Yard to the Post @ Villiers Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 15 December 2018
FELL SWOOP emerged from the shadows to win for the first time since April 2016 today at Royal Randwick. A horse that had been competitive at the highest level aganist Chautauqua, he performed poorly in the Autumn which led trainer Matt Dale to give him a long spell this year, avoiding the Spring and allowing the veteran time to recover.
A strong first-up run at Flemington showed that he was on the comeback trail and he finally delivered again in the Listed Razor Sharp stakes, out-classing the favourite CRADLE MOUNTAIN, who did well to hold off FIRSTHAND for 2nd after settling outside FELL SWOOP on a strong tempo.
From a comeback horse to a galloper reaching new heights in the feature Group 2 Villiers Stakes, SKY BOY beat a game ALOISIA to make it five wins on the trot. A shot at the Group 1 Doncaster now awaits in the Autumn, trainer Anthony Cummings full of praise for son of Pendragon, as was son Edward Cummings who moves on to train on his own next year. In an interview after the race Edward articulated the passion the late Dato Tan Chin Nam showed for all his horses, SKY BOY the last winner the famous owner had with the Cummings family after many before with Bart and James. Who will ever forget Saintly!
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | SOFT 6 to SOFT 7 |
| Weather | OVERCAST, RAIN |
| Bias | OFF RAILS 2 WIDE + |
Race 1 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
strong tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sei Stella | Matthew Dale | Jay Ford | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Anchois | Vince Suraci | Sam Weatherley | 4 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Invincible Tammy | Dale Wagstaff | Robbie Dolan | 10 | 54.0 |
Race 2 SUMMER RACING HANDICAP
A better track and a bigger surge
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deprive | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Miss Toorak Flyer | Jason Warren | Corey Brown | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Mister Songman | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 8 | 58.0 |
In The Running
READY TO PROPHET took up the running from a keen MAD FOR ART. MISTER SONGMAN pushing up wide from the 700m after being a touch keen himself, leaving CONNEMARA out very wide. GONGS no room in the straight as the sprint went on and DIO D'ORO left flat-footed.
The Result
MISS TOORAK FLYER (2nd 0.4L) sprinted through from the back half, but DEPRIVE (1st) surged home best late to win. MISTER SONGMAN (3rd 0.6L) fighting on well and MILITARY ZONE (4th 1.7L) making some ground). A gap to 5th.
The Interest
DEPRIVE had trialed well before an OK return on very heavy ground at Warwick Farm, back to his best today with more grip in the surface. MISS TOORAK FLYER an impressive looking sprinter that showed plenty of power here and may be better on a drier track. MISTER SONGMAN very good and ready for 1200m now. No luck at all for GONGS (9th 7L)!
Race 3 CATANACH'S HANDICAP
The track specialist beats the crowd favourite
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Reflection | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 8 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Seasons | Kylie Gavenlock | Tim Clark | 12 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Savvan | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Robbie Dolan | 13 | 55.0 |
In The Running
ALASSIO took up the running and went quicker than expected, setting a STRONG tempo as SEASONS worked up on her outside, spending some petrol early. SAVVAN wide near the pace. SWEET SCANDAL on the inside in the box seat.
The Result
STAR REFLECTION (1st) ran on well from the back to just grab a brave SEASONS (2nd 0.2L). SAVVAN (0.6L) fought on hard, surging to the line late.
The Interest
This race showed just how different a wet Randwick is to a firm Rosehill for some horses and also showed the off rails track bias that was quickly emerging on the day. STAR REFLECTION is a leaner tough sprinter, just the type for the conditions today, a STRONG tempo helping to set up an upset win over a very honest SEASONS, who ran very well. STAR REFLECTION had SAVVAN form from last prep so no surprise to see them both run well. The horses on the inside floundered, including SWEET SCANDAL (5th 2.6L), who will be tough to beat up to 1400m next start (..with some overdue luck!). ALASSIO (6th 3L) ran well too.
Race 4 CHRISTMAS CUP
A better run gives a better result
slow tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Century | Kim Waugh | Jason Collett | 4 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Exoteric | Scott Brunton | James McDonald | 2 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Destiny's Kiss | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 3 | 59.0 |
In The Running
HEARTLET controlled a SLOW tempo with OUR CENTURY up on her outside and EXOTERIC in the box seat.
The Result
OUR CENTURY kicked for home best and held off EXOTERIC (2nd 1.8L), DESTINY'S KISS (3.3L) chasing home solidly.
The Interest
Probably not much between the top three stayers here, the right conditions on the day giving different results perhaps. OUR CENTURY better here after facing the breeze outside Red Excitement (ran strong sectionals) when beaten by EXOTERIC. This race worked out better. The tempo didn't suit DESTINY'S KISS at all though, he was hoping for more rain and for a bit more pressure. WALL OF FIRE (lame, 4th 6.9L) tried to put some on from the turn but plodded, he's ready for a break now.
Race 5 INGLIS NURSERY
Bowman box seats and wins
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accession | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Strasbourg | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Corey Brown | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Namimo | Tom Dabernig | Tommy Berry | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
Some keen-going youngsters here, BLAZING MISS speeding forward to take up the lead, TOUCH OF PARADISE racing keenly outside the leader, STRALEX three wide and AEECEE VINCO out very wide. A STRONG tempo set up.
The Result
ACCESSION (1st) moved into the clear from the box seat, fighting on best from STRASBOURG (2nd 0.8L) swooping out wide and NAMIMO (3rd 1.3L) fighting on up the inside.
The Interest
Bowman gave ACCESSION a peach here, the son of Brazen Beau fighting on best from near the strong tempo to hold off STRASBOURG, who ran on from the back. Both NAMIMO (inside lane off) and BLAZING MISS (4th 2.3L, had to soak up pressure) were very good. AEECEE VINCO (6th 3.1L) enormous and perhaps even the run of the race after getting stuck 4W NC. TOUCH OF PARADISE (11th 8.9L) needs to go back to school (green) and STRALEX (13th 30.6L) pulled with a cardiac issue.
Race 6 RAZOR SHARP HANDICAP
All class from Matt Dale
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fell Swoop | Matthew Dale | Hugh Bowman | 1 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Cradle Mountain | Clare Cunningham | Jason Collett | 4 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Firsthand | David Noonan | Tommy Berry | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
FELL SWOOP kicked up to lead from CRADLE MOUNTAIN, rolling along at a STRONG tempo with DEPLOY out three wide and BURNING PASSION out four wide.
The Result
FELL SWOOP (1st) edged out to the 3W lane lane and was too strong, beating CRADLE MOUNTAIN (2nd 2L) and FIRSTHAND (3rd 2.2L), who chased back on the inside.
The Interest
The class runner of the race FELL SWOOP was no the comeback track after a poor Autumn and a long spell, out of the winners circle since Autumn 2016! He was strong first-up at Flemington and showed his class today. Trainer Matt Dale's patience paid off. We'll never know if CRADLE MOUNTAIN would have done better leading, all his wins coming that way so far, but it's doubtful given they rolled at a STRONG tempo as it was. Perhaps more excuses for FIRSTHAND (3rd 2.2L) and BURNING PASSION (4th 5.2L).
Race 7 FUGEN CONSTRUCTION VILLIERS STAKES
The sky is still the limit for Cummings
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sky Boy | Anthony Cummings | Christian Reith | 9 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Aloisia | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Tim Clark | 12 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | My Nordic Hero | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 57.5 |
In The Running
FABRIZIO rolled to the lead from the outside and went along at a STRONG tempo, GOODFELLA working very hard to get up alongside him after jumping midfield. GRANDE ROSSO out wide midfield.
The Result
SKY BOY (1st) moved up from just behind the leaders and hit the front 200m out, driving to a clear lead and just hanging on from a flying ALOISIA (2nd 0.2L), who surged home off the strong tempo. MY NORDIC HERO (3rd 1.2L) ran on well too.
The Interest
He just keeps winning and he just keeps improving, SKY BOY a serious racehorse that ticks all the boxes. Group 1 racing awaits in the Autumn now if Anthony Cummings can find enough time for him to rest after this almighty effort. ALOISIA had a dose of regumate and a step up in her form. MY NORDIC HERO had his chance and ran well. Excuses to GOODFELLA (8th 3.9L) (worked early), DOUBT DEFYING (5th 2.6L) (blocked 200m) and GRANDE ROSSO (10th 5L) (wide, came again late).
Race 8 TOTAL CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP
Tim Clark pounces on the fav'
steady tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tip Top | Les Bridge | Tim Clark | 2 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Organza | James Cummings | Jason Collett | 6 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | Roman Son | Terry Robinson | Glyn Schofield | 8 | 58.0 |
In The Running
ARRAIGNMENT led at a STEADY tempo from ORGANZA on his outside, TIP TOP trailing up behind the fav' ORGANZA. PLAISIR jumped OK for once, but was wide near the pace no cover.
The Result
ORGANZA (2nd 1L) sprinted past ARRAIGNMENT (4th 3.1L), but TIP TOP (1st) came off her back and powered to the lead. ROMAN SON (3rd 2.3L) chasing home well from midfield.
The Interest
A steady tempo only, both ORGANZA and TIP TOP in a great position in the run, Tim Clark getting the very best out of TIP TOP to win. Some risk at 1600m, the STEADY 1600m was a help to the winner. ROMAN SON ready to do something at 1800m+ now. ARRAIGNMENT probably could have done without the OFF RAILS bias in the lead and may have been better off going for home earlier with his light weight. Rob Thompson didn't ask much from PLAISIR (8th 5L), who finally jumped well this time.
Race 9 AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB HANDICAP
Waterhouse Bott too tough in the last
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penske | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Joshua Parr | 14 | 60.5 | |
| 2 | Super Star Bob | Matthew Dale | Kerrin McEvoy | 13 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Gresham | Chris Waller | Sam Weatherley | 15 | 61.0 |
In The Running
GRESHAM worked across from out wide and led from PENSKE, some early pressure in what was a FAIR tempo overall. MERCURIAL LAD three wide no cover.
The Result
PENSKE (1st) fought on best from a brave GRESHAM (3rd 0.4L) with SUPER STAR BOB (2nd 0.2L) surging home up the inside late to split them.
The Interest
Some game types up on-pace here, PENSKE showing promise last prep and returning with a nice win here, he could go through the grades now he is settling (blinkers off clearly helped). GRESHAM going well and both SUPER STAR BOB and MERCURIAL LAD (5th 2.8L) (stuck wide) enjoyed the conditions up from Canberra. BERDIBEK (6th 3.4L) one to follow this prep running on. DRACHENFELS (7th 4L) laid in under the apprentice rider and may have not run out the 1400m. KOOL VINNIE (13th 13.9L) tailed off with a cardiac issue.