3 minute read
A look at some of the other angles from Doncaster Mile day at Randwick.
Randwick jockeys honour fallen hoop
Jockeys at Randwick have paid their respects to the family of former Newmarket apprentice Stefano Cherchi, who tragically died on Wednesday as a result of injuries sustained in a race fall at Canberra last month.
A minute's silence was observed after the running of the Chairman's Quality and those riding in the Carbine Club Stakes wore black armbands in memory of the 23-year-old.
Jockeys at Newcastle also showed their support to the Cherchi family, wearing black armbands during the running of the fourth race at the NSW provincial meeting.
Born in Italy, Cherchi moved to England's Newmarket as a teenager where he was apprenticed to Marco Botti before relocating to Australia earlier this year, basing himself with Annabel Neasham at Warwick Farm.
A memorial mass is being held for Cherchi at All Saints Catholic Church at Liverpool on Monday.
Espionage toys with Kindergarten rivals
Having missed out on a start in the Golden Slipper as an emergency, Espionage has landed a consolation win in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).
Skipping through the heavy 9 conditions, the Tulloch Lodge colt made light work of his opponents to defeat Roselyn's Star by three lengths.
While disappointed Espionage didn't get a chance to line up in the world's richest juvenile race, co-trainer Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott said the youngster's performance on Saturday all but made amends.
"The timing didn't work for him with the Golden Slipper and this is a nice consolation for him to showcase his class today," Bott said.
"I think we'll look to put him away now for the spring to focus on a couple of those sharp three-year-old races for him.
"I could see him developing into a lovely Coolmore (Stud Stakes) horse."
Winning jockey Tommy Berry said the decision by Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse to give Espionage a recent barrier trial proved crucial on the rain-affected ground.
"Gai and Adrian, they know what they're doing with their horses; a 1200-metre trial back to 1100 and on a track like this, it definitely proved to be the winning move today," Berry said.
"He still got quite lost that last bit, so he still had plenty more in the locker."
Freedman makes a splash
Michael Freedman does a pretty good job training racehorses, but if he ever wants a career change, he might have a future behind the camera.
Freedman filmed fellow trainer Peter Moody wading in ankle-deep water at Randwick on Saturday morning as the two joked about the unlikelihood of the Doncaster Day meeting going ahead following a momentous downpour.
Incredibly, the feature program did proceed, and in the process Freedman's video on X, formerly known as twitter, received more than 80,000 views.
"Apparently I've gone viral," Freedman quipped.
The trainer was back doing what he does best later in the day, producing Ducasse for a strong win in the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) in what is likely to be the horse's campaign finale.
Ducasse had been competitive against the best of his age in the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas and appreciated a slight drop in grade to down Tannhauser by a length.
Blake Shinn had the winning steer, but Freedman also gave credit to jockey Tommy Berry, who gave him some sage advice after working Ducasse during the week.
"He galloped him for me on Tuesday and I took the blinkers off on his recommendation, so I probably owe him one," Freedman said.
Oaks unlikely for Adrian Knox winner
Saturday's Group 3 winner Good Banter is unlikely to be back at Randwick in seven days, with trainerJohn O'Shea not convinced that taking on benchmark fillies Orchestral and Zardzozi in the ATC Australian Oaks is the best option.
Appreciating an eight-kilo pull in the weights, the three-year-old edged out Autumn Angel by a half-length in the Adria Knox Stakes (2000m), building on the promise she had shown when an eye-catching sixth in the Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) last start.
However, O'Shea said Good Banter would only back up if her owners were keen as his preference was to dodge the star fillies and instead head towards a race like the Queensland Oaks during the winter carnival.
"I don't know if we will," O'Shea said of an Oaks back-up.
"She's a beautiful filly and she's got a very bright future, but she doesn't need to butt heads with them. They are seasoned, champion fillies.
"If we take our time, we might end up in Queensland in a lesser (race), albeit it a Group One up there. We might even come back and run in a Frank Packer (Plate)."
Autumn Angel could still head to the ATC Australian Oaks with co-trainer Peter Moody saying they would see how she came through the run before making a call.
The filly missed a scheduled start in the Vinery Stud Stakes last weekend and was brave to get so close to Good Banter under her 61kg topweight.
"I thought she ran tremendous under the conditions of the race," Moody said.
"It's just a matter of how she pulls up now as to whether she is here next week or in Adelaide in three weeks."
Asgarda scores Championships upset
Jockey Kayla Nisbet and Wagga trainer Doug Gorrel have combined to land the biggest win of their respective careers with Asgarda upsetting her more fancied rivals in the $1 million Country Championships Final (1400m).
Qualifying for Saturday's feature with a second in the Albury heat in February, Asgarda burst to the front halfway up the straight and packed too many punches for runner-up Gallant Star .
Gorrel admitted he didn't go into the race with much confidence given she drifted to start a $26 chance in betting.
"She's a lovely horse, we knew we had a really nice horse, but they don't give these races away," Gorrel said.
"She's $21 for a reason, she's supposed to finish midfield and she's won the bloody thing.
"My kids and my wife are here, I can't believe it. I really can't."
Nisbet, who generally rides in Canberra and south-eastern NSW, said the Country Championships concept was a wonderful initiative for those plying their trade in the bush.
"We say time and time again what a great initiative this has been for country participants, but to be able to win it is a huge thrill," Nisbet said.
"It's given all country participants an achievable goal to strive for and to be able to win it is very exciting."
Quote of the Day: ""I don't cry as much as I used to but this one's pretty special." – Trainer Chris Waller after winning his first ATC Australian Derby with Riff Rocket.
