Yard to the Post @ Chipping Norton Stakes Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 02 March 2019
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Blake Shinn and HAPPY CLAPPER made today even more memorable than we could have hoped. Most though the Group 1 Chipping Norton would be a stroll in the park for our champion WINX, but it turned out to be a real test, HAPPY CLAPPER rolling along at a rapid rate right from the jump to try and get a break on the world's best mare.
In the end Hugh Bowman was wise to Shinn's tactics and never let the gap grow too big, edging up to him in the straight and ultimately surging clear the last 100 metres to win by a couple of lengths, as she always seems to do. Winx's stablemates were led home by UNFORGOTTEN a further 3.8 lengths behind HAPPY CLAPPER.
In other races, the strong and classy three-year-old filly NAKEETA JANE claimed her first Group 1 win in the Surround Stakes. Trained by Gai Waterhouse's ex-foreman Mark Newnham, it was a case of apprentice before the master, Gai winning a Group 2 in the next race as ALASSIO took out the Guy Walter.
The important two-year-old races were won by strong on-pacers MICROPHONE (colts) and ANAHEED (fillies), Godolphin's MICROPHONE running a much faster time, adding to the stable's ever-growing Golden Slipper army.
Track Info
Rail | +6m |
Conditions | GOOD 4 |
Weather | FINE |
Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 TAB HIGHWAY PLATE
Shinn steers the perfect race
fair tempo
: early pressure
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Haames | Colt Prosser | Blake Shinn | 4 | 57.5 | |
2 | Airfree | Natalie Jarvis | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 7 | 55.5 | |
3 | Onemore Sapphire | Tracey Bartley | Andrew Adkins | 10 | 55.5 |
In The Running
NO DOUBT MA’AM came across to lead as announced, firing up HARD CORE as he was crossed, racing keenly near the pace. They then settled a tough into the turn, overall a FAIR tempo with EARLY PRESSURE that most of the pack wasn't subject to. SPLASH OF LIME stuck 3W NC near the back and DREAM BUILDER was locked up most of the straight.
The Result
HAAMES ran on best from midfield, just edging out AIRFREE from closer to the pace. ONEMORE SAPPHIRE (3rd 0.5L) wound up late from the back, PIERINO (4th 0.6L) was brave from near the pace and TIARA ROAD (5th 0.7L) ran on well out wider.
The Interest
A close finish suggests the form may be iffy, HAAMES a well-exposed Highway horse that was ridden a treat by Shinn, emerging from midfield at the right moment. PIERINO brave after being near the early pressure, Jay Ford coming across on NO DOUBT MA'AM (11th 9.2L) and carving up the chances of HARD CORE (9th 2.4L) early. DREAM BUILDER with no luck.
Race 2 AUSTRALIAN FIRE HOSE HANDICAP
An Irish-bred can stay well fresh
steady tempo
: long sprint
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Goathland | Kim Waugh | Blake Shinn | 2 | 58.0 | |
2 | Desert Path | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 9 | 53.5 | |
3 | Looks Like Elvis | Jarrod Austin | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 54.5 |
In The Running
COSMOLOGIST took up the lead at a STEADY tempo with PENSKE on his outside, quickening on the turn for a LONG SPRINT home. DARK EYES stuck 3W NC and beaten off from the 500m. GOATHLAND beat LOOKS LIKE ELVIS to a run on the turn, leaving the latter a little tight for room.
The Result
GOATHLAND (1st) sprinted from just behind the leaders, hit the front and held on from a late surging DESERT PATH (2nd 0.2L) and LOOKS LIKE ELVIS (3rd 0.3L).
The Interest
Three good runs from the top three, any of them could have won, but only one had the perfect steer from Blake Shinn. A nice training performance from Kim Waugh too to win first-up. RODRICO (6th 3.2L) a little tight for room and could be worth following now if he gets some rain. COSMOLOGIST (11th 19.2L) knocked up badly and pulled up acutely lame, Jo Pride's vet records will now be checked. KING VIV 9th 11.8L) and DARK EYES 12th 19.5L) both 1/5 lame. PENSKE (7th 3.3L) pulled up with an abrasion.
Race 3 SCHWEPPES SKYLINE STAKES
Test one two, off to the Slipper for you
fair tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Microphone | James Cummings | James McDonald | 6 | 55.5 | |
2 | Cosmic Force | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 55.5 | |
3 | Castelvecchio | Richard Litt | Joshua Parr | 5 | 55.5 |
In The Running
FIERY RED took up the running at a FAIR tempo with COSMIC FORCE pushing up on his outside and MICROPHONE taking the trail. CASTELVECCHIO was out-sped early, joined the pack on the turn, only to be out-sprinted at the 400m.
The Result
MICROPHONE (1st) was too strong for COSMIC FORCE (2nd 1.3L), who fought on well. CASTELVECCHIO (3rd 3.3L) surged hard late to grab 3rd from ACCESSION (4th 3.8L).
The Interest
The Melbourne form of MICROPHONE stood up well here, a big strong colt that got the perfect trail and won easily, a real Slipper contender. COSMIC FORCE brave though and CASTELVECCHIO almost unbelievable late. His Power Rating (600m to 200m) was 0.13 seconds slower than MICROPHONE, but his final Surge Rating (200m to 0m) was 0.2 seconds faster. He'll head straight to the 1400m Sires now.
Race 4 LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS SWEET EMBRACE STAKES
Big, strong and the toughest of the girls
fair tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Anaheed | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 8 | 55.5 | |
2 | Still Single | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 55.5 | |
3 | Let It Pour | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 4 | 55.5 |
In The Running
KIAMICHI took over the lead with ANAHEED coming across on her outside. A FAIR tempo was set up. ENOOD stuck wide no cover on the pace.
The Result
ANAHEED (1st) kicked on and held them off, STILL SINGLE (2nd 0.8L) running on well late from the pack and LET IT POUR (3rd 2.1L) challenging, looking green the last 150m.
The Interest
ANAHEED enjoyed some space and kicked well, the last 200m just fair though. AMERCEMENT (6th 3.2L), ICEBATH (5th 3L) and GISILLE ANNE (7th 3.4L) (raced keenly) not bad from the pack.
Race 5 OPTUS LIVERPOOL CITY CUP
strong tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dreamforce | John Thompson | Blake Shinn | 6 | 59.5 | |
2 | Snippets Land | Peter & Paul Snowden | Andrew Adkins | 5 | 54.5 | |
3 | Salsonic | Jason Coyle | Tim Clark | 3 | 53.0 |
Race 6 TAB CHIPPING NORTON STAKES
A round of applause for two mighty gallopers
strong tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Winx | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 57.0 | |
2 | Happy Clapper | Patrick Webster | Blake Shinn | 3 | 59.0 | |
3 | Unforgotten | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | 57.0 |
In The Running
In an exciting race, HAPPY CLAPPER went to the lead and stormed a few lengths clear, setting a STRONG tempo. Bowman was wise to the move on WINX and kept within a few lengths.
The Result
WINX (1st) kept coming, surging past at the 100m for a soft win in the end. HAPPY CLAPPER (2nd 1.8L) ever so brave after going hard. UNFORGOTTEN (3rd 5.6L) well behind.
The Interest
Blake Shinn used daring tactics on the big tough galloper HAPPY CLAPPER, hoping that Bowman would lose touch on WINX or miraculously find some traffic in the small field. Bowman was too smart for that though, keeping the great mare within a few lengths all the time and surging home best when it mattered. The stable-mates were only there to make up the numbers, this race was all about the top two. One of the best Randwick milers we'll ever see and probably the best mare in the history of racing.
Race 7 SURROUND STAKES
A Group 1 betting plunge gets the prize
steady tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nakeeta Jane | Mark Newnham | Joshua Parr | 6 | 56.0 | |
2 | Fundamentalist | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Sam Clipperton | 5 | 56.0 | |
3 | El Dorado Dreaming | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 1 | 56.0 |
In The Running
FUNDAMENTALIST went to the lead and set a STEADY tempo, MIZZY on her outside and GREYSFUL GLAMOUR out 3W NC on the pace.
The Result
NAKEETA JANE (1st) came from out wide on the turn and just ran down FUNDAMENTALIST (2nd 0.1L) and MIZZY (4th 0.4L), EL DORADO DREAMING (3rd 0.3L) running on well from midfield too. POHUTUKAWA (5th 1.7L) ran on up the inside but didn't find much room and was blocked late.
The Interest
She's good JANE, the strong girl coming from a very tricky spot to get the win after plenty of money came for her in the ring. No knock the rest of the top four, they all had slightly easier runs though. POHUTUKAWA a big-strider that would have loved some room and SEABROOK (9th 2.9L) was a sneaky good run from the back (held up, tight). ZALATTE (7th 2.7L) found the line well late too.
Race 8 GUY WALTER PROVEN THOROUGHBREDS STAKES
A Waterhouse horse in the right spot again
slow tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alassio | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 11 | 55.0 | |
2 | Dixie Blossoms | Ron Quinton | James McDonald | 5 | 57.0 | |
3 | Manicure | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
MANDYLION went to the lead and controlled a SLOW tempo (on the steady side), with ALASSIO on her outside and MANICURE in the box seat.
The Result
ALASSIO (1st) moved up and sustained her sprint, beating home DIXIE BLOSSOMS (2nd 0.8L) quickening from midfield and MANICURE (3rd 1.2L) fighting on. DYSLEXIC (4th 1.6L) sprinted well from the back and just peaked late first-up.
The Interest
ALASSIO is one tough mare and had everything made to order here, MANDYLION setting a slow to steady pace for her to sprint home off. DIXIE BLOSSOMS and DYSLEXIC the best from back in the pack. BELLA MARTINI (7th 3.2L) and NOIRE (10th 7.4L) without too much excuse, NOIRE pushed a bit wide on the turn, but only weak late and eased up.
Race 9 NELUNE FOUNDATION HANDICAP
Another plunge landed in the get-out stakes
steady tempo
Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Renewal | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Brenton Avdulla | 9 | 54.0 | |
2 | Piracy | James Cummings | Grant Buckley | 13 | 56.5 | |
3 | Spin | Peter & Paul Snowden | Brett Prebble | 4 | 54.0 |
In The Running
PIRACY came across and led at a STEADY tempo, a packed field behind, EPIDEMIC outside the lead, LATIN BOY 3W NC, SIGNORE FOX 4W NC and another line of four behind them, RENEWAL 4W WC.
The Result
RENEWAL (1st) came out wider and chase down PIRACY (2nd 0.2L), who had kicked. SPIN (3rd 0.4L) ran on after getting held up and MISS QUE (3rd 0.4L) threaded through up the inside in not much room. MAXIMUS (8th 1.7L) never got clear.
The Interest
A messy race, the well-backed RENEWAL slowish to begin again before taking up a wide midfield spot with cover. He ran down PIRACY (suited to steady tempo) just in time. Lots of wide/unlucky runs though and despite the bunched finish, the form out of this race could be OK.