3 minute read
A snapshot of the support races on the Spring Champion Stakes program.
Barber cuts a fine figure at Randwick
It is said it takes a village to raise a child and it likewise takes a tight-knit, talented team to keep the Godolphin operation running like clockwork.
The Royal Blue colours comprised half of the 10-strong field for the Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday and Godolphin came away with the top prize, courtesy of Exceed And Excel colt Barber.
A full brother to dual stakes winner Manicure, Barber tucked in behind the speed and showed good race sense to surge through an opening and wear down Coincide by a long neck with Shine Your Light another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman said it was a team effort to get five two-year-olds up and running for one of the earlier juvenile races of the season.
"It was a credit to the team the way these five horses turned up here today and acquitted themselves in a very professional manner," Beadman said.
"We've got over 100 (juveniles) there and the two-year-old races are a bit limited, so when they're available we've got to produce them.
"He only trialled on Tuesday but that just sharpened him up."
Barber's win gave Blake Shinn his first Sydney winner in more than three years, the former Harbour City-based rider having spent several seasons in Hong Kong before returning to Australia in August and re-establishing himself in Melbourne where he has been in sterling form.
Shinn made it a double three races later when successful on Mahagoni for David Payne.
In-form jockey on Parr in Midway
Fresh from a stakes double at Caulfield last weekend, Josh Parr was back in the winner's circle aboard Liberty Sun at Randwick on Saturday, although he was the first to admit it wasn't his prettiest victory.
Despite being one of the most experienced horses in the Midway Handicap (1200m), Liberty Sun raced greenly in the straight and Parr has his work cut out to straighten him up and keep his head in front.
"He went left, he went right. I thought, just keep going straight for me please and then the inside horse (Either Oar) just kept kicking back," Parr said.
"I think I was a help to him the last 50 (metres) and that's probably the only section of the 1200 metre race I was."
Parr has been in tremendous form and has a strikerate of over 20 per cent from his past 50 rides.
He took out the Alinghi and Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday on A Very Fine Red and Renaissance Woman respectively, then was back in Sydney for a midweek win at Warwick Farm on Daytona before his Randwick effort.
"I've become a bit of a gypsy haven't I? I can't seem to settle in the one place at the moment," Parr said.
"But I'm pleased to be having luck in the process.
"Traveling isn't all that easy but if you're riding winners, it makes it more enjoyable and it's good fun."
Diamil on target for Five Diamonds bid
The $2 million Five Diamonds is the immediate goal for import Diamil following his impressive effort to chase down Purple Sector and win Saturday's Vale Beryl White Filante Handicap (1600m).
In his second Australian preparation for John O'Shea, Diamil put the writing on the board with a Listed victory in Brisbane during the winter carnival and showed on Saturday he had come back at least as well with his determined third-up performance under Regan Bayliss.
"He's a really progressive young horse. He executed so much better today," O'Shea said.
"He dropped his head and showed a lovely turn of speed. Regan had the winner in his sights a long way out and it's good for the ownership group, he's a really nice horse.
"He's got a pretty long campaign ahead of him so hopefully that's the start of better things to come."
O'Shea confirmed Diamil ($4.40 equal favourite) was headed to the inaugural Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 5 ahead of a possible tilt at The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange two weeks later.
Bayliss has no doubt the winner is up to better company and says he is still open to improvement on the fitness front.
"The first two furlongs were run at a slow pace so I was actually quite worried," Bayliss said.
"But during the middle stages they actually ramped it up a bit and then he got into his rhythm and he was never in doubt.
"He had a blow today, so I reckon there is still improvement to come from him.
"I think he will get a bit further as well but he's a progressive horse and he's in the right hands."
Cummings Everest dreaming with Brian Crowley winner
Anthony Cummings has lofty ambitions for emerging three-year-old Kote, who he hopes can catapult himself into discussions for an Everest slot when he returns in the autumn.
Kote outsped his rivals with an all-the-way win in Saturday's Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) but rather than go to the well again this spring, Cummings, who also bred the horse, will take a long-term view and spell him.
"He is a pretty nice horse. He's had three good wins out of five starts and he's done enough so I will give him a break," Cummings said.
"He will come back and I think he will be one of the star sprinters in the autumn and hopefully work his way into an Everest contest next year.
"He's always been up to this grade, for him it was just about learning how to do it properly.
"Even today, he made mistakes. He is just raw energy, raw ability but has a hell of a lot to offer."
Kote made light work of the black-type sprint despite an imperfect pre-race build up when he pulled off a shoe and had to be reshod, then was late entering the parade ring because he took a liking to the hosing bay.
"There was a bit of convincing him to move on and once he got going he was fine," Cummings said.
"He is an entertaining horse."
Kote ($3.90 fav) scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Victorian Thron Bone ($6.50) with Dashing Legend ($5) holding down third.
Quote of the day: "Our first runner today fell and I thought, here we go, things are going well." – Trainer John O'Shea thought he was in for another tough day but it ended with him winning The Invitation with Promise Of Success and a support race with Diamil.
