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Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: New Golden Slipper contender emerges

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances from Saturday’s 10-race card at Royal Randwick.

Mitch Cohen
4 min read
December 23, 2024 - 6:30AM
Pallaton produced an explosive debut display. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Pallaton produced an explosive debut display. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Exciting colt Pallaton thrust himself into the Golden Slipper frame while His Majesty King Charles III had a Royal Randwick winner with Gilded Water on Saturday.

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has dissected all the action from Saturday’s 10-race card in Sydney.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

PALLATON (Race 1 – 1st of 9)
Super sire Wootton Bassett has already produced a couple of nice juveniles in Australia and this bloke looks to be right up there. He can measure up in the Golden Slipper lead-ups next year.

GETAFIX (Race 5 – 3rd of 8)
Didn’t have the clearest running in the straight but it was a terrific return behind Arriving Home and Midnight Dynamite. He’s right on track for the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

GERIATRIX (Race 8 – 6th of 9)
Ex-Kiwi galloper having his first start in Australia and was doing his best work late after settling last in the run. Tipping it won’t take long for him to break through for the new yard.

YORKSHIRE (Race 10 – 2nd of 14)
Found out the finish with Accredited first up from a break and only just went down in a close go to the line while comfortably beating the rest. The son of Snitzel looks in for a great prep.

WEST OF AFRICA (Race 10 – 3rd of 14)
Never looked a winning chance in the last but was fantastic making up a stack of ground from the back to finish third. He will be hard to hold out over more ground next start.

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STEWARDS SAY

Texas Fireball (Race 2 – 6th of 13): Was one paced over the final 200m with jockey Tyler Schiller of the belief he made be looking for more ground. Found to be displaying heat stress post-race.

Awesome Tycoon (Race 3 – 11th of 11): Came under pressure prior to home turn and was eased down as apprentice Zac Wadick thought something was amiss. He was revealed to be displaying mild heat stress.

I Am Famous (Race 4 – 8th of 8): Raced keenly throughout the early and middle stages. Was found to be suffering mild heat stress post-race and was 1/5 lame in the off-foreleg.

Diddle Dumpling (Race 5 – 7th of 8): Stirred up prior to being loaded and was fractious in the barriers, missing the start as a result. No abnormalities were found post-race.

Dawn Service (Race 5 – 5th of 8): Raced keenly in early stages with apprentice Ben Osmond of the belief he will take fitness benefit from the run. A post-race examination found the colt to be slow to recover.

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CRUNCH TIME

Pallaton (Race 1): Closed off like a pretty serious juvenile in the opener when running his last 600m in 33.28 seconds. He went 10.84 between the 400m to the 200m to bolt clear.

In Summer (Race 2): Went back to last from the wide gate but made up ground and produced a race best last 600m to win, clocking 34.42 seconds. It included 11.27 and 11.76 for her final two splits.

Gilded Water (Race 6): Highlighted his staying talent, getting better the further he went. His last 600m of 34.39 seconds was enhanced by race best final furlongs of 11.34 and 11.68.

West Of Africa (Race 10): Still a clear last at the 800m, he rattled home from the back with a slick last 600m of 33.18 seconds. His final two furlongs of 10.68 and 11.48 were the best of the race.

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TRACK TALK

“When I came back in on the horse after the (midweek) gallop and before I had a chance to say anything, Michael said: ‘Tell me what is going to beat that horse on Saturday’.” — Tommy Berry after Pallaton’s win.

“I’ve got five by Wootton Bassetts and they have a bit of Danehill about them in terms of their temperament.” — Michael Freedman.

“Gilded Water is very, very progressive.” — Trainer Ciaron Maher.

“Now it is up to the maestro (Maher) to see what he can conjure up to give the King and Queen a thrill in this country which is the objective.” — The King’s racing manager, John Warren.

“He is a real talent and it is hard to believe he is only 18, he’s just fantastic.” — Tom Charlton on Billy Loughnane.

“She might be a Queensland Oaks filly.” — Nathan Doyle on Churchill’s Choice.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

RACE 7
Churchill’s Choice had been a TAB market mover during the week and was backed into $4.60 from $11 to be on the third line of betting, although most of the money was with $3.70 favourite Bright Red, who was third.

RACE 8
Ang Pow had drifted from $4.60 to $8.50 with TAB punters but still got the chocolate despite holding only 14 per cent of all outlays.

RACE 9
Iowna Merc had firmed from $11 to $9.50 but was still on the fifth line of betting when it went first past the post, which would have delighted the TAB punter who placed $2150 on the nose on the gelding at a juicy $9.50.

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THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Bathurst, Tamworth
Tuesday: Wagga Riverside
Wednesday: No racing
Thursday: Randwick, Beaumont Newcastle, Ballina, Inverell, Wauchope, Quirindi, Queanbeyan, Tumut, Wellington
Friday: Murwillumbah
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange, Gilgandra, Corowa
Sunday: Port Macquarie, Sapphire Coast

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RON DUFFICY’S ROYAL RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY
Gilded Water has a long way to go before reaching what is expected of him now but he is well on his way now after another authoritative win 2nd up win at 2400m this time.

FORGET THEY RAN
Getafix was jammed tight between runners with barely any room to move over the last 200m and couldn’t extend. He should come on nicely from this moving forward.

THE BLACK BOOK
It’s hard to go past the obvious of Pallaton and Gilded Water moving forward but they will be well found now. Time To Boogie and Yorkshire are the other two who resumed with great runs.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Tim Clark is in great form and that showed with his ride on Iowna Merc who he saved for the last two strides, bluffing him to victory.

Originally published as Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: New Golden Slipper contender emerges

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/mitch-cohens-blackbook-new-golden-slipper-contender-emerges/news-story/0bca8b344bd2db00885e96634dffdb73