3 minute read
The Randwick Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch from the Winx Stakes meeting on August 24.
Samadoubt claimed the first Group 1 of the Sydney racing calendar, causing a boilover in the Winx Stakes (1400m).
Bjorn Baker’s second Group 1 win after Music Magnate won the 2016 Doomben 10,000, Samadoubt was the longest priced winner of the Winx Stakes since Sir Dex claimed the 2005 renewal as a 40-1 outsider.
Anthony Cummings celebrated a stakes double courtesy of Libertini (Silver Shadow Stakes) and Mizzy (Toy Show Quality).
Of the two, it was Libertini who turned heads, recording the equal highest winning figure of the Silver Shadow Stakes since Samantha Miss in 2008.
Working through the Princess Series like Samantha Miss would be a traditional campaign path for Libertini who will have her next start in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 7.
Such was the strength of her first up success, the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and also The Everest (1200m) have also been discussed as potential targets.
Deprive is likely Group 1 bound after his first up victory in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) with the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 21 a likely target.
New stablemate Cascadian turned just as many heads in his Australian debut as the French import flashed home for a one length fifth.
Race 1: Charlotte’s Heart - Class 2 Highway Handicap (1100m)
Brett Cavanough had three runners in the race and it was the least fancied one who got the job done.
Charlotte's Heart didn’t possess the sort of form lines you associate with Highway Handicap winners either. A lot of them have their last starts in provincial or midweek races then drop back to a country restricted Highway Handicap.
There is a 1200m Class 3 Highway Handicap at Randwick in two weeks which looks a natural path for her.
Gem Dealer was charging home late to run fourth. Such was the strength of her effort, the mare profiles as a back her wherever she lands second up type.
Lady Demi in sixth was luckless. She can go to the same Class 3 Highway Handicap at Randwick as Charlotte’s Heart in a fortnight.
Race 2: Valentino Rossa - Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m)
Valentino Rossa is a bread and butter type of miler. He’s won almost $300k prizemoney now including bonuses and is still only a Benchmark 81 horse after Saturday.
The Testa Rossa gelding has won two races so far this prep. He’s been up for a while now but there are a number of Benchmark 88 type mile races for him over the coming weeks so connections might as well keep him going.
Something similar can be said for runner up Travancore who keeps bringing home a pay cheque deep into his prep and is showing no sign of training off.
Adana and Cyber Intervention are both capable but perhaps need to go back to the midweeks and regain some confidence.
Race 3: True Detective - Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m)
True Detective had to win in the stewards room courtesy of a somewhat controversial upheld protest.
Regardless, the Seamus Award colt thrived back to his own age and produced the highest winning figure of the Up And Coming Stakes since Divine Prophet claimed the 2016 renewal.
Connections don’t seem to have any hard plans for him even though the Golden Rose shapes as an obvious choice.
Considering his campaign did start in July, they might give him a little let up and focus on the Melbourne spring.
Overall, it’s potentially a decent renewal of the Up And Coming Stakes. Superium has a lot of upside - both his career runs so far have been great.
Lucicello picked up some more black type too and has capitalised as the fit filly on the scene having raced through the winter.
Race 4: Our Candidate - Benchmark 78 3YO+ Handicap (2400m)
Our Candidate has looked brilliant since getting up over 12 furlongs. That was a clinical win on Saturday.
The UK import ran to a Timeform rating of 103 which is a new career peak for him.
It sounds like he is off to the Newcastle Cup next and with a Benchmark of 83 is expected to be carrying down near the minimum for the race.
The Newcastle Gold Cup has a five year winning average of 111 which means the Australian Bloodstock-raced stayer will certainly have to improve again on Saturday.
The way Our Candidate is going, another ratings’ jump to get him into Newcastle Cup calculations isn’t out of the question.
Race 5: Libertini - Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m)
This girl has bundles of talent. The daughter of I Am Invincible put away some nice fillies in pretty smart fashion and won eased down while running an overall and final 600m time well inside standard.
WOW! - We have seen the new star of the spring, as Libertini has blown her rivals away in the Silver Shadow Stakes @royalrandwick today @Acummingsracing @TommyBerry21 ... Get the new Sky Racing Active app to watch the full replay on demand. pic.twitter.com/ahCvT3j84F
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2019
We awarded the run a Timeform rating of 115. The last filly to win the Silver Shadow Stakes with a higher figure than that was Samantha Miss in 2008.
Samantha Miss then swept through the Princess Series, winning the Furious Stakes, Tea Rose and the Flight Stakes. That’s the likely path Libertini will take.
Flit did some good work late in second. Realistically though, that will be the best result she can achieve while she’s on the same campaign path as Libertini. She might have to hope Libertini heads to the Golden Rose or the Everest.
Race 6: Deprive - Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m)
Deprive has accumulated seven wins from 10 starts now. He’s beaten some strong opposition on Saturday and ran to a Timeform rating of 109.
That’s below the five year winning average of the race but only because Le Romain won it last year with a Timeform rating of 123.
It sounds like Godolphin are eyeing off a Group 1 tilt for Deprive shortly and have the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes circled in their calendar on September 21. While that is four weeks away, it is a long spring so they may elect to head there second up.
Looking back through winners of the Show County Quality. Moment Of Change in 2012 and Rebel Dane in 2013 each claimed the Show County Quality Stakes - Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes double.
There were a host of good horses hitting the line behind Deprive. Of them, Cascadian is clearly the one to follow. The French Group 1 runner up produced a figure on Saturday well below his best but still looked great doing it.
The New Approach gelding is timed to hit the Epsom Handicap third or fourth run from a spell and off that Australian debut, already warrants respect as a lightweight hope.
Race 7: Samadoubt - Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m)
Most of these horses are aiming up at Group 1 races later in the spring and this realistically was Samadoubt’s main spring goal.
This run came from nowhere. His previous best result was winning the Canberra Cup earlier this year.
Samadoubt for @BBakerRacing and @ClarkyHK has caused a boilover and taken out the G1 Winx Stakes @royalrandwick... pic.twitter.com/KlghpK9xT9
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2019
Samadoubt will likely go to the Chelmsford Stakes from here as will most out of this race.
Market expectations aside Avilius was fantastic in fourth and shouldn't have lost any admirers.
Kings Will Dream returned to the races for the first time after fracturing his pelvis in the 2019 Cox Plate. It was a solid display to run fifth after a career threatening injury
As honest as the day is long, Happy Clapper as a nine-year-old also looks to have returned in good order.
Race 8: Mizzy - Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m)
Anthony Cummings placed Mizzy well under Set Weights plus Penalties on Saturday. She’d been right there without winning in a number of good races as a younger horse.
While Saturday was a career best win for her, a fourth to Nakeeta Jane in the Surround Stakes during the autumn by our measures rates as her best run to date.
Having raced up to a mile as a filly, the stable have decided she’s a sprinter. The Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill on September 14 is a logical second up run for her.
Race 9: Sweet Deal - Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m)
The quinella landed one/two in run and controlled the race. Sweet Deal has won her last two starts now, both with Nash Rawiller on.
Connections are going to try and maximise her broodmare value and run her in the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong in a fortnight.
The Mona Lisa Stakes profiles as an ideal race for her, dropping back to her own sex from Saturday.
The five year winning average of the Mona Lisa Stakes is 97, the daughter of Casino Prince ran well clear of that mark on Saturday.
Carif in fifth produced a sound first up effort. He’ll be fitter for the run and better over more ground. The son of So You Think has always shown talent and only has a Benchmark of 73. Watch for him second up out to a mile.
