The surprise win of nine-year-old gelding Hard Empire in the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick shocked virtually everybody except for his trainer Toby Edmonds.
Edmonds said he thought Hard Empire had claims in the race and was a good place chance based on his unlucky run in the Ramornie Stakes where he finished 11th but was beaten just over three lengths.
Edmonds had noted that last year’s Missile Stakes winner Phobetor finished second in the Grafton sprint at his previous run.
Edmonds reasoned that although Hard Empire was taking on well performed horses, he was fit and they were beginning their campaigns and wouldn’t be at their peak.
The Missile Stakes was run at a strong tempo which played into Hard Empire’s hands and made the horses returning from a spell vulnerable.
Edmonds said it was a superb ride from Rachel King on Hard Empire.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
CONQUEROR
Got too far back off slow tempo. Ranged up and looked a winning chance but having come from last first-up he ran out of steam when second to Arnaquer over 1400 metres. Stewards also noted the son of Churchill was hampered at the 300 metres mark when Gracilistyla shifted out. This three-year-old colt should measure up to good class races.
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MAOTAI
Resumed as a gelding and looks as if he’s a much better horse. Before the race his trainer Kacy Fodgen said she had trained him to settle and conserve his energy and that’s the way it played out. Hugh Bowman settled him in sixth placing which was in stark contrast to his usual free-wheeling style. Bowman took Maotai to the lead with 250 metres to go and he didn’t look like losing from there. Stick with him. He could be a sneaky chance in The Everest.
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YIYI
Huge effort to come from a mile back to finished fifth behind his stablemate Lord Ardmore in the 1800 metres race. Stewards noted that Jay Ford took him back from wide barrier and also due to the slow pace in the middle stages, he over-raced during that period of the race. His closing 600 metres was 34.15 seconds which was the fastest by .33 seconds.
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