Yard to the Post @ Championships Day Two
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 08 April 2017
The highs and lows of racing were all on show at Royal Randwick today, our champion WINX streaking clear to win the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes before the drama of the Sydney Cup only 40 minutes later.
After interference on the first turn in the 3,200 metre Cup, veteran stayer ALMOONQITH injured his leg and had to be put down. The beauty and strength of racehorses has always come with a certain fragility and it was unfortunate for all that such an emotional scene was played out right in-front of the member's area.
Stewards flashed lights as they thundered down the back straight to indicate that the race was called off, but many jockeys didn't see them, Corey Brown lifting POLARISATION home to beat the handful of horses that finished the course. He was understandably in a foul mood once he realised the Sydney Cup wasn't his.
Racing was back on-track for the running of the 1,600 metre Group One Coolmore Legacy for mares, where game filly FOXPLAY chased hard to win her first major. She took the right path, fillies with the same form-line as her proving no match for the Kiwi BONNEVAL earlier in the 2,400 metre Group One Oaks.
As for WINX, she put a margin of 5.3 lengths between her and HARTNELL with ridiculous ease. Bowman gave her the lightest of taps with the whip 110 metres from home, perhaps to show respect to the horses chasing hard behind.
Our champion remains unbreakable, unbeatable and simply the world's best.
A full review of all nine races will be on-line Tuesday 9am (note: has been delayed this week).
Track Info
| Rail | +4m |
| Conditions | HEAVY 8 to SOFT 7 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR, OFF RAILS later |
Race 1 ADINA APARTMENT HOTELS FERNHILL HANDICAP
Too good for the two-year-olds
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whispered Secret | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Toga Picta | James Cummings | James Doyle | 9 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | All Too Huiying | Phillip Stokes | Tim Clark | 5 | 57.0 |
In The Running
ALL TOO HUIYING led from COULTHARD and ZEPPELIN, with WHISPERED SECRET moving up three wide. EARTH ANGEL was slowish and got back. Only a STEADY tempo set up. MURAAHIB stuck down on the inside at the back when the sprint on.
The Result
WHISPERED SECRET $4.4 (1st) fought on strongly to the line from TOGA PICTA $8 (2nd 1.3L), who ran on solidly down the outside. ALL TOO HUIYING $11 (3rd 2.8L) held on for a place from EARTH ANGEL $11 (4th 3.1L).
The Interest
The first two across the line very good in the HEAVY conditions. WHISPERED SECRET beat older horses at her previous start and proved it was no fluke today, posting a strong win. The tempo didn't help TOGA PICTA though. MURAAHIB missed the boat, but was only plain to the line, he's come to the end of his prep. WHISPERED SECRET could head to the G1 Champagne in seven days now. Follow WHISPERED SECRET and TOGA PICTA.
Race 2 TCL SOUTH PACIFIC CLASSIC
The General back in form at Randwick
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalissimo | Garry White | Blake Shinn | 6 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Rosa Carolina | Kris Lees | Christian Reith | 13 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Siren's Fury | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 5 | 53.0 |
In The Running
ALLITERATE took over from ROSA CAROLINA and HUSSTERICAL in the box seat. BRYNEICH three wide just behind them and pushed four wide on the turn.
The Result
BRYNEICH $10 (4th 0.8L) moved up to hit the lead before racing greenly in the finish, leaving others to kick back on the line. In a close finish, GENERALISSIMO $15 (1st) drove up the inside from midfield to edge out ROSA CAROLINA $8 (2nd 0.1L). SIREN'S FURY $17 (3rd 0.6L) and SCREAMARR $15 (5th 0.9L) ran on out wider.
The Interest
GENERALISSIMO had put in a couple of average runs at Rosehill and Hawkesbury (form can't be trusted from that track!) before turning it all around again at Randwick. Four starts ago had had run 3rd in the G3 Eskimo Prince, a harder race than this. The light agile BRYNEICH relished the conditions and threw the race away though, Corey Brown letting him get pushed four wide on the turn and it looked like the horse didn't enjoy the first couple of taps with his whip (veered out). Lots of other solid runs in the race. Poor efforts from BEZEL $15 (11th 7.7L) awful, HUSSTERICAL $4.6F (12th 11.3L) paddled home in the mud and ALLITERATE in the report [vet: mildly lame in the off-fore leg]. Forgive BRYNEICH and ALLITERATE.
Race 3 IG SHARE TRADING PERCY SYKES STAKES
A blue-blood with real determination
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoals | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Formality | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Craig Williams | 1 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Serena Bay | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 4 | 53.0 |
In The Running
FORMALITY jumped nicely , but out to the left, bumping SHOALS, TEASPOON, SERENA BAY and ALMANZORA. DIDN'T MENTION IT strode forward out wider to lead from TEASPOON on the inside and ALMANZORA out three wide a touch keen. A STRONG tempo set-up and SHOALS urged along at the back on the turn.
The Result
SERENA BAY $4.2 (3rd 1.1L) took over at the 200m, but couldn't hold off the swoopers SHOALS $3.1F (1st) out wider and FORMALITY $9 (2nd 0.1L) up the inside, those two crossing the line together.
The Interest
Big money came for SHOALS before the race and she delivered... just! The STRONG tempo helped both her and FORMALITY, but it's hard to say either loved the HEAVY conditions. SHOALS hard-ridden on the turn to stoke up and FORMALITY only ridden hands and heels by Craig Williams to make sure she kept her rhythm going in the mud. Now 'three from three', SHOALS does have one thing, a real desire to win! Reasons to excuse ALMANZORA $4.2 (5th 4.4L) after getting stuck wide on the pace and racing a touch keenly. Forgive ALMANZORA.
Race 4 THE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryore | Joseph Ible | Tim Clark | 16 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Better Not Blue | Michelle Ritchie | Joshua Parr | 10 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Ziganui | Keith Dryden | Hugh Bowman | 17 | 56.0 |
Race 5 ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT
Derryn too glamorous for Gai
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derryn | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 11 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Global Glamour | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Impending | James Cummings | James Doyle | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Running
INTO ORBIT went to the lead at a STRONG tempo from GLOBAL GLAMOUR on his outside. CRAFTY COP in the box seat. GLENALL out three wide and SARACINO out four wide in midfield. IMPENDING stuck behind the pack (blocked) early in the straight.
The Result
GLOBAL GLAMOUR $3.7F (2nd 1L) fought on gamely, but couldn't hold off the swooper DERRYN $8.5 (1st) from the back. IMPENDING $7.5 (3rd 2.8L) got clear late and ran on to beat SPRIGHT $14 (4th 3L) home for a place.
The Interest
Three runs were clearly the best here in the wet conditions. GLOBAL GLAMOUR very brave up on pace, IMPENDING with no luck in the pack and DERRYN enjoying the STRONG tempo once again. The winner did get conditions to suit, but you can't knock a horse that loves wet tracks and keeps showing up every week. No luck for SARACINO $13 (6th 4L) out wide. Follow DERRYN, GLOBAL GLAMOUR and IMPENDING. Forgive IMPENDING and SARACINO.
Race 6 JAMES BOAG'S PREMIUM AUSTRALIAN OAKS
This Kiwi girl could take on the Cup!
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bonneval | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Perfect Rhyme | Matthew Dale | Tye Angland | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Lasqueti Spirit | Lee & Cherie Curtis | Jay Ford | 2 | 56.0 |
In The Running
LASQUETI SPIRIT jumped mid before getting urged to the lead to take over and stretch them out in the lead at a STRONG tempo. LUBITON on PERFECT RHYME back chasing. NURSE KITCHEN just behind them. All the fillies chasing the rolling leader before the home turn.
The Result
PERFECT RHYME $18 (2nd 4.5L) wore down LASQUETI SPIRIT $18 (3rd 4.9L) before BONNEVAL $4.2F (1st 4.5L) surged straight past and strode to a big win. A big gap to 4th.
The Interest
An unbelievably strong staying performance from the Kiwi filly, posting a final 200m that was about 1 second (8 lengths) faster than the horses immediately behind her and marginally faster than WINX in the Queen Elizabeth one race later! (source: ATC website). She's a Cups horse for sure! Not much else to say apart from. Follow BONNEVAL.
Race 7 LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES
Australia's Queen keeps her crown
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winx | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Hartnell | James Cummings | James Doyle | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Sense of Occasion | Kris Lees | Corey Brown | 4 | 59.0 |
In The Running
NO DOUBT took up the lead at a FAIR tempo and THE UNITED STATES pushed up outside the lead before HARTNELL worked off the rails, bumping THE UNITED STATES in the process. WINX in the clear in midfield.
The Result
WINX (1st) came to the outside and went straight past HARTNELL (2nd) to win by big margin. SENSE OF OCCASION (3rd) ran on pretty well.
The Interest
You have to love this mare! By far the best again, Bowman giving her a small tap with the whip at the 110m mark to show some respect for those chasing. She's off to the paddock now and on to the Cox Plate! HARTNELL solid and SENSE OF OCCASION running out of his skin on a suitable sticky track. Follow WINX.
Race 8 SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
The Interest
A no-race was called due to the incident at the end of the home straight. ALMOONQITH unfortunately badly injured after a fall. POLARISATION beat home CHANCE TO DANCE and PENGLAI PAVILION as only a few horse completed the course. Their jockeys not hearing the announcement.
Race 9 COOLMORE LEGACY STAKES
Too much fight from the fox
steady tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foxplay | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Zanbagh | John Thompson | Damian Lane | 16 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Dixie Blossoms | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 12 | 57.0 |
In The Running
SILENT SEDITION jumped well and was joined by FIRST SEAL out wider moving forward and DIXIE BLOSSOMS just behind them three wide. FOXPLAY strode up wider out (no cover). A STEADY tempo set up.
The Result
FOXPLAY $7.5 (1st) knuckled down out wide and surged strongly late to beat ZANBAGH $20 (2nd 0.5L), who ran on late down the outside. DIXIE BLOSSOMS $5.5 (3rd 1L) not far off with SILENT SEDITION $4F (4th 1.2L).
The Interest
She's so game this filly! Wide, no cover, but that didn't matter. She loves a wet Randwick and always hits the line. ZANBAGH in career best form and DIXIE BLOSSOMS brave, she may have been a touch better chasing over the tough mile rather than on-pace. OREGON'S DAY $16 (5th 1.9L) an eye-catcher from the back storming home. Follow FOXPLAY and OREGON'S DAY.
Race 10 TAB SAPPHIRE STAKES
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secret Agenda | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damien Oliver | 12 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Missrock | Robbie Laing | Damian Lane | 1 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Artistry | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 7 | 55.5 |
