3 minute read

A snapshot of the Randwick meeting.

Filly puts in Platinum effort despite defeat 

Gimcrack Stakes winner Platinum Jubilee went down by the barest of margins in her return at Randwick and co-trainer Adrian Bott took plenty of positives from the performance ahead of her Magic Millions Classic assault. 

After coming from off the speed to score on debut, the filly was ridden forward from a wide draw on Saturday, making the running and showing fight before Fire Lane nabbed her in the final bounds. 

Bott was happy to see another string to her bow and predicted Platinum Jubilee would take significant improvement from the effort fitness-wise. 

"Really happy with her. Being that first run back from a spell, she was out on her feet that last bit," Bott said. 

"I think she is right on track with a good deal of improvement to come out of today's race. 

"The barrier draw up there for the race itself is going to be crucial, it will be a different style of race again so there are a lot of those kind of things to take into context." 

Platinum Jubilee will go straight into the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 without another run with Regan Bayliss to continue his partnership with the filly. 

"He is keen to stick with her and will ride her then," Bott said. 

Parr pulls the right rein with Mach Schnell 

Joe Pride praised the initiative of Josh Parr after the jockey opted out of an early speed battle aboard Mach Schnell in what proved to be a winning move. 

Mach Schnell was one of the smartest to jump in Saturday's Bisley Workwear Handicap (1800m) but with several rivals showing intent to go forward, Parr eased back to settle his mount fourth on the fence. 

"I anticipated we might be leading today but he took the right option," Pride said. 

"I noticed they were breaking 12 (seconds) for about the first four furlongs in a row and at that speed, you're better off sitting in behind them, which is what Josh elected to do." 

Mach Schnell ($11) relaxed well off the solid tempo before easing around heels and sprinting clear in the straight to score by three-quarters of a length over Logan Street Lion ($4.20 fav) with leader Irish Legend ($7) holding third, another half-neck away. 

Mach Schnell began his career in New Zealand and has now won three races since arriving in Australia earlier this year, two of them in Saturday metropolitan grade. 

"There is more to come. He has won three since he has been in Australia and he's only been lightly raced," Pride said. 

Future bright for Waller import 

Chris Waller believes Estadio Mestalla is destined for much bigger races than the off-season benchmark assignment he claimed at Randwick on Saturday. 

Having just his fourth start and third since arriving in Australia, the English import ground down Ausbred Flirt to win The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1600m) by a neck. 

While the margin was narrow, Waller said the four-year-old was still "learning his trade" and had the raw potential to graduate to stakes company in time. 

"It was good to see him attack the line over the last 100 metres," Waller said. 

"He is still very new and he's still six months away from really working it out a little bit more, but it certainly won't be the last time you see him. 

"He'll progress through to a Group horse." 

Estadio Mestalla was ridden by James Mcdonald, who had a couple of lucky charms on course with his fiancee Katelyn Mallyon and six-week-old baby daughter Evie on hand to watch the win. 

Second time lucky for Gibbons 

Apprentice Dylan Gibbons got in the Christmas spirit with a race-to-race double at Randwick, but he almost found himself in the bad books with one of his biggest supporters. 

After taking out the Highway Handicap (1100m) aboard the Sue Grills -trained Just In Reach, the talented junior rider was back in the winner's stall 35 minutes later aboard Made By Khan for Adam Duggan in the Midway Handicap (2000m). 

And it was lucky he was. 

"I forgot to mention on the last win, it's my mum's birthday today so happy birthday to her," Gibbons said. 

"I can't be with you today, but I got two winners." 

Made By Khan earned his victory the hard way after he was trapped wide in the run from an outside gate. 

Gibbons showed maturity beyond his years not to panic, instead concentrating on getting the gelding into a rhythm and relying on Made By Khan's tenacity and grit to kick in late. 

"Even though it wasn't pretty, I knew if I could just keep him in a rhythm, albeit it's going to be hard, he is as tough as nails and every time you ask him to raise the bar he just seems to find enough," Gibbons said. 

"I was able to blend into it when I needed to and he was in for the dog fight." 

Quote of the day: ""I think the last time I had Josh (Parr) on was aboard Private Eye in Melbourne. I should use him more often." – Trainer Joe Pride after combining with Parr to win the second race with Mach Schnell.