3 minute read
Race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch moving forward from Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes Day meeting at Randwick.
The first three across the line contesting the Spring Champion led in by Ace High have booked their tickets south for the Victoria Derby at Flemington next month as did Roman Consul winner Viridine.
Interlocuter looks bound for bigger and better things while the meeting also possessed a number of blackbookers who have commenced their latest campaigns in encouraging fashion.
Race 1: Goodfella - Benchmark 78 3YO Handicap (1400m)
Goodfella was able to be ridden positively up to a more suitable trip and came away with the win. Ran to a Timeform rating of 106 which highlights just how capable he is. That rating is an equal career peak, alongside his fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic behind Houtzen.
That was tough! Goodfella is made to do plenty of work in the run but still gets the job done in the opener at #Randwick. pic.twitter.com/XAUcYl3PQO
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
He’ll likely be heading up there again this summer for the Magic Millions Guineas.
He’s a nice type who has returned this prep following a tie-back operation. We may not have seen the best of him yet.
The two placegetters, in particular Our Mantra and also Sparky Lad, also very good. It was a nice 3YO race to commence proceedings.
Race 2: Alward - Benchmark 90 Handicap (2000m)
His fourth win in five starts. Has the measure of Up ‘n’ Rolling who he’s beaten in his last two wins now.
Alward has worked through his grades beautifully largely thanks to good placement by the stable.
Alward does it again! The Chris Waller gelding gets the better of stablemates Up 'N' Rolling and Veladero to win R2 at #Randwick. pic.twitter.com/Qpiwq9u2YD
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
The Tattersall’s Club Cup over 2400m at Randwick on October 21 should be where he races next.
He’ll go up a few Benchmark points too so it’ll give Up ‘n’ Rolling a chance to move out of his shadow next start.
Race 3: Interlocuter - Benchmark 85 Handicap (1600m)
Very soft win. Interlocuter put the writing on the wall for this first up. There was a real touch of class about this victory. We’ve awarded it a Timeform rating of 106p.
No protest today! Interlocuter sprints away from his rivals to win the third event at #Randwick for @godolphin & @tyeangland. pic.twitter.com/pGD9H7GEzM
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
He’s racing like a horse who won’t look out of place at stakes level. The question is what path will James Cummings take to get there?
There is an 1800m Benchmark 95 at Randwick on October 28 with his name all over it. You could throw him in the deep end as well and send him to Melbourne
Watch for placegetter Impavido third up over a bit more ground. He’ll be better suited and it’s worth remembering what he did as a three-year-old, ran fourth in the Randwick Guineas.
Race 4: Bronzed Venom - TAB Highway Handicap (1600m)
Let down beautifully once he found that gap. Ran to a Timeform rating of 76.
Of course led in a stable trifecta with Cascata Rossa and Dia De Reyes.
.@mattydunnracing's dominance of the TAB Highway continues with Bronzed Venom edging out stablemates Cascata Rossa and Dia De Reyes! pic.twitter.com/32QQ5tCQZf
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
The Anniversary Handicap is the race every country NSW stable is talking about. It will be interesting to see the nominations. They will be loaded with country talent. Bronzed Venom and Cascata Rossa will definitely be there.
Race 5: Sir Plush - Open Handicap (1400m)
There was heavy support for Sir Plush right up to jump time and it was justified. Way too good and recorded a Timeform rating of 103.
Leading over seven furlongs is certainly the key to him at the moment.
Sir Plush was backed as if unbeatable and runs accordingly to win the fifth event at #Randwick for @BBakerRacing! pic.twitter.com/h9ucbo0Oks
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
Third placegetter All Our Roads is the one to watch out of the race. He was impressive in his stable debut, ran to a Timeform rating of 110. He is a NZ Group 2 winner over the mile.
Chris Waller can probably space his runs so he’s contesting the Festival Stakes and Villiers this summer.
Race 6: Viridine - Roman Consul Stakes (1200m)
The colt settled third on the fence and was gifted a dream split along the rail as early leader Shudabeen moved off the inside.
The Poet’s Voice colt capitalised and what followed was a two length success.
He's an impressive colt!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
Viridine remains unbeaten, coming away to score in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at #Randwick. pic.twitter.com/t8P2WHdhIN
Viridine has put himself alongside some very strong company. The recent honour roll of Roman Consul Stakes winners reads strong with colts such as Zoustar, Brazen Beau, Exosphere and Russian Revolution winning the past four renewals.
Viridine’s win comes in below the average of the race, we’ve assessed it at 113p. That said, he looks highly progressive.
Viridine’s next Group 1 aim is the Coolmore Stud Stakes down the Flemington Straight Six on November 4.
Three of the last four Coolmore Stud Stakes winners have come out of the Roman Consul, Zoustar, Brazen Beau and Japonisme.
Zoustar (2013) and Brazen Beau (2014) each claimed the Roman Consul Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double.
Japonisme ran third in the 2015 Roman Consul Stakes behind Exosphere before turning the tables on the imposing colt in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Race 7: Ace High - Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
Gloaming Stakes winner Ace High was looking to become the fourth horse in six years to claim the Gloaming Stakes – Spring Champion double.
With that history behind him, Ace High went into the Group 1 feature at Randwick as favourite.
Tangled contested the Spring Champion off a closing fourth in the Dulcify Quality at the course seven days earlier.
The son of Snitzel and 2003 NZ Oaks winner Bramble Rose was considered a live chance of being the first horse since Hampton Court in 2014 to claim the Dulcify – Spring Champion Stakes double.
A stride for stride battle between the Gloaming and Dulcify form ensued with Ace High narrowly holding on for victory over a closing Tangled.
What a tough effort!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
Ace High keeps finding and repels the challenge of Tangled in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at #Randwick. pic.twitter.com/QrjKAp8EVB
Sully was making late ground for third after overracing through the early and middle stages before incurring some minor interference in the straight.
The Gloaming form historically is the line which holds up best in the Spring Champion Stakes and it’s proven to be that way again with Ace High the tenth horse to claim the double since the race was switched to the spring in 1978.
He follows in the footsteps of Kingston Town (1979), Best Western (1981), Sir Dapper (1983), Magic Of Sydney (1996), Tie The Knot (1997), Fairway (1999), It’s A Dundeel (2012), Complacent (2013) and Vanbrugh (2015).
In becoming the tenth horse to achieve the feat, Ace High produced a Timeform rating of 115, a pound superior to his Gloaming Stakes success.
The figure is one pound below the prior five year winning of the Spring Champion Stakes which is bolstered thanks to strong performances by It’s A Dundeel (2012, 122), Complacent (2013, 122) and Hampton Court (2013, 120).
The next Group 1 this spring for the staying three-year-olds is the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 4.
The history of Spring Champion Stakes runners in Victoria’s Group 1 3YO staying feature augers well for not just the winner Ace High but the placegetters in Tangled and Sully.
Monaco Consul in 2009 was the last of only three horses to claim the Spring Champion Stakes – Victoria Derby double with Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995) and Stylish Century (1989) the others.
Since Monaco Consul however, three horses, Lion Tamer (2009, 5th), Sangster (2010, 3rd) and Prized Icon (2016, 3rd) have gone on to win the Victoria Derby coming out of the Spring Champion Stakes.
Race 8: Dixie Blossoms - Angst Stakes (1600m)
Pitchforked into the race under Set Weights plus Penalties along with her stablemate Daysee Doom, the pair dominated the mares event, running the quinella for trainer Ron Quinton.
While second to Daysee Doom in the Golden Pendant a fortnight earlier, Dixie Blossoms proved herself the better miler with a three-quarter length success.
Dixie Blossoms makes it back-to-back Angst Stakes wins at #Randwick, finishing over the top of stablemate Daysee Doom! pic.twitter.com/Qpyn8MPiPc
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
She was awarded a Timeform rating of 111 for her victory.
The success comes in noticeably above the prior five year winning average of the event and is the equal highest rated Angst Stakes victory alongside 2002 winner Miss Zoe.
111 is three pounds shy of Dixie Blossoms’ master rating achieved during the autumn when dominating the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) by 6.5 lengths.
Quinton’s consistent mares will now venture to Melbourne for likely the Tristarc Stakes followed by the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on November 4.
Race 9: Chalk - Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m)
It could be a form line worth following moving forward. Chalk was second up and the placegetters were each resuming.
Chalk ran to a Timeform rating of 91. His master rating is 96, he produced that in the Daybreak Lover during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Redouble and Firsthand were each excellent first up as was Savvan making his stable debut with a closing fifth. None of them have particularly high benchmarks either. All three are worth following at their second and third runs from a spell depending on where they are placed.
Chalk hands jockey Brock Ryan his first win in town, taking out the last on Spring Champion Stakes Day at #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/NkhO22ChHW
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 7, 2017
