Yard to the Post @ Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 12 January 2019
It was a relaxed atmosphere at Royal Randwick this afternoon, most attention north of the border with 'Magic Millions day' on the Gold Coast attracting quality fields chasing the $10 million in prizemoney.
The feature on the card in Sydney was a 1,000-metre showdown between classy wet-tracker JUNGLE EDGE $4.8 and SINGLE BULLET $2.8F (picture), the warm weather, drying track and massive 12.5kg weight relief adding up to a rare win for Gary Portelli's bullet. Money had come for Godolphin's MARSUPIAL $2.9, who was once again disappointing, battling home at the back of the small five-horse field.
SINGLE BULLET was the first of three winners on the card for Robbie Dolan, the young Irish apprentice steering home TURNBERRY and LIVE AND FREE to end they day, continuing his hot run of form over the summer.
Unfortunately for some punters the Irishman's timing in the saddle wasn't matched by other young hoops; Brock Ryan going way too hard in Race 3 on ROMAN TYPHOON $31, who finished 11 lengths off the winner and left fellow on-pacer CATESBY $5.5 paddling to the line in 4th. Then Jean Van Overmeire was very unpopular in TURBERRY's race later in the day, carving up favourite THY KINGDOM COME $1.95 on KING TOMLOLA $11, the rapid tempo giving the favourite no chance.
Track Info
| Rail | +9m |
| Conditions | SOFT 6 to GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | ON-PACE |
Race 1 JANUARY HANDICAP
The star from the south shines bright
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Fall | Ciaron Maher | Ms Linda Meech | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Exceltic | Gary Portelli | Sam Weatherley | 9 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Acquittal | Danny Williams | Tom Marquand | 1 | 55.0 |
In The Running
MISS INVINCIBLE pushed up on-pace at a FAIR tempo (on strong side) with HAPPY MO on her inside. All horses in OK positions, a couple slightly keen.
The Result
STAR FALL (1st) was too strong from just behind the leaders. EXELTIC (2nd 2.3L) ran on from the back and ACQUITTAL (3rd 2.5L) kept fighting on with a clumped chasing pack.
The Interest
The form-lines were good for STAR FALL down in Melbourne, he got the right run and proved too good again. A horse on the way up. ACQUITTAL good and STAR BOY (9th 3.6L) fine even though he was last, pulling up with a respiratory noise that needed investigation.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smart As | Garry Kirkup | Ms Linda Meech | 8 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Saarim | Warren Ganderton | Brock Ryan | 7 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Mina Harker | Marc Quinn | Robbie Dolan | 6 | 54.5 |
Race 3 THE AVIARY @ ROYAL RANDWICK SPRINT
The Roman charge sets up a swooper
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taniko | James Cummings | Christian Reith | 3 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Ghostly | Matthew Dunn | Jean Van Overmeire | 5 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Sikhing Glory | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 7 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
PUMPKIN PIE was noticeably hot in the yard.
In The Running
CATESBY went forward and was joined by ROMAN TYPHOON, the pressure went on and a STRONG tempo was set up. All the rest in OK positions, PUMPKIN PIE scrubbed along mid-race and TANIKO squeezed early and out the back.
The Result
TANIKO (1st) ran on best from GHOSTLY (2nd 1.3L) running on from near the back too. SIKHING GLORY (3rd 1.8L) challenged from near the pace, but his run ended.
The Interest
TANIKO had been good around tight tracks over 1100m and she brought her form to a big track and testing 1200m today. Excuses for CATESBY (4th 2.2L) who was take on in the lead and PUMPKIN PIE (5th 2.6L) who melted in the yard.
Race 4 2019 MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP
Mallyon from Melbourne out-rides the locals
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extreme Bliss | David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins | Andrew Mallyon | 11 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Toryjoy | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 9 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Bella Success | Chris Waller | Sam Weatherley | 1 | 56.5 |
In The Running
TORYJOY pulled it's way to the lead and set a STRONG tempo, really rolling along. HUSSTERICAL moved up on the outside. LETTER TO JULETTE wide no cover in a testing race, all others OK.
The Result
EXTREME BLISS (1st) was well ridden up the inside from the back and chased down the leader TORYJOY (2nd 0.2L). A gap to BELLA SUCCESS (3rd 2.7L) running on up the inside too.
The Interest
EXTREME BLISS is a tough mare and Andrew Mallyon is a great jockey, patiently holding her back on the inside in a very strongly run race, saving ground and running on hard. TORYJOY the run of the race though, she just needs to settle better.
Race 5 SUMMER SPRINT
Another shot fired over the sprint distance
steady tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single Bullet | Gary Portelli | Robbie Dolan | 4 | 52.0 | |
| 2 | Jungle Edge | Mick Bell | Ms Chelsea Hall | 1 | 64.5 | |
| 3 | Frolic | Edward O'Rourke | Jay Ford | 2 | 55.5 |
In The Running
JUNGLE EDGE controlled the race at just a STEADY tempo, SINGLE BULLET trailing up in 3rd. FROLIC a touch slow to leave the gates.
The Result
SINGLE BULLET (1st) powered home best to win, running down JUNGLE EDGE (2nd 1.3L). FROLIC (3rd 3.6L) ran on to grab a close finish for 3rd.
The Interest
SINGLE BULLET has been spending his career just peaking on his run over 1100m and 1200m, a horse that rarely won a race before going "2 for 2" back to 1000m. JUNGLE EDGE would have liked some more rain and perhaps would have been better suited by rolling along more (stronger tempo).
Race 6 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Waller wins a true staying test
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazaz | Eric Musgrove | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 3 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Earth Angel | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Tom Marquand | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Equipped | John Sargent | Robbie Dolan | 11 | 56.5 |
In The Running
DUSK FALLS worked forward to lead and rolled along at a rapid tempo, ramping it up before the turn (tempo: STRONG). YURALLA BOY and BEIJING BOY both near the pace and struggling on the turn.
The Result
MAZAZ (1st) moved into the clear from midfield and stayed on best to beat EARTH ANGEL (2nd 0.5L), who kept chasing up the inside. EQUIPPED (3rd 0.6L) had hit the lead and was only just edged out. CURATA PRINCESS (4th 1.4L) ran on from the back and HE'S IMPOSING (5th 1.6L) wasn't far off. A gap to the rest.
The Interest
Linda Meech was told to set a genuine tempo on the leader DUSK FALLS, but this was ridiculous! They scorched along and MAZAZ enjoyed the pressure up-front most, despite his 59.5kg impost. A big gap between 5th and the rest of them. VIHARI (10th 9.8L) was much too keen and needs to race more genuinely before being competitive at this level.
Race 7 AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB HANDICAP
The trifecta set in stone from the jump
fair tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onslaught | Shawn Mathrick | Christian Reith | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Organza | James Cummings | Tom Marquand | 2 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Samadoubt | Bjorn Baker | Jean Van Overmeire | 10 | 57.5 |
In The Running
SAMADOUBT took up the running at a FAIR tempo, getting a clear lead from ONSLAUGHT and ORGANZA just behind. SWEET DEAL got back with SCHUBERT behind.
The Result
In a three-way finish, ONSLAUGHT (1st) fought on to just edge out SAMADOUBT (2nd 0.1L) and ORGANZA (3rd 0.1L).
The Interest
Some evenly-matched form in this race and POSITION IN RUN made a lot of difference, the top three getting a nice break on the pack even though the tempo was FAIR. Some ON-PACE bias on the day helping. SCHUBERT (4th 2.2L) best of the back-markers and SWEET DEAL (8th 3.4L) was disappointing and pulled up with a poor recovery.
Race 8 #THERACES HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turnberry | Kris Lees | Robbie Dolan | 2 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Devlann | Dean S Smith | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 3 | 52.0 | |
| 3 | Brother in Arms | Emma Church | Brock Ryan | 7 | 56.0 |
Race 9 AUTUMN CARNIVAL ON SALE HANDICAP
Better than free, this boy pays the bills
steady tempo
Bias:
on-pace
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live And Free | John O'Shea | Robbie Dolan | 11 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Island Missile | Peter & Paul Snowden | Christian Reith | 8 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Trafalgar | Chris Waller | Rory Hutchings | 5 | 58.5 |
In The Running
TRAFALGAR took up the running and set an even STEADY tempo (on the fair side), kicking into the straight. MONSIEUR SISU was on his outside and DALMATIA PRINCE out wide no cover.
The Result
LIVE AND FREE (1st) sprinted best from midfield, easily beating ISLAND MISSILE (2nd 1.5L) and TRAFALGAR (3rd 1.7L) hanging on for a place.
The Interest
A tempo on the steady side, a drying track and a nice ride, LIVE AND FREE simply had too much power and acceleration for these. A big plunge came for SO YOU WIN (8th 3.8L) backed from $11 into $7 late, he was out the back and didn't race genuinely in the straight (laid in). MUTARAKEM (11th 5.7L) hardly asked for an effort by Glyn Schofield out the back, he warmed up OK late.