In Sydney it was ROSEHILL and track was quickly upgraded from SOFT-5 to GOOD-4, it was not a particularly ‘’fast day’’ despite the immense quality of gallopers we had racing.
The track played quite well, you could certainly run-on and win.
Safe to say the inside lanes were inferior ground and that seemed to be exacerbated further as the day wore on.
Golden Slipper
The G1 Golden Slipper was Race 8 (2yo) at 1200m and LADY OF CAMELOT landed some big bets!
They took a sit (just like her trial) and she was bolting coming into the straight but had nowhere to go, no panic Blake Shinn and she worked through a gap and chased down COLEMAN who looked home when he joined in so strongly 250m out…
Funny, these were the two we were so hot on in the Blue Diamond (one ran enormous/ one was below his best) but they were both ‘’on’’ big time this race.
Winner’s ability to take that sit and travel well despite a strong speed saw her elevate to a new level (well, she did go within 2/100ths of a second of breaking Rosehill 1100m track record, but I digress).
STORM BOY was beaten but excellent in defeat given the tardy start and having to spend petrol to take a position, he was just off the winner turning but forced back inside (not the A-ground) and was just no match for said quinella.
Does he win with clean getaway and/ or making it to that A-ground? We will never know.
TRAFFIC WARDEN raced tight and he too was back on that inside rail, by the time he was fully clear the quinella had greater momentum, he was strong late (11.40 ranked 3rd) and you can argue strongly he goes close with better luck also.
MANAAL was the pick of the closers from mile back 2nd-last at the 600m she recorded clear race-fastest 11.16 last 200m.
ENEEZA ran on hard out wider (best ground) and 11.36 home ranked 2nd.
Speed: 35.10 1st-600m (+3.2L Vs G1 2yo class) and overall time: 1-9.76 also +3.2L Vs class.
There was only 2.7L over the first seven home here.
George Ryder
The G1 George Ryder Stks was R7 at 1500m/ WFA.
The 3YO VEIGHT had the gun trail behind the strong speed then presented to best part of the track, he ket going too well to hold off LADY LAGUNA (ran the 1500m right out) and MILITARIZE (other 3yo) who didn’t quicken coming back in trip (400m-to-200m split ranked 6th) before charging late with an 11.36 (ranked 3rd) but yeah, that drop back in trip clearly didn’t suit him anywhere near as much as it did the winner (who just struggles at a string mile I think).
GOLDEN MILE was much, much better (every chance) with 1.9L 4th.
THINK ABOUT IT did work early on a strong speed (1st-600m +3L Vs G1 average/ 1st-900m 53.14) and ran very well for mine 2nd-up at 1500m.
ENCAP and PERICLES worked home well (4th and 5th rank home respectively).
Time: 1-28.09 was -.4L Vs G1 average despite that speed.
Rosehill Guineas
R6 was another G1 and this the Rosehill Guineas for 3yo’s at 2000m.
All honours winner here with RIFF ROCKET who was back and over-racing early off a slow speed by G1 standard (-8.6L in fact), he then went forward 3-wide no trail 900m out, he then proceeded to run them all down anyway!
His 33.8 last 600m (+3.6L Vs G1 3yo ave) and 11.24 last 200m were clear race-fastest.
CEOLWULF had a much softer run 2-wide 6th with cover and whilst no match winner he battled strongly to the line to get second from CAP FERRAT (sat 1-1 / every chance).
GANBARE led and was gallant but every hope this tempo and IMMEDIACY measured-up well.
TOM KITTEN went back inside (not best ground) and was only beaten 1.6L - These six beat rest clearly.
Time: 2-03.03 was -7.5L Vs class off that slow tempo.
Ranvet Stakes
R5 was the G1 Ranvet at 2000m and this was run at barrier trial speed.
THINK IT OVER led at -18.8L Vs G1 average, his 1st-1400m was run in 1-31.01 so, 3yo Ganbare in the next race (who wasn’t going hard) would have been leading him by some 14L with 600m to run, wowee !!! Winner VIA SISTINA sat back last and peeled out and was simply way too classy for another import PLACE DU CARROUSEL who had 1-1 trail and head-start on the winner.
BUCKAROO was good through wire back inside them and 1400m-to-2000m here but all about the winner and her 33.08 last 600m was actually bettered only by Sunshine In Paris in a G1 Galaxy at 1100m on the day, her last 200m was 11.12 (3rd-fastest day).
Amazing splits… Safe to say a fast-run race will only suit her better. Time: 2-04.49 was -15.6L Vs class.
On overall times Riff Rocket beats her 8-9L which again shows overall times do NOT tell the entire story…
Galaxy Stakes
That G1 Galaxy was the 5th and final G1 (1100m) and it was an odd race with a stack of hard luck stories.
Winner ZAPATEO had the 1-1 trail, peeled out and ran down FRONT PAGE who gave a great sight leading -1.4L Vs G1 class (1st-500m 29.1) with SUNSHINE IN PARIS splitting them despite going back closest inside (certainly not A-ground by race 9) and her 33.03/ 11.08 splits here the day’s fastest.
ASFOORA gave her all sitting up second and there was .87L between these four… When I say it was an odd race I mean, nothing ran on!
It was a race of two halves, the front five ran 3rd, 4th, 1st, 5th, 2nd and those back were in a different race!
Weird.
Time: 1-2.95 was +1.9L Vs class.
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