Yard to the Post | Randwick Guineas Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 07 March 2020
“Bias” is a dirty word during the racing carnival, we all hope that every horse gets a fair chance when the feature races are on.
That wasn’t the case at Royal Randwick though as four of the first six races were won by leaders before the pattern evened out late in the day. Horses like I AM EXCITED (2nd to FASIKA), TAGALOGA (2nd to FARNAN) and most of all CASTELVECCHIO (8th in the Guineas) worth forgiving at their next start.
That doesn’t take anything away from the impressive performances of Group One winners THE BOSTONIAN (Canterbury Stakes) or SHADOW HERO (Randwick Guineas) (picture above), who showed their class over the final furlong to post strong wins in the features.
THE BOSTONIAN and SAVATIANO (2nd) broke clear of the chasing pack by three lengths, suggesting the form will hold up in future carnival races. FARNAN and TAGALOA (Todman Stakes) and VILLAMI and COSMIC FORCE (Fireball Stakes) also put margins on the others in their respective races, adding to the long list of promising horses to follow this Autumn.
The full review for each race is below.
Track Info
| Rail | +3 metres |
| Conditions | SOFT 7 to SOFT 6 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | NEAR PACE / NEAR RAILS (RAILS to 3W), evening out later in day |
Race 1 TRICOLOURS WENONA GIRL QUALITY
A popular mare is back for a big Autumn Carnival
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fasika | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 6 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | I Am Excited | David Pfieffer | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Resin | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 5 | 53.5 |
In The Yard
FASIKA looked well and ready to go. RESIN and SEASONS had improved a touch. BOOKER not quite fit yet and SPIRITUAL PURSUIT edgy in the yard again.
In The Running
FASIKA went to the lead from BOOKER a touch keen and SEASONS 3W NC. A FAIR tempo set up with a LONG SPRINT as SEASONS pushed on to lead 2W on the turn. SPIRITUAL PURSUIT missed the start and got out the back.
The Result
FASIKA (1st) fought hard and held off I AM EXCITED (2nd 1L) and RESIN (3rd 1.2L) running on from the back.
The Interest
FASIKA is brave, reliable and she enjoyed a bit of on-pace/near rails bias to win here, I AM EXCITED doing a good job running on out wider. Forgive SEASONS (6th 3.1L) who worked much too hard in the run.
Race 2 UNSW TODMAN STAKES
Waterhouse's tough guy charges towards the Slipper
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farnan | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Hugh Bowman | 1 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Tagaloa | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Michael Walker | 8 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Blondeau | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 6 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
FARNAN solid and well, TAGALOA had travelled up in good shape, a loose walker with nice stride. BLAZE A TRAIL a bit fitter, but a heavy type.
In The Running
FARNAN took up the running with BLAZE A TRAIL on his outside. TAGALOA jumped OK then was restrained a couple of pairs back, soon under pressure as FARNAN quickened into the turn (tempo: FAIR: LONG SPRINT).
The Result
FARNAN (1st) held a margin from TAGALOA (2nd 1.8L) surging late. BLONDEAU (3rd 4.6L) just edged out GLOBAL QUEST (4th 4.8L) for a place.
The Interest
The track suited FARNAN's racing style and he got the job done well, a tough colt to get past in the Slipper now. No knock TAGALOGA at all, who finds the line nicely and should be even better over 1400m+ in the coming weeks. GLOBAL QUEST plain by his standards with the blinkers on first time.
Race 3 YARRAMAN PARK REISLING STAKES
The Dame's class starts to shine again
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dame Giselle | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | See You Soon | Jean Dubois | Jean Van Overmeire | 11 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Mildred | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 9 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
Most fillies looked well. DAME GISELLE a lovely type and drying track suits. SEE YOU SOON on her toes and fit fresh. TICKET TO RIDE, CENTIMENTAL and SUPREME IDEA in good shape too. No knocks.
In The Running
SUPREME IDEA led up from MILDRED, DAME GISELLE (3W NC) and SUNBORN (4W NC). JOVIALITY and CENTIMENTAL raced keenly inside horses. SEE YOU SOON back on the inside.
The Result
DAME GISELLE (1st) moved up and got the bob in from SEE YOU SOON (2nd 0.1L) who ran on up the inside. MILDRED (3rd 0.6L) right in the finish too with a gap back to FAYERRA (4th 2.6L) chasing honestly and SUNBORN (5th 3L) trying hard after a wide run.
The Interest
The time might have been plain (0.7 seconds slower than FARNAN), but DAME GISELLE took another step towards the Slipper today with a very game win following her plain run first-up. She is probably better suited on dry ground. SEE YOU SOON had her chance and seemed to hit the lead for a fleeting second.
Race 4 TOKYO CITY KEIBA FIREBALL STAKES
Speed from start to finish from Clark
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Villami | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tim Clark | 16 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Cosmic Force | Peter & Paul Snowden | James McDonald | 6 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | California Zimbol | Peter & Paul Snowden | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL a big strong filly with improvement to come. VILLAMI also big and strong. COSMIC FORCE looked great. YAO DASH OK, but not an obvious sprinting type.
In The Running
VILLAMI led them at a STRONG tempo, just quickening a bit on the turn with YAO DASH on her outside, COSMIC FORCE one out one back and CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL keen in the box seat. PANDEMIC checked slightly at the back mid-race on heels of TRUE DETECTIVE.
The Result
VILLAMI (1st) got clear and held on from COSMIC FORCE (2nd 1.3L) chasing hard to the line. A gap back to CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL (3rd 4.1L) peaking on her run.
The Interest
VILLAMI has some class at best and she was ready to fire here, taking advantage of the bias to beat a brave COSMIC FORCE, both way too good for the rest. CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL (not fit, keen) will improve.
Race 5 HEINEKEN 3 CANTERBURY STAKES
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bostonian | Tony Pike | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Savatiano | James Cummings | James McDonald | 2 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Mister Sea Wolf | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 4 | 59.0 |
Race 6 HYLAND RACE COLOURS CHALLENGE STAKES
Waller's powerhouse back on top again
strong tempo
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nature Strip | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 1 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Redzel | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Jungle Edge | Mick Bell | Ms Jade Darose | 3 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
NATURE STRIP looking fit enough and REDZEL strong. MISS LEONIDAS on her toes in the yard. Perhaps DEPRIVE a touch fitter than SANTA AN LANE.
In The Running
NATURE STRIP sped through to lead and rolled at a STRONG tempo from JUNGLE EDGE with REDZEL and MISS LEONIDAS (box seat) behind. BALL OF MUSCLE 3W NC on the pace. DEPRIVE and SANTA ANA LANE got well back.
The Result
NATURE STRIP (1st) was too strong for REDZEL (2nd 3L), who was held up 250m out and should have finished closer. JUNGLE EDGE (3rd 3.2L) and MISS LEONIDAS (4th 3.7L) next with DEPRIVE (5th 3.9L) running on.
The Interest
NATURE STRIP went fast, took advantage of the bias and was simply too good, a much better performance than his first-up flop. REDZEL going well this prep and might have got close if he scored the box seat run and followed the winner through. No knocks DEPRIVE and SANTA ANA LANE (6th 4.7L) in what looked like a warm-up run.
Race 7 MOSTYN COPPER RANDWICK GUINEAS
Josh Parr arrives just in-time with the Hero
slow tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
on-pace
,
rails-3w in straight
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow Hero | Mark Newnham | Joshua Parr | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Microphone | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 14 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Brandenburg | John Sargent | Ms Rachel King | 11 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
All looking well, BRANDENBURG a little on his toes. SIRMAZE not quite as impressive as the others.
In The Running
RELOADED was urged across from out wide and controlled a SLOW tempo with MICROPHONE on his outside. SHADOW HERO back to midfield. They kicked early for a LONG SPRINT home just as CASTELVECCHIO was trying to loop the field wide out NC from the back.
The Result
SHADOW HERO (1st) surged through late to win from MICROPHONE (2nd 0.8L) and BRANDENBURG (3rd 0.9L).
The Interest
A slower tempo and an on-pace/inside bias, if James Mac hadn't kicked a bit too early on RELOADED (4th 1.1L) it would have been completely on-pace dominated. In the end SHADOW HERO picked up well enough and out-classed them late. Forgive CASTELVECCHIO (8th 4L), who had everything against. Strong runs to the line from WARNING (5th 2L) and THE HOLY ONE (6th 2.1L) have them set up nicely for the Guineas and Derby now.
Race 8 ENTIRE TRAVEL RANDWICK CITY STAKES
Carnival ambitions are still within reach
slow tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shared Ambition | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Youngstar | Chris Waller | Joshua Parr | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Wu Gok | Chris Waller | Mark Zahra | 3 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
SWEET THOMAS has improved into this run. All others looking quite well. RAHEEN HOUSE with a touch of improvement to come.
In The Running
MUSHAIREB took up the running at a SLOW tempo with WU GOK and kicked early for a LONG SPRINT home. SHARED AMBITION in midfield.
The Result
SHARED AMBITION (1st) came wider and sprinted best for a clear win. YOUNGSTAR (2nd 1.3L) chased hard from the box seat and WU GOK (3rd 2.1L) just held on from SUPERNOVA (4th 2.3L) making ground from the back.
The Interest
SHARED AMBITION keep putting away these slowly run staying races with ease, a galloper with stamina and a turn-of-foot. It will be interesting when he gets tested with a stronger tempo over the carnival. YOUNGSTAR and SUPERNOVA have returned well. RAHEEN HOUSE (6th 4L) and SWEET THOMAS (7th 4.2L) couldn't do much more from the back, they'd like some more pressure up-front next time.
Race 9 SHARP EXTENSIVE IT ASPIRATION QUALITY
Parr kicks too early and Bowman lands the killer blow
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nettoyer | Wendy Roche | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Irithea | Clarry Conners | Joshua Parr | 13 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Savacool | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 9 | 53.0 |
In The Yard
IRITHEA one of the most muscular horses in the yard. EMERALDS looking well. NETTOYER and GAYATRI fit enough first-up.
In The Running
IRITHEA got control in the lead at a FAIR tempo and then Josh Parr kicked for home early, about 650m from home. NETTOYER out the back with GAYATRI. DANZDANZDANCE stuck wide midfield.
The Result
NETTOYER (1st) stormed home late to run down IRITHEA (2nd 0.4L), who hit the wall after getting 3L clear. SAVACOOL (3rd 1.9L) surged through the pack late.
The Interest
Josh Parr had this race all parcelled up on IRITHEA with 700m to go. In control, on the most powerful mare, he only had to wait until the turn before kicking clear. Instead, he set a LONG SPRINT home and gave the swoopers their chance. NETTOYER impressed and GAYATRI (blocked final 150m) (8th 4L) was unlucky. Forgive EMERALDS (7th 2.7L) who bled.