Yard to the Post - Apollo Stakes Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 14 February 2015
The mood on track was anything but sweet on Valentine's Day at Royal Randwick, with punters sour over the 'off rails' bias that reared it's head again.
Unfortunately for those that like fair racing, midweek rain usually has that effect on the heavily cambered track.
It didn't stop some impressive performances though. Contributor turned up to the track in fine fettle first-up and dispatched the field in the Group Two Apollo Stakes. A horse that can sprint, with stamina in reserve, he is one to follow for sure.
A big shock came a race earlier when Adrift won the Light Fingers Stakes, beating First Seal into second. Both fillies show huge promise, it might be a battle we see again.
A complete review is provided, from the yard to the post. The complete guide from your team at the track.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 (upgraded to 3) |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
All The Race Finishes
Race 1 DODO HANDICAP
Darci dances straight past in the first
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darciwood | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 8 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Selectify | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Spy Decoder | Anthony Cummings | James McDonald | 5 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
FIELD MARSHALL and QUEENIAN both shone in the yard, fit and well. Most others were ok, CORRYVRECVKAN was a touch unsettled, DARCIWOOD perhaps 95% fit second-up.
In The Running
SELECTIFY went to the lead and set a FAIR TEMPO, from CHARMED HARMONY. WEINHOLT was slow to begin and snuck up to the box seat. DARCIWOOD was quietly ridden and QUEENIAN stuck three wide.
The Result
SELECTIFY (2nd) moved up to take the lead, but DARCIWOOD (1st) swept straight past. SPY DECODER (3rd) wound up late.
The Interest
DARCIWOOD was the best weighted horse and he might even have improvement to come. Riding him quietly worked on a track that suited, will he be as genuine racing at closer quarters next time? You can follow SPY DECODER. He took a while to wind up 1400m to 1600m is much better. FIELD MARSHALL ended up getting stuck right against the rails, much 'boggier' ground than the outside. Follow SPY DECODER and DARCIWOOD. Forgive FIELD MARSHALL.
Race 2 HUAWEI HANDICAP
A big upset in a slog to the line
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet Purple | Kerry Parker | Ms Winona Costin | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Ghost Protocol | Paul Perry | Brodie Loy | 1 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Blazing Dragon | Bart & James Cummings | Tommy Berry | 6 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
GEORGEY AEROPLANE, FUERZA and LAST WISH paraded well. FUERZA perhaps too powerful for 2400m? LAST WISH a touch hot. GHOST PROTOCOL ok. PLANET PURPLE and DREAM FOLK looked much leaner and more efficient than the rest.
In The Running
KOROIBETE and FUERZA tussled early and that fired KOROIBETE up. He streaked to a huge lead! GEORGEY AEROPLANE had to do the chasing in the pack. A STRONG TEMPO was set up.
The Result
PLANET PURPLE (1st) cruised up and stayed on right to the line. GHOST PROTOCOL (2nd) loomed, but his run tapered. BLAZING DRAGON (3rd) stayed on down the outside.
The Interest
Wow! KOROIBETE went way too fast in this. He and FUERZA had question marks at the distance and they were ridden kamikaze style.. PLANET PURPLE is always a small chance in these slogs to the line, a real stayer that needs a strong speed. GHOST PROTOCOL needed a 2200m race and BLAZING DRAGON had everything go her way. LAST WISH found it a touch too tough after a month off, don't be too harsh on him. And little GEORGEY AEROPLANE didn't have things go his way, Bowman couldn't get him off the inside into better ground. Forgive GEORGEY AEROPLANE.
Race 3 DX SOLUTIONS LONHRO PLATE
The Royal Blue dominates again
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haptic | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Blake Shinn | 3 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Furnaces | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Wolf Cry | Stuart Webb | Hugh Bowman | 8 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
A few nice youngsters. CALAVERITE, FURNACES, WOLF CRY, STREET RAPPER, MUHEEB and IGRAINE all looked good. HAPTIC looked nice, but needs further? LOOK TO THE STARS didn't impress. GIULIETTA is smaller
In The Running
HAPTIC went to the lead, from GIULIETTA, FURNACES and STREET RAPPER, setting a FAIR TEMPO. MUHEEB went right back with SEBRING SUN.
The Result
HAPTIC (1st) drifted wider and just kept kicking, from FURNACES (2nd), who kept on. WOLF CRY (3rd) lifted to the line late to beat GIULIETTA (4th). SEBRING SUN didn't find much room in the straight.
The Interest
The best three might have got the placings in this. HAPTIC seems like a horse that can get further, he was just too tough and strong once he got to the lead. FURNACES and WOLF CRY both showed enough. SEBRING SUN had a chequered passage and could have done a touch better. Follow FURNACES, HAPTIC and WOLF CRY.
Race 4 ADAPTRA SOUTHERN CROSS STAKES
'All Heart on Valentines Day.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart Testa | Matthew Smith | Jason Collett | 7 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Driefontein | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Blake Shinn | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Territory | Jarrod Austin | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
HEART TESTA and TERRITORY paraded well. HOT SNITZEL was fit enough. DRIEFONTEIN is just a solid plain mare. BULL POINT has power, but 90% fit perhaps. HAPPY GALAXY looked ok
In The Running
HAPPY GALAXY pushed to the lead and set a FAIR TEMPO, snookering DRIEFONTEIN on the rails. TERRITORY and HEART TESTA were a bit wider just off them.
The Result
HEART TESTA (1st) moved up and held on, from DRIEFONTEIN (2nd), who kept fighting on the inside. TERRITORY (3rd) held his ground.
The Interest
HEART TESTA was primed for this and is racing well, he was much the fitter of the two Waller runners. He got the favours as many of the others got stuck nearer the inside. The brave DRIEFONTEIN was stuck in the worst ground of all of them, hard against the rails. She deserves a win soon! HOT SNITZEL got stuck nearer the inside too and might need it wetter than this, a leaner sprinting type that lacks a bit of power. Forgive DRIEFONTEIN.
Race 5 LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS LIGHT FINGERS STAKES
'A new star emerges.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adrift | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tye Angland | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | First Seal | John Thompson | Blake Shinn | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Slightly Sweet | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 10 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
MOSSFUN. AMICUS and MEMORIAL were the best in the yard, MOSSFUN is a touch leaner now. ONEMOREZETA also looked well. WINX and PRESS REPORT looked good, but lacked power . FIRST SEAL classic, just 90% fit.
In The Running
PRESS REPORT jumped well and led them up at a STRONG TEMPO, from MOSSFUN and ONEMOREZETA just behind. WINX was slow to begin and got right back.
The Result
ADRIFT (1st) pulled out from midfield and strayed on best, from FIRST SEAL (2nd), who made ground. SLIGHTLY SWEET (3rd) ran on too.
The Interest
Could this be a Group 1 Quinella? Both of these fillies can stay over further and will only get better, an exciting tussle we may see again. ADRIFT was simply better than most thought, apart from the Waterhouse clan, getting backed from 100/1 into 40/1. WINX was good enough running on up the inside in the worst ground. Don't be too harsh on PRESS REPORT and MOSSFUN, they just went too hard this time. Follow FIRST SEAL and ADRIFT. Forgive WINX.
Race 6 OPTUS APOLLO STAKES
'The Championships await a classy winner.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contributer | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 6 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Ninth Legion | Peter Robl | Sam Clipperton | 15 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Weary | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 13 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
BOBAN, HAWKSPUR, WEARY, CONTRIBUTER and QUEENSTOWN all looked well in the yard. NINTH LEGION was ok, SILENT ACHIEVER and LUCIA VALENTINA looked fit enough but lack power on a dry track? FORETELLER 80% fit, HE'S YOUR MAN not quite ready
In The Running
QUEENSTOWN drove forward and NINTH LEGION worked up onto the pace, they duelled setting a FAIR TEMPO. WEARY, MALAVIO and HE'S YOUR MAN were just in behind.
The Result
CONTRIBUTER (1st) pulled out from midfield and sprinted past a brave NINTH LEGION (2nd), who fought on. WEARY (3rd) kept on and LUCIA VALENTINA (4th) flashed late.
The Interest
The horses primed for the race fought out the contest while the others warmed up for another day. CONTRIBUTER has a serious sprint, a classy horse. LUCIA VALENTINA is such a small mare, she must be the most genuine horse there is, a great run first up. Follow CONTRIBUTER.
Race 7 ROBRICK LODGE TRISCAY STAKES
'Back from the breeding barn with a bang.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thump | Kris Lees | Tye Angland | 6 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Danesiri | John Thompson | Christian Reith | 7 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | My Sabeel | Kevin Moses | Tim Clark | 11 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
No standouts in the yard. CALMING INFLUENCE and CHAMPAGNE CATH were ok but leaner. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR, THUMP and MAHARA all fine fresh, as was DANESIRI. RARE FRAGRANCE looked a bit fitter.
In The Running
CHAMPAGNE CATH rolled to the front, from CALMING INFLUENCE on her outside and THUMP wider out. FOREVER LOVED and RARE FRAGRANCE were just in behind and COSMIC ENDEAVOUR was wide.
The Result
THUMP (1st) cruised to the front and was just too good, holding off DANESIRI (2nd) and MY SABEEL (3rd), who both made ground. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR (4th) was honest.
The Interest
The two classier gallopers both ran well, the weight just making the difference for THUMP, who has come back in great shape after a stint trying to be a broodmare.She enjoys rolling along in space, the conditions were perfect. DANESIRI and MY SABEEL are both genuine chasers, as is MAHARA, who can do better than that. Follow COSMIC ENDEAVOUR, THUMP and MY SABEEL.
Race 8 CROWN CASTLE HANDICAP
'Enough signs for a first-up win.'
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telepathic | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Countryman | Michael Kent | Ms Winona Costin | 11 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Zin Zan Eddie | Matthew Smith | Blake Shinn | 1 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
Hard to knock many, EXCITED PRINCE a grade below perhaps and ALMIGHTY CHARGE 90% fit. SNIPPETS LAND a nice big strong type, ABSALON just plain
In The Running
COUNTRYMAN jumped well and took up the lead from COOLRING, ZIN ZAN EDDIE and TELEPATHIC. The tempo was quite slow early, before COUNTRYMAN ramped it up half-way. Overall a STEADY TEMPO was set up.
The Result
TELEPATHIC (1st) pulled out and sprinted best, chasing down COUNTRYMAN (2nd), who fought on. ZIN ZAN EDDIE (3rd) picked up nicely.
The Interest
She's good this girl. Waller didn't give her a push, but the barrier trials told the tale. COUNTRYMAN was well ridden, a tough type that doesn't have too much more to give than this. MAGIC DALLAS got into trouble, forgive him, he can pick up another placing soon. SNIPPETS LAND just didn't find the best spot, back on the inside off a steady early speed. And perhaps the race wasn't run to suit COOLRING, he was asked to pick up from mid-race due to COUNTRYMAN's tactics. Follow TELEPATHIC. Forgive MAGIC DALLAS and SNIPPETS LAND.