Yard to the Post @ George Main Stakes Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 19 September 2015
Two contrasting jockeys had one thing in common today at Royal Randwick, the brilliance of Kiwi trainer Chris Waller.
Veteran Glyn Schofield was drafted in at the last minute to ride the well-supported favourite KERMADEC in the George Main Stakes and he got the prize after a few heart-flutters during the run. The laid-back South African was stuck wide with no cover early on, before patiently guiding the promising four-year-old out to better ground in the centre of the track.
The stallion's Group One engine, built by Waller, did the rest. Bookies immediately tightening his odds for the Cox Plate.
In the Hill Stakes over 2,000 metres, the sure hand of Hugh Bowman kept the big-striding PREFERMENT balanced on the soft surface. A Group One Victoria Derby winner that has always promised to be a Cup hopeful, the win today stamps him as Waller's premier Melbourne Cup chance.
In other races, REBEL DANE broke a two year drought to win The Shorts over 1,100 metres and SADLER'S LAKE continued his strong form this preparation; yet another Carnival hopeful for the Waller yard.
A full race-by-race review will be available Sunday at 7pm.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | HEAVY 8 to SOFT 7 |
| Weather | OVERCAST / FINE |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 SCHWEPPES HERITAGE STAKES
Waller attacks early on the card
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Counterattack | Chris Waller | Jim Cassidy | 8 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Haptic | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Sam Clipperton | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Takedown | Darren Weir | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
No yard comments available. HAPTIC a muscular type with the breeding to handle the wet, COUNTERATTACK with scope and strength to frame. TAKEDOWN a big-striding on-pacer better suited to Rosehill Gardens.
In The Running
A fairly even line, HAPTIC going through to lead from ZOUTENANT at a FAIR tempo. COUNTERATTACK was patiently ridden with REDZEL near the back.
The Result
HAPTIC (2nd) fought off the other on-pacers, but COUNTERATTACK (1st) surged down the outside to win. TAKEDOWN (3rd) maintained his run right to the line.
The Interest
The top three are clearly the ones to follow. COUNTERATTACK and HAPTIC have similar ratings, but the former might have the edge on a muddy track. He's a big-striding type that could make it to a very high level over 1400m (ish). Similarly, TAKEDOWN will be better over slightly further, especially at Rosehill. REDZEL disappointed for the third time this preparation. Follow COUNTERATTACK and TAKEDOWN.
Race 2 BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP
Another big splash for Waller
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sadler's Lake | Robert Smerdon | Jim Cassidy | 1 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Rudy | Helen Page | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Heart Testa | Matthew Smith | Jason Collett | 2 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
No yard comments available. RUDY a big striding and one-paced type that needs an honest tempo.
In The Running
HEART TESTA went through to lead at a STEADY tempo, with SADLER'S LAKE on his back.
The Result
HEART TESTA (3rd) quickened OK, but couldn't hold off SADLER'S LAKE (1st), who surged through nearer the inside. RUDY (2nd) warmed up late.
The Interest
The top three were the class horses and they finished in order of who was suited best. HEART TESTA can win a race soon on dry ground, a horse with a good turn-of-foot. RUDY simply needed more tempo and SADLER'S LAKE is bomb-proof - one of the toughest horses in Sydney! Follow SADLER'S LAKE, RUDY and HEART TESTA.
Race 3 TAB MORE THAN JUST WINNING HANDICAP
The Lad beats the Handicapper
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kasiano Lad | Jason Coyle | Tim Clark | 13 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Dupe 'em | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Wild 'n' Famous | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ms Winona Costin | 9 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
No yard comments available. OXFORD POET a strapping type that may take a couple of runs to hit his peak. WILD'N'FAMOUS not the biggest, but very genuine.
In The Running
Some early pressure, OXFORD POET kicked up on the inside to lead from NORTHERN LYRIC. MINE TWO had the box seat and KASIANO LAD was on-pace with cover. Overall a STRONG to FAIR tempo was set up.
The Result
KASIANO LAD (1st) came wider and was too strong to the line, beating home DUPE 'EM (2nd) who made ground down the outside from back in the field. WILD'N'FAMOUS (3rd) weaved through nearer the inside from midfield.
The Interest
The up-and-comer in the field proved too strong, he was simply the best horse on current handicaps and can pinch one or two more wins before the Handicapper catches up with him (..unless he improves even more). WILD'N-FAMOUS and DUPE 'EM were both very honest, but more interest in OXFORD POET and NORTHERN LYRIC, who ran well first-up after setting an honest speed. Follow KASIANO LAD, OXFORD POET and NORTHERN LYRIC.
Race 4 THE BOWERMANS OFFICE FURNITURE SHORTS
A two year drought broken by the Dane
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rebel Dane | Gary Portelli | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Ball of Muscle | Joseph Pride | Tim Clark | 3 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Shiraz | Kim Waugh | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
No yard comments available. BALL OF MUSCLE the most powerful in the field, while SHIRAZ is a more athletic sprinting type.
In The Running
As expected, BALL OF MUSCLE strode to the lead from HOT SNITZEL, with SHIRAZ in the box seat. No pressure was applied and a STEADY tempo was set up.
The Result
BALL OF MUSCLE (2nd) kicked in the straight, but REBEL DANE (1st) came wider and chased him down. SHIRAZ (3rd) fought on nearer the inside in a bunched finish.
The Interest
A great ride on BALL OF MUSCLE, but REBEL DANE was the stronger horse on the day. Two years after his last win, the former boom 3yo finally saluted the judge again. SHIRAZ was the unlucky runner, getting dictated to down on the inside didn't suit him. A more honest tempo and more galloping room might have seen a different result for him. ROCK STURDY has come back well, while DELECTATION was disappointing. Forgive SHIRAZ.
Race 5 COOLMORE TEA ROSE STAKES
James Mac sets it up for his stablemate
strong tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearls | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Sam Clipperton | 8 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Honesta | John Thompson | Tye Angland | 13 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Kimberley Star | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Blake Shinn | 10 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
No yard comments available. OTTOMAN a beautiful type, strong and balanced. KIMBERLEY STAR robust, while PEARLS is neat and well-defined, it looks like she will handle the wet.
In The Running
LAKE GENEVA jumped best, but OTTOMAN kicked up on her inside to lead with PERIGNON taking the box seat. A STRONG tempo was set up by the leader. KIMBERLEY STAR was stuck wide in midfield.
The Result
KIMBERLEY STAR (3rd) and PERIGNON (4th) both moved up, but PEARLS (1st) swooped down the outside with HONESTA (2nd), who was strong to the line.
The Interest
The STRONG tempo played a big part here, James McDonald completely misjudged the pace on OTTOMAN, setting a very testing pace up front. PEARLS looked like the type that would relish the wet and she enjoyed the right PIR (position in run) to swoop home and get the prize. Similarly for HONESTA, who is a filly blessed with stamina that will race well up to 2000m and beyond. The effort of KIMBERLEY STAR was enormous again (stuck wide) and you have to forgive the leader, she fought on OK. IN HER TIME (cardiac arrhythmia) dropped back in the run. Forgive OTTOMAN, KIMBERLEY STAR and IN HER TIME.
Race 6 COLGATE OPTIC WHITE STAKES (REGISTERED AS GEORGE MAIN)
Class arrives just in time
steady tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kermadec | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 5 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Royal Descent | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Pornichet | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn | 9 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
No in the yard comments. ROYAL DESCENT very solid, but bit dour these days. PORNICHET muscular, athletic with a good turn-of-foot. LUCIA VALENTINA only small, likes the wet.
In The Running
HOOKED jumped best, but allowed PORNICHET to roll forward on his outside and set a STEADY TEMPO. ROYAL DESCENT was just behind them. KERMADEC was wide early on, but he found cover mid-race.
The Result
PORNICHET (3rd) tracked wider and sprinted from the 350m to a clear margin, but KERMADEC (1st) stoked up down the outside and surged late. ROYAL DESCENT (2nd) fought on. LUCIA VALENTINA (4th) and KIRRAMOSA (5th) made some ground.
The Interest
Schofield took his time about it, but the class rose to the top late as KERMADEC arrived just in time. The steadier tempo suited PORNICHET perfectly (best turn-of-foot) out in front, but he couldn't hold off Waller's pair. ROYAL DESCENT will be suited in a big handicap with more tempo if she doesn't get too much weight. KIRRAMOSA has to be one to follow too, she is very tough and ready to step up to 2000m+ and win. Follow KERMADEC, ROYAL DESCENT and KIRRAMOSA.
Race 7 ASCEND SALES TROPHIES HILL STAKES
Waller's Cups contender chimes in
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preferment | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 14 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Magic Hurricane | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 5 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Complacent | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Sam Clipperton | 13 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
No yard comment. COMPLACENT a neat and classy type. PREFERMENT big-striding and might struggle in the wet, especially around the turn. Similar is true for JUNOOB.
In The Running
Some early pressure, COMPLACENT had to work across out wider, before being joined by BEATEN UP in the lead. A FAIR to STRONG tempo was set up.
The Result
PREFERMENT (1st) maintained a long run around the outside, out-staying MAGIC HURRICANE (2nd) late, who had sprinted up. COMPLACENT (3rd) fought on.
The Interest
Quite a clumped finish, Bowman riding the winner perfectly, taking him out wider as the tempo to continue his momentum on the turn (struggles around a bend). He's a horse that seems destined for a big run in the Cup. Very solid efforts from COMPLACENT and BEATEN UP (better at Rosehill) too, while MAGIC HURRICANE steps back into Handicap class next and will be hard to beat. Most of the others were OK, don't be too harsh on JUNOOB, who wasn't suited in the conditions. Follow PREFERMENT, COMPLACENT and BEATEN UP.
Race 8 TAB REWARDS HANDICAP
The further the better now for this Cummings galloper
fair tempo
Bias:
off-rails
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruling Dynasty | Darren Weir | Tommy Berry | 6 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Sabkhat | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Sam Clipperton | 8 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Farolitos | James Cummings | James McDonald | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
RULING DYNASTY a robust type. FAROLITOS and DUCCIO are tough and could stick on from on pace.
In The Running
CANDELARA jumped nicely from a wide gate to lead at a Fair Tempo from the Godolphin pair of SABKHAT and FAROLITOS which drove through nearer the inside. CELTIC PRINCE got up along the inside, while DUCCIO raced wide without cover. RULING DYNASTY was held up and had to change course late.
The Result
SABKHAT (2nd) took over at the 300m, and fought off the challenge of stablemate FAROLITOS (3rd), all before RULING DYNASTY (1st) pushed through along the inside of that pair for an impressive win. MISSVON (4th) and CASINO DANCER (5th) both made good ground down the middle of the track
The Interest
Second up over the mile proved no problems for RULING DYNASTY who was electric at the finish under the urgings of Tommy Berry. The Cummings team have been very patient with him, and he can be followed with confidence as he steps up in distance. SABKHAT was there for the whole race, just run down late by the winner, while the favourite FAROLITOS enjoyed a nice run and had every chance. CASINO DANCER dropped sharply in distance for this and found the line well. Forgive DANJEU and DUCCIO.