The Racing Weekend In Review  7/3

Super Saturday at Flemington provided upsets in both Group 1 events whilst it was a similar story at Randwick with both favourites in the Group 1’s failing to triumph. Away from the Group 1 action, the Golden Slipper picture became a little more clearer with the running of the Todman, Riesling and also the Black Opal yesterday.

Flemington 

It wasn’t a day for the punters at headquarters with both short priced favourites September Run and Fifty Stars failing to feature in the finish. Instead it was $20 chance Zoutori who claimed the Newmarket Handicap and $26 hope Homesman who took out the Australian Cup. The win of Homesman was an emotional one with Matt Gudinski, the son of the late Michael Gudinski, leading Homesman back to scale holding back tears after losing his father last week. 

The Anthony & Sam Freedman trained galloper was able to slot into a midfield position away from the fence before being exposed three wide around the turn and grinding down the leaders before pipping Best of Days on the winning post. Usually a front running horse the change of tactics seemed to work a treat, with co-trainer Sam Freedman revealing after the race that it was Lloyd Williams’ idea to ride the horse back and outside with some clear air. 

“We had a chat with Lloyd during the week and he had the idea to ride the horse out wide and ride him like a European horse, which is ultimately what he is,” said Freedman. 

2020 Australian Cup winner Fifty Stars couldn’t quite replicate his win last year struggling to find room in the straight at a vital stage. He heads to Sydney now with options such as the Ranvet or even a drop back to 1600 metres in the Doncaster Mile. 

In the Newmarket it was a similar story for September Run, arguably she had her chance but simply couldn’t repeat her stunning first up effort behind Nature Strip. Take nothing away from the winner Zoutori though, who won impressively having to lug the 57kg. The Ellerton and Zahra trained gelding was drawn towards the inside, in barrier four which is most commonly not the place to be down the Flemington straight. In fact it was the place to be with the first 3 horses home jumping from barriers 1,3 and 4. Zoutori was ridden with the inside pack of horses before the inside group of horses moved towards the middle of the track at the 400 metres which seemed to be the winning move by jockey Luke Currie, who picked up his fourth Group 1 of the season. 

“It just all panned out for him. He got on the back of the speed on the inside. He brought us out to a part of the track where I was happy to be. I suppose going into the race, the race looked, probably middle to outside, they looked the horses to beat. We were going to have to do it on our own a little bit down on the inside but Indian Pacific gave him a really good bunny to chase. Full credit to Matty and Simon, they gave me a pretty easy ride. It was a great effort by him,” said Currie.” 

Later in the day in the Group 3 Matron Stakes it was Sovereign Award who got back to her best leading all the way in a sweet ride from Damian Lane. Scarlet Dream was flashing home late after being held up at the 300 metre mark but the winner was off and gone. Favourite Lunakorn couldn’t run and didn’t beat a runner home. A post‑race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities with Kah unable to offer an explanation for the performance. 

Another horse that had it all his own way up front was Lightsaber who was able to claim the Group 2 Sires Produce pulling away from them. Entered for the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 3 the two-year old colt is certainly one to follow. 

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Randwick

In the first Group 1 for the day at Royal Randwick it was the Randwick Guineas which was taken out but Lion’s Roar who had the perfect run in transit behind the favourite. The same can’t be said for Mo’unga who was cluttered up on the inside of runners before Berry shuffled  him to the outside where he flew home into 2nd when it was all over. 

It was a special win especially for gun jockey Brenton Avdulla after not being able to crack through at Group 1 level since the 2019 Metropolitan 

“It’s been tough, especially when you don’t have the backing of a stable,’’ Avdulla said.

“When you’re turning up to the races on horses you don’t think can win, average sort of horses, it gets pretty flattening and you get pretty disheartened, especially when you’ve been to the pinnacle.” 

The Canterbury Stakes was the other Group 1 feature for the day with the ever consistent Savatiano finally breaking through at the top level. Going into the race it was expected Godolphin representative Bivouac would bounce back after his underwhelming first up performance but it was his stablemate who stole the show. In a perfectly timed ride, Bowman was able to hold on from the closing pack including fighting off the challenge from $71 dollar outsider Mizzy, who made it interesting with one final dive. 

Masked Crusader also demonstrated he was up to this grade with a superb effort finishing 1.4 lengths off the winner in 3rd after missing the start by a length. Bivouac failed to run a drum finishing back in 4th but jockey Glen Boss could only find positives after the run.

“Thought he went outstanding. He reared badly at the start. Missed it a length and a half. It wasn’t so much that ground as the first furlong he completely got it wrong. It’s the first time he’s done that. He raced very fresh. All in all he went very well,” said Boss. 

Earlier in the day it was Eduardo who took out the Group 2 Challenge stakes beating hot favourite Nature Strip. The two pulled away from the rest of the field to fight it out in a great go to the line with Nash lifting the Joseph Pride galloper over the final bounds. Nature Strip’s run was huge and he was entitled to tire late after doing some work early, but it was the win of Eduardo that caught the eye of many punters. The seven-year-old competed in the Everest last year beating only one runner home but his run on Saturday demonstrated he is right up there with some of the best sprinters in the country. 

The running of the Toddman and Reisling produced two more Slipper bound horses with both Anamoe and Glistening cementing their spot in the two-year-old feature Sprint. 

Anamoe came up from Melbourne after running a huge race in the Blue Diamond stakes and wasn’t expected to challenge the big guns but took it right up to them and he flew past them under the guidance of Rachel King. Profiteer was gutsy in the finish after thrashing his head up mid-race whilst Stay Inside was good from a sticky situation on the inside of horses. Whilst Remarque couldn’t quite match it with the top ones and looks a preparation away from being a competitive horse at this level.

Meanwhile in the girls there was another upset with the Richard and Michael Freedman trained Glistening leading all the way. There were eye-catching runs behind her including second place getter Swift Witness who looked the winner 100 metres out, and is not assured a Golden Slipper start yet. Godolphin then had the next three with the third place getter Trifaccia catching many eyes and is a horse that won’t make the Slipper in time but a race like the Group 2 Percy Sykes on Day 2 of the Championships looks hers for the taking.  

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Canberra 

Yesterday Canberra hosted the Group 3 Black Opal, which provided the winner a ticket into the $4 million dollar Golden Slipper in 13 days. It was taken out by the Peter and Paul Snowden trainer Kalashnikov in front of the fast finishing debutant Solar Winds. Kalashnikov was a $600,000 purchase from the Magic Millions last year and has fought his way into Slipper contention this preparation with back to back wins. 

“He’s always promised a lot, probably his own worst enemy in a way, he was very erratic and a little bit strong in his races early on,

“As long as he comes through it well, no reason why not, he’ll probably line up he deserves his spot now so we’ll see what happens,” said Paul Snowden. 

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Looking ahead to next week…

The racing doesn’t stop this weekend with the running of the Group 2 Adelaide Cup today at Morphettville whilst in the nation’s capital it is the feature Listed Canberra Cup. 

The action then shifts to Moonee Valley on weekend for the running of the five million dollar All-Star Mile. In Sydney Rosehill plays host to the 1500 metre Group 1 Coolmore Classic. 

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