Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 20 January 2018
A firm fast track that favoured horses near the rails didn't stop the classy FARAWAY TOWN (picture) from scoring a strong win at Royal Randwick.
She had only won once in her career before today, a backmarker that needs plenty of luck to go her way. The Matthew Smith yard had clearly set her for a big return, all the owners on track dressed up and ready to cheer, but the mood would have dampened as the track pattern developed during the afternoon.
In the end a strong tempo up-front set up a booming final furlong from the daughter of Not a Single Doubt, surging home to beat favourite FORTENSKY and another talented mare in INSENSATA.
Earlier in the day Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond markets got a shake-up as ESITJAAB stormed clear for a big win in the two-year-old race, running a similar time over the 1,000 metres as the Summer Sprint (Race 5) winner MEMES. Producing ratings that measure up to the older horses is a clear sign that the Hawkes-trained filly has real talent.
D'ARGENTO remained unbeaten, winning Race 2 over 1,300 metres, a tough grey that has Group-level Randwick miler written all over him.
Check back for a full review of the day Monday 5pm.
photo: @atc_races
Track Info
| Rail | +8m |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | NEAR RAILS, ON-PACE preferred |
Race 1 AUSTRALIAN FIRE HOSE PLATE
Another group one contender hits the track
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
on-rails in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
ESTIJAAB jumped very well to lead and rolled along at an honest FAIR tempo (not too far off strong) with TELL NO TALES on her outside. A few back in the pack racing keenly; SAINT ANTONIO LAD, PREMIER ROSE, RULING SYMBOL and RIVER BIRD. LIGULATE was hassled by keen horses and pushed wide.
The Result
ESTIJAAB (1st) wasn't really shaken up 'til the 200m and produced a very strong surge to the line for a big win. DIO D'ORO (2nd 4L) chased up the inside a few lengths behind and TELL NO TALES (3rd 6.3L) was safely held, just hanging on for a place.
The Interest
This daughter of Snitzel is the real deal. Well bred, plenty of early speed and hits the line with force. She should eat up 1,200 metres based on this debut, it's just hard to give her a rating with confidence given the inside bias helped. Excuses for RIVER BIRD (4th 6.5L) *(held up slightly) #(keen inside horses), LIGULATE (5th 7.4L) *(pushed wide mid-race) *(bias against) #(bit wayward), PATRON BLACK (6th 8.2L) *(stuck wide) *(pushed wider turn) *(near rails bias against), SAINT ANTONIO LAD (7th 10L) ##(very keen inside horses), RULING SYMBOL (8th 10.2L) ##(raced keenly) (not ridden late) and PREMIER ROSE (9th 10.7L) *(bad check 150m) #(keen inside horses), who all should have finished closer, but wouldn't have won.
Race 2 NELUNE FOUNDATION HANDICAP
Autumn class on a hot summer day
slow tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
SHUMOOKH took up the running and controlled a SLOW tempo (last 200m low 11s) from WOOSHKA on her outside. D'ARGENTO travelled strongly in midfield on the rails.
The Result
D'ARGENTO (1st) moved up the inside, came around the leaders heels and was strong to the line. SHUMOOKH (2nd 0.3L) just getting edged out. A gap back to WOOSHKA (3rd 3.1L) and INTUITION (4th 3.3L).
The Interest
The story was the first two and the horse that finished last PARET (5th 5.2L) (not ridden hard) #(laid in). Schofield hardly touched PARET and while he still has plenty to learn, he found the line well enough. Such a quiet ride is hard for his backers to swallow though, there was always a chance he was going to be ridden for "education". The vet also found +(lame off foreleg) .The classy D'ARGENTO very impressive winning (hits the line with force!) and SCHUMOOKH is a filly to follow too, even though the bias was in her favour today. It was a big gap to 3rd.
Race 3 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
Goulburn's Danny Williams dominates
steady tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
BEL DIABLO took up the running early on before ACQUITTAL took over and kicked for home early atfer racing keenly (STEADY TEMPO: LONG SPRINT).
The Result
ACQUITTAL (1st) got a break early in the straight and hung on to beat KOPI LUWAK (2nd 1L), who tracked up through the inside and ran on hard late. CELTIC TRAIL (3rd 4.8L) made good groud out wider, but was a long way off.
The Interest
Two runners from the Danny Williams stable and two talented types. Both ACQUITTAL and KOPI LUWAK can go on to bigger and better things. CELTIC TRAIL could be worth a "black book" follow after making ground against the bias. No big hard-luck stories, a few things to note are shown, especially the vet for the runner-up who pulled up lame: KOPI LUWAK *(held up slightly) ++(lame near-foreleg), REMITTANCE out wider *(bias against) #(keen off steady tempo), ETHANICITY *(pushed wider), CELTIC TRAIL *(bias against), ACQUITTAL #(keen off steady tempo), VIVID PINK *(bias against) #(bit keen off steady tempo).
Race 4 HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY LOUISA BAXTER MILE
Happy owners crack open another bottle
steady tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
MEDAILLE took up the running at a STEADY tempo only, GET ON THE GRANGE moving up on the outside.
The Result
CELLARMAN (1st) sprinted through from the box seat best to beat NEW UNIVERSE (2nd 1.3L), who ran home out wider. GET ON THE GRANGE (3rd 1.6L) fought on with VALENTINO ROSSA (4th 1.7L)
The Interest
CELLARMAN produced his fourth win in a prep that has seen him become a genuine racehorse. Sprinting off SLOW to STEADY tempos seems to be his go and he produced another slicing finish here, giving his happy owners on-track more reason to celebrate. NEW UNIVERSE *(bias against) wasn't too bad, MEDAILLE (6th 8.1L) +(slow recovery) was shocking! She can't have been at her best, but the vet didn't find much.
Race 5 SUMMER SPRINT
All heart from Rachel King and her filly
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
HIDDEN PEARL came across to lead MEMES at STRONG tempo.
The Result
MEMES (1st) kept fighting from on the pace to beat BOSS LANE (2nd 1L) and PALAZZO PUBLICO (3rd 1.1L), who had loomed and peaked on her run late. ROYAL TUDOR (4th 1.5L) completely locked up on the inside and should have won.
The Interest
Do we just treat ROYAL TUDOR as the winner? Track bias can put horses in the wrong spot and make jockeys do funny things, this time Blaike MCDougall steering ROYAL TUDOR up back-ends in order to find better ground on the inside. That didn't work! MEMES so brave and who knows, she may have kicked again if the big gelding had made a run alongside her. PALAZZO PUBLICO going well, but not attacking the line. STRATURBO **(held up badly 'til 125m), ROYAL TUDOR **(badly blocked), PALAZZO PUBBLICO *(bias against).
Race 6 LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS HANDICAP
Avdulla "the gun" lifts the topweight home
steady tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
CHATELARD took up the running and VAUCLUSE BAY slid up on the outside, setting a STEADY tempo with CARZOFF in the box seat.
The Result
CARZOFF (1st) got room on the inside and chased hard to win, beating home on-pacers VAUCLUSE BAY (2nd 0.2L) and CHATELARD (3rd 0.4L).
The Interest
CARZOFF looked like he might be a 2400m+ horse when over from Europe, but around 2000m seems to be his go and Avdulla made the right moves to get him home stepping back from 2110m. Horses that got back didn't have much chance here and the well-backed XEBEC produced a big run from a hopeless position. HIGH OPINION good too. XEBEC *(bais against), OLYMPIC ACADEMY *(held up slightly) *(bias against), MORE ENERGY *(stuck wide) *(pushed wider turn) *(bias against), ZOURKHAN #(bit keen off steady tempo), HIGH OPINION *(held up slightly) *(bias against), NAPOLEON *(held up slightly) *(bias against) (not ridden late).
Race 7 OPTUS SYSTEMS PTY LTD HANDICAP
Cummings finally into his flow
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
on-rails in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
EL VENETIAN took up the running with FLOW behind him, setting a fair to steady tempo 'til around the 700m when FLOW pushed on 2W to put the pressure on early. A FAIR TEMPO: LONG SPRINT overall.
The Result
FLOW (1st) kept driving to the line, clearing out by a margin. LEVEL EIGHT (2nd 3.5L) ran on OK wider, but was no match. QUICK DEFENCE (3rd 5L) chasing steadily.
The Interest
It seemed his race on paper and an aggressive ride from Bowman made sure FLOW showed his class. The stable reported he has been working very well and he could go on with it over 1500m to 1600m next start. LEVEL EIGHT *(bias against) did enough, always reliable.
Race 8 REBECCA LOUISE HANDICAP
Class overcomes the bias this time
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
on-rails in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
GUARD OF HONOUR and NOBLE JOEY went hard early, setting a STRONG tempo in the lead.
The Result
FARAWAY TOWN surged hard from the back, sweeping past a few horses wide of the rail, which nothing else had done all day. FORTENSKY (2nd 0.4L) fought hard from just behind the leaders. INSENSATA (3rd 0.9L) ran on up the inside.
The Interest
FARAWAY TOWN was supported strongly late and given the bias was against her, punters must have been betting on a STRONG tempo, which they got as Jean Van Overmeire went way too quick in the lead on GUARD OF HONOUR. The winner was very well weighted based on her best performances in Group company and looks to have come back well. FORTENSKY in great form, INSENSATA did well too and VICEROY (5th 2.4L) deserves another win soon. PUMPKIN PIE (6th 2.8L) wasn't ridden to win today out the back. FARAWAY TOWN *(bias against), GUARD OF HONOUR ridden too aggressively? PELETHRONIUS *(bias against), TOP STRIKER *(pushed wider turn), INSENSATA *(held up slightly), VICEROY *(stuck wide) *(bias against), PUMPKIN PIE *(bias against).
Race 9 THE HONOURABLE JAMES CAIRD (TIM) BRUXNER HANDICAP
Toughness needed in this testing mile
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
In The Running
LIVE TO DREAM worked forward and set a STRONG tempo with MADDISON AVENUE moving up on the outside and BYE SEE just off them.
The Result
MADDISON AVENUE (1st) moved up at the 400m and kept fighting to beat BYE SEE (2nd 0.8L) and SIREN'S FURY (3rd 1.3L), who ran on from the back.
The Interest
The two favourites BYE SEE and SIREN'S FURY both ran well along with a tough mare that relished the way this race set up. MADDISON AVENUE was only OK sprinting home off a steady tempo last start, but she was a different animal up rolling on a STRONG speed today. She could do this again in similar conditions. BAYSA not well and going for a spell. LIVE TO DREAM *(worked early), JAUNTY (not ridden out) *(bias against), BAYSA ++(cardiac arrhythmia).