Yard to the Post | Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 11 January 2020
There were a few successful betting moves today at Royal Randwick and a couple of costly favourites in the final two races of the day.
LUVALUVA ($2.5 into $2) (picture), MAN OF PEACE ($51 into $9), ROCHA CLOCK ($3.5 into $2.6) and HELGA ($7 into $3.1) all produced big payouts for savvy early punters who were shopping in the Wednesday and Thursday markers. The moves for mare HELGA and filly ROCHA CLOCK were sustained right until jump time and they both won with ease, adding to the bad results for bookies until things turned late in the day.
In Race 8 the $2.3 fav’ CHARRETERA could only manage a 4.3L 5th to leave a hole in a few punter’ pockets, which was added to by the weak finish of MR DEPENDABLE in Race 9. Waterhouse and Bott's $1.5 fav’ went hard in the lead and looked home before tiring late for 3rd.
A full review of the day will be on-line Sunday 10am.
Track Info
| Rail | +11m 1600m-W/P, +8m Remainder |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE, SE wind easing during day |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 BUSHFIRE APPEAL RACE DAY 25TH JANUARY
A tough youngster gets a deserved win
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Splintex | Mark Newnham | Robbie Dolan | 7 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Aquitaine | James Cummings | Christian Reith | 8 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Omar | Patrick Cleave | James Innes Jnr | 1 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
Most looked well in the yard, SPLINTEX and AQUITAINE still in good order into their preps. OMAR fit enough first-up to do something, just a little revved up in the yard.
In The Running
OMAR led from WITHERSPOON at a FAIR tempo, SPLINTEX getting a nice trail 2W with AQUITAINE on his back.
The Result
SPLINTEX (1st) and AQUITAINE (2nd 0.2L) came to the outside and ran on strongly together, AQUITAINE hitting the lead before laying in and getting outfought late. OMAR (3rd 1.5L) not far away.
The Interest
He came from the better form-lines and fights hard in his races, SPLINTEX getting a much-deserved win today third-up. AQUITAINE is a classy horse too though and might have simply thrown this away laying in late under the urging of new jockey Christian Reith. Both horses to keep following in the future. WITHERSPOON not the same horse when she couldn't get the lead.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assault'n'bathory | Danielle Seib | Ms Winona Costin | 17 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Lady Demi | Terry Robinson | Brock Ryan | 12 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Tale Of The Kraut | Dean Mirfin | Jay Ford | 16 | 53.5 |
Race 3 BISLEY WORKWEAR HANDICAP
Box seat and too fit for the favourite
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Lad | Danielle Seib | Tom Marquand | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Special Reward | Kris Lees | Aaron Bullock | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Taniko | James Cummings | Christian Reith | 7 | 55.0 |
In The Yard
A very even parade, all looking fine, SPECIAL REWARD fit and ready to go first-up. EVER LOYAL and TANIKO both fine first-up too.
In The Running
SPECIAL REWARD led with PASSAGE OF TIME on his outside and SOUTHERN LAD on the rails in the box seat. The tempo only STEADY.
The Result
SOUTHERN LAD (1st) came wider and chased down SPECIAL REWARD (2nd 1L). Those two putting a big gap on the pack led by TANIKO (3rd 5.3L) running on down the outside to grab CRADLE MOUNTAIN (4th 5.6L) for a place.
The Interest
SPECIAL REWARD ran well first-up, but gave the trail to a fitter horse in SOUTHERN LAD, who chased hard to the line like he always does. Interesting that TANIKO and ALBUMIN (6th 8.1L, poor recovery) who had similar form to the winner were well beaten coming wider on the track. CRADLE MOUNTAIN (7th 8.5L) a big drifter and not the same horse these days.
Race 4 JANUARY CUP
Punters in love with this classy mare
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luvaluva | John Sargent | Koby Jennings | 6 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Taikomochi | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Mr Garcia | Kris Lees | Andrew Gibbons | 5 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
All fine in the yard, TAIKOMOCHI just a touch warm, but no knocks.
In The Running
TAIKOMOCHI led without much pressure early (SLOW tempo). SIR PLUSH raced keenly just behind and LUVALUVA in midfield with cover before moving up 3W from the 850m mark.
The Result
LUVALUVA (1st) was too strong from TAIKOMOCHI (2nd 0.8L) fighting on and MR GARCIA (3rd 0.9L) running on despite laying in.
The Interest
LUVALUVA dominant again against similar horses, the margin small but the result never in doubt. It remains to be seen how strong this form is, MR GARCIA coming from Set Weights races against BM 70 horses and running well. SIR PLUSH poorly ridden, too keen when held together mid-race.
Race 5 RANVET HANDICAP
All the way with the light weight
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man of Peace | Matthew Dale | Ms Cejay Graham | 1 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Nicochet | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 10 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Napoleon Solo | Natalie Jarvis | Tom Marquand | 4 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
Another even parade, all pretty much fine. TUNERO a touch hot and unsettled.
In The Running
MAN OF PEACE led from SONDELON and CUBAN ROYALE out 3W NC on the pace. An honest rolling FAIR tempo set up. TUNERO stoked up coming widest on the turn.
The Result
MAN OF PEACE (1st) kept fighting on as NICOCHET (2nd 0.1L) ran on well late. NAPOLEON SOLO (3rd 2.1L) ran on solidly for a place.
The Interest
MAN OF PEACE dropped 22 rating points from country to city, which was huge given he was coming off a strong win last start. He had the bar plates off before that win and it's clearly a big factor for this older horse. NICOCHET improving nicely into this prep and CUBAN ROYALE (6th 2.8L) worth another go after getting stuck wide.
Race 6 TAB VENUE MODE HANDICAP
There's plenty of time for this improving young filly
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocha Clock | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Tom Marquand | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Cinquedea | Michael Freedman | Ms Samantha Clenton | 2 | 61.5 | |
| 3 | Bigboyroy | Chris Waller | Oisin Orr | 11 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
SHOWMINDER well in the yard. WAR BARON, BIGBOYROY, ROCHA CLOCK and CINQUEDEA all fine too. FRENZIED a touch warm and a plain-looking type in comparison.
In The Running
BIGBOYROY led from ACADEMY with ROCHA CLOCK in the box seat. A FAIR tempo set up with a pretty sharp sprint on the turn.
The Result
ROCHA CLOCK (1st) swung wider into the clear and surged to the line best to win from CONQUEDEA (2nd 2.3L) running on from midfield and BIGBOYROY (3rd 3.6L).
The Interest
ROCHA CLOCK kept progressing here and produced a new career best, a filly with more upside as she gets to 1800m+ and matures. CINQUEDEA and BIGBOYROY both solid and the rest were pretty disappointing, WAR BARON (4th 5.8L) the only one worth noting after running on from the back. SHOWMINDER (9th 9.1L) was badly out-sprinted at copped a bit of interference on the turn.
Race 7 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
A big betting plunge hits the target
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helga | Les Bridge | Chris Williams | 6 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Asharani | Kris Lees | Ms Samantha Clenton | 5 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Statuesquely | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 4 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
HELGA with progression second-up looking better here and ASHARANI looked well too. PUMPKIN PIE on her toes, but better than usual. No obvious negatives.
In The Running
STATUESQUELY led from HELGA and PUMPKIN PIE at a FAIR tempo. ASHARANI near the pace on the inside.
The Result
HELGA (1st) moved up and fought on best to win from ASHARANI (2nd 1.3L) running on and STATUESQUELY (3rd 2.1L) just holding on for a place.
The Interest
The money poured in for HELGA following a strong first-up run, the Les Bridge trained mare backed in from $7 on Wednesday, then $4.2 into $2.8 on the day. She paraded better and produced a new career best here, a mare on the way up this prep. ASHARANI lost no admirers and the rest were just OK. PINUP MISS (8th 6.8L) unfortunately bleeding and will be off for three months now.
Race 8 HEINEKEN 3 HANDICAP
Right horse, right place, right time
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phaistos | James Cummings | Christian Reith | 5 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Onslaught | Shawn Mathrick | Tom Marquand | 3 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Toryjoy | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 2 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
ALL TOO SOON and VALENTINO ROSSA not fit yet, but not too bad. ONSLAUGHT more settled this time and TORYJOY had pulled through her poor Gosford run just fine, looking well. STROME OK, perhaps not quite striding out fully again.
In The Running
TORYJOY led from CHARRETERA and ALL TOO SOON stuck 3W NC. ONSLAUGHT and PHAISTOS just behind them trailing up behind an honest FAIR tempo.
The Result
PHAISTOS (1st) ran on best to win clearly from ONSLAUGHT (2nd 1L) and TORYJOY (3rd 1.2L) sticking on. ALL TOO SOON (4th 2.8L) was out-sprinted before keeping on again late.
The Interest
It all fell into place for PHAISTOS here and he got the win after some solid recent form. The time of 1:22.85 was just average though and it remains to be seen how much depth there is to this form. The mares ALL TOO SOON and TORYJOY worth following over 1600m+ perhaps. CHARRETERA (5th 4.3L) showing punters again that he doesn't like a fight.
Race 9 SKY RACING ACTIVE HANDICAP
The favourite hits the wall in the finale
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dabiyr | Chris Waller | Robbie Dolan | 3 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Matowi | Mitchell Beer | Oisin Orr | 6 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Mr Dependable | Dylan Dunn | Adam Hyeronimus | 11 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
DABIYR, MATOWI, JOIGNY and SEEINGISBELIEVING all looked well. MR DEPENDABLE fine. SHALMANESER plain-looking in comparison to the rest.
In The Running
MR DEPENDABLE rolled at a STRONG tempo and went for home early. DABIYR and MATOWI in midfield, MATOWI getting onto heels at the 350m mark and losing some momentum.
The Result
The top two charged home together, DABIYR (1st) on the inside and MATOWI (2nd 0.2L) on the outside, both running straight past a tiring MR DEPENDABLE (3rd 1.7L) late.
The Interest
It looks like Adam Hyeronimus' front-running stop watch is a bit off after the summer break. He charged along in the lead, leaving MR DEPENDABLE with nothing at the 200m mark and punters without much in their wallets too. DABIYR set for a good prep this time in and MATOWI just keeps producing. SEEINGISBELIEVING (5th 2.3L) very solid to the line before getting blocked at the 75m, he could have been much closer to the finish.