3 minute read
James McDonald was singing the praises of Andermatt after another impressive win.
There was no stakes racing at Randwick on Saturday but Andermatt ensured the meeting had a carnival flavour, showing a brilliance and class that had premier jockey James McDonald dreaming of spring features.
The four-year-old backed up his facile first-up win at Canterbury with another heady performance to easily account for his rivals in the Furphy Handicap (1100m) and while the official margin over Dragonstone was 2-3/4 lengths, James Mcdonald said it could have been more.
"Andermatt is a weapon," McDonald said.
"He gives you the feel of a really progressive sprinter.
"This horse has an unbelievable amount of ability.
"He will reach the heights, and in the spring, we will be talking about Andermatt."
Bookmakers reacted to the win by tightening him to $26 for The Everest and Andermatt appears set to have his next start in a race that has proven to be an important stepping stone to the $15 million sprint.
Stable representative Darren Beadman confirmed the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at the stand-alone Scone meeting on May 14 shaped as his immediate target.
Four of the past five winners of the race, including Godolphin duo Trekking (2019) and Osborne Bulls (2018), went on to contest the Everest in the spring.
"That looks like the next step," Beadman said.
"He is conserving energy, which you need to be able to do when you get up to the big level.
"He couldn't have been any more impressive at his last two starts."
The key to Andermatt's emergence has been a gelding procedure.
Being by super sire Snitzel out of top mare Portillo, Godolphin kept him a colt as long as possible before making the tough call to cut him last year.
They are starting to reap the rewards with the horse undefeated in his three starts as a gelding.
"He is really the complete package now," Beadman said.
"He has only got to keep racing the way he is racing and the team, they look after them and give them their chance."
Andermatt ($1.75 fav) won by 2-3/4 lengths over Dragonstone ($5) with Mariamia ($10) another 1-3/4 lengths away third.
How's that from Andermatt!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 23, 2022
Easy as you like.@mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/ol1v7gH7ZT
