Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Randwick served up yet another lightning surface on Saturday with some extremely quick times including Super Too's (Hinchinbrook) 1000 metre track record being smashed.
As we close in on this year's G1 Golden Slipper, Saturday made it all that much harder to predict the winner.
The G2 Todman S. was taken out by the James Cummings-trained Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) who recorded the quickest last 600 metres of the race (32.82s) and an overall time of 1:08.54, around 4l quicker than the girls' division in the G2 Reisling S.
Anamoe was very good in the Blue Diamond S. at his previous start coming from well back to run third behind Artorius (Flying Artie) and franked the form from that race. Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) was the only other horse in the race to break 33s (32.93s) after not having the best of luck in running, but still well and truly on target for the Golden Slipper in a fortnight.
Anamoe | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Short priced favourite Profiteer (Capitalist) once again did plenty wrong in the run and was found vulnerable late. He struggled to harness his early speed running 10.55s from 1000 to 800 metres and 10.86s from the 400 to 200 metre mark, so was caught late by the eventual winner Anamoe, and still remains the favourite for the big dance in two weeks (times taken from Punters Intelligence).
3-year-olds set hot pace
The Fireball S. for 3-year-old's kicked off proceedings at Randwick on Saturday, and we saw another impressive performance from the Snowden-trained Wild Ruler (Snitzel).
The race was run at a brutal tempo with Mamaragan (Wandjina) setting the track alight early, running a blistering 20.69s from the 1000 to 600 metres including a 200 metre split of 10.32s allowing him to be a sitting shot late. James McDonald stalked Mamaragan the whole race, then put him away with 200 metres to go and holding off the late challenges of On The Lead (I Am Invincible) and Andermatt (Snitzel).
The overall time was around 3l outside Prophets Thumb's (Beneteau) 1100 metre track record. Wild Ruler will now head to G1 The Galaxy on Golden Slipper Day, where he will more than likely strike his less-preferred wet track as he tries to pick up that elusive Group 1.
In the G1 Randwick Guineas we saw the John O'Shea-trained Lion's Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) do what many couldn't on Saturday at Randwick, and that was to overcome the pattern of the day and win. In doing so, he was the only horse to break 34s for his last 600 metres (33.87s).
Lion's Roar settled a clear last after 400 metres and was able to round them up to score impressively. Marsannay (Snitzel) and Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) carved out some slick early sectionals setting it up for a swooper to take out the 1600 metre event. They ran the first 600 metres from a stand start in 35.03s which would have slightly led Profiteer in the Todman S. (1200 metres).
Runner up Mo'unga (NZ) (Savabeel) was desperately unlucky after being unable to find clear galloping room no earlier than the 200 metre mark, but by the time he got clear, the bird had flown. The return bout will likely be in a fortnight's time in the G1 Rosehill Guineas.
Fabulous Flemington
Widden resident stallion Zoustar was certainly the star of the show Australia-wide on Saturday.
He was able to quinella the 1200 metre G1 Newmarket H., with Zoutori and Indian Pacific. The inside gates held the key here as barriers one, three and four ran the trifecta after setting the speed early. The run of the race was the Annabel Neasham-trained 3-year-old Prague (Redoute's Choice).
Prague settled near last and flashed home for fourth, in doing so running the quickest 600 metres and 400 metres of the event, being the only horse in the race to break 34s and 23s respectively. The fact he drew the wrong part of the track, his run was full of merit and a big win isn't too far away.
One to watch
The G2 Reisling S. over 1200 metres was taken out by the Richard and Michael Freedman- trained Glistening (Zoustar), but the third placegetter Trifaccia (I Am Invincible) is the one to follow here.
Although she doesn't do herself any favours with her race manners, Trifaccia was unlucky not to take out the event. James McDonald had nowhere to go at the top of the straight after settling at the tail of the field and with any luck at all, she would have been lining up in this year's Golden Slipper S. after rattling home in a sizzling 32.86s (last 600 metres), the second quickest last 600 metres for the 2-year-olds on the day.
Wherever the stable go next, whether it be a G1 Sires' Produce or G3 Percy Sykes, she will be the one to beat!
