Search

show me:

A brief look back at Randwick

3 minute read

A look back at some highlights of the racing from Randwick on Saturday.

OVERRIDING winning the VINERY STALLIONS HANDICAP at Randwick in Australia.
OVERRIDING winning the VINERY STALLIONS HANDICAP at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

Coyle welcomes change of fortune  

Jason Coyle feared his luckless run had continued when Twice As Special went to the line locked with the David Pfieffer-trained Broken Arrows in the Midway Handicap (1100m) at Randwick. 

"I watched the replay about four times and thought she got nailed and the way I'm going at the moment, I almost guaranteed I was going to run second," Coyle said. 

"It was really good to finally see her nose hit the line." 

The judge was asked to separate the pair and found the verdict in favour of Twice As Special by a nose, giving Coyle his first winner since Not That Easy was successful at Newcastle on May 20 and his fifth metropolitan victory of the season. 

It was also a timely win for Twice As Special given the rising seven-year-old is on the verge of being sold as a broodmare prospect for the upcoming season. 

"It's really nice to see her breakthrough for a Saturday win. She's getting to that point in her career now where we're probably looking at the breeding barn soon," Coyle said. 

"That will add a nice little tick to her resume." 

The result continued a frustrating pattern for Broken Arrows who has now been beaten into second five times by similarly close margins. 

 

Highways a hit for Beasley 

Danny Beasley has won some of the country's biggest Group 1 races, but he has been getting almost as big a thrill out of snaring Highway Handicaps since his return to Australia. 

Beasley left the now ill-fated Singapore racing scene late last year to resettle in his hometown of Wagga Wagga and has been enjoying several successful forays back to town in recent weeks. 

He captured the Highway Handicap for Tim Donnelly aboard Cliff House two weeks ago and on Saturday scored aboard Salute Again for another Wagga local in Wayne Carroll

Both horsemen have been significant supporters of Beasley since his return home and the jockey is thrilled to repay their faith. 

"Now that the country people have these opportunities, you come here and you ride the local horse and you feel like you're representing the town and the area," Beasley said. 

"To win it for Timmy the other week and for Wayne this week, both have been great supporters since I've come back. These are like our little Cups, pretty special." 

Salute Again overcame a broken jaw earlier in his career and Saturday's win was his third from just 10 starts. 

 

French import scores "electric" win 

Annabel Neasham looks to have another talented import on her books in Aristonous, who produced a whirlwind finish to make it two wins from as many Australian starts at Randwick. 

Second last coming to the corner and spotting the leaders a tidy start, Aristonous hooked to the outside and powered home under Jason Collett for a convincing half-length victory in Saturday's Bivouac @ Darley Handicap (1600m). 

It followed an equally smart first-up performance at Newcastle and given the four-year-old was placed in a 3550m hurdle race in France, his turn of foot was a pleasant a surprise for Collett. 

"That was impressive today," Collett said. 

"He didn't have anything to drag him into it and his turn of foot was electric." 

Stable representative Aaron Lau described Aristonous as a "lovely horse" who had plenty of upside. 

"They went a really good gallop and he was off the bridle at the 800 but once he chimed in and really levelled out he was very strong," Lau said. 

"He will obviously get over further, he was going over hurdles in England. 

"He's had the perfect couple of runs here and he'll only get better once he gets over a trip." 

 

Misfortune in barriers for McLucas and Merc 

Apprentice Amy Mclucas was found to have suffered a mild concussion after hitting her head on the starting stalls prior to partnering $2.60 fav Iowna Merc into fourth place in the Furphy Handicap (1100m). 

McLucas was asked by the starter if she was fit to ride following the bump to her head and she confirmed she was, but at a subsequent stewards' inquiry into the horse's disappointing run, McLucas admitted she might have erred. 

"I probably shouldn't have ridden to be honest," McLucas told stewards. 

"My brain went out the window." 

Iowna Merc wasn't the best to begin and settled further back than expected before getting to the outside in the straight and making late ground when the race was all but over. 

He finished three lengths astern of winner Insurrection ($5.50), who led and kicked strongly under apprentice Zac Lloyd. 

McLucas was stood down from her remaining ride in the final race. 

 

Quote of the day: "It's moments like that you're thankful you're on a horse that can do that and let down and you don't look so silly." – Jockey Koby Jennings after Overriding was held up for a run before bursting through a late split to win. 


Racing and Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au