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Jay Jay D'Ar burst from the field and secured to win the Schweppes Handicap at Randwick.

The first at Randwick on Saturday was a race in literally two halves, the first a wagering duel for favourite's status before the off of the $125,000, Schweppes Bm78 Handicap (1100m), secondly what happened after the off which was very different from the betting.

Athiri and Harto were the punters elect leading into the race with Godolphin's Athiri eventually starting as the $2.50 favourite over Chris Waller's Harto at $2.70.

Their support altered radically when the barriers opened when Harto under Kerrin McEvoy reared and lost 6L immediately on the rest of the field. The well-bred Fastnet Rock mare's chances were gone immediately along with the wagering support for her.

That left Athiri under James McDonald as the focus of attention and it did not get any better for punters. In the main straight Athiri was on the rails and as McDonald tried to extract his Lonhro mare to clear racing room the door closed and their race was run as well.

While that drama was happening the real racing was some four out from the rails and Jay Jay D'Ar (NZ) (57kg) and Tommy Berry burst from the field and secured the win at $21.00 on fixed odds and $19.90 on the tote.

Night Flyer (All Too Hard) (54.5kg) and Rachel King were second with Musical Genius (NZ) (Swiss Ace) (60kg) and Nash Rawiller third, the margins 1 1/4L and a half-neck. For the record Harto was sixth and Athiri seventh.

The time was 1.03.30 on the Soft 5 track with the final 600m in a smart 33.70 suggesting a firmer rating.

Trainer Chris Waller said after race that the firmer conditions assisted Jay Jay D'Ar after the wet Sydney winter had finally relented with the first weeks of spring.

"The gaps opened up and he just rode her patiently. She was a bit keen last start and the tracks have obviously improved significantly in Sydney over the last couple of weeks which has been a big thing for a horse like her," he said.

"I think you will see a lot of form changes thanks to that. It has been a tough winter through the rain fall. I think you can see how good a shape the tracks are considering how they have recovered in such a short space of time.

"She has been up a while and we could have easily sent her to the paddock. She is in good condition and we have not over trained her between runs. She has turned up her in good order," he said.

Jay Jay D'Ar is a five-year-old Pins mare out of the Postponed mare Somethymesoon and this was her fourth win from 22 starts. With nine placings her consistency has earned stakes of $223,610 for owners Mr B F Sokolski and Mr A D Weinman.