Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 30 January 2016
There were exciting on-track performances against a backdrop of dramatic weather at Rosehill Gardens today.
As a huge thunderstorm loomed from the west, Stewards hurried the Expressway Stakes contenders onto the track. The powerful OUR BOY MALACHI oblivious to both the ominous forecast and commotion in the bookies ring.
Despite trialling in good fashion and looking well in the parade, it seems the bleeding attack last Winter had spooked punters and the price drifted alarmingly.
In the end the "Rockhampton Rocket" was simply too fast, streaking clear from a one-paced SOLICIT, who jumped as the $2.60 favourite.
An equally impressive win came from two-year-old filly HONESTY PREVAILS (picture), who dominated in the Widden Stakes, running a faster time than the colts in the Canonbury Stakes. She's a big strong youngster that is right in Golden Slipper calculations now.
The last two races were called off due to the state of the track.
A full review, from the yard to the post, is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | SOFT to HEAVY |
| Weather | FINE, then STORMS |
| Bias | FAIR, slight OFF RAILS |
Race 1 MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS HANDICAP
Waller doesn't wonder who's best
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start Wondering | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Marenostro | Gayna Williams | James McDonald | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Kaleidoscope | Matthew Dale | Andrew Adkins | 4 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
START WONDERING looked fit, well and athletic. Has a good sprint. Stayers looked a touch one-paced.
In The Running
ZEE ZEELY went to the lead and steadied in the middle stages. MARENOSTRO settled outside START WONDERING in midfield, before taking off for home early.
The Result
MARENOSTRO (2nd) fought on ok, but START WONDERING (1st) simply tracked him up and sprinted past. KALEIDOSCOPE (3rd) made some ground from the back.
The Interest
An open and shut case, the winner had the best sprint and the best form after an unlucky run last start. The steadier tempo only helped him, despite the fact he got back. Follow START WONDERING.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY PLATE
A driving finish to the Country Highway
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halfpenny Gate | Keith Dryden | Koby Jennings | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Coolcat Dancer | Richard & Luke Clarke | Ms Winona Costin | 3 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Hermosa Beach | Matthew Dale | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
STANBUL looked very hot and bothered in the yard. LADY LOBBAN also a touch hot in the warm conditions. No knock HALFPENNY GATE, COOLCAT DANCER, FAIRYLAND and HERMOSA BEACH, who looked the best in the yard.
In The Running
LADY LOBBAN went to the lead from ECCITARE, COOLCAT DANCER and HERMOSA BEACH, with HALFPENNY GATE behind them. JOSTLE was slow and got back.
The Result
In a driving finish, COOLCAT DANCER (2nd) went through to hit the lead and HALFPENNY GATE (1st) arrived late. HERMOSA BEACH (3rd) ran on and was right there too.
The Interest
The best four horses in the race seem to be the top three, who were all only inches apart, and ISTANBUL, who you have to forgive after his poor parade. A sweaty mess! Forgive ISTANBUL.
Race 3 CANONBURY STAKES
Fighting qualities from a classy colt
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tessera | Richard Litt | James McDonald | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Defcon | Peter & Paul Snowden | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Mount Panorama | Gary Moore | Tommy Berry | 8 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
Serious two year-olds in the yard, GUARD OF HONOUR looked muscular and athletic, impressive. TESSERA and STAR OF MONSOON looked very strong, relaxed and pro, DEFCON looked ok, but a touch hot.
In The Running
TESSERA led them up from GUARD OF HONOUR on his outside. DEFCON was patiently ridden at the back.
The Result
DEFCON (2nd) sprinted down the outside, but his run peaked and TESSERA (1st) kept lifting to win clearly. MOUNT PANORAMA (3rd) and STAR OF MONSOON (4th) ran on fairly.
The Interest
This colt looks bomb-proof, a galloper that can get up on the pace and show "fighting qualities", as mentioned by jockey James McDonald after the race. DEFCON could be a promising type too. The wet track and fizzy parade give him some excuse for dying on his run. We'll find out in the future if the wet track offers any excuse for the others. Follow TESSERA and DEFCON.
Race 4 WIDDEN STAKES
Power, class and big Slipper chance
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honesty Prevails | Rick Worthington | Jason Collett | 7 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Smart Amelia | Bjorn Baker | Christian Reith | 3 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Chipanda | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 5 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
Nice fillies in the yard, SO SERENE and KENTUCKY MISS have good power. No knock AGHNA, a neat and pro looking type. HONESTY PREVAILS another nice type, along with SPRIGHT and NONPAREIL.
In The Running
VIXEN LASS kicked up on the inside of KENTUCKY MISS and the two put some pressure on. CHIPANDA worked up wider with no cover. AGHNA and HONESTY PREVAILS were just behind them.
The Result
HONESTY PREVAILS (1st) edged wider, got into the clear and broke right away from the rest. SMART AMELIA (2nd) ran on to grab the brave CHIPANDA (3rd) on the line. They were only a small margin in front of NONPAREIL (4th), FOXPLAY (5th) and SPRIGHT (6th).
The Interest
Wow! This was a really impressive win. A good honest STRONG tempo gave us a chance to see the cream rise to the top, HONESTY PREVAILS is a serious filly that could be even better on top of the ground. She's a big strong powerful girl with a lot more to give. The time was faster than the boys too, but they did run the first 500m much quicker. CHIPANDA was very brave and there were a few other good runs too. SPRIGHT and FOXPLAY made good ground. Follow HONESTY PREVAILS.
Race 5 TAB MORE THAN JUST WINNING HANDICAP
Waterhouse toughness makes the difference
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | River Wild | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Brenton Avdulla | 6 | 61.0 | |
| 2 | Niccoco | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Tim Clark | 8 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Denmagic | David Pfieffer | Tommy Berry | 9 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
YULONG AMBITION paraded very well, strong and with a shine to coat. RIVER WILD, DENMAGIC both looked very well too. LAUCALA forward fit and nice walk. No knock NICCOCCO and MISS SYDNEY, only a touch hot.
In The Running
MISS SYDNEY went to the lead from NICCOCO, with RIVER WILD allowing others to come up inside him, racing off the leaders three wide.
The Result
NICCOCO (2nd) sprinted clear, but RIVER WILD (1st) kept lifting and nabbed him on the line. DENMAGIC (3rd) ran on and was right in the finish. A big gap to the rest.
The Interest
RIVER WILD has a high SURGE over 1400m as many Waterhouse horses do. He dug in for the fight and got there! NICCOCO and DENMAGIC both very good too, the form out of this race could stand up. Perhaps NICCOCO just pressed the "go button" a touch early in hindsight. Folllow RIVER WILD, DENMAGIC and NICCOCO.
Race 6 ASCEND SALES TROPHIES HANDICAP
Too much stamina when it matters
fair tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allergic | James Cummings | James McDonald | 6 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Cauthen's Power | Chris Waller | Mr Lester Grace | 2 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Magical Stance | Ron Quinton | Andrew Adkins | 11 | 59.5 |
In The Yard
CAUTHEN'S POWER and ANOTHER COCKTAIL looked well for Waller, as did DANCE OF HEROES with big weight. No knock ALLERGIC or ANOTHER COCKTAIL.
In The Running
FRANK WHO jumped to the lead and WHITE DOVE steadily took over mid-race as the tempo slackened. DANCE OF HEROES then moved up outside the leader to put some pressure into the race. MAGICAL STANCE was stuck wide in midfield.
The Result
Many chances at the top of the straight, with ALLERGIC (1st) surging home best out wide from CAUTHEN'S POWER (2nd) nearer the inside and MAGICAL STANCE (3rd).
The Interest
He was a group one placegetter over 2500m behind Delicacy and this was a great chance to show his stamina. ALLEGIC was simply too strong for them late. MAGICAL STANCE a touch unlucky again and CAUTHEN'S POWER did well too after getting pushed to the inside (slightly lesser ground). ANOTHER COCKTAIL seemed to have his chance. Follow ALLERGIC. Forgive MAGICAL STANCE.
Race 7 EXPRESSWAY STAKES
Rockhampton's Rocket blasts clear
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Boy Malachi | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 4 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Solicit | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tye Angland | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Big Money | Rodney Northam | Robert Thompson | 2 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
No knock OUR BOY MALACHI or SOLICIT. TIGER TEES looked fit enough. BIG MONEY a touch keen
In The Running
OUR BOY MALACHI took up the running from SOLICIT and TIGER TEES. He travelled well in the lead.
The Result
OUR BOY MALACHI (1st) cruised to the turn and sprinted right away from SOLICIT (2nd), who stayed on a few lengths behind. BIG MONEY (3rd) made some ground.
The Interest
Well he looked like the only 1200m horse with any recent form and it proved to be the simplest of wins. We had to trust he Hawkes stable to have OUR BOY MALACHI fit and well after some issues over the past few months. He looked fine in the yard and blasted clear! Follow OUR BOY MALACHI.
Race 8 CELLARBRATIONS HANDICAP
Abandoned due to state of track
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|
Race 9 TAB.COM.AU HANDICAP
Abandoned due to state of track
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|