3 minute read
Mandy Cottell and Brenton Le Grand look back on the 10-race program at Rosehill and bring you the talking points of the undercard.
Dr Evil powers home in the Midway
He was set a task jumping from barrier 16, but the John Steinmetz-trained Dr Evil ($20) has defied his long quote to storm home and take out the Midway Handicap (1500m).
Taken back to near-last from the wide impost, the son of Casino Prince proved too strong for Elettrica ($19) by a half neck at the finish, with Star Impact ($14) another half neck back in third place.
Hoop Tommy Berry was grateful he got all the favours in a busy finish.
"It's nice when they work out," Berry mused.
"He's a horse that's obviously on the fresh side and if you use him up and get caught wide it takes away that explosive turn of foot.
"So I Said to John 'why don't we ride him quiet, ride him for a bit of luck and if we get it he'll be in the finish'."
It didn't all go to plan in the run for Berry, with the champion jockey having a bit of grooming advice for his trainer.
"I've got to tell John to cut his mane, I got a bit caught in (it). I ripped it straight out with my hands at the 150m and was able to get it out and it proved the winning move in the end."
Waugh mare steps out of the Shadows
Kim Waugh has her sights on the Provincial-Midway Championships with emerging mare Shadows Of Love, who returned with a barnstorming win in Saturday's Queen Bee Project Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill.
Settling back in the field, Shadows Of Love ($10) unleashed a strong finish to nail Xtravagant Star ($5) by a neck with Bandi's Boy ($13) third, another 1-1/4 lengths in arrears.
Waugh said she expected Shadows Of Love to sprint well fresh, despite the journey being short of her best distance, and felt Saturday's race was the right stepping stone into the Provincial-Midway Championship Qualifier (1200m) at Gosford on March 23.
"She is a lovely filly, very athletic and a very clean-winded filly," Waugh said.
"It was a nice race for her, it's not her perfect distance, but I thought she could go really well fresh.
"She will go into the heat at Gosford in three weeks."
Shadows Of Love is one of four horses Waugh is hoping to qualify for the Provincial-Midway Championship Final at Randwick in April, along with Selfless Act, Always In and True Crime.
Winning jockey Tommy Berry was surprised the mare started at double-figure odds, particularly when the track presented as rain-affected.
"I thought they had forgotten about her in the market because she loves a bit of give in the ground," Berry said.
"It was a small field and there was very good pressure in the race so it just panned out perfectly for her today."
Beldevere Boys gets it Dunn in the Highway
He's making a regular habit of picking up the Highway on a Saturday and Murwillumbah-based trainer Matthew Dunn has again achieved that feat with his promising galloper Belvedere Boys ($3.20 fav).
Given a peach of a ride by Nash Rawiller, the son of Maurice overcame a brave Sharp Shock ($14) by three-quarters of a length, with an ever widening 2-3/4 lengths back to Rapbidash ($7) in third position.
The four-year-old gelding is building an impressive record with three wins and two seconds from just six outings, his only failure being in a Highway Handicap a fortnight ago.
"It was a frustrating watch last start, he didn't get much luck in the straight when we needed it," Dunn lamented.
"But today completely opposite, he got to the right part of the track and did what he can do.
"He proved today that he's a horse with a big future ahead of him."
Rawiller was relieved he could push all the right buttons to bring up another victory for Dunn.
"He travelled like the winner didn't he," Rawiller said post-race.
"It was one of those races where he got into a beautiful rhythm straight away and it was just a matter of not making a mistake from a long way out."
Welwal lands breakthrough win
Originally brought to Australia on a Golden Eagle mission, Welwal has broken through for his first local success in the Yarraman Park Handicap (1400m).
A Group 3 winner in England, Welwal finished down the track in the 2022 Golden Eagle won by I Wish I Win when Chris Waller said the horse had little luck.
"Frankie Dettori came and rode him and he ran a terrific race. He almost fell," Waller said.
"Here we are today finally breaking through."
Waller was also happy to get a winner for the global Al Shaqab operation, which has had relatively few runners in Australia but great international success, notably with dual Arc winner Treve.
"That's a special win for us, to have a horse racing in Al Shaqab's colours," Waller said.
"They're great supporters of racing around the world and only a handful (of horses) here in Australia. Hopefully a few more might come."
Waller said Welwal was likely to earn another opportunity in black-type grade with the Ajax Stakes (1500m) his target.
"We won't set our bar too high but he will take a bit out of today."
Quote of the Day: "You're either 100 per cent right or 100 per cent wrong. This time, I was right." – Trainer Les Bridge after Celestial Legend won the Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
