Yard to the Post @ The BMW
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 28 March 2015
The crowd at Rosehill Gardens were treated to a grandstand finish in The BMW as HARTNELL fought off TO THE WORLD in a two-horse war that started from the home turn.
In the end the superior stamina of the classic-looking Godolphin import proved to be the difference as he strode clear over the final furlong.
It was the race of the Autumn Carnival so far and sets up a big two weeks at Royal Randwick for The Championships. HARTNELL carries on to tackle the Sydney Cup and TO THE WORLD takes on the weight-for-age stars in the Queen Elizabeth.
In the other Group One on the day, FIRST SEAL was upset by the promising FENWAY. Blake Shinn, who lost the ride on FIRST SEAL after her Coolmore Classic defeat, piloted the daughter of High Chaparral perfectly to pinch a winning break on James McDonald on the turn.
It was a rare win over the talented Kiwi rider, James McDonald ended up with five winners on the day.
A race-by-race review is provided from the yard to the post. The complete guide, from your team at the track.
Track Info
| Rail | +4 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE (light breeze helping in home straight) |
| Bias | OFF RAILS (slight preference to on-pace, but mostly tempo related) |
Race 1 THE SCHWEPPERVESCENCE
McEvoy leads them a merry dance
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Takedown | Darren Weir | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Street Rapper | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Damien Oliver | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Mine Two | Garry Frazer | Jason Collett | 9 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
TAKEDOWN impressed in the yard, a big strong youngster. Most horses looking OK, WOLF CRY with a shine to his coat, but a tiny bit stirred up.
In The Running
TAKEDOWN jumped well and INNER CIRCLE worked up into an on-pace position. The pace was slow early before picking up mid-race, setting a STEADY TEMPO overall. STREET RAPPER and LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER settled just behind. MOWGLI was slow and got right back, racing a bit keenly in around horses (bit field shy).
The Result
TAKEDOWN (1st) edged off the rails and gave a good kick, holding off STREET RAPPER (2nd), who chased well. MINE TWO (3rd) ran on nearer the inside.
The Interest
A pretty simple race, with a touch of ON-PACE bias and a STEADY TEMPO, things were made to order for TAKEDOWN. He showed great attitude though and this could be the start of bigger things for trainer Gary Moore. STREET RAPPER chased gamely without threatening, he seems to have the stamina to compete over these longer trips. MINE TWO continues to be underrated, running on well - she's good! Of those in behind, Peter Snowden's duo WOLF CRY and DELAWARE were only OK, they couldn't sprint into the finish.
Race 2 theraces.com.au HANDICAP
Big, strong and much too good
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medcaut | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 4 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Laohu | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 11 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Frespanol | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 7 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
FRESPANOL tough and looked fit in the yard, as did ALL CERISE and SURE AND FAST, who was keen and on his toes. AGHAMORE a smaller and compact type that doesn't suit Rosehill.
In The Running
LAOHU crossed and set a FAIR TEMPO from AGHAMORE with BEAUTY'S BEAST and MEDCAUT in behind. SURE AND FAST was stuck wide in midfield and BOSS LANE got pushed wider as the bigger MEDCAUT improved underneath him on the turn.
The Result
MEDCAUT (1st) showed his turn-of-foot and sped to the lead, from LAOHU (2nd) who stuck on from the lead while FRESPANOL (3rd) chased home OK.
The Interest
An impressive return from this big brute who can go onto better things now. He enjoys a dry and fast surface, a horse with a good turn-of-foot. SURE AND FAST didn't have the best of luck and still didn't shirk his task, a really genuine horse. ALL CERISE made some ground and looks set to run well next time. Follow MEDCAUT. Forgive SURE AND FAST.
Race 3 HYLAND RACE COLOURS DONCASTER PRELUDE
A good-looking type digs in for the fight
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excess Knowledge | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Malice | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Sam Clipperton | 7 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Leebaz | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 4 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
LEEBAZ paraded well, a free-striding on-pacer. EXCESS KNOWLEDGE had a nice shine to his coat, and BULL POINT seemed OK after his trip to Melbourne, a muscular horse. SAN DIEGO a big and strong galloper.
In The Running
LEEBAZ went forward and SNIPPETS LAND worked up on his outside to race on the pace, giving EXCESS KNOWLEDGE a nice trail in behind. The pace was only slow early, but LEEBAZ got moving before the home turn, setting a STEADY TEMPO overall. MALICE and SAND DIEGO started their runs out wider on the turn.
The Result
LEEBAZ (3rd) couldn't find the speed to break away from the pack and EXCESS KNOWLEDGE (1st) and MALICE (2nd) fought out the finish, the latter quickening nicely.
The Interest
LEEBAZ had this made to order and he just couldn't find the speed to break away from the back, he didn't shirk his task though and might be better up in distance now. EXCESS KNOWLEDGE is flying this prep and he'll be even better at Randwick, a tough galloper that did well to win on a dry fast Rosehill track. MALICE showed his good sprint fresh, O'Shea seems to get his gallopers firing early in the prep. Some of the others could be forgiven, they just couldn't get into the race. Follow EXCESS KNOWLEDGE.
Race 4 ASCEND SALES TROPHIES EMANCIPATION STAKES
The bookies curse the 'Cat'
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catkins | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 10 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Amanpour | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Gypsy Diamond | Peter & Paul Snowden | Sam Clipperton | 1 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
CATKINS well and a more powerful type with a good sprint. MADAM GANGSTER also has some strength to her frame. ANY DAY WILL DO a nice type. HERA and PEGGY JEAN looked nice with a shine to the coat, but both lacked the strength of others for a sprint.
In The Running
CATKINS jumped best and sat outside ANY DAY WILL DO, they rolled along without much pressure, a FAIR TEMPO was set up. MAHARA and AMANPOUR got a nice trial behind the leaders and MADAM GANGSTER got right back.
The Result
CATKINS (1st) sprinted clear from the pack to win easily, beating home AMANPOUR (2nd), who stayed on strongly. GYPSY DIAMOND (3rd) wound up and just pipped MADAM GANGSTER (4th) for a place, who ran on late.
The Interest
CATKINS was simply too good for these, she was backed from $1.70 into $1.55 late and if you had a bet on her it was an easy watch. AMANPOUR is a mare that will be even better over further and the others were just OK. MADAM GANGSTER got too far back and MY SABEEL wasn't suited by the steady speed and rapid last 600m (34 seconds). Follow CATKINS and AMANPOUR.
Race 5 IRRESISTIBLE POOLS & SPAS STAR KINGDOM STAKES
The 'General' shows his strength
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalife | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Target in Sight | Joseph Pride | Blake Shinn | 10 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Hot Snitzel | Peter & Paul Snowden | Damian Browne | 8 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
Most looked OK in the yard, GENERALIFE and SIDESTEP both fit enough and TARGET IN SIGHT looked well - a powerful sprinter. RYKER didn't quite look at his best, not at full fitness.
In The Running
RAIN AFFAIR took up the running, from HOT SNITZEL on his outside. HEART TESTA and RYKER were just behind them and DECISION TIME strode up wider with no cover. The Godolphin horses GENERALIFE and SIDESTEP were both slow to get away and got back.
The Result
HOT SNITZEL (3rd) moved up and took over, but GENERALIFE (1st) wound up nearer the inside and TARGET IN SIGHT (2nd) sprinted through the pack.
The Interest
The top three put a good margin on the rest of the pack, a good sign for the future. HOT SNITZEL is back in-form now, TARGET IN SIGHT is flying and GENERALIFE is a classy galloper. You would think GENERALIFE would be even better again with more racing and stepping up to 1400m. He could steal a good Carnival race. Follow GENERALIFE, HOT SNITZEL and TARGET IN SIGHT.
Race 6 VINERY STUD STAKES
Blake Shinn does it his way
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fenway | Lee & Shannon Hope | Blake Shinn | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | First Seal | John Thompson | James McDonald | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Thunder Lady | John Sargent | Tye Angland | 9 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
SET SQUARE leaner than most in the yard, an efficient type, and she looked a bit unsettled first time in Sydney. FIRST SEAL shone in the yard, THUNDER LADY a nice big staying type.
In The Running
MISS INTERIORS jumped well and got the box seat, while ADRIFT came across and led with AMICUS on her outside. There wasn't much pressure, but a FAIR TEMPO was set up, with ADRIFT pushing on from the 800m. FENWAY got a nice trail just behind the leaders. As the fillies made their runs, WINX was held up at around the 300m mark.
The Result
FENWAY (1st) strode up out wider and sustained a strong run to the line, holding off FIRST SEAL (2nd), who sprinted from midfield. THUNDER LADY (3rd), BALLET SUITE (4th) and WINX (5th) all ran on.
The Interest
She is a nice filly FENWAY, but everything did go perfectly for her. Blake Shinn loved getting the prize after losing the ride on FIRST SEAL. The runner-up did as much as she could, that's two unfortunate 2nd in her last two Group Ones. She will step back to mile at her next start and be very hard to beat. THUNDER LADY and BALLET SUITE put in great Oaks trials, two horses that can sustain a long run to the line. WINX didn't have the luck today, she got way back and Tommy Berry steered her into a traffic jam. The dry and fast home straight didn't suit SET SQUARE, a very lean filly. Follow FENWAY, FIRST SEAL, THUNDER LADY and BALLET SUITE. Forgive WINX.
Race 7 THE BMW
Stamina, class and a grandstand finish
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartnell | James Cummings | James McDonald | 3 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | To the World | Yasutoshi Ikee | Nicholas Hall | 6 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Beaten Up | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 7 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
All horses looked well in the yard. TO THE WORLD and HARTNELL classy types and both nice and fit. PROTECTIONIST and WHO SHOT THEBARMAN big grinding stayers. SILENT ACHIEVER and LUCIA VALENTINA smaller types not really suited to the dry Rosehill track.
In The Running
FAST DRAGON took up the lead and set a FAIR TEMPO, and managed to steal a few cheap sectionals, from HAMPTON COURT on his outside. OPINION and BEATEN UP were behind the leaders, with HARTNELL and TO THE WORLD in midfield. HARTNELL and TO THE WORLD took off on the turn and joined in.
The Result
HARNELL (1st) hit the lead and kept lifting to hold off TO THE WORLD (2nd), who sprinted up but got out-stayed late. BEATEN UP (3rd) kept on solidly.
The Interest
What a race! They were ridden like the best two horses in the race and they clearly were in the end, HARTNELL and TO THE WORLD are serious Group 1 stars. The Japanese horse quickened nicely out wide on the turn, but maybe he was asked to do a bit much by Nick Hall. He will be even better over 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth (especially if it doesn't rain). WHO SHOT THEBARMAN and PROTECTIONIST both did enough ahead of the Sydney Cup and BEATEN UP bounced back to form. Follow TO THE WORLD and HARTNELL.
Race 8 TULLOCH STAKES
A Derby contender steps up
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hauraki | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Omeros | John Sargent | Blake Shinn | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Merion | Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson | Steven Arnold | 2 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
CAPED CRUSADER looked good in the yard, HAURAKI and RULING DYNASTY were nice and relaxed, while most others were OK.
In The Running
CAPED CRUSADER led from BROGUE on his outside and GOULDIAN strode up wider to put some pressure on setting up a FAIR TEMPO. MERION got a nice trail behind the leaders and HIGH MIDNIGHT was trapped very wide. QUICK STRIKE and RULING DYNASTY were restrained to the back.
The Result
The leaders came wider and MERION (3rd) and OMEROS (2nd) snuck up the inside to take over, but HAURAKI (1st) tracked them through and was much too strong late.
The Interest
A rare genuine tempo on a day of tactical affairs, the big margin showed that this horse has a touch of class. It wasn't the highest rating event though and the Derby will be a lot harder. QUICK STRIKE and RULING DYNASTY made ground from the back. OMERUS ran really well at only his third start, there is more to come from him. Follow RULING DYNASTY, OMERUS and HAURAKI.
Race 9 THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES
Waterhouse ends the day with a bang
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pornichet | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn | 8 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Our Voodoo Prince | Darren Weir | Damien Oliver | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Hawkspur | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 12 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
PORNICHET looked good and fit in the yard. FORETELLER, HAWKSPUR and JUNOOB all paraded in good fashion for Waller and DEAR DEMI had a nice shine, but is she racing genuinely?
In The Running
HIMALAYA DREAM took the lead from SINGING FLAME and PORNICHET, with DEAR DEMI moving up. A FAIR TEMPO was set up. DESTINYS KISS made an early run and SINGING FLAME moved up on the turn.
The Result
PORNICHET (1st) tracked up and sprinted clear for a big win. OUR VOODOO PRINCE (2nd), HAWKSPUR (3rd) and JUNOOB (4th) chased gamely a few lengths behind.
The Interest
It looked a tricky race on paper, with PORNICHET standing out on his best form, but he can over-race and not finish off sometimes. Blake Shinn got the best out of him though and he sped clear out for a big win. Waller's horses put a gap on the rest of them in the pack, there were a few struggling types out the back in this one. Follow PORNICHET.