Yard to the Post | Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 09 January 2021
Exciting racing on a fair Royal Randwick track today. A few short-priced favourites getting the cash, but the popular BIG PARADE ($2) wasn't one of them after Melbourne raider KING OF HASTINGS ($13) proved too tough on his way to a Magic Millions start next week.
Earlier in the day PINNACLE PRINCE ($1.55), ZING ($2.9) and ALL TIME LEGEND ($1.45) made it three straight favourites. SPIRIT RIDGE added to the popular results by taking out the January Cup and the reliable BETCHA FLYING finally got a victory this campaign, winning Race 9 at the big odds of $10.
A review of the day is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | +6m |
| Conditions | SOFT 6 to SOFT 5 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 SKY RACING ACTIVE HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malkovich | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 1 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Triple Ace | Kris Lees | Joshua Parr | 5 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Frozen In Time | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 3 | 57.5 |
The Interest
MALKOVICH too fast back to 1100m, running 1:03.4. DAWN TOO GOOD well-backed and not bad running 4th after racing keenly in the run. The time and form references suggests this may be a touch Below Standard (-1L) for a Saturday race of this class.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinnacle Prince | Brett Cavanough | Jason Collett | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Portuguese Tart | Neville Boyle | Ms Cejay Graham | 4 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Toro Toro | Stephen Jones | Tom Sherry | 8 | 58.5 |
Race 3 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zing | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Lando Bay | John Thompson | Tom Sherry | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Macleay | Jane Clement | Tim Clark | 6 | 54.0 |
The Interest
ZING led all the way in 1:35.9. Quite a good time and it looked like it could have been a dominant win (split race). Rating ZING Above Standard (+1L) and the 'B-race' won by LANDO BAY Below Standard (-1L). We got to see FIFTEEN ARIA a touch one-paced second-up, a progressive youngster that has upside over ground.
Race 4 THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All Time Legend | Les Bridge | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Subedar | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | True Detective | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 3 | 58.0 |
The Interest
An interesting little race. ALL TIME LEGEND was in the right spot first-up (back off strong tempo) and found the right spot again here (led at steady tempo). He is a very nice animal and is going well clearly, but the time was only OK again (1:23.17), impacted by the steady sections. SUBEDAR very good from the back when not fit in the yard. Starting off with a Standard rating on the race and keeping a close watch.
Race 5 RANVET HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ulysses | Julius Sandhu | Tom Sherry | 11 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Juventus | Kris Lees | Chris Williams | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Brutality | Joseph Pride | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 10 | 57.0 |
The Interest
The midweek form-line of ULYSSES and BRUTALITY worked out here, the winner running an honest 1:29.48 for the 1500m. A pretty Standard-rating race.
Race 6 HEINEKEN HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King Of Hastings | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Chris Williams | 7 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Bandersnatch | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 6 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Big Parade | Joseph Pride | Joshua Parr | 1 | 59.0 |
The Interest
BIG PARADE led, was pressured and couldn't hold off a very brave KING OF HASTINGS, who stuck on from a 3W NC position. Probably fair to say it was a dominant win given how tough he had it mid-race. Perhaps BIG PARADE would have preferred tagging the leader on softer ground (like last start). Rating the winner Above Standard (+1L) and the 'B race' won by BANDERSNATCH as Standard. HANDSPUN (7th) not fit in the yard.
Race 7 JANUARY CUP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirit Ridge | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Robbie Dolan | 12 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Wolfe | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 1 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Mr Marathon Man | Richard Litt | Sam Clipperton | 4 | 54.5 |
The Interest
Another Dolan peach to get SPIRIT RIDGE home. A bunched finish and pretty plain time though, plus NOTABADHARADA (racing 15kg out of grade) finished only 3.3L from the winner in 7th, finding the line quite well. FULMINA (5th 2.1L) also quite good racing 8.5kg out of her grade. There is a case for rating SPIRIT RIDGE as a dominant winner, but we will keep him as part of the main race for now, which should rate BELOW STANDARD.
Race 8 PRECISE AIR HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Sam Clipperton | 4 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | New Arrangement | Chris Waller | Ms Cejay Graham | 7 | 61.0 | |
| 3 | My Demetra | Peter & Paul Snowden | Robbie Dolan | 13 | 52.5 |
The Interest
NOTABADIDEA rolled at a STRONG tempo. SACRAMENTO and NEW ARRANGEMENT could have been dominant here given they hit the lead so far out, not ideal given the tempo. Expected to be a STANDARD race (3rd back) and an ABOVE STANDARD (+2L) race for SACRAMENTO and NEW ARRANGEMENT.
Race 9 TAB HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Betcha Flying | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 16 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | More Prophets | John Thompson | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Dame Kiri | Allan Denham | Ms Rachel King | 9 | 58.0 |
The Interest
INVINCIANO a touch keen outside the leader VITESSE setting up a STRONG tempo. BETCHA FLYING good and there were some with excuses; ST COVET'S SPIRIT (tight 300m), BOWERY BREEZE (held up badly) and INVINCIANO (too keen on strong tempo). Overall form is expected to be STANDARD.