Yard to the Post @ BMW Day
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 25 March 2017
Remarkably the Rosehill Gardens track made it through the third day of its Autumn carnival today with flying colours, the scene of two more exciting Group 1 finishes for very different reasons.
In the Group 1 BMW over 2,400 metres, Melbourne mare JAMEKA destroyed a quality field of stayers which included TAVAGO, who had beaten her in the ATC Derby as a three-year-old a year ago.
She tracked up on the inside ground, the better part of the track all day, and shot past the tiring filly LASQUETI SPIRIT at a rapid rate.
One race later improving filly MONTOYA'S SECRET (picture) got the better of NURSE KITCHEN in the Vinery Stakes, setting up an enthralling showdown with HARLOW GOLD in the Oaks at Royal Randwick.
A full review is provided below.
photo: @atc_races
Track Info
| Rail | +6 metres |
| Conditions | HEAVY 9 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | NEAR RAILS |
Race 1 THE SCHWEPPERVESCENCE
Corey completes a surprise Mission
steady tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Mission | Paul Perry | Ben Melham | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Astoria | James Cummings | James Doyle | 14 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Muraahib | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 3 | 58.0 |
In The Running
THE MISSION moved up to lead from ASTORIA and ALBUMIN. SHE'S ON QUE three wide in midfield. A STEADY tempo set up overall. VILLA CARLOTTA came widest into the straight.
The Result
THE MISSION $21 (1st) booted clear into the straight and held them off. ASTORIA $3F (2nd, 2.5L) chasing honestly and MURAAHIB $7 (3rd, 3.3L) weaving up late through the pack. SMOOTH LANDING $8.5 (4th, 4L) ran on also.
The Interest
A STEADY tempo and a bias that favoured NEAR RAILS (which the jockeys didn't know about yet) helped Corey Brown get THE MISSION home, a horse that over-raced badly at his previous start and was stuck up on a STRONG tempo the start before. Everything in his favour this time and a lucky pick-up for Corey given Ben Melham was meant to ride (late to track). ASTORIA a touch disappointing, MURAAHIB the eye-catcher from the back. He wasn't hit with the whip until the 200m and produced a rapid final section. Follow him! ALBUMIM $12 (9th, 23.6L) in the report [vet: poor post-race recovery]. VILLA CARLOTTA $7.5 (7th, 12.7L) poor, but it looked like she hit quicksand out wider at the 200m mark! Follow MURAAHIB. Forgive VILLA CARLOTTA.
Race 2 E-GROUP SECURITY STAR KINGDOM STAKES
The wet track Edge makes the difference
fair tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jungle Edge | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Dal Cielo | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Impending | James Cummings | James Doyle | 8 | 56.0 |
In The Running
JUNGLE EDGE jumped to the lead from KUDERO and DAL CIELO in the box seat over-racing early on. DANISH TWIST behind them. IMPENDING back to last. He kicked for home early and a FAIR tempo was set up overall.
The Result
JUNGLE EDGE $2.8F (1st) held off DAL CIELO $6.5 (2nd, 2L) in the run to the line. A gap to IMPENDING $5 (3rd, 3.8L) running on widest in a close finish for the place. KUDERO $12 (4th, 3.9L) and DANISH TWIST $4.6 (5th, 4L) right there too.
The Interest
He had come through a G1 last week and proved that form was good, JUNGLE EDGE leading all the way after a smart ride from Kevin Forrester. He loves the wet! They were slowing down the last 200m noticeably so the chasers had their chance, apart from maybe IMPENDING out widest (better ground on inside). SORT AFTER $8 (7th, 6L) last after struggling to keep up and in the report [vet: laceration to the near-hind cannon]. Forgive IMPENDING.
Race 3 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES
Assign holds his line to win
strong tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assign | Robert Hickmott | Ben Melham | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Astronomos | John Thompson | Jason Collett | 1 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Single Gaze | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 5 | 56.0 |
In The Running
CLASSIC UNIFORM urged forward to lead at a STRONG tempo from LORD DE AIR and ASSIGN. They really rolled along. ASTRONOMOS well back in the pack. SINGLE GAZE made her run from midfield at the 700m, coming three wide with no trail.
The Result
SINGLE GAZE $10 (3rd, 1L) moved up out wider, but ASTRONOMOS $2.8F (2nd, 0.8L) came wider and ran on and ASSIGN (1st) kept lifting up the inside. They put a margin on CLASSIC UNIFORM $4.8 (4th, 5L).
The Interest
What a strange finish, you would have sworn ASTRONOMOS was about to go straight past, but Collett took him to the outside to find room and the run ended abruptly! ASSIGN taking advantage of the inside ground to lift strongly and fight back. SINGLE GAZE so brave after plotting a wider course too. All top three runs very strong. It looked like Tim Clark on CLASSIC UNIFORM over-did a perceived on-pace bias early in the day, it turns out it was more NEAR RAILS than anything else. LORD DE AIR $61 (9th, 24.8L) out of his grade and in the report [vet: poor post-race recovery]. Follow ASSIGN, ASTRONOMOS and SINGLE GAZE. Forgive ASTRONOMOS and SINGLE GAZE.
Race 4 RYDGES PARRAMATTA DONCASTER PRELUDE
Godolphin gets another Doncaster runner
strong tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spectroscope | Natalie McCall | Corey Brown | 9 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | No Doubt | Anthony Cummings | Jay Ford | 10 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Marenostro | Gayna Williams | Hugh Bowman | 8 | 55.0 |
In The Running
ECHO EFFECT pushed on at a STRONG tempo from LEENAZ and KENJORWOOD. MARENOSTRO and SPECTROSCOPE got back to the tail. NO DOUBT made his run wider into the straight.
The Result
The leaders tired and SPECTROSCOPE $3.2F (1st) weaved through the pack on the inside to win. NO DOUBT $15 (2nd, 1L) and MARENOSTRO $10 (3rd, 2.3L) fought on out wider.
The Interest
Very similar to the last race! The leader ECHO EFFECT goes too hard (like Classic Uniform) and knocks up, the winner SPECTROSCOPE finds the inside ground and both placed horses very strong out wider. The rapid tempo gave the fav' every chance and arguably the 76 benchmark rated NO DOUBT was every bit as good out wider. A very nice win, but he will need more progression again to win a Doncaster mile. LEEBAZ going poorly and in the report [vet: lost its near-hind plate in running]. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 5 POWER DISTRIBUTION AUSTRALIA TULLOCH STAKES
Kiwi toughness beats the Aussies again
fair tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Snow | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damian Lane | 13 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Prized Icon | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 9 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Captain Duffy | Phillip Stokes | Noel Callow | 6 | 56.0 |
In The Running
JON SNOW pushed forward to settled outside MY KIND. PRIZED ICON held together into a midfield spot. GARBHAM moved up three wide into the straight to make his run. A FAIR tempo set up overall.
The Result
JON SNOW $2.7F maintained his run strongly to win from PRIZED ICON $4.8 (2nd, 2.8L), who ran on strongly through the pack. A gap back to CAPTAIN DUFFY $15 (3rd, 5.8L) edging out GARBHAN $16 (4th, 6L).
The Interest
After Gingernuts last week in the Guineas, another Kiwi procession for JON SNOW, who was much too good for these. PRIZED ICON brave chasing in the HEAVY ground and he probably prefers it drier so don't dismiss him in the Derby. GARBHAN showing good 'stick' to the line, the first time he has shown form away from his home track Hawkesbury. They did run a slower time than the fillies two races later (and slower sections) so the form out of the race should be weaker than the Guineas last weekend, as expected. No Follows or Forgives.
Race 6 THE BMW
A mighty mare shows her strength
fair tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jameka | Ciaron Maher | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Humidor | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 5 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Exospheric | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damien Oliver | 1 | 59.0 |
In The Running
LASQUIETI SPIRIT got to the lead and set steady sections early before striding out mid-race. The pack didn't chase and a FAIR tempo was set up overall. JEMEKA tracked up a few lengths behind.
The Result
JAMEKA $3.1F (1st) took over on the turn and drove right away from the rest., HUMIDOR $3.7 (2nd, 6.5L) running on OK well behind. EXOSPHERIC $8 (3rd, 8.3L) next in.
The Interest
Way too easy! JAMEKA never troubled in the run, tracking up under and hold and breaking clear of the pack! Some analysts (including ours) thought she would be under more pressure than she was before the turn, LASQUETI SPIRIT simply couldn't get her off the bit no matter how hard Avdulla pushed. HUMIDOR much better around a right-handed turn this time (hung badly in NZ Derby). None of them were any match though for the mighty mare. TAVAGO not himself and badly injured on returning to stables [vet: acutely lame in the off-foreleg]. Follow JAMEKA. Forgive TAVAGO.
Race 7 VINERY STUD STAKES
Melbourne benchmarks to Group 1 glory
steady tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montoya's Secret | Leon & Troy Corstens | Noel Callow | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Nurse Kitchen | Kris Lees | Blake Shinn | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Harlow Gold | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 5 | 56.0 |
In The Running
LUBITON took up the running at a STEADY tempo from CONCESSIONS and KAMILI. HARLOW GOLD just behind them and a touch wide, DAWN WALL on her inside. FOXPLAY got going three wide with cover mid-race. As they made their runs SMART AS YOU THINK got badly checked.
The Result
HARLOW GOLD $7 (3rd, 2L) moved up wider and took the lead, MONTOYA'S SECRET $12 (1st) running on up the inside and NURSE KITCHEN $18 (2nd, 0.2L) out wider closing hard. FOXPLAY $3.8F (4th, 2.1L) sure to get a place until MONTOYA'S SECRET darted across the face of the chasing runners late and caused interference.
The Interest
A busy finish and narrow win for a filly that jumped from BM 64 grade to G1 and got the prize! MONTOYA'S SECRET has been so impressive this prep in Melbourne and proved she's got what it takes against the best, even if Callow got a touch over-excited and forgot his compass over the last 100m (copped a $15,000 fine and a month on the sideline). NURSE KITCHEN very good out wider with bias against and shapes as a big Oaks chance now. HARLOW GOLD solid out wider and SMART AS YOU THINK was right there before the check. Follow MONTOYA'S SECRET, NURSE KITCHEN and HARLOW GOLD. Forgive SMART AS YOU THINK.
Race 8 ASCEND SALES TROPHIES EMANCIPATION STAKES
Bowman finds the spot, Collett finds trouble
steady tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zanbagh | John Thompson | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Daysee Doom | Ron Quinton | Andrew Adkins | 9 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Dixie Blossoms | Ron Quinton | Jason Collett | 13 | 56.0 |
In The Running
ROCKET COMMANDER took up the running from EURO ANGEL pushing up on the inside and DAYSEE DOOM three wide no cover. ZANBAGH had the drop on them. DIXIE BLOSSOMS back to last. A STEADY tempo set overall.
The Result
ZANBAGH $7.5 (1st) ran down DAYSEE DOOM $3.1 (2nd, 0.2L) over the last 200m and DIXIE BLOSSOMS $3.4 (3rd, 0.7L) weaved up the inside late.
The Interest
The top three came through the Coolmore and looked the ones to beat, ZANBAGH getting the best POSITION IN RUN, which made the difference in the end. DIXIE BLOSSOMS very impressive from the back off a STEADY tempo and ready to fire at Randwick. DAYSEE DOOM a proven Group performer now who likes the wet tracks. Follow DIXIE BLOSSOMS and DAYSEE DOOM.
Race 9 EFM LOGISTICS HANDICAP
Too tough in the Rosehill mud
fair tempo
Bias:
on-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Be Like Dad | David Payne | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 11 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Roaring to Win | Peter & Paul Snowden | Brenton Avdulla | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Voilier | Gary Nickson | Andrew Adkins | 9 | 55.0 |
In The Running
VOILIER dug up to take the lead from BE LIKE DAD. SERENE MAJESTY behind them with MR INDIVIDUAL over-racing a touch out wider. A FAIR tempo set overall.
The Result
VOILIER $11 (3rd, 0.3L) dug in for the fight with BE LIKE DAD $17 (1st), the latter getting the better late. ROARING TO WIN $20 (2nd, 0.1L) flew down the outside late and just missed.
The Interest
A race that was hard to be inspired about and in the end the lightweights fought it out. Wet tracker BE LIKE DAD getting the edge over the out of form ROARING TO WIN and non-winner VOILIER. HANDFAST did about as much as he could with 60.5kg on his back. Be careful of this form in the future, no knock on a very brave winner though No Follows or Forgives.