Dragonstone finally gets his head in front
After finishing second on his previous three starts, the Mark Newnham-trained Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) finally got his head in front when it really mattered in the Listed Bob Charley AO H. at Randwick on Saturday.
The 3-year-old gelding beat Prime Candidate (Denman) by 1.8l, while Mamaragan (Wandjina) finished another 0.1l away in third.
"He is a wonderful little horse," Newnham said. "He has been ever consistent. He has only missed a place once in his life. He has run into a few really nice types along the way, but he never performs poorly.
Dragonstone | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"This is actually only his second run on a good track and he has won them both, so as well as he does handle those wet tracks, he is probably more effective with his turn of foot on this type of ground."
In winning the Listed contest, Dragonstone becomes the first Australian-bred stakes winner for Mikki Isle (Jpn), who shuttled to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons but did not return in 2019.
Siege posts another win
The James Cummings-trained Siege (Street Boss {USA}) added a third consecutive victory to her record, and fourth overall, when she took out Saturday's Celebration Of Women In Racing H. at Randwick.
After the race, Godolphin's Darren Beadman praised Chad Schofield's ride on the well-bred mare, who is a sister to stablemate and dual Group 3 winner Heresy (Street Boss {USA}).
"She's a mighty mare, she has got an impeccable record and everything just worked out delightfully for her early stages," Beadman said.
"Chad gave her a 10 out of 10 ride, 10 out of 10 performance by the horse and 10 out of 10 by the team, so it was gold stars everywhere."
She Dances breaks maiden at Sandown
The Peter Moody-trained She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) posted an ultra impressive maiden victory in the IVE> Print H. at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
She Dances travelled smoothly in front under Linda Meech before being asked to extend inside the final 300 metres, racing to a 3l win from Cusack (Not A Single Doubt) with Thron Bone (Thronum) 0.4l away third.
Moody's assistant-trainer Katherine Coleman said She Dances appeared to appreciate the heavy conditions on Saturday.
"That was a lovely debut, she travelled so well from the barriers and got into a beautiful rhythm for Linda and then finished off strongly, so we're very happy with that," Coleman said.
"She is one of those fillies that can get a bit cranky if you try and hold her up and make her do things your way, so you've just got to keep her happy and keep her in a nice rhythm and Linda was able to do just that."
100 metropolitan winners for Maher and Eustace
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable landed its 100th metropolitan winner for the season when Mankayan (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) scored at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
The European import remains unbeaten this campaign after taking out the Ladbrokes Punter Assist H. having scored first-up at Caulfield last month.
"Thank God for that, we needed it after the day we've had, a lot of bad luck,” said Eustace.
"A hundred winners in town, just full credit to the whole team across the whole state so that's for them. We couldn't do it without them, to get the horses running so well in town with the strike rate across a long period is all credit to them."
Apprentice Jones sparkles with four-winner haul
Apprentice Reece Jones has had another memorable afternoon at Randwick with a quartet of winners, making the most of the exodus of Sydney's senior riders to Brisbane.
With the likes of James McDonald, Hugh Bowman, Kerrin McEvoy and Tim Clark all in Brisbane Jones was able to capitalise on their absence, opening his account with a brace of wins aboard the John O'Shea-trained pair of Waihaha Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Comme Bella Fille (NZ) (Complacent) and adding another on import Cliff's Art (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) for Matthew Smith.
The jockey added a fourth winner for the afternoon when he took out the final race courtesy of the John Thompson-trained Jojo Was A Man (Al Maher).
It was Jones' second four-timer in town after he achieved the same feat at the corresponding Randwick program 12 months ago.
"It's a great achievement," Jones said. "When I first did it, I thought 'gee I'm never going to be able to do this again,' so I'm really pleased to get on the right cattle today and put in a good performance for everyone."
Gibbons lands milestone win
Apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons brought up an early double at Randwick on Saturday to bring up a century of wins for the season for the young rider.
Indentured to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, Gibbons dictated terms to lead throughout aboard Zadig (Astern) for Jean Dubois in the TAB Highway H., then brought 2-year-old Wingardium (Vancouver) with a sweeping run from near the rear to claim the Schweppes H.
The young rider was thrilled to reach the 100-winner milestone aboard the Bjorn Baker-trained Wingardium, particularly in town on a Saturday.
"It's not a bad way to do it," Gibbons said. "I was a bit worried early because the plan was to be in the first four and we got skittled out of the gates and I thought, oh well, I've got to go back to Plan B.
"I was getting worried because the saddle slipped back on a 2-year-old and I thought we were out of play. But once I gave her a bit of a slap-up and got her into the bridle, I thought I was always going to run on, but I didn't know if she had too much to do.
"She is obviously a promising horse for the future."
Maiden city win and a fine for Lawrence
Apprentice Mikaela Lawrence registered a breakthrough city win guiding home the Patrick Payne-trained Bigolino (Good Journey {USA}) at Sandown-Hillside.
But the victory was soured for Lawrence who was fined $1500 and suspended for 11 meetings for being five whip strikes prior to the 100-metre mark.
Lawrence was delighted to have registered this latest, especially given her career had been plagued by injuries which included a ruptured spleen, a broken leg, a foot and a hand, in her words, to name a few.
"I've got all my injury time back and just lately you have to ride 50 winners to extend it (apprenticeship) another year, which I've been able to do," Lawrence said.
"Hopefully I'll get another year and can keep coming back here."
Royal Ascot contenders please Waller
Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) got their first look at the Ascot track when they galloped at the course on Friday ahead of their respective targets at the prestigious meeting next week.
With trainer Chris Waller watching on, the pair looked comfortable in their hitout, giving their handler confidence they are in good health, with Nature Strip set to tackle the G1 King’s Stand on Tuesday, while Home Affairs is set to clash with G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius (Flying Artie) in the G1 Platinum Jubilee on Saturday.
“I was hesitant to as how things would work out but I was pleased to see both of them breeze up the straight in good form,” Waller told Racing.com. “They looked at home and the beauty of both Nature Strip and Home Affairs is they’re both pretty chilled out characters.
“This morning was their first piece of fast work since they landed 10 days ago. They have been doing steady canters until now. The main purpose of the exercise was to stimulate them without doing too much, just to help switch them on.
“It was helping them be more familiar with it when they come back next week. Home Affairs will do one more piece next week, with him running later in the week.”
Spencer gives Freedman confidence
Meanwhile, Jamie Spencer was impressed with Artorius’ (Flying Artie) at Ascot on Friday and co-trainer Sam Freedman is confident the Group 1 winner can give a good account of himself when he lines up in the G1 Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot on Saturday.
“He had a nice piece of work,” Freedman told Racing.com. “It was probably his last piece of solid work leading into Saturday week.
“He just improved up from the 800 metres and he just let him open up the last furlong and he stretched out really well. He’s a bit of a quirky horse so it was good for him (Jamie Spencer) to have a sit on him and he’ll probably have another sit on him next week.
“Jamie was really happy with him and he said his action felt good and he handled the undulating track which was the main purpose for bringing him here.
“He actually behaved here today like he does on raceday which was good to see – he can get a little bit jig-joggy when you put the rider on and has a little bit of a sweat.”
WA racing introduces ‘The Pinnacles’
Western Australia’s premier racing carnival featuring three Group 1 racedays is being reimagined as The Pinnacles and extended to five feature races across five sparkling race days, with around $10.5 million in prizemoney.
A new $1.5 million race to be run at weight-for-age over 1400 metres and sponsored by TABtouch will be created to conclude The Pinnacles series.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia Chief Executive Officer Ian Edwards said the spring races would be recharged with an extra $3.5 million for winners.
"In naming our premier racing carnival The Pinnacles we are declaring that we're aiming high as well as showcasing the best of Western Australia to the world," Ian said. "We want to attract top-class racing talent to compete in The Pinnacles along with visitors to experience both the glamour and excitement of racing and the unique charm and magnificence of WA.
"The series kicks off with the Placid Ark Stakes. The three Group 1 races follow, the Railway Stakes, Winterbottom Stakes and the Kingston Town Classic, which have all had prizemoney boosts to $1.5 million.
"We're adding a new $1.5 million race to the series so interstate raiders can back up a Group 1 run with another showcase race to amplify the rewards and prestige. The recharging of this important spring racing festival is part of our recent commitment to an extra $30 million in funding for WA racing by 2025, the biggest boost in our history."
