3 minute read
Race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch moving forward from Saturday’s Maroubra Mile Day meeting at Randwick.
The start of the autumn carnival is barely a month away and Randwick played host to a few winner’s on Saturday who won’t look out of place as the fit horses on the scene.
Dreamforce, Sugar Bella and Pendeloque all impressed in their respective wins.
Eusebio should be blackbooked after showing good improvement second up.
A stakes winner at three, the James Cummings-trained gelding should be ready third run from a spell, perhaps at Rosehill third up over 1500m in two weeks time.
Race 1: Newtown Bluebag - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m)
They crawled out in front. Bray found the lead and clamped the brakes on.
A popular win in the TAB Highway Handicap! Newtown Bluebag sprints too well and gets the job done in the opening race @royalrandwick for @Twinstarracing1 and @BlaikeMc pic.twitter.com/tFR6Dsa8pg
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
Newtown Bluebag was too strong late. Ran to a Timeform rating of 72.
The ones to watch could out of the race are Fui San who ran third and So It Is who ran fifth.
Both of them went into the race third up and performed well. Fourth up over a mile or beyond, perhaps back to country level, they can be winning.
Race 2: Pendeloque - Benchmark 71 3YO Handicap (1000m)
Pendeloque was given a nice ride by Jamie Innes Jnr who tucked her in behind the early leaders.
.@InnesJnr and @GRyanRacing make it back-to-back wins with Pendeloque as he sits off the speed and sprints home too well to take honours in Race 2! pic.twitter.com/FolYs4qt7r
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
The filly ran to a Timeform rating of 96. That represents good improvement on her first up win.
The Wilkes Quality in two week’s over 1100m at Rosehill could be a nice race for her.
The Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) after that fourth run from a spell is the next logical race. The Snitzel filly could pick up some black type as the fit horse in the race while some of the genuine autumn fillies are still perhaps a bit soft.
Race 3: Cordero - Benchmark 82 Handicap (2400m)
It turned out to be a real staying test in the end and to win, Cordero produced a Timeform rating of 101.
Cordero makes it a hat trick of wins after a nice patient ride by Jay Ford in Race 3 @royalrandwick A classy stayer on the way up for @HawkesRacing! pic.twitter.com/tw4y2kTKUP
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
The Gio Ponti gelding has found his niche getting out to this trip. The Australia Day Cup on January 26 at Warwick Farm shapes as the next step for him.
Race 4: Tip Top - Benchmark 79 Handicap (1200m)
Tip Top was ridden closer to the speed than usual and it reaped dividends. They crawled out in front.
Tip Top's the one! Brilliance from @hkdarren as the fitness edge shows as the Les Bridge gelding kicks back to fight off the challenge of the fresh Reach For Heaven to win Race 4 @royalrandwick. A double fro @BlaikeMc! pic.twitter.com/83F963vgmp
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
The Choisir gelding ran to a Timeform rating of 85. Considering he’s not even a Benchmark 70 horse yet it means there are plenty of race options for him this prep.
The runner up Reach For Heaven was excellent. He gave the winner 7kg and for just a slender defeat, ran to a Timeform rating of 95. The Lees stable will no doubt find a race that he’ll win second or third up.
Thaad in third resumed nicely. He’ll appreciate more ground. Argent D’Or also resumed well in fourth.
Race 5: Kawaikini - Benchmark 81 Handicap (1200m)
Jess Taylor rode Kawaikini a treat. The pair kept pinching ground along the fence and was too strong late.
The late money was spot on! Kawaikini sits off the speed and storms home to win race 5 @royalrandwick after a lovely Jess Taylor ride for trainer @jason1coyle. pic.twitter.com/Vq1Fy4g6AM
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
The Jason Coyle-trained mare produced a Timeform rating of 89. The start prior she was placed to Sugar Bella. If you weren’t confident about diving into the short odds for Sugar Bella in Race 8, Kawaikini gave the form a timely push.
Race 6: Dreamforce - Maroubra Mile (1600m)
Dreamforce is going from strength to strength this prep and on Saturday ran to a Timeform rating of 105.
He didn't get a soft lead this time but Dreamforce proves far too good once again bringing up win number three from his last four starts for @JTRacingRwik. A treble on the day for @BlaikeMc! pic.twitter.com/3Ej61e0TuC
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
Post race John Thompson said the Villiers Stakes profiles as a long term goal for Dreamforce.
In the short term, dropping Dreamforce back to the Carrington Stakes over 1400m at Rosehill in two weeks could be a suitable option.
The runner up Morton’s Fork was strong to the line late again. That’s three eye catchers from as many runs this prep.
He was well backed to beat Dreamforce at one point. Those who give Morton’s Fork one more chance to salute this prep at his next start could be rewarded.
Race 7: Voilier - Benchmark 86 Handicap (1400m)
Saturday was the first win for Voilier since his debut in December 2014. This is a four time stakes placegetter who had been mixing his form and struggling to win.
It's been a while between drinks, well more than a while, over three years in fact! Incredible win by Voilier who reels in Samadoubt in the shadows of the post to give Jay Ford a winning double @royalrandwick! pic.twitter.com/F8qi49Icq9
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
In breaking that lengthy drought, Voilier recorded a Timeform rating of 92. That’s miles below his best form as a younger horse.
Eusebio is the horse to follow out of the race. Expect the James Cummings-trained gelding to be ready third up and up over more ground. A 1500m Benchmark 85 at Rosehill in two weeks shapes as his race.
On Saturday, all honours went to Voilier. He’s given hope to all those perennial placegetters in the world such as the Tom Melbourne’s and Queen Misty’s. Winning droughts can be broken.
Race 8: Sugar Bella - Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m)
This was impressive. Sugar Bella is a classy mare who looked hard to beat on paper. She was given a beautiful ride by Aaron Bullock which meant they were never going to hold her out in the straight.
The short priced favourite Sugar Bella continues her magnificent form making it a hat trick of wins for @LeesRacing and also gives @aaronbullock90 his first metro win! Congratualtions Aaron, very well deserved! pic.twitter.com/4jwPe9MGtZ
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt ran to a Timeform rating of 98. She keeps improving with each run this prep.
Kris Lees has placed this mare so well after a long spell.After Saturday she is a Benchmark 79 horse. There is a Fillies and Mares Benchmark 80 at Rosehill in two weeks over 1350m. She should make it four straight wins there if that’s the direction the stable elect to take.
The Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick is only five weeks away. Sugar Bella would go into the Group 3 event as a race fit mare down in the weights. She might be able to pick off some black type there.
The runner up Aquatic. He was strong to the line late again. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has a lot of good form from the past 12 months around some talented horses.
He himself though only has a maiden win but there is undoubtedly a race for him on the calendar in the coming weeks.
Race 9: Emperor’s Way - Benchmark 82 Handicap (1800m)
Emperor’s Way showing a lot of staying promise. Ran to a Timeform rating of 90.
.@SchofieldGlyn waits patiently and gets the split on Emperor's Way who sprints too well to win the lucky last @royalrandwick for @SnowdenRacing1 & @triplecrownsynd who also won the last two races at Kembla! pic.twitter.com/u989JSuGlS
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 13, 2018
He’s improved with each run this campaign. There is a Benchmark 85 over 1800m at Rosehill in two weeks which will suit the Team Snowden-trained gelding nicely.
The runner up Atlantic Fox may go there as well and carry no weight. This is his first prep with Chris Waller. His stable debut at Warwick Farm was pretty bad. They tinkered with his gear after that. He’s since placed in his past three starts.
