Gytrash’s day
Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earned bragging rights over Sunlight (Zoustar) after his defeat of the mare in the G3 Irwin S. at Morphettville.
Saturday's meeting signals the start of the Adelaide carnival with the two star sprinters scheduled to meet again in the G1 Goodwood next month.
"To win is good. To win so arrogantly is very satisfying. To win so easily shows he's the real deal,” trainer Gordon Richards said. "I've got nothing in the stable that can go with him.”
Gytrash won the G1 Lightning at Flemington during his summer campaign and has now won nine of his 19 career starts.
Deserved win
Honest toiler Life Less Ordinary (Ire) (Thewayyouare {USA}) won his first race in almost a year when successful in the G3 Japan Racing Association Plate at Randwick.
"He's never been working any better. The boys at home have said that all week and he's been a lot of fun, so getting today's win is very special,” trainer Chris Waller said.
The victory was Life Less Ordinary's ninth from 51 starts with the consistent gelding also notching 18 placings.
"He's not quite a Group 1 horse. He's a genuine Group 2 weight-for-age horse, but a length or two away from those really good horses.
"We found a nice race for him and he's duly won with a good ride from Jason (Collett), who has had a bit of success on the horse."
No doubting Thomas
William Thomas (Nicconi) overcame a drop back in trip, a quick back-up and a fast pace to win the Listed Bel Esprit S. at Caulfield.
"From memory, he's batted up after seven days before and this was the second time, and in a nice race today," trainer John Price said.
"I was starting to come to the conclusion that he's a good horse, but not quite up there with the better ones. He was pretty impressive and I just love his versatility.
"He showed that he can get 1400 metres last time and yet he's coming back from 1200 to 1100 today."
Fender interest
Trainer Brett Cavanough believes he may have a battle on his hands to keep hold of the unbeaten 3-year-old Fender (Toronado {Ire}).
He is bracing himself for overseas interest in the gelding who kept his perfect record intact with victory in the TAB Highway H. at Randwick.
“I’m not sure where we go with him, but we’ll have to fend off Hong Kong now,” Cavanough said.
Fender jumped well from an awkward gate to sit on the pace and kicked clear 300 metres from home to down the well-supported Toro Toro (Time For War).
“I was worried about gate 10, but always believed in his ability,” Cavanough said.
Account opened
Arrowfield Stud resident Scissor Kick is off the mark with his first winner courtesy of his daughter Girls Kick On.
The filly, who was successful at her second start at Port Macquarie, was purchased out of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $12,000 by Glenvale Park.
Girls Kick On is out of Placement (NZ) (Savabeel), who won five races and placed in the G1 VRC Oaks and in the G2 Wakeful S.
A son of Redoute’s Choice, Scissor Kick was a multiple Group 3 winner and finished runner-up in the G1 Golden Rose S. before his retirement.
Milestone win
Matthew Dunn celebrated his first Sydney win against metropolitan opposition with Snitz (Snitzel) when he triumphed in the Catanach’s Sprint at Randwick.
Dunn's wife and stable representative Kiera said Snitz's win was a milestone, giving them their first Sydney victory outside Highway Handicap class.
"It's obviously our first winner down here against city trainers and it's definitely a thrill," Kiera Dunn said.
The stable was confident Snitz could break through on Saturday after Nash Rawiller rode the horse in a barrier trial and followed up with the race ride.
"Once we knew he was chasing the ride we were pretty confident with how he was going," Dunn said.
Perfect ride
Apprentice Maddy Wishart followed her pre-race instructions in style to lead all the way on Boom Boom Epic (Sebring) at Doomben.
Wishart was able to take the chestnut to the lead and walked the first 1200 metres before sprinting home to win the Miller's Swim School H.
"She followed the plan to perfection and had enough in the tank to hold off Populist," trainer Chris Anderson said.
"Boom Boom Epic is probably best around 1600 metres to 2000 metres and the 2200 metres might usually be too far, but when she can lead like that she is always going to be hard to beat.
"Maddy just keeps improving and with a 3kg claim she will be in demand in coming weeks."
Spencer injured
Leading jockey Jamie Spencer is waiting to hear whether he will require surgery on a hip fracture sustained in a trackwork fall.
Spencer was riding out for trainer David Simcock in Newmarket when his mount slipped and the jockey came off.
While racing has shut down in Britain, training continues so the sport will be ready when given the green light. Spencer had been in good form on the all-weather circuit before racing was halted last month, recording five victories from just 17 rides.
He spent the Northern Hemisphere winter riding in Dubai, Hong Kong and Australia where he won the G2 Crystal Mile at The Valley in October on Chief Ironside (GB) (Lawman {Fr}).
