Yard to the Post @ Championships Day Two
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 14 April 2018
The atmosphere at Royal Randwick was as much rock concert as it was race meeting, many of the racegoers tapping their feet to the early acts before jostling for position near the stage as the star arrived.
It was all about WINX and her Black Caviar-equalling 25th straight win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the anticipation all week leading to an on-track moment that will forever be remembered. Cheering, celebrating then adulation filled the faces of over 25,000 racegoers, a crowd that was disappointing in number, but not a crowd that left disappointed.
There were plenty of other quality racehorses on show too, which readers of The Race Guide will know too well. HIYAAM and UNFORGOTTEN staged another great duel in the Australian Oaks, HIYAAM setting a good gallop in the lead and only passed 100 metres from home, despite racing head-on into a stiff breeze that resulted in so many leaders tiring on the day.
ALIZEE sprinted straight past her older rivals in the Coolmore Legacy Stakes and PURE ELATION kept her winning run going in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes.
The hard luck story of the day was VIRIDINE, who was locked up behind a wall of horses the entire straight in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint. And the heart-warming story of the day was WHO SHOT THEBARMAN, Waller's veteran stayer storming home down the outside to win the Group 1 Sydney Cup by a nose.
Check out a race-by-race review below.
photo: @atc_races
Track Info
| Rail | +3m |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE, windy |
| Bias | FAIR, COVER PREFERRED (tbc) |
Race 1 CHINA HORSE CLUB MILE
Swoopers pounce as the breeze bites early
strong tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Futooh | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Jason Collett | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Muswellbrook | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 1 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Aristocratic Miss | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Luke Currie | 2 | 56.5 |
In The Running
BOLD ARIAL rolled along at a STRONG TEMPO (on fair side). LEGISLATION on his outside.
The Result
FUTOOH (1st) weaved up the inside from the back to win. MUSWELLBROOK (2nd 0.4L) stuck on well from near the pace and ARISTOCRATIC MISS (3rd 1.4L) loomed and just peaked late.
The Interest
FUTOOH was unlucky last start when finishing behind ARISTOCRATIC MISS, even luck and an honest 1600m going her way today. MUSWELLBROOK and GREYSFUL GLAMOUR (4th 1.7L) two that proved the 1600m suited today (stuck on). VEGA ONE (5th 2.3L) could have been in the finish after getting held up near 75m, he was coming from the right position in the run given the STRONG tempo and wind hitting horses on the home turn (cover helped). BOLD ARIAL (11th 9.5L) and LEGISLATION (9th 4.1L) both knocking up from on-pace.
Race 2 THE AGENCY SOUTH PACIFIC CLASSIC
On-pace favourites fall in a hole
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Turbo | Peter & Paul Snowden | Damian Lane | 5 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Dark Dream | Allan Kehoe | Jay Ford | 9 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Renewal | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 55.5 |
In The Running
RENEWAL led from ISAURIAN at a FAIR tempo with some pressure injected by WAIMEA BAY (over-raced) mid-race.
The Result
CALIFORNIA TURBO (1st) swept home to win, just holding on from a surging DARK DREAM (2nd 0.1L). RENEWAL (3rd 1.4L) holding on for a place.
The Interest
Given the win you could almost say there were two races here, of the favourites in the lead with no cover RENEWAL edged out ISAURIAN (5th 1.9L). Swoopers favoured here again and both CALIFORNIA TURBO and DARK DREAM are progressive types, DARK DREAM very hard to beat in any 1600m race with an honest tempo coming up (hits a flat spot). Completely forgive WAIMEA BAY (9th 10.2L) who was wide into the breeze, over-raced and wasn't ridden late!
Race 3 360 DMG PERCY SYKES STAKES
An in-form filly does it again
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pure Elation | Peter & Paul Snowden | Michael Walker | 3 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Fiesta | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Outback Barbie | Tony Gollan | Joao Moreira | 1 | 54.0 |
In The Running
KARA'S HOPE led from SISTER SLEDGE at a FAIR tempo, both horses facing the stiff wind into the straight.
The Result
PURE ELATION (1st) pounced on them from midfield and went on with it. FIESTA (2nd 1.3L) chased her through the pack and couldn't get there, OUTBACK BARBIE (3rd 1.5L) back to the inside after getting held up.
The Interest
Could this filly have been a Golden Slipper contender? She beat home FIESTA here (ran well in Slipper) fair and square, a tough grey sprinter that just left her run too late for the big prize a few weeks ago. OUTBACK BARBIE and SETSUNA both unlucky getting held up. SISTER SLEDGE (9th 7.4L) and KARA'S HOPE (10th 10.6L) the leaders knocking up this time.
Race 4 POLYTRACK PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL
fair tempo
: early pressure
Bias:
run-on
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serene Miss | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 17 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Newsfan | Kim Waugh | Andrew Adkins | 12 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Plaisir | David Atkins | Robert Thompson | 16 | 56.0 |
Race 5 ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT
Moreira out-rides the local lads, finally!
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catchy | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Joao Moreira | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Showtime | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Corey Brown | 1 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | I Am Excited | David Pfieffer | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 54.5 |
In The Running
HOUTZEN led from BOOKER on her outside and PERAST three wide no cover at a FAIR tempo. CATCHY got to a spot three wide with cover at the back, keeping VIRIDINE locked up on her inside.
The Result
CATCHY (1st) swept past to win, beating home SHOWTIME (2nd 1.5L), who fought on from the box seat. I AM EXCITED (3rd 1.8L) chasing solidly and BOOKER (4th 2.6L) the best of the on-pacers.
The Interest
What a tragedy for backers of VIRIDINE, he never got any room in the straight and based on the way he was travelling, you have to say he would have won. Bowman lost his chance mid-race when Moreira whipped up on his outside and the rest was out of his hands. CATCHY didn't have much luck last week herself and turned things around this week, one of the backmarkers suited on the day. Moreira relieved to finally get an Aussie winner after a long run of outs. A big tick for BOOKER on-pace only 2.6L behind after previous leaders had been getting flogged.
Race 6 JAMES BOAG'S PREMIUM AUSTRALIAN OAKS
Real quality in this bunch of fillies
fair tempo
: long sprint
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unforgotten | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Hiyaam | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Michael Dee | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Miss Admiration | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damien Oliver | 11 | 56.0 |
In The Running
HIYAAM went to the lead and set a FAIR gallop until half-way, ramping it up and setting a LONG SPRINT for home, overall a testing race. CHILLY CHA CHA had the job chasing her with no cover just behind.
The Result
UNFORGOTTEN (1st) peeled into the clear from midfield and ran on best, chasing down a brave HIYAAM (2nd 1L), who was three lengths clear on the turn. MISS ADMIRATION (3rd 3.3L) stayed on well from the back up the inside.
The Interest
The two fillies that got the quinella in the G1 Vinery did the job again here, UNFORGOTTEN getting the better of HIYAAM this time, but the leader was so brave facing the breeze in the lead. Given the time they ran and the quality of some of the horses behind them, these two gallopers should be competitive in the Cups in the Spring. MISS ADMIRATION ($101) was well ridden in a tough race, a real stayer, she ran 5th at $151 in the Vic Oaks and punters didn't learn! LUVALUVA (12th 19.8L) very poor after getting stuck wide at the back, she may not have recovered from the tough run last week.
Race 7 LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES
Our champion mare keeps the run going
slow tempo
: long sprint
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winx | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Gailo Chop | Matthew Williams | Mark Zahra | 5 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Happy Clapper | Patrick Webster | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 59.0 |
In The Running
GAILO CHOP took up the lead and backed it off, setting a SLOW tempo in the early stages, WINX getting back to last in what looking like a tricky spot until AMBITIOUS (over-raced) took off mid-race and made sure there was a LONG SPRINT HOME (leader ran 11.27, 11.42 and 12.00 last three sections).
The Result
WINX (1st) tracked into it from the 800m, looped the field on the turn and stormed clear late! GAILO CHOP (2nd 3.8L) holding off HAPPY CLAPPER (3rd 4.1L), who found some traffic near the inside.
The Interest
For just over a minute there were some nervous punters, owners and racing organisers as GAILO CHOP backed off the speed and WINX went way out to last. She's a star that has overcome almost every scenario, but you don't want to see them get beaten in a very slowly run race. In the end there wasn nothing to worry about as the keen-going AMBITIOUS took off mid-race and made it a LONG SPRINT home. WINX at her very best with so much more to give it seems. Connections of HAPPY CLAPPER and HUMIDOR (4th 4.9L) (shuffled back) both might feel they should have come 2nd.
Race 8 SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP
The old boy still finding new tricks
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who Shot Thebarman | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 10 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Zacada | Jim & Greg Lee | Dean Holland | 12 | 50.5 | |
| 3 | Sir Charles Road | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Andrew Adkins | 4 | 50.0 |
In The Running
A few changes in the lead. CISMONTANE taking over early before PERIBSEN moved up after getting stuck wide, leaving ADMIRAL JELLO wide with no cover.
The Result
WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (1st) came wide on the turn and stayed on well to cross the line together with ZACADA (2nd 0.1L), who did get a small check on the turn, but he saved a lot more ground than the winner. SIR CHARLES ROAD (3rd 1.1L) and AUVRAY (4th 1.2L) fighting out the remaining place.
The Interest
What an old marvel! He circled the field 9W on the turn and stormed home to win by the smallest of margins. His first Sydney Cup after going so close in recent years and his first win at Randwick in 19 attempts. Waller has to be given so much credit for geting him to this level as a 9YO, now over $4.5 million in the bank. ZACADA returned to his NZ form level (similar to SIR CHARLES ROAD) after one poor run in Aus (too far back) and almost caused a huge upset! Unforunate that ALMANDIN pulled up 2/5 lame. Stable-mate ALOFT didn't finish the race from near pace, be forgiving on anything up near the lead as they had to run into the stiff breeze twice over the 3200m.
Race 9 COOLMORE LEGACY STAKES
steady tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alizee | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 8 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Prompt Response | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Heavens Above | Tim Martin | Tye Angland | 4 | 57.0 |
Race 10 TAB SAPPHIRE STAKES
Turbo drive from Weir's speedy mare
strong tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quilista | Peter & Paul Snowden | Damian Lane | 14 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Ravi | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | White Moss | Jason Coyle | Michael Dee | 4 | 55.0 |
In The Running
QUILISTA took up the running and rolled at a STRONG tempo 6L clear of the pack, headed by WHITE MOSS and LUBITON with RAVI just behind them. SUGAR BELLA was four wide at the back with no cover. DANISH TWIST three wide no cover midfield.
The Result
QUILISTA (1st) held them off easily, beating RAVI (2nd 1.8L) and WHITE MOSS (3rd 2L), who both fought on solidly. INVINCIBELLA (4th 2.3L) made ground.
The Interest
She's going places this girl, QUILISTA a horse with early speed and plenty of fight. Clearly she would have even more upside if Weir tought her to settle though, we will see what happens in the tougher grades. RAVI and WHITE MOSS very solid, while INVINCIBELLA and LUBITON (5th 2.5L) are ready for further now. GHISONI (6th 2.7L) doing enough to spark some interest in her next start. Forgive SUGAR BELLA (13th 5L) and perhaps DANISH TWIST (15th 8.2L) too.