3 minute read
A look at the support races on Queen Elizabeth Stakes day at Randwick.
Broadsiding into frame for Champagne
After losing top seed Traffic Warden, Godolphin has unearthed a handy Champagne Stakes replacement in promising colt Broadsiding.
Traffic Warden incurred a mandatory three-month break from racing after he bled from both nostrils following his second to Manaal in the Sires' Produce Stakes.
In his absence, Broadsiding has emerged as a major player for the final leg of Sydney's juvenile triple crown, giving his sire Too Darn Hot a first Australian stakes win in Saturday's Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
The youngster unleashed a strong finish to overhaul the frontrunners and trainer James Cummings intends to back him up in next weekend's Group 1, provided he pleases the stable through the week.
"He's a very interesting colt. He's a Too Darn Hot colt that is Too Darn Hot's first stakes winner in Australia and he did it with a bit of conviction," Cummings said.
"I think this horse has got everything that would be needed to step up and back up in the Champagne Stakes next week.
"But that will be up to us to see how his health is and whether we're happy to proceed with that and put him under that pressure."
Panic prevails in driving finish
Michael Freedman will mull over his options for Panic after the emerging three-year-old made a successful leap from provincial to stakes grade with a fighting victory in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m).
A last start winner against the older horses at Wyong, Panic had winkers fitted for Saturday's assignment on the advice of jockey Tommy Berry.
The gear change proved telling in the tight finish as Panic held on to deny Razors by a short head with Rhythm Of Love another nose away third.
"He's a bit of a big baby still at the moment. Even though he won against the older horses at Wyong the other day, Tommy made the comment he did have a look around when he got in front," Freedman said.
"We both decided to go with the winkers to give him a touch more focus and it panned out well."
Panic was only second-up on Saturday and Freedman remained keen to give the horse an opportunity to continue his march through the ranks.
He nominated the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) in three weeks as a possible target, while a trip to Queensland for the winter carnival could also be on the cards.
"There's the Hawkesbury Guineas which might be an option, or maybe we'll have a look at something in Queensland," he said.
"He's a really good, genuine horse."
Lloyd finds Express lane to win Final
Kembla Grange-based trainer Paul Niceforo has celebrated his biggest moment on a racetrack with Territory Express surging to victory in the $1 million Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m).
Niceforo has overcome major health battles to be at Randwick having survived a stroke and two heart attacks in October last year.
So highly does he regard Territory Express, he would have happily run him in last weekend's Group 1 Doncaster Mile had he won the Ajax Stakes (1500m) in which he finished runner-up to Democracy Manifest.
"That's how much confidence I had in the horse, I thought he would have been in the finish in the Doncaster," Niceforo said.
"I've been around a long time and I've never had a horse as good as this bloke."
Niceforo will now set his sights on the Queensland winter carnival with Territory Express, nominating the Group 1 Doomben Cup as a potential target ahead of an even more ambitious spring.
"I've been so confident right from weeks ago and everything has gone well, the whole preparation has been perfect so I can't complain," he said.
"He's such a nice horse. Look out Cox Plate, here we come."
The victory was also a thrill for apprentice Zac Lloyd, who was pleased to be able to deliver for Niceforo and his wife Maryanne.
"I just wanted to get that job done for Paul and Maryanne," Lloyd said.
"They're such great people….Even though they haven't had a Group One, if felt like that for them."
Joliestar resumes in style at Randwick
Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar has returned in style with a first-up victory in the $1 million Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
In her first start since claiming the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in November, the Chris Waller-trained filly travelled strongly in the second half of the field in Saturday's 1200m Group 2 race before sprinting through under jockey Jamie Kah to hit the front inside the final 200m.
Joliestar ($5) held on to defeat the fast-finishing Hedged ($10) by a half-length with another 1-1/4-lengths back to Libertad ($21) in third.
Waller said the Arrowfield Sprint could be the filly's only start this preparation with the trainer keen to see what Joliestar can do next season.
"The number one goal is as a four-year-old," Waller said.
"So she might not even have another run. I'll have a talk to (owners) Brendan and Jo Lindsay and see what they have to say. But it was just 'get her back and see where she was at and assess for her four-year-old career'.
"She had a late spring so she needed the appropriate time. And we're back here today."
Joliestar has now won three of her six starts with another three second placings.
Quote of the Day: "Dunno what to say really. The race was over after three furlongs. Second and third horses should have tacked up. It (Pride Of Jenni) was always going to win with a scenario like that." – Ben Melham after finishing fourth on Cascadian in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes won by tearaway leader Pride of Jenni.
