Yard to the Post - Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 20 December 2014
The Godolphin stable unveiled a new star as Exceed And Excel two year old Ottoman (picture) dashed home from the back to win the first race. You won't see a better type and O'Shea will be guiding her carefully to the big Autumn targets.
It was a day that saw a few other classy gallopers salute, Gerald Ryan producing Red Excitement in great order first-up, and Jo Pride continuing the winning run of the talented Craftiness.
There was 'one for the battlers' too as Phrases stacked them up in front and just held on to win the middle distance race at huge odds.
A complete review of each race is provided from your team at the track.
Track Info
| Rail | +2 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | NO BIAS |
All The Race Finishes
Race 1 TAB PLACE MULTI PLATE
'A serious Slipper contender arrives.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ottoman | John O'Shea | James McDonald | 8 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Miss Idyllic | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Michael Walker | 5 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Pride of Dubai | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 9 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
OTTOMAN looked stunning, impressive. SAVANNAH ROSE also looked well, LIGHTNING ROCK, MY COLLEAGUE, PRIDE OF DUBAI all looked strong. READY ALREADY and HEY GOOD LOOKING didn't impress. MISS IDYLLIC is tiny compact galloper.
In The Running
PEGGY'S COVE was slow along with OTTOMAN, who got back and in an awkward spot and over-raced. Favourite backers having more than a few heart flutters. READY ALREADY and LIGNTNING RIDGE set a FAIR TEMPO, with MISS IDYLLIC in the box seat. FEAST FOR EYES was trapped wide and worked up to an on-pace position, but MY COLLEAGUE never got in from a wide spot.
The Result
OTTOMAN (1st) came to the outside and stormed home, just grabbing MISS IDYLLIC (2nd), who fought on bravely. PRIDE OF DUBAI (3rd) worked to the line well.
The Interest
OTTOMAN is a serious horse - she shone as a Group One type. At a well-backed $1.30 there might have been a few professionals out there planning a quiet Christmas at the half-way mark though! PRIDE OF DUBAI was the other impressive run. He has looked a real trier in his trials and now this race, a galloper you can stick the 'hard-earned' on with confidence. MISS IDYLLIC is only a little nuggetty thing and she might struggle over 1200m. FEAST FOR EYES and MY COLLEAGUE had excuses. Follow OTTOMAN and PRIDE OF DUBAI. Forgive FEAST FOR EYES and MY COLLEAGUE.
Race 2 CELLARBRATIONS HANDICAP
'Testashadow gets the bob.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Testashadow | Gary Portelli | Tim Clark | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Tree of Jesse | James Cummings | James McDonald | 6 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Harrier Jet | Chris Waller | Mr Lester Grace | 12 | 61.0 |
In The Yard
KAEPERNICK looked the best, a nice strong type. I AM IMPRESSED had progressed since his first-up run, a bit fitter. AVONACO looked OK. BOMBER BROWN and CONARCHIE weren't the best in the yard.
In The Running
SNITZLER led out at a FAIR TEMPO, from KAEPERNICK, who looked to cross but was left facing the breeze. AVONACO and BOMBER BROWN took the sit. TREE OF JESSE missed the start (1L).
The Result
TESTASHADOW (1st) ran on with TREE OF JESSE (2nd) and just got the bob. HARRIER JET (3rd) ran on late after getting badly blocked. AVONACO never got out from his position near the rails.
The Interest
The run-on horses dominated here, but it might simply have been a case of better horses than any tricks with Tempo or Bias. TESTASHADOW was gallant to the line and deserved the victory. TREE OF JESSE weaved a passage from the back and finished off well with her light weight. It was hard to swallow if you backed HARRIER JET (looked unlucky not to win) or AVONACO (got locked up badly). The well-backed fav' KAEPERNICK over-raced and didn't finish off. I AM IMPRESSED loomed briefly and run tapered final stages, perhaps more fitness to come (blinkers may help). Forgive HARRIER JET and AVONACO.
Race 3 DRUMMOND GOLF HANDICAP
'The best horse shows who is boss.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Excitement | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Burbero | Bjorn Baker | Brodie Loy | 4 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | You'll Never | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 7 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
RED EXCITEMENT looked the best horse and was ready to go. PYTHAGOREAN and PERFECT WEAPON also looked well. INDEX LINKED seemed fit enough. TIMELESS PRINCE lacked power. GOLDSTONE didn't impress.
In The Running
RED EXCITEMENT jumped best and took the lead, from PERFECT WEAPON who sat on his outside. A FAIR TEMPO was set up.
The Result
RED EXCITEMENT (1st) stepped it up and kept going to hold on, from BURBERO (2nd), who stormed home. YOU'LL NEVER (3rd) ran too.
The Interest
RED EXCITEMENT was the class horse and once he jumped well it was pretty much game over. BURBERO is racing really well for the on-fire Baker stable and can be followed. PYTHAGOREAN was plain. PERFECT WEAPON just couldn't keep up with the classy leader and might be better suited with a senior jockey. You can be pretty confident the top three were the best in this race, no hard-luck tales. Follow RED EXCITEMENT, BURBERO and YOU'LL NEVER.
Race 4 RANVET HANDICAP
'Back to Sydney and back to the winners stall.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kristy Lee | Chris Waller | Ms Samantha Clenton | 5 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Stolen Kisses | Joe Cleary | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Medusa's Miss | Todd Rawiller | Ms Kayla Cross | 4 | 55.0 |
In The Yard
HOLY DELUSIONS, STOLEN KISSES, PRETTY UNCANNY were the best in the yard. KRISTY LEE looked hard-fit, but had lost a bit of her usual muscle bulk (long prep). MINH KHAI lacked the power of others.
In The Running
DREAM EMPRESS rolled to the lead and set a FAIR TEMPO, from STOLEN KISSES on her outside. KRISTY LEE and MINH KHAI got well back.
The Result
KRISTY LEE (1st) hung early in the straight, but got clear late and burst through. STOLEN KISSES (2nd) gave a good kick and MEDUSA'S MISS (3rd) kept on.
The Interest
Probably not the best field, but KRISTY LEE showed she was too good, despite not parading at her best. She tracked up with natural acceleration (ToF +5) and was just too good. The runs in Melbourne have been hindered by poor cornering (Melb Corn -ve). HOLY DELUSIONS came very wide on the track, a strange ride considering she was the Waller runner that was backed. Follow KRISTY LEE.
Race 5 TAB.COM.AU PLATE
'An easy lead for a very tough grey.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phrases | Bindi Cheers | Serg Lisnyy | 12 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Off the Rails | Bjorn Baker | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 59.5 | |
| 3 | Magical Stance | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 2 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
OFF THE RAILS, ABBASSO, SHE'S A GIRL, MAGICAL STANCE, CASINO DANCER were the best in the yard. GEORGEY AEROPLANE and IT'S A SILVER TRAIL seemed keen and unsettled, both smaller types. PLATINUM JACK didn't impress.
In The Running
PHRASES came across and got an easy lead, setting a VERY SLOW TEMPO. OFF THE RAILS sat outside the lead and MAGICAL STANCE got the box seat.
The Result
PHRASES (1st) started a long sprint for home and just hung on, from OFF THE RAILS (2nd), who couldn't sprint. MAGICAL STANCE (3rd) was a moral beaten, never getting a run.
The Interest
MAGICAL STANCE had the best turn-of-foot (has won over 1400m) in the race and it should have proved the difference, he just never got out. It was disappointing that OFF THE RAILS couldn't sprint, he seems dour (ToF -1). A few hard luck tales off the slow speed, follow the form with caution! GHOST PROTOCOL and DREAM FOLK wouldn't have enjoyed the slow speed, along with RESURRECT and CASINO DANCER.
Race 6 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
'Up to a better distance suits nicely.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haussmann | John O'Shea | James Innes Jnr | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Champagne Cath | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 8 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Murder of Crows | Chris Waller | Jim Cassidy | 14 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
CHAMPAGNE CATH, FORGET, MURDER OF CROWS all looked well. CASUAL CHOICE looked good, just a little unsettled. HAUSSMANN seemed fine. WINDJAMMER, COUNTRYMAN, SENSE OF OCCASION and NUMBERS lacked power in comparison to the sprinters.
In The Running
MURDER OF CROWS was slow and got back. COUNTRYMAN pushed on and competed with CHAMPAGNE CATH for the lead, setting up a FAIR TEMPO. HAUSSMANN had the box seat.
The Result
HAUSSMANN (1st) got an inside split and drive through to beat CHAMPAGNE CATH (2nd). MURDER OF CROWS (3rd) made a very long run down the outside.
The Interest
HAUSSMANN improved up to a much more suitable distance. He paraded well and can go on with it now. The runs of CHAMPAGNE CATH and MURDER OF CROWS were both good, CHAMPAGNE CATH getting hassled in the run and MURDER OF CROWS maintaining an enormous 700m effort (LoR +ve). Don't dismiss WINDJAMMER and COUNTRYMAN, they will be better in different conditions. FORGET was a bit disappointing, just racing OK. Follow HAUSSMANN, CHAMPAGNE CATH and MURDER OF CROWS.
Race 7 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
'No craft needed in an easy romp.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Craftiness | Joseph Pride | Blake Shinn | 11 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Pro Consul | Gregory Hickman | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Inside Job | David Pfieffer | Brodie Loy | 15 | 62.5 |
In The Yard
INSIDE JOB, ENCOSTANATI, CRAFTINESS and SUPREME EFFORT were the most powerful. SUPREME EFFORT was keen in the yard, but ok. Some others lacked the strength to sprint on a dry track
In The Running
CRAFTINESS was stoked up early to lead, setting a STRONG TEMPO, from a big group, including FLORAL INSIGHT, who was three wide and INSIDE JOB, who was five wide.
The Result
CRAFTINESS (1st) simply cruised away from them, much too good. PRO CONSUL (2nd) ran on well and INSIDE JOB (3rd) stuck on gamely. TUMULT never got out along the rails.
The Interest
CRAFTINESS was better than these. A big call to ride him aggressively, it may have taught some bad habits, but you can be sure the Pride team made a nice profit! INSIDE JOB was very brave and has chased home impressive gallopers twice now. He is ready to win. The big strong sprinters TUMULT and ENCOSTANATI both had the right run but just couldn't get room, they may have managed a place. Follow CRAFTINESS. Forgive ENCOSTANATI, TUMULT and INSIDE JOB.
Race 8 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
'Class defies a market drift.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vashka | John O'Shea | Blake Shinn | 14 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Centre Pivot | Darren Weir | James McDonald | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | The Alfonso | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 2 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
THE ALFONSO, VASHKA, FRESPANOL, SPECIFIC CHOICE, CENTRE PIVOT, MADDHAL key players all looked well in the last. DANAS BEST seemed fit enough. CHOICE BRO carried some condition.
In The Running
VASHKA went to the lead as set a rolling FAIR TEMPO, from THE ALFONSO and SPECIFIC CHOICE just in behind. FRESPANOL and MADDHAL were slow to begin.
The Result
VASHKA (1st) maintained his run and outclassed them, beating CENTRE PIVOT (2nd), who worked into a place. THE ALFONSO (3rd) stuck on ok.
The Interest
The market drift was interesting, VASHKA was simply too good for these. Running 1 minute 29 seconds for 1500m leading on your own is an indicator of a serious horse. Forgive FRESPANOL, who got a long way back. He prefers to roll along on the speed. CENTRE PIVOT was solid. Some interest in CHOICE BRO, who has improvement to come and is a very genuine galloper at best. Why did they take DREAM CHIOCE to 1500m? A gamble that didn't pay off. Follow VASHKA. Forgive FRESPANOL.