Yard to the Post @ Rosehill Gardens
Race Day: Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 26 March 2016
On a day when blue-blood horses, premier trainers and the leading jockeys shone in the Western Sydney sun, a little battler from Canberra stole a big Group One prize.
SINGLE GAZE (picture) was a roughie in the Vinery Stud Stakes despite winning in the lead-up race at Kembla Grange. Most thought the 2,000 metres and classy competition would be too much for the pint-sized daughter of Not A Single Doubt, bought for just $70,000 in the 2014 Magic Millions sale.
But they had underestimated her heart and determination, which was on show for all to see as the fillies sprinted down the long Rosehill straight. She maintained her run and defied the challenge of Kiwi VALLEY GIRL (placed 5th in the NZ Derby) back to her inside. An amazing effort given she'd finished just 3.8 lengths behind Vancouver in the Golden Slipper last year.
The other Group One of the day, The BMW, went the way of classy Zabeel gelding PREFERMENT who takes the title of the best 2,400 metre horse in Australia. Chris Waller scored the trifecta as WHO SHOT THEBARMAN stormed home for a close 2nd in front of GRAND MARSHAL. All three will be very hard to beat over The Championships in the Sydney Cup.
Blake Shinn and James McDonald both rode a stack of winners, but the Group Ones eluded them. Kathy O'Hara (SINGLE GAZE) and Hugh Bowman (PREFERMENT) were first home in the feature races.
A full yard to the post review is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | +5 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | ON-PACE |
Race 1 E-GROUP SECURITY HANDICAP
Godolphin power the key to start the day
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal | James Cummings | James McDonald | 3 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Religify | Chris Waller | Taylor Marshall | 12 | 61.5 | |
| 3 | Sabkhat | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Craig Williams | 7 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
FEDERAL looked fit enough fresh. DRAGON FLYER ok, then getting warm exiting the yard along with many others.
In The Running
RELIGIFY pushed forward from an outside gate and took SUPREME WARRIOR with him. ROCKOLICIOUS and SABKHAT enjoyed nice runs in behind the speed.
The Result
RELIGIFY (2nd) gave a kick in the straight only for FEDERAL (1st) to wear him down over the final strides. SABKHAT (3rd) stuck on for a place.
The Interest
James Macdonald saved all the ground aboard FEDERAL along the inside before giving chase and wearing down RELIGIFY who sprinted well on the straight. Both were suited on top of the ground on the hard, fast surface. SABKHAT enjoyed a nice run behind the speed however just couldn't close the gap. Of the others, ROCKOLICIOUS had every chance after pushing into the clear at the top of the straight, while those from the back made no impression.
Race 2 THE SCHWEPPERVESCENCE
Deja vous for team Snowden, Blake Shinn and connections.
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attention | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 15 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Prized Icon | Kris Lees | Glyn Schofield | 14 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Crafty Cop | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 9 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
TAJ MAHAL’s coat was shining. CRAFTY COP is an angular type. HUTCHO and REINFORDCED looked fit. Other 2yos well behaved.
In The Running
CRAFTY COP jumped best from a middle draw to lead ATTENTION with ALL IN RHYTHM and PRIZED ICON taking the sit off the speed. LASQUETI SPIRIT raced wide throughout.
The Result
ATTENTION (1st) gave chase at the top of the straight to overhaul CRAFTY COP (2nd) near the line with PRIZED ICON (3rd) closing late.
The Interest
It was a case of déjà vous in the 2yo ranks with team Snowden, Blake Shinn and Harron Bloodstock connections repeating their Golden Slipper success from a week earlier, this time over 1400m with the lesser fancied ATTENTION. He has come to hand well and will progress over further. PRIZED ICON got out and chased hard to the line, while CRAFTY COP jumped away and led them up, just overhauled late. OBSCURA was the best of the Godolphin runners, while CROWN HIM got home well. The stablemate of the winner and more fancied REINFORCED was blocked out wide and never got a crack at them. Forgive REINFORCED.
Race 3 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES
UK 2000m form holds strong for this import
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It's Somewhat | James Cummings | James McDonald | 8 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Messene | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Sir John Hawkwood | John Thompson | Blake Spriggs | 6 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
IT’S SOMEWHAT looked alert and ready. MESSENE’s coat shining. SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD looked fit and well. No knock others.
In The Running
MESSENE led from ENTIRELY PLATINUM setting a truly run staying test. The favourite IT’S SOMEWHAT sat in behind with cover.
The Result
IT’S SOMEWHAT (1st) made his move around the turn and held off MESSENE (2nd) who kicked strongly along the inside. SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (3rd) chased gamely out wider finishing close up. They gapped the rest of the field.
The Interest
James McDonald got rolling on the turn aboard IT’S SOMEWHAT and was a tough win in the end, staying on strongest to the line. MESSENE stayed on strong along the inside up in distance and fought on the length of the straight. SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD gave chase, however was always a little wider and is looking for longer now. Note they came home in 34.05 in race record time. The win brought up an early riding double for James MacDonald and Godolphin. The track was upgraded to a Good 3 after the race.
Race 4 TAB STAR KINGDOM STAKES
Freedman back to winning ways in Sydney
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaguerra | Lindsey Smith | Blake Shinn | 1 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Target in Sight | Joseph Pride | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Coolring | Joe Cleary | Brenton Avdulla | 5 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
MALAGUERRA exited the yard early, sweating and not looking comfortable (has a tendency to do that). TARGET IN SIGHT has the power to overcome the bias, looked well. BACHMAN strips fitter. COOLRING paraded well.
The Result
COOLRING (3rd) wobbled off the rail in the straight allowing MALAGUERRA (1st) to burst through and draw clear to win impressively. TARGET IN SIGHT (2nd) burst out of the pack and chased strongly
The Interest
It was the sign of a very serious horse with MALAGUERRA only getting a late split and using his turn of foot to put them away easily. He was far too good for these and it’s onto the Stradbroke. The win brought up a riding double for Blake Shinn. TARGET IN SIGHT showed he also had power when charging out of the pack, just beaten by a better horse on the day. COOLRING stuck on ok after leading. Follow MALAGUERRA.
Race 5 TULLOCH STAKES
A rising stayer sends Derby warning
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old North | James Cummings | James McDonald | 4 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Torgersen | Michael Jones | Craig Williams | 12 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Multifacets | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
PREDATOR with ears pricked and looked a little uneasy. Some big types in the yard with HATTORI HANZO, MAN OF CHOICE and BALMAIN BOY relaxed. No knock others.
In The Running
BALMAIN BOY took up the running from MAN OF CHOICE and HIERARCHAL. Tim Clark couldn't get the leader to settle and he really rolled along. SCHOPENHAUER raced wide throughout.
The Result
OLD NORTH sprinted quickly once off the rails, drawing clear from TORGERSEN and MULTIFACETS who both finished off out wider.
The Interest
There is still plenty of scope for OLD NORTH to improve off this win, with the big scopey of Lonhro continuing to improve as distances increase. He put these away quickly and now it may be onto the AJC Derby. The win brought up a treble for James MacDonald and Godolphin. Waller pair of TORGERSEN and MULTIFACETS both showed improvement up to 2000m. SOVEREIGN NATION and HATTORI HANZO both showed determination over the concluding stages, while BALMAIN BOY may have gone a little hard up front in the lead. Tim Clark once again couldn't hold him at a fair gallop. MAN OF CHOICE weakened noticeably from on pace. Follow OLD NORTH.
Race 6 VINERY STUD STAKES
Kathy kicks clear of the favourites
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single Gaze | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 10 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Valley Girl | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs | Brett Prebble | 8 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Happy Hannah | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Blake Shinn | 3 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
Most fillies paraded well with ASINARA, SELF ESTEEM and HAPPY HANNAH relaxed. RISQUE is an athletic type.
In The Running
SELF ESTEEM came across to lead and SINGLE GAZE settled on her outside with VALLEY GIRL in the box seat. BELIEVE worked up to 2nd mid-race giving SINGLE GAZE some cover.
The Result
SINGLE GAZE (1st) peeled out and sprinted up to win, from VALLEY GIRL (2nd) who fought on nearer the inside. HAPPY HANNAH (3rd) stormed home late.
The Interest
She's small, she's tough and she was in the perfect spot. Kathy O'Hara gave Nick Olive his first Group One on this resilient daughter of Not A Single Doubt. She was only 3.8 lengths off Vancouver in the Golden Slipper! Outside the winner, very good runs from HAPPY HANNAH, HONESTA (would love wet ground) and ASINARA, who all shape as big Oaks chances. The Kiwi fillies were OK too. Follow HAPPY HANNAH, HONESTA and ASINARA.
Race 7 THE BMW
Adaptability shown as Bowman takes off early
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preferment | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Who Shot Thebarman | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 7 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Grand Marshal | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 3 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
Waller’s PREFERMENT and STORM THE STARS both sweating up noticeably. MONGOLIAN KHAN on toes and ready to go. Walk on OUR IVANHOWE appears ok.
In The Running
OUR IVANHOWE crossed STORM THE STARS with MONTAIGNE enjoying the run of the race. MONGOLIAN KHAN raced wide throughout.
The Result
PREFERMENT (1st) took off at the 600m and hit the front rounding the turn, holding off the challenge of stablemates WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (2nd) who chased hard, and GRAND MARSHAL (3rd) in behind.
The Interest
Some of the best staying types came to the fore with Staying maestro trainer Chris Waller again asserting his dominance with PREFERMENT winning another big staying race. Jockey Hugh Bowman slid forward trailing MONGOLIAN KHAN who was trapped wide. His adaptability is his strength and this yet again showed. WHO SHOT THEBARMAN chased hard as he always does and now looks set for the Sydney Cup along with GRAND MARSHAL who was there till the end. MONTAIGNE had a nice trail and lost no admirers finishing just behind the placegetters. Follow Waller's trio. Forgive MONGOLIAN KHAN.
Race 8 ASCEND SALES TROPHIES EMANCIPATION STAKES
Deserved Group 2 win in honour of the late Guy Walter
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zanbagh | John Thompson | Blake Shinn | 8 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Supara | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tommy Berry | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Amicus | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 6 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
SOLICIT is big, strong and holding condition well. BADAWIYA is a smaller type, Rosehill the query. ZANBAGH paraded well. PASADENA GIRL on toes exiting.
In The Running
SUPARA held out SOLICIT who crossed from the outside. BADAWIYA and TELEPATHIC took the sit in behind.
The Result
SUPARA (2nd) gave kick into the straight, however it was ZANBAGH (1st) that finished best ahead of the bunch including AMICUS (3rd) and BADAWIYA (4th).
The Interest
It was a deserved win for ZANBAGH after racing well this time in, chasing hard a few off the fence. AMICUS ranged up out wider to snatch a place from BADAWIYA who got a little keen around the bend before finishing off well along the rail. SUPARA showed toughness right to the line after leading from SOLICIT who just never looked comfortable being held from rolling on the lead and weakened in the straight. Follow BADAWIYA.
Race 9 HYLAND RACE COLOURS DONCASTER PRELUDE
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havana Cooler | James Cummings | James McDonald | 4 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Cosmic Cube | Chris Waller | Blake Spriggs | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Rudy | Helen Page | Craig Williams | 9 | 54.0 |
In The Yard
Big field in the yard with RUDY and DANCES ON STARS and parading well. Stayed HAVANA COOLER forward enough. No knock others.
In The Running
SADLER’S LAKE crossed from our wide to lead COSMIC CUBE with RUDY on the rails. MORIARTY raced wide throughout.
The Result
HAVANA COOLER (1st) overhauled COSMIC CUBE (2nd) who stuck on best from on pace with RUDY (3rd) staying close to the inside in behind.
The Interest
James McDonald brought up his fourth win for the day aboard HAVANA COOLER who warmed up late and ran over the top of them. Another Godolphin stayer on the up! COSMIC CUBE enjoyed the favourable on-pace conditions, while RUDY looks ready now and will be hoping for some Autumn rain. DANCES ON STARS was held up early in the straight. Follow the first three.