Yard to the Post @ Silver Slipper Day
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 18 February 2017
Sunshine, storms and plenty of drama at Rosehill Gardens today for the running of the Group 2 Silver Slipper and other early Carnival races.
Most of the focus was on early Golden Slipper favourite SHE WILL REIGN in the feature race for two-year-olds, money pouring in late to see her jump as the $1.35 favourite.
If the confidence was high before the race it wasn't two seconds after the jump, the speedy filly missing the start and ending up last on the rails. Godolphin's unbeaten colt VERANILLO settled on-pace and hit the lead early in the straight, but it wasn't to last, SHE WILL REIGN's turn-of-foot kicked in and she flew past up the inside for a dominant win.
One race later the very brave ECHO EFFECT almost stole the Group 2 Hobartville for three-year-olds by leading all the way. Rain started to fall just before the race and he dug in for the fight, only losing out to MAN FROM UNCLE in the final strides, Anthony Cumming's newly gelded galloper going back-to-back this campaign.
IN HER TIME led all the way to win the Group 2 Millie Fox and earlier in the day promising stayer ANTIONIO GIUSEPPE returned bigger and better than ever to win over 1,500 metres first-up. He could be aimed as high as the Group 1 BMW after he delivered an impressive finishing surge.
And TACTICAL ADVANTAGE made it four straight in Race 1, the James Cummings three-year-old sure to step up against the better types over the coming weeks.
A full review will be online Sunday 9am.
Track Info
| Rail | +3 metres |
| Conditions | SOFT 5, downgraded for last two races |
| Weather | FINE, then STORMS |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 SPARK OF LIFE HANDICAP
Four in a row and getting even better
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tactical Advantage | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 6 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Scarlet Rain | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 5 | 62.0 | |
| 3 | Spending to Win | Mitchell Beer | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 55.0 |
In The Running
SCARLET RAIN went to the lead and TACTICAL ADVANTAGE moved up on her outside with SPENDING TO WIN in the box seat. A STEADY tempo only was set up.
The Result
In a sprint home TACTICAL ADVANTAGE (1st) moved up and drove clear from SCARLET RAIN (2nd), with SPENDING TO WIN (3rd) lifting late to get a place from EBENOS (4th) running on.
The Interest
The stable said he is getting better and better and he did the job in style, TACTICAL ADVANTAGE putting a margin on them off a STEADY tempo, not an easy thing to do. SCARLET RAIN probably had too much weight to beat the boys. SPENDING TO WIN not as bad as it looked, a touch out-sprinted before finding the line. The time run was closer to a SOFT 5 than a SOFT 6 and the track was upgraded after this race. Follow TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.
Race 2 HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY STAN KING HANDICAP
Back from the Magic Millions with a bang
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elle Lou | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Handfast | Richard Litt | Ben Melham | 6 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | Queen of Wands | Clarry Conners | Christian Reith | 3 | 54.5 |
In The Running
A little bit of pressure early SMOOTH TRUTH getting to the lead from HANDFAST and VOILIER in the box seat, which was ridden to try and lead (as announced). ROARING TO WIN closer to the pace than usual and ELLE LOU behind him. TORGERSEN slow and out the back, he was pushed three wide also.
The Result
ELLE LOU (1st) edged wider and ran on best to get pat HANDFAST (2nd) after he'd cruised up early in the straight. QUEEN OF WANDS (3rd) surged late to get a place.
The Interest
She's been good in two runs this prep, the latest on unsuitable firm ground at the Magic Millions, and Waller obviously had her in fine fettle ahead of today. The money came in the market and ELLE LOU produced a professional win. HANDFAST also good and they gave weight to the rest of the field, perhaps the Godolphin gelding is a better one to follow now third-up given ELLE LOU will creep up in the weights now. TORGERSEN some excuses, but very plain for a horse of his ability. Follow HANDFAST.
Race 3 JAMES RUSE HANDICAP
Sydney's newest staying talent returns
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antonio Giuseppe | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Gold Symphony | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tommy Berry | 1 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Alegria | Darren Beadman | Tim Clark | 7 | 53.5 |
In The Running
STRAWBERRY BOY was urged to take up the lead from TOWER OF SONG and SEWREEL. The tempo slackened mid-race before they rolled for home from the 600m, a FAIR tempo overall. STRAWBERRY BOY and TOWER OF SONG bumped at the 200m.
The Result
ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (1st) came wider on the turn and was too strong for GOLD SYMPHONY (2nd), who made ground on the inside of the leaders. ALEGRIA (3rd) surged late for a place to grab TOWER OF SONG (4th) on the line.
The Interest
This was all about ANTONIO! Too big, too strong and too classy, he could be on his way to races as good as The BMW now. ALEGRIA found the line well for a horse that probably wanted a touch more tempo. TOWER OF SONG unlucky not to get 3rd though after the bump, STRAWBERRY BOY looked flat and will be given a freshen-up now. Follow ANTONIO GIUSEPPE.
Race 4 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fickle Folly | Sue Grills | Tommy Berry | 13 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Zakynthos Regrets | George Dimitropoulos | Ms Stacey Metcalfe | 8 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Kooringal Star | Mark Gee | Jason Collett | 3 | 58.0 |
Race 5 TAB SILVER SLIPPER STAKES
Drama as the Slipper favourite wins again
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | She Will Reign | Gary Portelli | Ben Melham | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Veranillo | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Showtime | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 1 | 56.5 |
In The Running
MYSTIC EMPIRE led at a FAIR tempo from VERANILLO on the outside and SHOWTIME in the box seat. Where was SHE WILL REIGN? The $1.35 fav' flopped out of the barriers and ended up last!
The Result
SHE WILL REIGN (1st) came to the inside and powered through in the lesser ground, picking up the 5 lengths she lost in a flash to join in at the 200m and drive 1.5L clear. VERANILLO (2nd) very solid on-pace and SHOWTIME (3rd) good to the line.
The Interest
Big bets landed for SHE WILL REIGN and the bookies were cheering after the jump. What happened next was 'Golden Slipper' quality, reeling off rapid sectionals up the inside to win with ease. Looking carefully at the final 100m she seemed to be good through the line and wasn't asked for much the final 50m. On face value the 1200m of the Golden Slipper should be OK, but no 100% guarantees, her final 200m sectional of 11.51 was very similar to SHOWTIME (11.52), who settled in-front of her in the run. Also worth noting that taking a line through SHOWTIME (assuming his performances were consistent), Pariah and Menari are right in the mix on ratings. It will all become clearer over the coming weeks! VERANILLO very brave as always. KHAN was a flop. Follow SHE WILL REIGN.
Race 6 SCHWEPPES HOBARTVILLE STAKES
Uncle firing as a gelding
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man From Uncle | Dane Smith | Jason Collett | 7 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Echo Effect | Kristen Buchanan | Paul King | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Comin' Through | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Running
ECHO EFFECT went to the lead easily in the early stages from MAN FROM UNCLE (urged forward) and COMIN' THROUGH. PRIZED ICON stuck wide behind them. A STEADY tempo set-up and ECHO EFFECT got rolling for home into the turn.
The Result
ECHO EFFECT (2nd) got a break on them before getting caught late by MAN FROM UNCLE (1st). COMIN' THROUGH (3rd) chased home OK but was safely held.
The Interest
This race was won at the jump, not many took the initiative to go forward and Jason Collett's move to get into 2nd gave MAN FROM UNCLE the right spot to strike from. Paul King produced a gem on ECHO EFFECT, stacking, racking, driving for home and only getting caught late. COMIN' THROUGH only OK and PRIZED ICON (6th) didn't get one of Glyn Schofield's best rides, dragging him back after jumping OK and then going forward out wide. INFERENCE (5th) and ACATOUR (7th) did about as much as they could do from the back. Follow MAN FROM UNCLE and INFERENCE. Forgive PRIZED ICON.
Race 7 RANVET MILLIE FOX STAKES
Still her time to shine!
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In Her Time | Kris Lees | Joshua Parr | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Euro Angel | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 3 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Daysee Doom | Ron Quinton | Andrew Adkins | 2 | 54.0 |
In The Running
DAYSEE DOOM jumped well and IN HER TIME rolled forward steadily to take up the running. I AM ZELADY up outside the leader. DENMAGIC not far away. EURO ANGEL in midfield and HEAVENS ABOVE dragged out the back. A STEADY tempo only set up.
The Result
IN HER TIME (1st) got rolling for home on the turn and drove to a clear win, from EURO ANGEL (2nd), who ran on well up the inside. DAYSEE DOOM (3rd) and DENMAGIC (4th) fought on.
The Interest
Four in a row for IN HER TIME, she's about as tough as they come! No pressure early helped the leader get an early breather before setting off for home early and proving to good once again. EURO ANGEL resumed in good style and was stuck on the inside. A solid return from too DAYSEE DOOM. No luck for HEAVENS ABOVE back off the steady tempo and pushed wide on the turn. Follow IN HER TIME, EURO ANGEL and DAYSEE DOOM. Forgive HEAVENS ABOVE.
Race 8 PARRAMATTA CUP
Big, tough and hard to get past
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Uniform | Gary Moore | Andrew Adkins | 5 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Red Excitement | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Adam Hyeronimus | 10 | 61.0 | |
| 3 | Song And Laughter | Richard Litt | Ms Rachael Murray | 1 | 53.0 |
In The Running
CLASSIC UNIFORM jumped to the lead from RELIGIFY and DARK EYES in the box seat. RED EXCITEMENT next in line. A FAIR to STEADY tempo set up.
The Result
CLASSIC UNIFORM (1st) kept rolling and fought off the challenge of RED EXCITEMENT (2nd), who had hit the front. SONG AND LAUGHTER (3rd) ran on OK.
The Interest
The form-lines out of the benchmark races he has been competing in were strong and CLASSIC UNIFORM relished the step up in distance, a horse that has been crying out for it for a while. RED EXCITEMENT in such great form and probably not ideally suited in SOFT conditions. They put a margin on the rest, the very well backed ALLERGIC(5th) getting out-sprinted and only dour in the end. RELIGIFY (6th) didn't stay the distance. Follow CLASSIC UNIFORM and RED EXCITEMENT.
Race 9 ST JOHNS PARK BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP
Cummings' mare going better than ever
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hieroglyphics | Anthony Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 10 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Ziggy Willie | David Pfieffer | Tye Angland | 2 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Princefamous | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 59.0 |
In The Running
OUR RENAISSANCE and PRINCEFAMOUS led them up at a FAIR tempo. HEART TESTA behind them with DECISION TIME five wide in midfield. HIEROGLYPHICS and SHADOW LORD taken to the back.
The Result
HIEROGLYPHICS (1st) picked up through the pack and ran on best, from ZIGGY WILLIE (2nd) and a brave PRINCEFAMOUS (3rd). A gap to the rest.
The Interest
She'd only ever won first-up before and never at Rosehill, HIEROGLYPHICS showing she's never been better this prep after dominating first-up at Canterbury. The SOFT ground helping the light agile sprinter to skip home best. ZIGGY WILLIE brave as always and PRINCEFAMOUS holding his form well after a freshen-up. DECISION TIME (5th) had an all important freshen into this too and had no luck five wide the trip! Follow HIEROGLYPHICS and ZIGGY WILLIE (up to 1200m now). Forgive DECISION TIME.