Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) again showed his capabilities when fresh at 1400 metres last weekend but the runs behind are the ones to follow this autumn. The Godolphin colt won the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) fresh-up in the spring but failed to win another race. To be fair he took on elite G1 WFA races against the older horses in those three remaining runs.
Last Saturday at Rosehill, Broadsiding won an evenly-run G2 Hobartville Stakes in the time of 1.22:84, which is tad below standard. His last 600m was 2.5l above standard and his last 200 metres was his best clocking 11.36 or 1.3l above standard.
But placegetters Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castlevecchio) look the horses to follow. Not because either of them are certainties to reverse the result in the Randwick Guineas (although they may) but because each haven’t won G1 races and therefore can get into some major handicaps with low weights.
Swiftfalcon, second in the Hobartville, clocked a razor sharp 33.12 for his final 600 metres. This is more than 7l above standard for G2 races and was the quickest at the meeting. While he can win the Randwick Guineas off this, the Doncaster Mile looks the perfect race for him. Big track, low weight.
The challenge for Team Hawkes will be getting him into the race but if he’s there on Day 1 of The Championships then its because he’s won his way into the race. And if that’s the case then expect him to be close to, if not favourite.
Aeliana wanted a faster run Hobartville Stakes, why? Because she was coming off just 77 days having raced deeper into the spring than the two colts and therefore brought residual fitness to the 3-year-old contest. From the 600 metres to the 200 metres Swiftfalcon went 11.20 and 10.86 while this filly could only manage 11.48 and 11.20 but their respective last 200 metres times were only 0.14 apart and the last 50 metres was almost identical. It’s clear Aeliana’s trainer Chris Waller has kept the work up to his filly and despite the likely presence of her more famous stablemates, Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), this girl can win the G1 Coolmore Classic next month. Her unlucky second in the G1 Thousand Guineas means she will get in light.
Gallery: Images courtesy of Sportpix
Beiwacht impresses as Makarena falls short
The plunge didn’t come off when Makarena (Snitzel) let punters down in the G2 Millie Fox S. (1300m). And don’t be fooled into thinking she had to work in the run to get outside the leader. Watch My Girl (Maurice {JPN}), who led the race ambled through her first 700 metres more than 6l below standard. Makarena was simply unable to quicken here. Her late splits were just above standard but her rivals had far more dash, as they should off that tempo. The query for some of these mares is if they go up in trip at their next start. This race would provide little fitness benefit to those going up to 1500 metres or beyond.
Still on Godolphin at Rosehill and Beiwacht (Bivouac) took out the G2 Silver Slipper S. (1100m). He surprised a few with a starting price of $17 but his winning time of 1.04:04 is 2l above standard and puts him in good stead given the severe lack of class in this current crop of 2-year-olds. To give you some context, normally by this stage of the season we have several juveniles rating high 80s to early 90s on our TBF database but this year only Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has hit the 90 mark and the next best is 87. The Silver Slipper rated 86 with us and no doubt Wodeton was unlucky. The good thing is he was back and wide on a moderately run race therefore this shouldn’t have been a taxing run.
Slow tempo shadows Devil Night’s Blue Diamond
Down in Melbourne we saw Devil Night (Extreme Choice) take out the G1 Blue Diamond S. (1200m), his winning time of 1.10:40 is 2l below standard for this event. The race rated approximately on par with the Silver Slipper Stakes, maybe even 1l or so below if you reduce the bonus for the slow tempo. Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) is desperate for a faster tempo and if he gets one, could be the big improver.
Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride of Dubai) again showed her liking for good 3 tracks especially at Caulfield. It was no surprise to see her firm noticeably for the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m). Already a G1 track and distance winner, she was able to roll along in front and run her rivals into the ground clocking 2.01:28 which is 4.6l above standard and for mine looks one of the horse’s to beat in the Australian Cup in a month.
