Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The G1 Champagne Stakes feature was run at a fast tempo with Bellazaine (Zousain) going through the first 1000 metres around 3l above standard. But the field crawled to the line with their last 600 metres more than 4l below standard meaning the overall time was 1l below.
That’s not a good sign for a race that had sufficient pace to run a faster overall time. The caveat, that applies to Nepotism (Brutal {NZ}), is his last 400 metres was almost 3l above standard, meaning from where he was there wasn’t much more he could do. He won a slowly run Baillieu coming into this grand-final. The key for this colt next season is to take up a more forward position in these fast run races.
Jimmysstar stamps himself
Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) won the final Group 1, the G1 All Aged Stakes, to be held in Sydney this season and at the same time announced himself as Australia's new sprinting star. He clocked band on average time for G1 races but his last 200 metres was more than 2l above standard indicating there was more in Jimmy's tank. Looking forward to seeing his tank back at the races in spring where Ciaron Maher has a plethora of races to choose from.
Lilac solid in tempo-driven G3 success
Lilac (Justify {USA}) was the pick of the winners at Randwick on Saturday albeit there was no massive standout. Off a moderate tempo, she was able to beat standard time in the Group 3 JHB Carr Stakes (1400 metres) and run decent late splits. She was one of 4 leaders to win on the day so perhaps the beaten brigade need a closer look if we are to find a horse to follow.
More Territories (Territories {Ire}) has the best last 200 metres of the race. She is one dimensional, needs to sit back and come with one run but, give her sufficient tempo over 1400 metres and a track that favours run-on horses, and she’ll be competitive in some handy stakes races.
Perhaps the best filly to follow out of this event is Churchill’s Choice (Churchill {Ire}). She was resuming as an unbeaten commodity having won a Scone maiden, Newcastle Class 1 and then a BM72 at Randwick. To resume in a G3 and beat standard time shows how much improvement she’s clearly taken over the break. Plus, she’s a winner up to a mile so we can expect more from her.
It’s also worth noting the trainer/jockey combination Churchill's Choice had on Saturday, Kerrin McEvoy and Nathan Doyle, are beating market expectations by 81 per cent and is a combo you can definitely follow.
Shangri La spring steals G3 in front
Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio) led all the way in the G3 Frank Packer Plate upsetting the shortest price favourite all day at Randwick, Swiftfalcon (Exceedance).
He was able to go through the first 1600 metres more than 3l below standard, which meant his last 400 metres of 23.42 was enough to stave off the challengers. Swiftfalcon is better at 1600 metres and probably needs a fast run mile with no weight on his back. What a shame he didn’t run in the Doncaster Mile – I wonder if they regret to not running in the Doncaster Mile Prelude to gain a start?
Movin Out surges into Oaks favouritism
Down at Mornington and we saw Movin Out (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) win the Mornington Guineas in good style. Off a slow tempo, the 3-year-old showed tremendous zip to romp down the middle and win lifting her to SA Oaks favouritism.
Her trainer, Chris Waller, used a Melbourne lead-up for Egg Tart (Sebring) ahead of her success in the SA Oaks a few years back. Movin Out certainly looks the part for an Oaks filly but Benagil (Manhattan Rain) gets the tick from a ratings perspective and I expect the market to support her if she runs this Saturday.
Bridal Waltz scores, Thames unlucky in defeat
Bridal Waltz (Snitzel) won an Open 1200-metre contest for the 3-year-old fillies but some will say she was lucky given the misfortune Thames (Lonhro) faced from a lacklustre ride.
The winning time was more than 8l above standard but keep in mind the Mornington standards are based on a lower calibre of horses as this is by far their best meeting of the year.
That said, Thames clocked the best last 1000 metres of the meeting and, for mine, could be a horse Godolphin travels north with in the coming weeks. She is on a huge upward spiral and could easily win a stakes race in the near future.
Saturday’s G1 Sangster Stakes (1200 metres) is an intriguing race with Asfoora (Flying Artie) clearly the best mare in it but 1200 metres has proven a test for her previously. She won the G3 RN Irwin Stakes first-up off a dawdling tempo. Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) won this race last year and was every bit as good as Asfoora in the lead-up. Perhaps she ticks that extra box?
