3 minute read
Brenton Le Grand looks back on the ten-race program at Rosehill Gardens and brings you the talking points of the undercard.
Bunker Hut holes out in the Midway
He was a tried horse purchase for syndicators Darby Racing and Bunker Hut ($3.80F) is already repaying his new owners with a powerful finish to take out the Midway.
The former Newgate Farm commodity was placed into a beautiful position in the run by jockey Tyler Schiller before overhauling Iron Man ($6.50) by three quarters of a length on the line. Glacier Queen ($17) was a further half length back in third place.
Trainer Michael Freedman was pleased to get one on the board for his new connections.
"It's great for Darby Racing, he's one of those horses that didn't fit the profile for Henry Field and his crew in terms of the stallion prospects," Freedman said.
"When he went on the market I had a chat to Scott (Darby) and said he'd be a good opportunity to get some new owners in and not have to wait too long to get to the races.
"It's terrific that he's been able to step out for them first-up and put a win on and I think there's a bit more in him."
Hoop Schiller is building up an enviable record on the son of Savabeel with two wins and a close-up second from just three steers and believes he has the horse worked out.
"Just at the top of the straight I didn't want to press the button too early, he's a little bit of a thinker once he gets there. So I thought I got there at the right time and he put his head down on the line," Schiller said.
Stormy Witness floods home in the Highway
She got up to Group 1 level when last in work and the Danny Williams-trained Stormy Witness ($31) has returned a winner in the Highway. Tearaway leader Ollie's Secret ($6) almost stole it for jockey Zac Lloyd but former apprentice Reece Jones managed to run him down by three quarters of a length at the post. Another Williams-prepared galloper Atmospheric Rock ($5.50) was a long neck back to round out the placings.
The Star Witness mare finished 12th in Vinery Stud Stakes in March before a dour 11th in the ATC Oaks in April, with Williams explaining that despite her name he will be looking to keep her on top of the ground following past failures in the wet.
"She's an absolute duffer on soft ground," Williams lamented.
"She's always shown a lot of ability. We threw her in the deep end at her third start last preparation in a Group 1 and then backed up in an Oaks at her fourth.
"We scratched her yesterday, she wouldn't have been here except we got overnight rain in Goulburn. Today was basically not the plan."
Recently having outridden his claim, rider Jones was grateful to get his first metropolitan win as a senior jockey.
"I'm happy to get the monkey off my back," Jones quipped.
Unspoken resumes with a victory for Team Snowden
He had showed glimpses of ability in his first Australian campaign and the Irish import Unspoken ($3.40) has announced himself taking out the Ranvet Handicap over 1500m first-up for Peter and Paul Snowden.
The five-year-old held off race favourite and perennial placegetter Gracilistyla ($2.70F) by a neck with early leader Danish Prince ($9) gripping on to third a further 1-1/2 lengths back.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden hopes they still haven't found the bottom of the Territories progeny and believes they can take him through the grades.
"He's still in that benchmark bracket at the moment, we don't have to get there too quickly," Snowden said.
"We can probably knock off another Saturday win before we do aim up into something a bit more serious. I think he is definitely a stakes winning horse in the future and he's only going to improve."
Rider Josh Parr was in agreeance that his mount had not yet reached his peak.
"His coat hasn't come right, the hairs are coming out of him in loads," Parr said.
"In saying that he felt really good going to the start, very alert. So that gave me confidence that he was up to it today."
Howgoodareyou makes it four from five
It's not uncommon for a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-conditioned horse to lead all the way and that's exactly what Howgoodareyou ($1.80F) did under the urgings of Rachel King.
After being given a fairly soft lead over the 1800m contest the daughter of So You Think was able to hold off all challengers with Godolphin's Marquess ($4.60) a long neck back in second, but never really threatening.
King, who was on board the only time Howgoodareyou was beaten, has seen a vast improvement as the four-year-old has progressed.
"She's going really well, she just keeps stepping up this filly," King said.
"She's getting better and better in everything she does. She used to be a little bit immature and get a bit hot beforehand and in the gates, but today she was the best I've ever felt her especially pre-race."
Given she won her debut start on July 9, co-trainer Bott was wary of pushing his mare to the limits in just her first racing campaign.
"Just not sure how far we can continue to go this preparation, obviously she's been up a while," Bott said.
"She paraded well and looks great and is racing well so we'll take her as far as we can, take it one step at a time."
Quote of the day: "I think Kathy rode her first black type winner as an apprentice with us, a horse called Turaga. We've always had a good association together and she certainly gets along with this bloke" - Stable representative Nathan Perry after Kathy O'Hara's win on the Paul Perry-prepared Olympic Gaze.
