Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 24 November 2018
The excitement started early at Rosehill Gardens today as the Godolphin operation produced yet another two-year-old star in the opening event. Brazen Beau colt TASSORT destroyed a strong field, running a rapid time in the process, and he could have even more up his sleeve based on the way he hit the line.
His final 200 metre surge was completed in just 11.38 seconds, a time similar to horses twice his age later in the day.
One of those older horses was KOOL VINNIE ($19), who stormed down the outside wth REDOUBLE to get a much-deserved win in Race 6 over 1,200 metres. NICCOBELLE had gone at a rapid speed in the lead and it was a case of 'last horse standing' as all bar the top two tired in the closing stages.
That last-to-first victory followed a perfect ride from Kerrin McEvoy on popular on-pacer CRADLE MOUNTAIN ($2.10 fav') in Race 5 over 1,300 metres. After setting an ideal fair to steady tempo, the big-strider kicked on from the turn and just held off a very game DYSLEXIC for the Hawkes team. Veteran grey SIR BACCHUS rocketed up the inside late for 3rd and seems primed for a great prep after a sharp trial this time in too.
It was a good day for punters overall with five of the nine favourites saluting, including yet another Race 9 whitewash for the bookies as ORGANZA ($2.50 fav') sprinted through to run down REFLECTIVITY and win.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 GOLDEN GIFT
Godolphin unveil a potential star
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tassort | James Cummings | James McDonald | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Spaceboy | Gary Portelli | Sam Weatherley | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Jonah | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 56.0 |
In The Running
SPACEBOY led at an honest FAIR tempo, CARDIFF a touch keen on his outside and TASSORT in the box seat.
The Result
TASSORT (1st) drove through a gap and surged right away for a huge win. SPACEBOY (2nd 5.3L) tiring to the line and just holding second from JONAH (3rd 5.4L). CARDIFF (4th 6.2L).
The Interest
It's not all about speed when you hit the track. SPACEBOY and JONAH had dominated trials leading into the race, but they were tested to a different level here. TASSORT so strong, professional and a deserved new Golden Slipper favourite. The time of 1:03.88 clearly faster than Secret Lady, who ran 1:04.41 in this race last year, but she turned out to be a few lengths off the better horses too. As always, there are lots of questions to be answered before the big Autumn grand final rolls around.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carillon | Craig Martin | Ms Rachel King | 2 | 53.5 | |
| 2 | Polemic | Stephen Lee | James McDonald | 10 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Blue Collar Boy | Greg Hook | Mathew Cahill | 6 | 53.0 |
Race 3 SUMMER HOSPITALITY@ATC SPRINT
The messiest of mares races
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demerara | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 9 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Smart Amelia | Bjorn Baker | Corey Brown | 12 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Irithea | Clarry Conners | Jean Van Overmeire | 5 | 60.0 |
In The Running
IRITHEA led from PROBLEM SOLVER at a SLOW tempo only. FRAGONARD moving up three wide no cover (3W NC) and DEMERARA on her back. SLOW BURN very keen back in the pack.
The Result
DEMERARA (1st) sprinted best down the outside with SMART AMELIA (2nd 0.4L) following her home in clear running. IRITHEA (3rd 0.5L) hung on for a place in a packed finish and there were many hard luck stories in behind.
The Interest
What a mess! The slow tempo leaving us with 1.7L between 1st and 7th, the last two OUR MALAMBO (8th 2.9L) and STAR REFLECTION (9th 3.8L) only further back because they were held up for runs. You'd run this race a few times and get a different winner every time so try not to read too much into the result, Avdulla doing a great job to keep DEMERARA out of trouble and stoking her up for a big sprint home. Almost all of the others were unlucky and even PROBLEM SOLVER (6th 1.5L), who looked to have every chance on-pace, could have been the victim of an overly patient ride from Michael Walker who seemed to misjudge the tempo and the need to kick for home.
Race 4 2019 MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP
Four in a row, this boy can gallop!
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sky Boy | Anthony Cummings | Christian Reith | 2 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Fierce Impact | Matthew Smith | Tommy Berry | 10 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Etymology | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 57.0 |
In The Running
LE JUGE was urged to the lead and went along at a strong tempo with GOODWOOD ZODIAC on his outside. A few lengths back to the pack led up by FIERCE IMPACT and SKY BOY, who set a FAIR tempo with a LONG SPRINT home from the 600m. NICOCHET wide near the back.
The Result
SKY BOY (1st) sustained his run best to hold off FIERCE IMPACT (2nd 1L) with ETYMOLOGY (3rd 1.4L) weaving through up the inside after getting 'on heels' at the home turn. A hap back to a tiring ASTORIA (4th 3.5L), who had joined in on the turn.
The Interest
Three in-form gallopers put a margin on the rest here, SKY BOY making it four wins on the trot. He gets near the pace, can quicken and fights hard, all the attributes you could ask for! He's kept raising the bar and progressing this prep and after holding a 1L margin on them here in a testing race, who's to say there's not more in the tank. FIERCE IMPACT strong too and they may meet again in the Villiers. ETYMOLOGY very close up after just losing a bit of momentum on the turn, this form should measure up well in any 1800m to 2000m contest next time, but he rarely wins. Not too much to mention from the back, LIVE AND FREE (8th 5.5L) not the same horse this time in, travelling well on the turn before a plain final 250m. NICOCHET (9th 7.3L) worth forgiving, not the race to get stuck wide in given the pressure.
Race 5 ATC TIPPING COMPETITION HANDICAP
Melbourne Cups to Sydney sprints, McEvoy is the master
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cradle Mountain | Clare Cunningham | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Dyslexic | Brent Stanley | Andrew Adkins | 1 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Sir Bacchus | Joseph Pride | Sam Weatherley | 6 | 61.0 |
In The Running
CRADLE MOUNTAIN took up the running at a STEADY tempo (on the fair side) with DYSLEXIC on his back. NOBLE JOEY was outside the leader and PASSAGE OF TIME out three wide.
The Result
CRADLE MOUNTAIN (1st) kicked and held off a game DYSLEXIC (2nd 0.4L), who chased hard to the line. SIR BACCHUS (3rd 1.7L) followed them up the inside and ran home well.
The Interest
He's an exciting and progressive galloper, CRADLE MOUNTAIN leading all the way to win again. This wasn't as clear cut as it may seem on paper though after an ideal ride from McEvoy. A late market drift not a good sign, then DYSLEXIC and SIR BACCHUS took plenty of late ground off the leader. Clare Cunningham seemed to suggest there was more upside into a higher grade next time. He'll need to improve as the handicapper starts to push him up the weights quickly.
Race 6 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Vinnie smokes his pipe and gets the win
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kool Vinnie | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 11 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Redouble | Bjorn Baker | Jean Van Overmeire | 9 | 61.0 | |
| 3 | Kawaikini | Jason Coyle | Ms Jess Taylor | 4 | 56.0 |
In The Running
NICCOBELLE went hard in the lead again at a STRONG tempo with SEDITION on his outside and a gap to VIRGILIO and ONSLAUGHT chasing. MONTRACHET wide near the pace and CHALK even wider no cover. DEITY was stuck on the back of MONTRACHET as she tired.
The Result
KOOL VINNIE (1st) came to the outside and stormed over the top with REDOUBLE (2nd 0.2L) surging through the pack, the two coming away from the field late. KAWAIKINI (3rd 3L) ran on OK nearer the inside with ISLAND MISSILE (4th 3.4L).
The Interest
A strong tempo and a nice ride from Berry set up a much-deserved win for KOOL VINNIE. He was in the right spot off a frantic tempo, smoking his pipe out the back, producing a big run down the outside late alongside a very brave REDOUBLE first-up. KOOL VINNIE had failed on firm tracks before (once at Taree, once at Warwick Farm), but he's a stronger horse now and rocketed home across the turf with ease. REDOUBLE right around the mark again and desperate for a win. Excuses to DEITY (7th 5.4L) (dragged back by MONTRACHET) and CHALK (8th 5.8L) (stuck very wide). All the on-pacers finished out the back.
Race 7 THE COUNTRY CLASSIC
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapture Miss | Matthew Dale | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 53.5 | |
| 2 | Charlie Royale | Matthew J Stephens | Nick Heywood | 1 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | D'beak | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Ms Rebeka Prest | 4 | 57.0 |
Race 8 ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP
Shaky moments for Solo
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napoleon Solo | Natalie Jarvis | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Turnberry | Kris Lees | Ms Rachel King | 12 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Generalissimo | Garry White | Tye Angland | 7 | 58.5 |
In The Running
BUDEROO KNIGHT took up the running from TURNBERRY on his outside at a FAIR tempo, TAHSIN moving up three wide no cover (3W NC). NAPOLEON SOLO was in the box seat and came under pressure on the home turn.
The Result
NAPOLEON SOLO (1st) balanced up, edged wider and surged through to win. TURNBERRY (2nd 0.4L) fighting on from on-pace, GENERALISSIMO (3rd 0.6L) sprinting down the outside (peaked late), STOCK UP (4th 0.8L) chasing well and DESTINY'S OWN (5th 1.1L) running on up the inside.
The Interest
He was changing his lead leg on the turn according to Kerrin McEvoy, the fav' NAPOLEON SOLO looking in trouble on the turn before finding space and surging late. He's the one with progression as a 3YO, although this wasn't a particularly strong race. DESTINY'S OWN (5th 1.1L) was a little held up and should be suited to a SOFT Canterbury next start if they can find it. LAUSSEL (8th 3.5L) held up too and can perform third-up next start.
Race 9 #THERACES HANDICAP
James Cummings puts the icing on the cake
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Organza | James Cummings | Joshua Parr | 3 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Reflectivity | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 15 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Zip A Dee Doo Dah | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Running
REFLECTIVITY was urged to come across and lead, POET'S ADVOCATE working up outside the lead. A FAIR tempo set up.
The Result
REFLECTIVITY (2nd 0.8L) kicked on well in the straight, but ORGANZA (1st) got the inside run and chased him down. ZIP A DEE DOO DAH (3rd 2.3L) wound up well late after getting blocked. OMBUDSMEN (5th 4.4L) was blocked also.
The Interest
Two progressive 4YOs and a newly imported 7YO bounced off their first-up runs to perform very well here, all capable of running well again. ORGANZA (4YO) is a stronger mare now and this was a very solid win, a very nice end to the day after the impressive 2YO TASSORT in the first race. REFLECTIVITY fit and ready, ZIP A DEE DOO DAH very hard to beat up to 1600m to 1800m next time out. OMBUDSMAN very capable too up in distance.