3 minute read
The Randwick Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch from the Bondi Stakes meeting at Randwick on October 26.
Kubrick is the inaugural winner of the Bondi Stakes thanks to a brave effort from both horse and jockey to take a narrow gap along the fence at the furlong.
The Shooting To Win colt bounced back from a tough Caulfield Guineas run to net a huge payday for connections.
The addition of new big prizemoney races in New South Wales continue through October and November continue to have a flow on effect.
See You Soon is eyeing off the Golden Gift at Rosehill on November 9 while Nivison Stakes winner Madam Rouge will head to the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) on the same day.
After a third win from his past four starts, consistent sprinter Greyworm wouldn’t look out of place down in the weights contesting the $1million Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on November 16.
Race 1: See You Soon - 2YO Set Weights Plate (1000m)
This was an encouraging debut. It wasn’t the sort of jump and run 2YO performance you expect to see around this time of year. See You Soon settled relatively well and wound up late.
In terms of 2YO wins we’ve seen so far this season, this sits on the lower end of the scale.
Regardless, the Siyouni filly has beaten rivals who she’ll again likely be facing in the Golden Gift next fortnight.
It will be interesting to see what sort of field the Golden Gift attracts. The Godolphin-raced Tassort won it last year against just three rivals however an extra $850,000 added to the purse should help the field size out.
Race 2: But I Know - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1800m)
The Highway Handicap calendar has fallen ideally for But I Know. She won a 1500m Highway Handicap at Rosehill three starts back and by So You Think, she’s thrived getting out in trip.
On Saturday the Ross Stitt-trained mare travelled three wide no cover the trip but still managed to hold her rivals at bay.
But I Know for Ross Stitt and Andrew Adkins wins his second TAB Highway! pic.twitter.com/YBl9wuWd7Q
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
The four-year-old can go to the Country Classic (2000m) at Rosehill in two weeks. Again the calendar has fallen ideally for her.
The Country Classic shapes as an ideal transition for But I Know who has now graduated from Highway Handicaps.
She’ll probably be up against some country cups type horses which realistically are the sort of races she’ll be aiming up at for the next 12 months.
Maid Of Ore who won at Randwick last Saturday will take a power of beating in this race if Nick Olive sends her that way opposed to the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on the same day.
Race 3: Diamond Thunder - Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m)
While unsure of what Diamond Thunder beat on Saturday, regardless, he was giving them all weight and fitness.
.@mark_mnracing is on fire! Some very good horses have won the Brian Crowley Stakes and Diamond Thunder joins them today @JoshuaParr8 pic.twitter.com/9KG9r7ezZ1
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
Diamond Thunder hasn’t run a bad race since he was gelded. The son of Dawn Approach was a troublemaker as a colt. On debut last December he was carrying on in the mounting yard, kicked out at a fence. He did a lot wrong in run as well and looked quite difficult to ride in the straight.
Fast forward almost 12 months and Diamond Thunder has hit the ground running with a performance rated just shy of his best. That peak came in the Oxlade Stakes at Doomben last June where he beat California Zimbol who has won in Melbourne this spring carnival.
It sounds like Diamond Thunder is headed north from here with the Gold Coast's Magic Millions Guineas on the agenda. The Mark Newnham-trained three-year-old certainly has the right sort of profile for that race.
Race 4: Greyworm - 3YO+ Open Handicap (1400m)
Greyworm is having a fantastic prep. He’s a dream horse for connections - he jumps, lands on speed and always seems to have a good kick.
Team @HawkesRacing take out the Filante Hcp with Greyworm and @BrentonAvdulla up.
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
Nice run from second placegetter Luvaluva - she's headed to The Gong @kemblaraces in a few weeks! @jsargentracing pic.twitter.com/RTEVBRq7zo
The Master Of Design gelding has progressed beautifully through his grades and has a Benchmark rating in the 90’s now.
Team Hawkes were apparently planning to tip the five-year-old out after this run but with the way he is going the stable would be mad to do that.
The Hunter over 1300m at Newcastle in three weeks (November 16) is a $1million dollar race. It’s held under quality conditions so he would carry no weight on his back.
On how well the consistent five-year-old is currently performing, it would be disappointing not to see him given the chance to deliver in a big money race. That said, his status on RISA at it stands on Monday is that of ‘spelling’.
Outside of Greyworm, Luvaluva was great in second while Black On Gold was closing off well enough in sixth at his first run back from a spell. They of course both want further.
Race 5: Madam Rouge - Group 3 Nivison Stakes (1200m)
Madam Rouge was a multiple stakes placed mare heading into Saturday so this is a valuable win for her.
Brenton Avdulla gave her a dream run in the box seat and the seas parted for them as they straightened.
Madam Rouge with @BrentonAvdulla aboard wins the G3 Nivison for @cwallerracing just ahead of Ruby who couldn't quite Reelem In pic.twitter.com/eOhGUvqRXe
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
The Chris Waller-trained mare got in well under Set Weights plus Penalties on Saturday. She won with a Timeform rating of 102 which is a figure noticeably shy of her best.
Madam Rouge can attempt to build on her black type record further in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill in two weeks time. A few of these mares are expected to head in that direction. Looking through this field, most are all early in their preps and looking set to peak for it.
Race 6: Master Of Wine - Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m)
This was a huge win by Master Of Wine. The Maxios gelding had put the race to bed a long way from home.
Team @HawkesRacing strike again as Master of Wine wins the City Tattersalls Club Cup @royalrandwick @ClarkyHK pic.twitter.com/ySGX0eZX5b
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
He’s a highly progressive stayer who has hit a new level up in trip with the Blinkers applied.
The UK import has improved with each run this campaign and on Saturday he produced a Timeform rating of 107.
The Northern Hemisphere four-year-old was charging towards a Melbourne Cup start however has just run out of time to gain entry.
A next start in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 9 shapes as a likely option for the gelding who would enter the race fifth run from a spell.
Race 7: Kubrick - Bondi Stakes (1600m)
The inaugural running of the Bondi Stakes and while Kubrick got a cosy time in transit midfield on the fence, he and jockey Brenton Avdulle had to sweat on a run in the straight.
A slender split emerged at the furlong and when it did, the pair really attacked it.
What a ride by @BrentonAvdulla - no rescue required! Kubrick and @cwallerracing caught the million-dollar wave to take out the inaugural Bondi Stakes @royalrandwick today... wow! pic.twitter.com/q0f9RZz8e8
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
Kubrick has produced a Timeform rating of 114 in winning the first Bondi Stakes. It’s equal to his career peak first run to when second behind Prince Fawaz in the JJ Atkins Plate.
The Shooting To Win colt is another example of Chris Waller nailing campaign paths this spring to incorporate these new big prizemoney races.
Kubrick went into this at his peak fourth run from a spell, just like how Waller had Yes Yes Yes peaking for the Everest.
Pancho was fantastic in second. The Spring Stakes at Newcastle or the Sandown Guineas in three weeks time could be nice races for him.
Ballistic Boy was sneaking along the fence in fourth. The Magic Millions Guineas shapes as an option for him in January off a freshen up.
Race 8: What Could Be - Benchmark 78 3YO+ Handicap (1200m)
A last to first victory for What Could Be were he produced a strong surge the last 100m.
He’s run up to a regularly achieved peak for the win. The Floral Dynamite gelding only has a Benchmark of 76 after Saturday so connections won’t have any issues finding a race for him in the next two to three weeks.
There look to be two behind What Could Be who are worth following. Poised To Strike was luckless first up but went great on Saturday.
There are plenty of options for him on the calendar third run from a spell.
The other is Testifier. The Team Hawkes gelding never got a look at them but was only beaten two lengths. Watch closely regarding where he lands second up.
Race 9: Romani Girl - Benchmark 78 3YO+ Handicap (1500m)
Romani Girl provided Brenton Avdulla with his fourth winner for the day with the Chris Waller-trained mare having returned in fantastic order as a four-year-old.
That's 4 for @BrentonAvdulla today @royalrandwick - take a bow! pic.twitter.com/9JIBT3eqnR
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2019
The daughter of Reliable Man has won two of her three starts this prep, only Pancho who ran second in the Bondi Stakes on Saturday stopped her from making it three.
She is certainly closing in on another attempt at black type. The stable could perhaps send her to Melbourne for the Group 3 Summoned Stakes over 1500m at Sandown on November 16. It would give Romani Girl a great chance to chalk up some black type against her own age and sex.
Her stablemate Tunero ran a big race at odds first up. There is an 1800m Benchmark 78 event for him at Rosehill in two weeks. The son of Teofilo will no doubt be going around at much shorter odds there than the 50-1 he jumped at on Saturday.
