3 minute read
Mandy Cottell looks back at the support races at Randwick.
Metro double for Bullock
Hard-working jockey Aaron Bullock has only had two rides for Matthew Dunn but after Saturday's Highway Handicap (1800m), the arrangement might become more frequent.
Bullock rode the Dunn-trained Cepheus to victory in the South Grafton Cup in July and made it two from two when successful aboard Whodat at Randwick.
"He has only ridden for me once before today at Grafton and he did a good job there, he won the South Grafton Cup on Cepheus and qualified him for the Big Dance," Dunn said.
"He rode (Whodat) extremely well again today, found the right spot.
"He's a really nice horse. His racing pattern comes against him sometimes because he tends to get himself back, he raced a bit closer to the speed today and that was a telling factor."
Dunn has become a master at identifying the right horses for Sydney's Highway Handicaps, Whodat giving him his fifth such win this season and his 32nd overall, despite the fact he was unable to participate in them for an extended period when he had his Sydney base.
For Bullock, Whodat was the first leg of a rare Saturday metropolitan double rounded out by a superb winning ride aboard Peace Officer for Clarry Conners in the Midway Handicap (1400m0
Berry delivers O'Shea a masterstroke
The $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup is the next goal for Stroke Of Luck after his determined win in the Acy Connect Handicap (2000m) at Randwick.
His victory came courtesy of a smart ride from Tommy Berry, who kept favourite Marquess on a limb early before tracking him into the race on the home turn and Stroke Of Luck did the rest.
Berry said he went into Saturday's race confident of a good performance after the John O'Shea-trained four-year-old, who placed in Kovalica's Queensland Derby last season, worked strongly on Tuesday.
"I said to John 'geez he gave me a workout when I tried to hold him' so the difference between his first-up run and his second-up run was massive," Berry said.
"We kept the favourite wide early and got onto his back around the corner and it probably proved the winning move."
Praising Berry's ride, O'Shea was pleased to see Stroke Of Luck notch his second career win and confirm plans for a Rosehill Gold Cup bid.
"I think we go to the Rosehill Gold Cup in a couple of weeks," O'Shea said.
"He will still be down in the weights, he's on an upward spiral and had a confidence-builder there today."
Stroke Of Luck ($6) held Raging Bull ($31) at bay by a neck with Gan Teorainn ($15) third, the $2.50 fancy Marquess tiring after his tough run to finish sixth.
Quirky Kazou clings on to win
Berry did a grand job to make it a race-to-race double 35 minutes later when his mount Kazou veered sideways at the 250 metres, almost throwing the race away.
The top jockey managed to not only stay in the saddle but balance the mare back up and Kazou ($3.70) dug deep to hold off the desperate bid of Zac Lloyd and Commemorative ($2.70 fav) by a nose in a deceptive photo finish.
"I saw the ears go from in front of me to beside me. It is always a scary feeling," Berry said.
"She travelled sweetly for me in the run, did everything right.
"There was nothing there for her to spot, but she did, and it could have cost her in the end. She took a long time to balance up after that."
Charlie Duckworth, representing winning trainer Chris Waller, said Kazou's ownership group included a group of friends from Newcastle who knew how to enjoy their racing.
"On Tuesday, they actually bought a car that they wrapped in Kazou's colours just to come down for the weekend. They're loving it," Duckworth said.
Hulking Godolphin mare Commemorative was having just her second start and after taking time to wind up, she lost no admirers with her performance to finish second.
Diamond bid for Unspoken
Former UK galloper Unspoken continues to go from strength to strength, taking his record to three wins from as many starts this preparation with a dominant front-running display at Randwick.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden was as surprised as punters to see Andrew Adkins lead on the gelding but said if he hadn't, the race might have panned out very differently.
While Unspoken was in front and out of trouble, a home turn scrimmage caused interference to several horses back in the field, which is where Snowden expected Unspoken to be.
"You think back to what was happening there and we get the backwash if he's three pairs back the fence like I thought he would have been," Snowden said.
"He (Adkins) did the right thing and took bad luck out of the equation, made his own luck and he did it well.
"He's a horse going places. We're very pleased with what he's done so far but hopefully there is more to come."
Unspoken ($2 fav) scored by a widening four lengths over Political Debate ($26) with Wicklow ($9.50) making late headway to grab third.
The performance has cemented him a shot at the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 11, a race Snowden believes will be made to order.
"He will go to the (Five) Diamonds next," he said.
"I think it suits him perfectly, a five-year-old and 1800 (metres) looks ideal for him, he's in great shape.
"He's going to meet tougher horses, but he's met open company horses there today and he's given them a towelling so I'm quietly confident he will acquit himself well."
Quote of the Day: "I have a real crush on this horse. I love him. There's something about him."- Joe Pride admits to a soft spot for Big Dance Wild Card winner King Of The Castle.
