3 minute read
A look back at some highlights of the racing from Randwick on Saturday.
Waratah a Midway bloom
Oakfield Waratah passed his first test over a mile with flying colours when he made it two wins from his past three starts in the Midway Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Kristen Buchanan believes the four-year-old will get even further in time, but whether she gives him the chance to prove it this preparation remains to be seen.
"We'll see how he pulls up. He's had a number of runs and he's only a lightly framed little horse," Buchanan said.
"I think in the long run, he'll get 2000 metres but it's nice to see him run a strong mile out here today in this company."
Oakfield Waratah ($3.30 fav) raced handy to the speed throughout before pouncing on the leaders in the straight to score by a length over Vain Invader ($14) with Dimaggio ($8.50) third.
Apprentice Tyler Schiller said the winner always had the race in his keeping.
"He put them away pretty comfortably," Schiller said.
"It's nice when you've got a bit of horse coming up to the 200 and you don't have to ask for their full effort until late."
Zaru wins in another close call
Almost twelve months after winning his first Highway Handicap in a deceptive photo finish, Zaru has produced a carbon copy to snare his second.
In a head-bobbing finish, Zaru hit the line locked with Melody Again with many on course believing the latter had narrowly prevailed, including Zaru's trainer Joseph Burges.
"His other Highway win was exactly like that. The other horse headed him and he dived and won like that," Burges said.
"That's just him. He's so genuine but he's probably never going to put a space in them.
"He always likes to scare the crap out of you."
Zaru has now contested 11 Highway Handicaps for two wins and three placings and Burges says the horse isn't finished yet.
"Because he won the class three Highway as a class one horse, he's still eligible so we'll just keep bringing him down here," he said.
Based on the NSW Mid-North Coast, Burges has a team of around 20 on his books but says Zaru and five-time winner Markwell Dreamer are by far his best.
"I train off track at Bulahdelah but him and Markwell Dreamer, it's a very long gap to the rest after those two."
Tulloch Lodge sneaking up premiership table
Chris Waller will again be a runaway winner of the Sydney trainers' premiership, but Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are making the race for second interesting.
James Cummings is holding down second place with 68 metropolitan wins, however, a treble to Waterhouse and Bott at Randwick on Saturday has them trailing the Godolphin head trainer by just one with four meetings remaining.
Tulloch Lodge brought up their trio of victories courtesy of two-year-old The Little Pumper and Omni Man, who book-ended the program, and Special Envoy in the Best Of Bordeaux @Coolmore Handicap (1800m).
All were ridden by comeback jockey Adam Hyeronimus, who returned to the saddle in May after serving a two-and-a-half-year ban for betting offences.
Bott is thrilled to see the hoop not only back riding winners, but fitter and more focused than he has ever been.
"It's really good to see him so focused on his return. He's so fit at the moment, physically it's the best shape he's ever been in and he's riding accordingly," Bott said.
"I'm glad we've been able to give him the opportunities and it's satisfying to see him deliver on those as well."
Gear change the right move for Boogie
Rachel King has credited rival rider Tyler Schiller with helping Time To Boogie score his first Saturday city win at Randwick after the apprentice suggested a gear change following the horse's recent victory at Gosford.
Schiller was in the saddle when the Michael Freedman-trained gelding led throughout at the provincial circuit last month and despite his success, he felt Time To Boogie wasn't completely focused.
"Definitely the key today was putting those winkers on, they really sharpened him," King said.
"You could see even his last start when he won, he was wandering a touch.
"It's actually credit to Tyler, he suggested to put the headgear on and it definitely worked today."
A two-time winner over 1000m, Time To Boogie ($10) extended his brilliance to 1200m in Saturday's City Tattersall's Group Handicap, leading throughout and kicking clear in the straight to score by three lengths from Euros ($21) with Hi Dubai ($3.60) third.
Quote of the day: "I don't understand everyone on all their fancy holidays in Europe. The noms come out on Monday, weights on Tuesday, acceptances on Wednesday and then you've got three days of dreaming'." – One of the passionate owners of Saturday's Randwick winner Fearnought.
