Yard to the Post | Missile Stakes Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 07 August 2021
Sunny winter weather dried out the Royal Randwick turf and set up a lightning fast track today for the running of the Group 2 Missile Stakes.
In the feature race favourites FASIKA and KOLDING couldn't match the electric acceleration of PHOBETOR over 1,200 metres on firm ground. The winner comes from the flying Michael Costa yard (19 wins from last 50 starts) and could progress on to better races now over the spring. Unfortunately FASIKA bled after finishing a brave 3rd and we won't see her back on track for a few months.
Most jockeys stayed close to the fence with the rail out 5 metres and that caused problems for both REMARQUE and IN THE CONGO in the Listed Rosebud for three-year-olds. Godolphin's PAULELE was kept in clear air by James McDonald (four winners today) and sailed past the trouble on the inside to win easily.
A full review is provided below, from the yard to the post.
Track Info
| Rail | +5 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR, inside lanes playing well |
Race 1 CLUBSNSW WESTERN METROPOLITAN HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Spring Gold | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Black Bolt | Ciaron Maher | Regan Bayliss | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Grenado | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 4 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
All horses looking OK in the yard. VIANELLO not as muscular as others, but she did look OK.
The Interest
Rachel King must have got some instructions to push forward with the light weight, but no-one planned the ridiculous tempo that eventuated. The on-pace runners VRENELI, DIAMONDS'N'STONES and LARKSPUR RUN the last three across the line in the end. It was an impressive victory from HOT SPRING GOLD though, who went to a new career peak on drier ground off the STRONG tempo.
Race 2 CLIFF CLARE HANDICAP
steady tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harpo Marx | Bjorn Baker | James McDonald | 2 | 62.5 | |
| 2 | Master Shuhood | Richard Litt | Sam Clipperton | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Terwilliker | Anthony Cummings | Glen Boss | 1 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
Stayers looking fine in the yard and holding condition.
The Interest
A close finish and the perfect ride from James McDonald made the difference on HARPO MARX with the big weight. TERWILLIKER loomed up and he just doesn't seem to want to win these days. ARABOLINI rolled for home early and stuck on pretty well for a horse that prefers softer tracks. Probably not a strong form race moving forward.
Race 3 TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 PLATE
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Runner | Keith Dryden | James McDonald | 15 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Laughing or Crying | Richard Butler | James Innes Jnr | 2 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | So Say You | Terry Robinson | Brock Ryan | 8 | 55.5 |
Race 4 BILLY CAMER HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matowatakpe | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 5 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Invinciano | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Loveplanet | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 9 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
GREAT HOUSE looking pretty settled in the yard and in good shape. ABOVE AND BEYOND, RE EDIT and ENDURING NIGHT all with a bit of improvement to come.
The Interest
The midweek form of MATOWATAKPE, INVINCIANO and LOVEPLANET held up, all three running well in a close finish. RE EDIT just a touch out-sprinted before a solid final 150m. GREAT HOUSE and ENDURING NIGHT made nice ground from the back (follow over further).
Race 5 MIDWAY HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gemmahra | Gwenda Markwell | Glen Boss | 1 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Tochi | Robert & Luke Price | Brock Ryan | 13 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Bazooka | David Payne | Joshua Parr | 14 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
PICARO looking a bit plain this prep. WHITE BOOTS with a touch more improvement to come. Most looking OK.
The Interest
GEMMAHRA is bred from a 2000m mare and she found her right race today. A turnaround in form from TOCHI and BAZOOKA ran on well after a quiet ride in easier grade.
Race 6 RAY SELKRIG HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starla | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Turnstyle | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Eight Diamonds | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 12 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
Most mares in good shape. MORE PROPHETS not the most powerful, but she was fit enough. MISTEED perhaps getting a bit lighter now. PHILIZZY a touch stronger this prep.
The Interest
STARLA too strong late, a mare in great form that will be even better over 1300m+ with some more tempo on. EIGHT DIAMONDS and MISTEED both pretty good too after racing wide. MORE PROPHETS was help up, but she looked and raced like a horse that might want 1400m+ now.
Race 7 HEINEKEN MISSILE STAKES
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phobetor | Michael Costa | Tommy Berry | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Chat | John Thompson | Ms Rachel King | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Fasika | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 1 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
KOLDING looked well, but probably not fit yet and FASIKA was a touch plain in the yard. PHOBETOR, CHAT and VIRIDINE all fit and well.
The Interest
KOLDING and FASIKA clearly not at their best today and the fit powerful sprinter PHOBETOR dashed home best. It was a blanket finish though so be cautious following the form going forward.
Race 8 FUJITSU GENERAL ROSEBUD
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paulele | James Cummings | James McDonald | 7 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | In The Congo | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 4 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Remarque | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 1 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
REMARQUE impressed in the yard. Strong, balanced and close to full fitness. IN THE CONGO paraded well too and PAULELE was ready to go first-up. MAOTAI a compact muscular speedster at full fitness. MAZU a bit more robust that the other sprinters and may be suited to a touch further.
The Interest
The on-pacers rolled along and the classy horse that got the luck won. PAULELE has clearly come back well and put a margin on them, but REMARQUE was very unlucky and would have challenged for the win if clear. IN THE CONGO found trouble in the race too. They look to be clearly the best three horses ahead of the Carnival.
Race 9 LITTLE WINGS HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination | Richard Litt | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Lancaster Bomber | Richard Litt | Nash Rawiller | 4 | 61.5 | |
| 3 | Sixgun | Mark Newnham | Tom Sherry | 13 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
ENFLEURAGE not at full fitness with a bit of a winter coat. GOLLY I'M LUCKY looking OK with a bit of improvement to come first-up. SIXGUN a touch fizzy as usual. SWITCHED improving, but she didn't carry a lot of condition.
The Interest
DESTINATION better back to a dry track getting back to near his best third-up. HULK very unlucky from the back though, a Waller sprinter in great form that is very close to a win. SIXGUN ran well out wide after racing keenly and covering ground.
Race 10 ATC THANK YOU JOCKEYS HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsheir | Kim Waugh | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Promotions | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Tycoonist | Emma Fouchard | James McDonald | 12 | 59.5 |
In The Yard
KINGSHEIR back a gelding looking well. OXFORD TYCOON, ACADEMY and HANDSPUN all about 90/95% fit. TYCOONIST holding condition deep in the prep. DAME KIRI a bit smaller and lighter than most others.
The Interest
The tempo was on and KINGSHEIR was simply too strong. PROMOTIONS suited over 1300m and ran well with TYCOONIST doing a good job after getting stuck wide again.