3 minute read

A snapshot of the racing at Randwick.

Eagle soars to first-up win

He is still a work in progress, but John Thompson believes Saturday's Midway Handicap (1200m) winner Crafty Eagle can eventually get to a good level, provided he continues to improve his manners.

The three-year-old was dominant against the older horses at Randwick, despite resuming over a journey short of his best and succumbing to some pre-race nerves.

"I thought it was a bit short to be honest," Thompson said.

"I had him fresh and when he got to the races in the parade he was very fresh, which had me a little worried, but he did it well.

"He's a progressive horse. The ability is there, as long as he works with us because he can be a bit cantankerous. He's got plenty of upside."

A son of Starcraft, Crafty Eagle ($6) has now won three of his six starts and Thompson plans to continue letting him work through his grades.

He scored by 2-1/2 lengths over Ottilie ($19), who gave a good kick after leading, with Oakfield Triumph ($17) third.

Gibbons tells punters to stick with beaten fav

Karedada had won three of his four starts leading into the Midway Handicap and was sent out favourite, but jockey Andrew Gibbons told punters to forget he went around.

The Angela Davies-trained gelding had no luck from a wide draw and Gibbons said he couldn't get the horse in any sort of rhythm.

"It was a bit of a nightmare from start to finish really," Gibbons said.

"He stepped well and I just couldn't find a spot early.

"I tried plan B and that didn't work either, plan C only half-worked and I never let him get into a rhythm.

"I was back and forward and in and out. Forgive today."

Karedada had won his previous three starts in provincial grade, his only other defeat coming on debut in a 900m race at Newcastle where he bombed the start.

 Snowden enjoying the View

Peter Snowden believes the well-related Mirra View can continue to progress through the grades after breaking through for her first Saturday metropolitan win at Randwick.

A half-sister to dual Group 1 placegetter Mirra Vision, Mirra View was given a beautiful trail behind the speed by stable apprentice Reece Jones before spearing clear to score.

Snowden says the four-year-old is still improving and can make her mark during the winter, particularly if the tracks are rain-affected.

"She is a very genuine mare and she keeps getting better with racing," Snowden said.

"Wet tracks add another string to her bow. When that wet weather comes, which hopefully it does during the wintertime, she will really come into her own and she should win a decent race."

Snowden felt the patience and timing shown by Jones was key to Mirra View's win.

"Great ride by Reece. I know we drew OK but he had her in the gun spot," Snowden said.

"He was very patient, she's got a really good turn of foot and he waited until the last 300 metres with her to go and she was very good late." 

Apprentices to the fore at Randwick

Reece Jones starred at Randwick with a winning double aboard Mirra View and Conscript but he wasn't the only apprentice to shine.

Zac Lloyd, Jett Stanley and Dylan Gibbons all bagged winners, capitalising on the absence of several of the senior hoops, who were in Brisbane for the Queensland Derby meeting.

Lloyd was successful on Yoshino for Godolphin, Gibbons scored aboard the Brad Widdup-trained Phearson, while Stanley celebrated his first Saturday win at headquarters on Naval College for boss Annabel Neasham.

Neasham praised Stanley for his measured ride, although the hoop humbly deflected praise to the horse.

"When you have a horse of that calibre underneath you, it's quite easy to make the rides look a little bit better than they are," Stanley said.

"Once we got into the straight, the gaps on the inside were opening so I just took them."

The son of former jockey and now Victorian-based trainer Brent, Stanley is enjoying his recent move to the harbour city, with one exception.

"The traffic can be better, but I love Sydney," he said.

Lloyd's afternoon was soured when he copped his second careless riding suspension this week for his effort on Titanium Power in race eight.

The youngster will now be sidelined from Sunday until June 23 as a result of his cumulative penalties, giving his fellow junior riders an opportunity to peg back his five-win lead in the race for the Sydney apprentices' title.

Quote of the day: "We've had three very nice Darby horses recently that have all stepped out fresh up after being gelding and gone very well so it might be a good theme." – Bjorn Baker after Iowna Merc won first-up at Randwick, following the lead of stablemates Overpass and Malkovich.