3 minute read

A look at some of the other angles from Randwick Guineas day.

Slipper unlikely for Reisling winner

Tough filly Erno's Cube is likely to bypass the Golden Slipper in favour of being kept fresh for next month's Percy Sykes Stakes during The Championships.

While the Ciaron Maher-trained youngster secured herself a spot in the world's richest juvenile race with a Reisling Stakes (1200m) victory at Randwick on Saturday, stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said the Slipper wasn't their favoured option.

"Obviously, the Slipper is always tempting but the boys seem to be better than the fillies this year," Gerard-Dubord said.

"You don't get a Golden Slipper runner every year but also these owners, they've had a bit of luck and they'd like to do what is right for the horse.

"We're leaning towards the Percy Sykes, but we can't rule out the Slipper yet."

Ridden by Jason Collett, Erno's Cube ($3.70) arrived just in time to score by a head over Silmarillion ($4.60) with Too Darn Lizzie ($3.10 fav) another long head away third.

The Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) is at Randwick on April 13.

Autumn options open for Serpentine 

Co-trainer Adrian Bott says they will keep autumn options open with Serpentine after the 2020 Epsom Derby winner raced to a determined victory in the Listed Randwick City Stakes.

Racing for the first time since his fifth placing in the Christmas Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on December 2, Serpentine led under Tim Clark in Saturday's 2000m race before Torrens moved up to apply pressure before the home turn.

Bois D'Argent then ranged up to challenge Serpentine in the home straight but the gelding rallied strongly to beat him by a length with Military Mission another three-quarters of a length away third.

"He's just had a quick freshen up off his last campaign," Bott said.

"He retained plenty of residual fitness and he needed it today. I thought they were rolling along at a good tempo and the pressure came on a long way out, so full credit to him.

"He was headed on a few occasions and he picked himself up late."

Serpentine holds nominations for several autumn feature races including the Sydney Cup (3200m), which Bott said was a possibility.

"He's nominated for all those races, so we've kept all the options open for him," Bott said.

"He hasn't quite stayed the two miles previously, but I do feel this is the best shape that we've been able to have the horse in so I think we keep everything open."

Infancy races to upset win in Fireball

A decision to freshen-up Infancy and run her in the Fireball Stakes (1100m) has proven a masterstroke after the Kris Lees-trained filly upset her more fancied rivals in the Listed race.

Infancy ($26) was sent around as the outsider in Saturday's 1100m race for three-year-olds and settled midfield under apprentice Dylan Gibbons before sprinting to a half-length victory.

"She was a bit plain in her last couple of starts so we freshened her up and rode her a little quieter and she reacted really well," Lees said.

"Dylan gave her a beautiful ride. I thought she would be a little further back but he was able to cross a couple on her and stalk that hot speed.

"She reacted really well. He (Gibbons) timed it to perfection and she's got a bit of black-type next to her name."

Infancy defeated stakes-winning colt Corniche with Ballroom Bella another neck away third.

Gibbons said the filly jumped quicker than he had anticipated but was then able to come back and slot in midfield, one off the fence. 

"I think that was the winning move because when I came up the rise, I know she was a 'roughie but she felt like a two-to-one shot at the top of the straight," Gibbons said.

"It was good to see her put them away."

Begg mare rises to another Challenge

A failed stint in the broodmare barn has proven a blessing in disguise for the Grahame Begg-trained Passive Aggressive, who has returned to defend her Challenge Stakes crown at Randwick.

The mare was retired after finishing midfield in the Robert Sangster Stakes last May, but when she didn't get in foal, her owners decided to give her racing career another shot.

Jack Lake, representing the Begg stable, said they were thrilled she was able to return to her best after 10 months off the scene.

"It was disappointing when she had to be retired and when she couldn't get in foal, and….she has just been terrific since she's come back in," Lake said.

"After having almost a year off we probably thought she could have been very vulnerable late but she was very gallant to the line, so it was very impressive."

Passive Aggressive ($7.50) overhauled Eduardo to win the 2023 Challenge Stakes and on Saturday it was Godolphin pair Zapateo ($20) and Aft Cabin ($6) who were relegated to the minor placings.

Private Eye started a $2.30 favourite and wasn't beaten far to finish sixth with jockey Nash Rawiller saying he went well but was outsprinted over the 1000-metre journey.

Quote of the Day: "Well, his family has got Classique Legend and there's a really close bond between the lot of us. It's special. That's all I can say." – Trainer Les Bridge on what it meants to win his first Group 1 with jockey Kerrin McEvoy.