Yard to the Post | Inglis Millennium Day
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 05 February 2022
The Autumn Carnival edged nearer today at Royal Randwick with exciting two and three-year-olds hitting the track.
In the feature Inglis Millennium for two-year-olds Melbourne raider XTRAVAGANT STAR secured the $1.16 million first prize from the well-backed PARIS DIOR, who was given the perfect ride from James McDonald on a track that favoured horses coming off the rails.
Later in the day PAULELE (G3 Eskimo Prince) and MAOTAI (BM 78) led all the way to resume their Autumn campaigns in style, a high class pair of three-year-olds that could meet in feature sprints over the coming months.
And the day ended with the popular FROSTY ROCKS leading at an easy tempo before kicking clear with Jamie Kah in the saddle.
A full review is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | SOFT 6 to SOFT 5 |
| Weather | OVERCAST |
| Bias | OFF RAILS (4W+) |
Race 1 DARLEY LONHRO PLATE
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cythera | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Lady Laguna | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | James McDonald | 8 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Spacewalk | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
The 2YOs behaved themselves well. SPACEWALK stronger than most and quite well settled, he was replated behind the barriers. TRAGARA solid front to back, not the strongest through forequarter. LADY LAGUNA (neat, balanced and very fit), CYTHERA (looks well on debut) and PLYMSTOCK (toned balanced) all professional-looking types.
The Interest
Two impressive runs from the fillies. CYTHERA looked to have class in the yard and delivered, while LADY LAGUNA is a real racehorse that fights hard right to the line. BOYFRIEND and ONE DESTINY made some good late ground.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Testator Silens | Joseph Pride | Jean Van Overmeire | 18 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Anethole | Cody Morgan | Tom Sherry | 15 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Golden Point | Stirling Osland | Jason Collett | 22 | 56.5 |
Race 3 MIDWAY HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King Ratel | Bryce Heys | Tom Sherry | 9 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | McCormack | Tracey Bartley | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Lennon | Les Bridge | Chris Williams | 4 | 56.0 |
The Interest
KING RATEL has come back in great form and he delivered a much-deserved win here despite a slow start. The final 200m of some of the on-pacers was plainer than expected, especially favourite FRENCH EMPEROR (8th 3.33L), who loomed and tired late.
Race 4 RANVET SPRINT
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow Crush | Mark Newnham | Tom Sherry | 4 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Sky Command | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Ms Rachel King | 6 | 52.0 | |
| 3 | Mossman Gorge | Matthew Dale | Tommy Berry | 2 | 57.0 |
The Interest
SKY COMMAND sped along and travelled like the winner 300m out, but Rachel King just couldn't get her out into the best ground leaving her open to a late attack. Tom Sherry was the jockey that got to the faster lanes out wider and he had a fit horse underneath him to finish off.
Race 5 DAVALI THOROUGHBREDS CUP
steady tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arctic Thunder | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Jason Collett | 2 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Fleetwood Maca | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 5 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Van Roy | David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins | Ms Rachel King | 9 | 52.0 |
The Interest
This looked like a weak race on paper and the bunched finish suggests it was. ARTIC THUNDER had a very poor record at Randwick until this win. Perhaps the softer ground helped, or maybe she is just a mare that mixes her form. THROUGH IRISH EYES probably the horse to follow up in distance after he finished off in a strong 11.56 for the final 200m. DEEL WITH ME misbehaved at the back of the pack (awkward turn, laid out) and was eased down late with no vet issues noted.
Race 6 INGLIS MILLENNIUM
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xtravagant Star | Ciaron Maher | Chad Schofield | 7 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Paris Dior | Peter & Paul Snowden | James McDonald | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Sejardan | Gary Portelli | Jason Collett | 9 | 56.5 |
The Interest
The top three clearly the best runs and XTRAVAGANT STAR was pretty dominant in the end. PARIS D'OR rock solid after the perfect ride from James McDonald. He was able to get on the back of the brave SEJARDAN (stuck 4W NC), who may have pushed the winner with even luck. EL PADRINO was wide too (3W NC) and stuck on right to the line.
Race 7 VINERY HANDICAP
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joviality | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 7 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Lady Banff | Matthew Dunn | Regan Bayliss | 9 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Steel Diamond | Chris Waller | Ms Jamie Kah | 6 | 57.5 |
The Interest
LADY BANFF set a decent tempo here and it looked like JOVIALITY was set to stride clear at the 150m, but the mare started to peak on her run and needed all of James McDonald's strength to lift her over the line. STEEL DIAMOND just OK after having every chance. I SIYOU BABY produced a promising first-up run (better at 1600m) and SAIGON was blocked back on the inside.
Race 8 PETALUMA ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES
steady tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paulele | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Ranch Hand | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Converge | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 1 | 60.0 |
The Interest
PAULELE was a little warm in the parade and the betting was a bit soft late, but once he got to the front it was always going to be hard to get past him. He had been a superior 1200m horse last campaign and he showed he has come back just as good. CONVERGE, HILAL and MAURICE'S MEDAD (gelded) all came back in good order. RANCH HAND was primed for this and may struggle to turn the tables later in the prep. CAPTIVANT could be worth forgiving on dry ground over 1400m+. GIANNIS missed the start and never got into it.
Race 9 TAB HANDICAP
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maotai | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Silent Impact | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 2 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Rustic Steel | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 60.0 |
The Interest
The progressive 3YOs too good here. MAOTAI showed talent against some of the better sprinters in his age-group last prep and he relished leading back in benchmark grade today. SILENT IMPACT always so genuine and should be suited over 1300m to 1400m next time. The rest are well-exposed benchmark sprinters apart from perhaps RUSTIC STEEL, who looks to have come back well. The time was fast so expect the form to be above average.
Race 10 YARRAMAN PARK HANDICAP
slow tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frosty Rocks | Bjorn Baker | Ms Jamie Kah | 8 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Lackeen | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 4 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | No Compromise | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 7 | 55.0 |
The Interest
Hugh Bowman (PURPLE SECTOR) left Jamie Kah alone on FROSTY ROCKS in the lead and the grey kicked clear for a nice win. He's a reliable on-pacer that is too good to leave alone in-front like they did here. LACKEEN clearly going very well still and is one to follow after an impressive parade. He would have won with a touch more tempo and a better trail from PURPLE SECTOR, who was one-paced on the turn as they sprinted downwind. NO COMPROMISE, THROUGH THE CRACKS and LUNCIES all did about as much as they could do from back in the pack.