Yard to the Post | Royal Randwick
Race Day: Royal Randwick on Saturday, 28 May 2022
We may have had a drier few days in Sydney leading into Saturday, but the Royal Randwick track was still soaked, and the final furlong was a slog for most of the horses today.
Toughness and stamina paid dividends across the ten races, no horse proving that more than the country-class stayer MARAKOPA ($61) winning by a widening 5.3 lengths in Race 5 over the long distance 2,400 metres. MOON READER ($18) another winner that stepped up in class to win and the Waterhouse Bott team got their warrior NOTHINSWEETABOUTME ($16) fit enough to cause an upset in Race 3.
With a bias that favoured horses edging off the rails in the straight and variations in tempo throughout the day there could be lots of opportunity to find a hidden run or two for future meetings.
A full review of the day by Mike Wood and Adrian Sciglitano is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | HEAVY 9 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | OFF RAILS IN STRAIGHT |
Race 1 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sungblue | Brett Cavanough | Dylan Gibbons | 12 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Running Bear | Jan Bowen | Ms Louise Day | 10 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Whatsin | Dean Mirfin | Keagan Latham | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
Most handling the occasion well in The Highway. THE DRAMATIST very fit, focused and walking out in the parade, very similar to OPTIMO who presents in good order. No knocks on SUNGBLUE and RUNNING BEAR who parade well. ZADIG and PERSIAN BEAUTY a touch anxious pre-race.
The Interest
A perfect ride from Dylan Gibbons on SUNGBLUE in the lead. He backed the tempo off a touch mid-race before building into it nicely and fighting on best in the straight. The winner loves testing wet conditions and deserved this after an unlucky 5th at Scone last start. OPTIMO ($6.5 fav') didn't do himself any favours after a slow jump and racing keenly after getting revved up to settle midfield. THE DRAMATIST too far back and found a bit of trouble running on. (VET: IRRESISTIBLE MISS slow to recover; ALL THE SHOPS significant respiratory noise; TWIG lost plate)
Race 2 PRECISE AIR HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owen County | Brad Widdup | Keagan Latham | 3 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Amati | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Golden Queen | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jay Ford | 1 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
GOLDEN QUEEN a strong girl in the yard, focused and striding out well, a good parade. OWEN COUNTY fresh and on his toes, he looks to have come on since his effort at Hawkesbury. No knocks on DIRTY MERCHANT and AMATI. The others fine too.
The Interest
GOLDEN QUEEN went a bit quick in the lead and couldn't sustain it leaving OWEN COUNTY and AMATI to fight it out. AMATI was the one with the better sprint, but OWEN COUNTY had much too much stamina late. The time was a few lengths slower than The Highway so there could be a slight question on the form. (VET: MONTEBELLO'S CHARM cardiac arrhythmia; CONTROLOCRACY slow to recover)
Race 3 CANTERBURY LEAGUE CLUB HANDICAP
steady tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nothinsweetaboutme | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 4 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Narrated | Ciaron Maher | Ms Ellen Hennessy | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | And We Danced | Ben Brisbourne | Chad Schofield | 1 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
AND WE DANCED has improved between preparations, a much more sensible mare this time in. NICCIS FLING rock solid in the yard. ZOROCAT anxious (as she can be) but not overdoing it, at peak fitness. NOTHINSWEETABOUTME not carrying too much condition and close to fitness first-up.
The Interest
Chris Williams tried to back off the tempo early on ZOROCAT to make sure she would see out the distance, but Ellen Hennessy wasn't having any of that on NARRATED. The young Irish hoop pushed her tough wet-tracker on to hit the lead and she fought hard all the way to the line. It took a big effort from NOTHINSWEETABOUTME to run on best late in a very close finish. A gap to favourite AND WE DANCED (who rarely wins) and a big space to the rest. (VET: ZOROCAT slow to recover, respiratory distress, 2/5 lame)
Race 4 MIDWAY HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon | Paul Perry | Keagan Latham | 8 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Damaged | Richard Litt | Tom Sherry | 9 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Don Luigi | Kerry Parker | Regan Bayliss | 13 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
Most parading well for the Midway. DIFFERENT STROKES presents at peak condition, walking out very well, dappled. LANCASTER BOMBER still holds good condition deep into his preparation, focused and fit. TWO UP and CALGARY QUEEN both rock solid and fit, while BUDWHAR has improved second-up. SAQUON not far off first up. CAESARS PALACE has improvement to come.
The Interest
Settling back and peeling wider was the place to be here and wet-tracker SAQUON took advantage for the in-form Paul Perry stable. DAMAGED ran very well too in conditions he doesn't seem to relish usually. DON LUIGI tough up on the STRONG tempo and CAESARS PALACE did a good job after racing wide no cover near the pace.
Race 5 WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT HANDICAP
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marakopa | Robert Quinn | Ms Louise Day | 6 | 52.0 | |
| 2 | Bonny Ezra | Rachael Frost | Tyler Schiller | 7 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Our Candidate | Lee Horner | Dylan Gibbons | 5 | 60.0 |
In The Yard
Most stayers parading well, BONNY EZRA parades very well, focused in the yard and alert. SHAMELESS MISS a wet track type in the yard, very fit deep into her preparation. MISSION PHEONIX slightly anxious (as he can be), at full fitness now - strong type in the yard. No knock ARABOLINI and FEEL THE RUSH.
The Interest
This was a real slog and the country-grade grinder MARAKOPA produced a huge upset to win by a widening 5.3 lengths. He's a genuine long distance stayer, but it was hard to believe he could do this following a plain 5th at Muswellbrook last start. BONNY EZRA was shining in the yard and was the best of the on-pacers so could be the horse to follow. Ellen Hennessy went a bit quick on ARABOLINI in the lead and he was one of a few tired horses on the line. (VET: BONNY EZRA haematoma; SHAMELESS MISS slow to recover)
Race 6 SPORTING CHANCE CANCER FOUNDATION HANDICAP
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moon Reader | Tim Martin | Andrew Adkins | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Kanazawa | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 2 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Lease | Stephen Farley | Tyler Schiller | 15 | 60.0 |
In The Yard
DEMOCRACY MANIFEST an athletic type in the yard, focused, fit and doing nothing wrong. COMRADE ROSA holding her condition deep into her preparation, KING KAPA improving with every run, very alert today in the yard. HUESCA, SHADOW DEVIL will both improve with the run, KANAZAWA and LEASE quite forward first-up into the campaign.
The Interest
MOON READER was stepping up in grade here, but she is a very tough type and she relished the conditions to just hold off the impressive KANAZAWA, who ran on strongly first-up. It was a big run from LEASE wide on-pace too (backed from $26 to $18 for new stable), moving up on the sedate early tempo before pushing on to get some of them chasing mid-race. DEMOCRACY MANIFEST the other run of note after having to come around the tiring FLYING TYROL before running on late. (VET: LEASE laceration)
Race 7 TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surreal Step | John Thompson | Chad Schofield | 8 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Much Much Better | Sara Ryan | Brock Ryan | 1 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Andermatt | James Cummings | Jason Collett | 10 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
ANDERMATT parading very well again, focused in the yard, fit and forward. SURREAL STEP, MAMARAGAN and LORD OLYMPUS at their peak fitness, alert and walking out well. First-uppers ENCHANTED HEART and ALL TIME LEGEND not far off full fitness. SOUTHERN LEGEND got hot and a touch anxious pre-race out the back of the barriers.
The Interest
The top four clearly the best runs and there wasn't much between them. SURREAL STEP and MUCH MUCH BETTER got the luck, while ANDERMATT (back, had to switch off heels 200m) and ENCHANTED HEART (out wide on the turn) had excuses. (VET: THE FACE 2/5 lame)
Race 8 FUJITSU GENERAL HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Cadeau | Terry Robinson | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 11 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | True Detective | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 5 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Fender | Brett Cavanough | Andrew Adkins | 1 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
KIRWANS LANE parades in peak condition, shining in the coat and focused in the yard. Same with COAL CRUSHER who is more focused today, walking well and at peak condition. Most looking OK though.
The Interest
There was plenty of early jostling for position and MR DEPENDABLE had to work hard to lead before rolling at a STRONG tempo. COAL CRUSHER was left over-racing just behind the leaders and KIRWAN'S LANE got stuck out wide no cover. ART CADEAU and TRUE DETECTIVE ended up in the right spot swooping down the outside off the STRONG tempo in testing conditions. KIRWAN'S LANE the other impressive run in the race (wide, held up). COAL CRUSHER not settling well enough for 1400m yet it seems. (VET: COAL CRUSHER slow to recover)
Race 9 UPHIRE HANDICAP
steady tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cotehele | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Tom Sherry | 2 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Titanium Power | Joseph Pride | Glyn Schofield | 8 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | French Marine | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 6 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
COTEHELE looked great in the yard, a horse that has tapered on his form deeper into a prep before. TITANIUM POWER and JO JO WAS A MAN paraded at peak condition, with TITANIUM POWER on the improve backing up from last week. KALINO forward enough first-up.
The Interest
TITANIUM POWER got control early and kicked for home into the turn with COTEHELE following him through. It was a race in two from that point with COTEHELE holding his form much better to get the win fifth-up after he could only manage three run preps as a younger horse. FRENCH MARINE and JOJO WAS A MAN both very good too after getting outsprinted in trickier spots on the turn. A strange ride from Reece Jones on SOAMI, taken back 3 lengths last off the slow early tempo when a trailing spot behind JOJO WAS A MAN was available. (VET: KALINO 2/5 lame)
Race 10 PF CIVIL HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
4w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rupertaar | Bjorn Baker | Tyler Schiller | 1 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Snowzone | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 13 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | American President | Bjorn Baker | Reece Jones | 8 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
GARRISON in great shape, but he is a big strong type hitting testing ground. RUPERTAAR a small scrappy horse in comparison to most, but she was fit first-up and had a nice shine to her coat. SNOWZONE, AMERICAN PRESIDENT and QUEEN BELLISSIMO all well in the yard. HULK, NO LAUGHING MATTER could tighten up a touch more with the run.
The Interest
QUEEN BELLISSIMO got control of a STEADY tempo with the speedy RUPERTAAR on her back. With freshness in her legs and 1000m speed RUPERTAAR sprinted best and held on for a narrow win in a blanket finish to end the day, only 2.3L separating the top eight. AMERICAN PRESIDENT was strong through the line and didn't quite get the tempo he needed to win. SNOWZONE and TWICE IS SPECIAL both very good out wide in the better ground. HULK and FOX FIGHTER close up on the inside (bias against), a pair of sprinters that will be looking for a drier track next time. (VET: GARRISON slow to recover, respiratory distress)