARGINS 0.4L x 0.5L.
The Interest
Wow. She was about 10kg out of her grade today and produced a big career best to win, IN HER TIME playing to her strengths and running the other mares into the ground. Quite amazing that she went so hard, posting sectionals of 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and a final sectional of 12.1, showing the others had their chance. That tough tempo resulted in the powerful EGYPTIAN SYMBOL peaking on her run late. DANISH TWIST OK, but she did have every chance, running home with CIRCULAR (5th). A big congrats to trainer Ben Smith and jockey Andrew Adkins, who took it to the big stables and won. Follow CIRCULAR (back in her grade).
Race 8 THE STAR CLUB HANDICAP
Brenton's biceps make the difference
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liapari | Lisa Enright | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Imanui | Ron Quinton | Mitchell Bell | 4 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Classic Uniform | Gary Moore | Andrew Adkins | 11 | 58.5 |
In The Running
CLASSIC UNIFORM jumped best to lead ZAUNKONIG with HOGMANAY just behind them. CHESTNUT ROAD out three wide. A FAIR tempo was set up with some pressure put on entering the turn, when HOGMANAY came three wide and pushed CHESTNUT ROAD four wide.
The Result
CLASSIC UNIFORM (3rd) fought on, but was grabbed by LIAPARI (1st) and IMANUI (2nd) out wider later. A clump of five crossing the line together only 0.6L apart. ZAUNKONIG (4th) and HOGMANAY (5th).
The Interest
Five good strong in-form horses and nothing split them apart from the quality of ride. Avdulla got the most out of LIAPARI to win narrowly from IMANUI closing off. The inexperience of James Innes Jnr showing when he came three wide on the turn aboard HOGMANAY as the pressure went on. Back in the pack, NIGHT VOYAGE never quite seemed happy and could be one worth following on a bone dry track next start. The top five were dominant here though. Follow LIAPARI, IMANUI, CLASSIC UNIFORM, ZAUNKONIG and HOGMANAY.
Race 9 IT'S ON! IN SYDNEY HANDICAP
Four on the trot for Gerald Ryan's charger
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deploy | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James Innes Jnr | 5 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Got Unders | Jay Hopkins | Mr Lester Grace | 9 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Tower of Song | Matthew Dale | Nick Heywood | 8 | 59.5 |
In The Running
LIE DIRECT was urged to lead from DEPLOY and GOT UNDERS with TOWER OF SONG working up behind them three wide.
The Result
DEPLOY (1st) took over on the turn and held off the tough GOT UNDERS (2nd), who stuck on, and TOWER OF SONG (3rd) not far behind.
The Interest
Good runs from the top three, DEPLOY scoring four in a row now and he's shot up the ratings as a result. GOT UNDERS very brave with the same weight as the winner (59kg) and an under-rated horse. TOWER OF SONG wide the whole way and ready for 1600m now. Mentions to VELADERO (4th), who was OK and peaked late, and ROARING TO WIN (5th), who did enough in a race that didn't pan out well for him. Follow DEPLOY, GOT UNDERS, TOWER OF SONG (up in distance now) and ROARING TO WIN (soft track).