Ray Thomas blackbook: Summer sprint finds Disneck and Accredited set for Rosehill showdown next Saturday
In-form sprinters Accredited and Disneck are set for an engrossing showdown in Saturday’s Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
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Sydney’s summer sprint finds Disneck and Accredited are set for a showdown in the Group 3 $250,000 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Both sprinters have reeled off a hat-trick of city wins in recent weeks to command their chance at stakes level.
Disneck, which won his third successive Randwick 1200m sprint on January 4, will be among three Southern Cross Stakes starters for the in-form Bjorn Baker stable.
“We gave Disneck a barrier trial at Rosehill last Thursday and he’s ticking over nicely. All we want is a good track and he will be hard to beat on Saturday,’’ Baker said.
“Iowna Merc won the Canterbury Sprint then he wasn’t suited over 1350m in a slowly run race at Wyong. He’s a good chance going back to 1200m.
• Berry eyes Golden Slipper return after Randwick fall
“Wategos is first-up and he generally needs a couple of runs to be back to his best. He’s also better at 1400m but he has had two trials and is coming up really well.’’
Baker prepared a double at Randwick on Saturday with Our Anchorage and Point And Shoot, as did Accredited’s trainer Joe Pride with Cosmonova and Headley Grange.
Pride initially had Accredited set for the Carrington Stakes last Saturday but that race was abandoned due to a lack of runners.
“We have had to go with what I would call ‘Plan E’ and go to the Southern Cross Stakes with Accredited,’’ Pride said.
“It was disappointing because he was going to run a short-priced favourite in a Listed race (Carrington) but we won’t be doing that at Rosehill. But he will still run well because he’s a nice horse.’’
Trainer Chris Waller revealed boom colt and early Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton won’t run in the Group 3 $250,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m).
“Wodeton was very good at his first start at Rosehill. You never really know until they are under race pressure but he handled it well,’’ Waller said.
“The Canonbury was an option but I think he gets a 3kg penalty, for winning the other day and, honestly, there is no rush with this colt.
“So, we decided after his first start to send him to Limitless Lodge for a week and he’s back in Monday.
“It breaks up his ‘prep’ a little bit so he will probably go to the Silver Slipper and Todman Stakes.
“But we will probably will have a couple of first starters for next week (Canonbury) with Tropic and Fermoy.’’
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Cosmonova (race 7) opened at $8 and eased slightly to $8.50 before a fast finishing win. Most of the money was for third-placed Bonita Queen with one TAB punter having a $3000 each way bet on Cosmonova at $8/$4.20.
The Joe Pride-trained Headley Grange (race 8), a stablemate of Cosmonova, was well backed from $4.60 into $2.60 with just under 40 per cent of the hold. One punter had $5000 on Headley Grange at $2.50 and there was another successful wager of $4000 at $3.50.
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FIVE TO FOLLOW
United States and Nordic Viking (race 1) were both excellent on debut. The pair settled back in the field then United States went wide in the straight and Nordic Viking came through near the rails as the pair rattled home to finish second and third respectively.
Clear Thinking (race 3) was first-up with 60kg and seemed to be in trouble back in the field but she sprinted brilliantly to reel in the leaders for an outstanding first-up win in a fast-run Highway. She is undefeated in four starts and is being aimed at the Triscay Stakes.
Highway Strip and Joiselle (race 3) were excellent in defeat. Highway Strip raced wide without cover for most of the race but was closing fast for second while Joiselle set a fast tempo upfront and held on bravely for third.
Qatar’s Choice (race 6) was no match for the brilliant runaway winner Point And Shoot but her effort to finish second was full of merit. She was held up for a run at a vital stage in the straight before closing her race off strongly.
Winston Hills (race 9) drifted back to last on the behind then got to the outside and ran on strongly to finish fourth behind impressive winner Yiska. Winston Hills ran his final 600m in a fast 11.56sec.
TURF TALK
“If she wins a stakes races then she is out of the Country Championships. But she is that good and deserves her chance for black type. With her breeding, if she wins a stakes race then she is a very valuable broodmare,’’ said Paul Messara, trainer of Clear Thinking.
“I had some navigating to do between horses tiring late but she’s all class and I feel she will definitely get to black type this preparation,’’ said Clear Thinking’s jockey Aaron Bullock.
“I had some navigating to do between horses tiring late but she all class and I feel she will definitely get to black type this preparation.’’
“They are different types of horses. Bel Merci is so brilliant but Open Secret is a good filly, too. It’s hard to split them but I’d say Bel Merci is pretty special,’’ said trainer John Thompson.
“I just rode him to use his turn of foot. The pace was good enough early and he relaxed well then unleashed with a dynamic turn of foot to win in style,’’ said Tim Clark, rider of Point And Shoot.
“She is a very well-bred mare with a good future and is still on the way up so it was an important win for her today,’’ said Joe Pride, trainer of Cosmonova.
CRUNCH TIME
Nordic Viking (race 1), a two-year-old colt by champion racehorse and sire So You Think, made an excellent debut with a fast-finishing third. He recorded 33.14sec for his final 600m sectional, the best split of the meeting.
United States (race 1) also impressed on debut, getting out to the centre of the track and finishing hard for second, recording 33.31sec for the final 600m. His closing 200m sectional of a fast 11.47sec was the best of the day.
Clearly Thinking (race 3) was back in the field and inside runners but she wove through the pack and stormed home in 33.97sec for her final 600m to maintain her unbeaten record.
Headley Grange (race 8) reeled off a fast final 600m sectional of 33.73sec to continue his winning momentum this summer. He ripped home the closing 200m split in a swift 11.63sec.
STEWARDS SAY
Stewards adjourned an inquiry into riders Tommy Berry (Step Aside) and apprentice Teighan Worsnop (Shihab) both being dislodged near the 800m. Berry was treated for lower back soreness and taken to hospital while Worsnop was suffering mild concussion.
Qatar’s Choice (race 6) was held up from the 400m until inside the final 150m when second to Point And Shoot.
For Victory (race 5) moved back to the inside and became held up on straightening. For Victory was then held up behind eventual winner Political Debate and went to the line untested.
Highway Strip (race 3) raced wide and without cover from the 800m and hung out making the turn near the 600m.
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DUFF’S RANDWICK SNAPSHOT
RUN OF THE DAY
He may have been suited by a fast run race but Point And Shoot showed an amazing turn of speed emerging from last to win by more than five lengths.
Judging by this performance he is a black type winner in waiting.
FORGET THEY RAN
For Victory is hard to catch but he ambled to the line with his head on his chest running into dead ends all the way down the straight.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
While all the talk understandably is about Wodeton, his stablemate United States also made a big statement moving forward after a great debut off one soft trial. In the same race, Nordic Viking showed he could develop into a Sires-Champagne Stakes type.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Aaron Bullock rode a smart race on the unbeaten Clear Thinking. He kept his main danger Highway Strip off the track and that was a winning move.
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NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Warwick Farm, Grafton
Tuesday: Armidale, Goulburn
Wednesday: Kembla Grange
Thursday: Scone
Friday: Canterbury (night), Bathurst, Taree
Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle
Sunday: Murwillumbah, Sapphire Coast
Originally published as Ray Thomas blackbook: Summer sprint finds Disneck and Accredited set for Rosehill showdown next Saturday
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