Yard to the Post @ Silver Slipper Day
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 23 February 2019
There were a couple of big name short-priced favourites going around at Rosehill Gardens today, punters hoping that both two-year-old TASSORT and three-year-old THE AUTUMN SUN would get the prize first-up in their campaigns.
They were both set a task from the back of the field, which proved too much for TASSORT ($1.85) who couldn't reel in a very impressive TIME TO REIGN on the soft ground. Later in the day THE AUTUMN SUN ($1.55) thankfully did better, just grabbing VEGADAZE late by a small margin to spark excited cheers from the crowd.
TASSORT's loss is a good example of the perils of punting during this time of year, which is as much about finding the fit horse early in an autumn campaign as it is about finding the best horse. Punters were caught out in two other races also, muscular grey mare WHITE MOSS (picture) bouncing off her plain first-up run to win the feature Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at $51 just before RED CARDINAL surged home best first-up from a break to win the Parramatta Cup at $26.
Some of the other results on the day were more popular; BALLER won the Spark of Life Sprint at $4, ARCHEDEMUS took out the Ranvet Handicap at $3 and SEAWAY got the prize at $2.25, beating home his unlucky stablemate NEW UNIVERSE.
A full review is shown below.
Track Info
| Rail | +6m |
| Conditions | SOFT 7 |
| Weather | FINE, some showers |
| Bias | FAIR, inside 6 to 7 lanes best |
Race 1 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
Rock solid consistency gets paid off
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zardoro | Terry Robinson | Tim Clark | 1 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Caprera | Cameron Crockett | Robbie Dolan | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Sunlit | Matthew Dunn | Jason Collett | 9 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
No yard notes.
In The Running
I’M A JEWEL led at a STRONG tempo with BURNING CROWN on her outside, GUMSHOE three wide and BEDTIME STORIES four wide. BURNING CROWN kicked on through to hit the lead 300m out.
The Result
ZARDORO (1st) ran on from midfield and was just too strong for CAPRERA (2nd 0.4L) up the inside from the box seat. SUNLIT (3rd 0.6L) chased out wider and grabbed BURNING CROWN (4th 0.7L) late.
The Interest
$2.4 fav' BURNING CROWN showed speed and power, the last 200m surge lacking on a testing SOFT track with a STRONG tempo too. He'll be better back to firm ground with less pressure next time. ZARDORO solid as always and a nice return from CAPRERA. GUMSHOE (8th 4.2L) had a slow recovery in the vet report.
Race 2 CHANDON S SILVER SLIPPER STAKES
Portelli having his time all over again
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Time To Reign | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Jason Collett | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Tassort | James Cummings | James McDonald | 3 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Born A Warrior | Ron Quinton | Tommy Berry | 2 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
All 2YOs well, FARETTI playing with his tongue a little, a powerful type. MCLAREN, TIME TO REIGN and CHICAGO BULL all on their toes. TASSORT well and very relaxed.
In The Running
CARDIFF sped along in the lead at a STRONG tempo. MCLAREN just off him putting TIME TO REIGN a tiny bit wide. BORN A WARRIOR and TASSORT slow to start and out the back.
The Result
TIME TO REIGN (1st) maintained a strong run to win well, beating TASSORT (2nd 2.3L) running on from the back and BORN A WARRIOR (3rd 5.6L ), who recovered from getting blocked at the 150m.
The Interest
This was a big win, Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign's half-brother TIME TO REIGN showing real strength on a SOFT track to put a margin on a very good field. TASSORT almost as good, slow to begin and chasing with no trail on the turn, he was resolute chasing right to the line as he was on debut. BORN A WARRIOR clearly the third best run, a horse that still could measure up in the bigger races based on what we saw today (yard and race). Nothing wrong with FARETTI in the Steward's Report.
Race 3 RANVET HANDICAP
A potential Champ gets the job done
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Archedemus | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Chad Lever | 1 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Star of the Seas | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Coterie | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Sam Clipperton | 2 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
All looking well in the yard.
In The Running
ARCHEDEMUS took up the running with ORIENTAL RUNNER on his outside and MAPMAKER out 3W NC.
The Result
ARCHEDEMUS (1st) responded to riding and broke clear for a good win, STAR OF THE SEAS (2nd 1.8L) chasing out wider with I GOT YOU (4th 2.4L) and COTERIE (3rd 2.2L) fighting on from the pack.
The Interest
He's on his way to the Provincial Champs and if he gets a wet track it could be game over, ARCHEDEMUS a promising horse that relishes the wet. STAR OF THE SEAS and I GOT YOU caught the eye out wider and can progress now this prep.
Race 4 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
Waller's way works again
steady tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seaway | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | All Too Soon | David Payne | Tim Clark | 2 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Mask of Time | Ciaron Maher | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
All fine in the yard, some improvement to come from ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN, MORTON'S FORK, MASK OF TIME and ALL TOO SOON, who all were OK. SHRAAOH on his toes first-up in Australia.
In The Running
MASK OF TIME took up the running and controlled a STEADY tempo, SEAWAY moving up on his outside. ALL TOO SOON with a nice trail behind them. NEW UNIVERSE was blocked at the 300m trying to make a run from midfield.
The Result
SEAWAY (1st) sustained his sprint best to beat ALL TOO SOON (2nd 1.3L) who kept on and grabbed MASK OF TIME (3rd 1.5L) late. NEW UNIVERSE (4th 1.7L) right on their heels and tight for room.
The Interest
Waller's pair SEAWAY and NEW UNIVERSE both had good recent benchmark form, SEAWAY getting the better position and more luck this time, a horse that really finds the line. NEW UNIVERSE unlucky and another stable-mate ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN (6th 3.1) produced some big sectionals from the back, a strong galloper that could have been competitive with a more positive ride.
Race 5 HOBARTVILLE STAKES
Step one for the boom Sydney colt this autumn
steady tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Autumn Sun | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Vegadaze | Anthony Cummings | Tim Clark | 2 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Bondi | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
All fine in the yard, BONDI a touch hot as is often the case for him.
In The Running
VEFADZE took up the running at a STEADY tempo with BONDI on his outside. They kicked on the turn with THE AUTUMN SUN back in 5th.
The Result
THE AUTUMN SUN (1st) got to the outside and stormed home late to win, just catching VEGADAZE (2nd 0.4L). BONDI (2.2L) not too far off.
The Interest
VEGADAZE is ever so honest and so hard to get past, THE AUTUMN SUN showing his class when it really matter. The STEADY tempo and wet track probably didn't help and he had to produce some big final sectionals to get there. On to the Guineas over the mile!
Race 6 SPARK OF LIFE HANDICAP
Cummings finds the right game for Baller
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baller | Tony Gollan | Tommy Berry | 6 | 53.5 | |
| 2 | Spiritual Pursuit | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 10 | 52.0 | |
| 3 | Prophet's Thumb | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Corey Brown | 3 | 52.0 |
In The Yard
Most sprinters looking well, RAGGED RASCAL's coat a bit dull. ROOSEVELT and INVICTUS SALUTE with some improvement to come, big strong types.
In The Running
SPIRITUAL PURSUIT sped to the lead at a FAIR tempo. INVICTUS SALUTE 3W no cover midfield.
The Result
BALLER (1st) came from 4th in the run and ran down the brave leader SPIRITUAL PURSUIT (2nd). PROPHET'S THUMB (3rd) ran up the inside well from the back.
The Interest
BALLER better back to 1100m after trying 1400m and failing last start. SPIRITUAL PURSUIT in flying form this prep and PROPHET'S THUMB put in a better run. The time was only fair, but they did put a margin on the honest SO TAKEN (5th 3.6L). INVICTUS SALUTE (7th 6.7L) pulled up with a poor recovery after not being 100% fit in yard and getting stuck wide no cover.
Race 7 MILLIE FOX STAKES
steady tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Moss | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 15 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | I Am Serious | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 4 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Savatiano | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 54.0 |
Race 8 PARRAMATTA CUP
Strength and stamina come to the fore
fair tempo
: long sprint
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Cardinal | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 6 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Big Duke | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 13 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Age Of Fire | Ciaron Maher | Jay Ford | 2 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
Most looking fine in yard, a touch of improvement to come for most of the fresh horses BIG DUKE, RED CARDINAL, SINGING, RED CARDINAL, CASTERTON, AGE OF FIRE and HIGH BRIDGE. TANGLED a bit warm with a short stabby walk in the yard.
In The Running
SAMADOUBT took the lead with GRESHAM on his outside, rolled along at a FAIR tempo and kicked for home early making it a LONG SPRINT home. EMPEROR'S WAY came out 3W NC just at the wrong moment, 850m out as the sprint was going on.
The Result
RED CARDINAL (1st) swept home from last to beat BIG DUKE (2nd 1L) who ran on from the tail too. AGE OF FIRE (3rd 1.8L) stayed up the inside, squeezing past CASTERTON (4th 2.8L), who had hit the lead 300m out before peaking on his run.
The Interest
Has Kris Lees taken these ex-Weir stayers to a new level? Or was it the strong speed set up by SAMADOUBT (9th 7.7L) that made the difference? Probably a bit of both, but definitely the latter, swoopers advantaged by the pressure up-front. EMPEROR'S WAY (5th 4.6L) was not particularly well ridden by Adkins. GRESHAM (12th 17.4L) didn't stay and pulled up 1/5 lame.
Race 9 GOLDEN SLIPPER HOSPITALITY HANDICAP
Power on-pacers dominate a slow sprint
steady tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malahat | Aleacia Bennett | Tommy Berry | 12 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Junglized | Brad Widdup | Corey Brown | 7 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | She Knows | Danny Williams | Blake Shinn | 9 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
ALL TOO ROYAL a touch keen and on his toes in the yard. TOUGHERTHANTHEREST with improvement to come, as did GOT UNDERS and HIGHLAND BEAT.
In The Running
MEMES led with no pressure at a STEADY tempo with MALAHAT on her outside and JUNGLIZED in the box seat.
The Result
MALAHAT (1st) and JUNGLIZED (2nd 0.2L) sprinted together and fought out the race. A gap back to SHE KNOWS (3rd 2L) holding her ground.
The Interest
No tempo in this and MALAHAT loved it, a horse that can sometimes peak on his run. ALBUMIN (4th 2.8L), HIGHLAND BEAT (5th 2.9L) and BANDIPUR (6th 3.3L) all good runs too from further back.