Ron Dufficy’s raceday focus: Race by race analysis of the action at Randwick on Saturday

TAB BIG BETS: SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers at on day two of The Championships, plus what the jockeys said in all the big races.

Photographs: Simon Bullard. Race 5 - 1:55PM ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT (1200 METRES). Winner 'Japonisme' ridden by Hugh Bowman.

SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers at on day two of The Championships, plus what the jockeys said in all the big races.

TRACK: Races 1-4 Soft (6), Races 5-10 Soft (5)

RANDWICK: STEWARDS’ REPORT

R1: FERNHILL HCP (1600m)

1 PRIZED ICON: Jumped well but was three wide early before sitting outside lead. Was too strong in run to the line.

2 CROWN HIM: Jumped well but snagged back to settle fourth one off rail. P​l​ugged away.

3 LASQUETI SPIRIT: Led and looked gone but fought back gamely.

WELL PLANNED: An astute piece of placement by James Cummings to set the horse Prized Icon for this race, he appreciated getting his blinkers back on and he got a cool ride by Bowman.

​MERIT​: There was plenty of merit in the run of the longshot Lasqueti Spirit​. ​He worked hard to find the front after a slow start and showed courage by not throwing things away when beaten.

BETTING: Prized Icon was the best supported runner in the race. With Obscura scratched, punters wanted to be on the James Cummings-trained runner who was as short as $2.10 at one point in the morning but got out to $2.80 come jump time. Overall, it held over 55 per cent of the total investment. Reinforced ($3.20) was solid in betting and the best tried to beat the favourite while Crown Him ($5-$4.20) was best of the others. BETS: Crown Him $2,000 @ $4.20. Prized Icon $2,000 @ $2.10

R2: SOUTH PACIFIC CLASSIC (1400m)

1 HANDFAST: Handy on the fence, got the split and dashed through.

2 SANTA ANNA LANE: Better than midfield ​early ​and came into the race stylishly. Didn​’​t run past them but kept coming.

3 SERENE MAJESTY: Back with runner-up in the run and got home well.

T​HE FAVOURITE: Kimberley Star was given a perfect run in transit by Blake Shinn but was very disappointing​, ​ not finishing off her race at all. ​

​OAKS TYPE: ​Chandana resumed from a break here and really caught the eye late​. She’s looking good already for the Qld Oaks.

BETTING: Punters left it in the bag with Kimberley Star. As much as $12 earlier in the week, it enjoyed good support over the last few days to start at $5 after bottoming out at $4.60 this morning. Santa Ana Lane ($6-$11) almost defied a big betting drift but was knocked off by Handfast ($10-$9.50). There was also moves for Tulsa ($15-$8-$9.50) and Suspense ($8-$11) with the latter being the second best backed runner in the race.

Handfast could head to the Hawkesbury Guineas next start.

R3: PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL (1400m)

1 DANISH TWIST: Three back the rail and was strung up before getting clear and charging home.

2 POWERLINE: Led and gave an almighty kick. Run down dying stages.

3 HIS MAJESTY: Went back and made run along the rails. Was unlucky not to have finished closer.

F​ARCICAL: This race was run at a ridiculous speed upfront and the backmarkers had too much to do​. ​, Brett Prebble​’​s initiative on the longshot Powerline nearly paid dividends.

T​HE TRAINER: Kris Lees deserves a pat on the back to prepare 8 horses perfectly for this race and produced 1st 2nd and 4th​ placegetters​.

BETTING: Better Not Blue was smashed in betting. Such was the confidence in which it was supported that it was $11 late Friday into equal $6 favourite at start time. His Majesty, long-time favourite even when the market was All In, was $5 out to $8 on raceday while Hetty Heights ($6-$7) also drifted. Danish Twist got out to as much as $9.50 during the week but good, sustained support saw it start as equal pick at $6. Powerline did attract a few smaller each way bets at $51.

R4: PERCY SYKES STAKES (1200m)

1 MISSROCK: One out one back and came three wide around the turn. Looked in trouble but kept finding.

2 PROMPT RESPONSE: Third the fence​, ​ got a split, wanted to lay in but kept grinding to line. Follow up over further.

3 SPRIGHT: Settled back and got to ​the ​outside before flashing home.

WOW: ​Missrock produced an amazing performance to get the money ​first​-​up here with a very tough performance​. She was the​ first one under pressure and showed great fight winning.

THE FUTURE: The winner Missrock is the horse to follow​. It should be all upside with this lovely big filly in the spring and she should get to the mile no problem.

BETTING: Missrock defied a big betting drift late in the piece to land the cash. Bottoming out at $9, she went right out to $17 in the final few minutes of betting despite being one of the better tried runners. Thyme For Roses ($6-$4.60) went into a clear favourite after the late scratching of Gretna, while Twist Tops ($6-$5) had a fair bit of money invested on it. Prompt Response, favourite for a good portion of the day, had little support and started a $5 chance. BETS: Twist Tops $4,000 @ $5.

Hugh Bowman won the Nathan Berry Medal as the carnival’s champion jockey.

R5: ARROWFIELD SPRINT (1200m)

1 JAPONISME: Settled 5th three wide with cover, hit the front 100m out and fought on tenaciously

2 COUNTERATTACK: Tracked the winner into the straight and tried hard

3 TAKEDOWN: Sat outside the early leader all the way, gutsy effort to get third

M​R. CONSISTENCY: Japonisme is just your no nonsense good horse who keeps having a go at whatever level he contests and it was another pretty ride by Bowman.

H​ORROR MOVIE: Supporters of Ghisoni were left shaking their head​s​ after she ran into dead ends in the straight​. ​She should have won easy​. ​Her turn will come in the future.

BETTING: Japonisme landed some serious bets after jumping a $3.20 favourite for the Arrowfield Sprint. Bottoming out at $2.80 following good support late yesterday / early today, the Chris Waller-trained sprinter got back out to $3.20 but still held well over half of all bets placed on the race today. Petits Filous, which blew from $3.80 out to $7 at one point, started at $5 after a late rally while the big move late for Ghisoni ($11-$7) failed to come off. BETS: Japonise $5,700 @ $2.80, $3,40 @ $3.20, $3,000 @ $3.20.

R6: AUSTRALIAN OAKS (2400m)

1 SOFIA ROSA: Had a lovely run in 4th place with cover, hit the front at the 100m and strong to the line

2 AMBIENCE: Tucked away on the rails midfield throughout and ran on well

3 BELIEVE: On the pace two and three wide without cover most of the trip, game effort

ALL HEART: ​Little Sofia Rosa left her rivals no excuses with a sensational performance here​. ​ ​S​he was aggressive in the yard​, ​ travelled wide​, hung in and was so tough in the finish. She is a ripper.

​THOUGHTS: All our thoughts are with Kathy O’Hara after a horrible fall on her favourite horse Single Gaze.

BETTING: Jameka was by far and away the best supported runner in the race. Rock solid at $3.20 throughout the day, she held nearly 50 per cent of the total investment. The big move in the final hour before the race paid ultimate dividends when Sofia Rosa ($8-$5) outstayed her opposition. Happy Hannah was a noted drifter and went $5 out to $7 while the same could be said for Valley Girl ($9.50-$15). Single Gaze ($11-$15) had good each way support throughout the day but went out late. Honesta ($11-$8) was one of the few firmers in the race. BETS: Jameka $3,000 @ $3.20, $2,000 @ $3.20 MULTIPLE TIMES. Sofia Rosa $1,000 @ $6 TWICE.

WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

Courtesy of racingandports.com.au and ATC

Hugh Bowman (Sofia Rosa): “Not everything went to plan for this filly. I’ve ridden some difficult horses in my time but this one takes the cake. She is so temperamental. She went out onto the track early and she hasn’t given me a minutes peace since I got on her. Even when I went for her she baulked in, then I straightened her. She has got some fight.”

Damien Oliver (Jameka): “She just didn’t show speed out of the gates today, I had a nice run followed the winner and was a couple lengths off when we straightened. The winner just quickened a bit better than her today.”

Kathy O’Hara (Single Gaze): Injured in fall.

Craig Williams (Honesta): “Unfortunately I was disappointed with her performance today but her mannerisms were a lot different today than this preparation. She was very unhappy and aggressive in the stalls, subsequently she performed poorly.”

Nicholas Hall (Sacred Eye): “Really happy with her, she was strong to the line and ran it out strong. Just would be a little bit more positive from the gates from now on.”

James McDonald (Ambience): “She ran really well, peaked on the right day and ran out of her skin.”

Brett Prebble (Valley Girl): “Very courageous run I felt, bit suspect in the ground, when I got through along the inside I thought she was going to win but that last bit she was really out at sea in it.”

Glyn Schofield (Diamond Made): “She had a lovely run in the race, just when she needed it she didn’t have the class to carry her through.”

Dwayne Dunn (Alaskan Rose): “She ran terrific, she had no luck in transit she got bashed up the whole way and checked again half down the running. She has run really well, hopefully off to Brisbane now and win a race there.”

Opie Bosson (Capella): “She walked out of the barriers and got a long way back, but made up good ground in the end.

Tommy Berry (Chabaud): “Ran really well and ran the trip out well. She handled the track I just needed clear running the whole way. Very honest.”

Mark Zahra (Self Esteem): “She gave a bit of a sight the last furlong just got a bit much for her.”

Blake Shinn (Happy Hannah): “Bit below par performance, expecting a lot more today, had a nice run got on the winner’s back at the 1000m, just may have come to the end of her preparation with a run like that today.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Believe): “Really happy with her run, she got into a nice spot I just wasn’t happy with the tempo at the mile so I elected to slide around and sit outside the leader which she did nicely. She battled hard all the way to the line. She’ll be even better next time in.”

R7: SYDNEY CUP (3200m)

1 GALLANTE: Went to an easy early lead, beautifully rated throughout, too strong in the run home.

2 LIBRAN: Had a lovely run midfield throughout and tried hard all the way up the straight.

3 GRAND MARSHAL: Sat back early, made a move out wide at the 800m and battled gamely to the line.

OUTSTAYED: Gallante made this race his own dictating terms to suit himself fighting off all challengers for a gallant win​. ​ ​H​e has really turned the corner as a gelding.

​ NO DISGRACE: Libran had his chance but has done a great job this preparation and there is still plenty of upside with him.

BETTING: Gallante, as much as $15 after Tuesday’s barrier draw, hit $8 at one stage but drifted out in the final 20 minutes of betting to start at $11. Libran, who was $3 earlier in the week, started as the $3.80 favourite while Who Shot Thebarman ($4.20) was the best supported runner in terms of money taken. Almoonqith was specked right throughout the week and firmed from $13 into $8 today before its price was trimmed to $6. BETS: Libran $4,500 & $4,000 @ $3.80, Grand Marshal $7,850 @ $5, Gallante $1,000 @ $11, $1,000 e/w @ $8/$2.33.

Gallante scored an all-the-way win in the Sydney Cup.

WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

Kerrin McEvoy (Gallante): “He was full of running at the top of the rise. He is by Montjeu so they are a little bit quirky. Lloyd said do your best to try and run a race like Frankie Dettori did in the Arc last year and we were able to pull it off.”

Blake Shinn (Who Shot Thebarman): “He ran a good honest fourth, had a lovely run throughout tracked into like the winner but just this going takes his sprint out of him.”

Hugh Bowman (Almoonqith): “I felt he didn’t quite run the two-miles but he certainly gave me a good feel.”

James McDonald (Grand Marshal): “He went super, gave me a lovely ride and had his chance.”

Brenton Avdulla (Libran): “Little bit heartbroken, we’ve won all the prelims, the semis and all that and we got here today and just couldn’t get it done in the Grand Final. Two weeks in a row I’ve been beaten by one better.”

Tommy Berry (Auvray): “Disappointing.”

Jason Collett (Destiny’s Kiss): “Nice run in the race but just unable to go with them when they quickened.”

Chad Schofield (Cafe Society): “He enjoyed the run of the race and travelled beautifully throughout and when I peeled him out at the 600m I thought we were a chance but he was empty at the 400m, he just didn’t stay.”

Blake Spriggs (Like A Carousel): “He was tough, he is probably a horse that appreciated the old whip rules, he felt like he needed three of four before he actually would get going. When I did hit him he kept holding his ground.”

Thomas Huet (Dee I Cee): “It wasn’t a very good ride I couldn’t get in, as a result the horse tired early.”

R8: COOLMORE LEGACY STAKES (1600m)

1 AZKADELLIA: Raced well back, saved ground along the inside and finished full of running along the rails for a dominant win

2 HEAVENS ABOVE: Sat back towards the tail, pulled out and finished fast down the middle of the track

3 NOBLE PROTECTOR: Settled handy on the inside just behind the pace and battled on well

ALL CLASS: A thoroughly deserved ​G​roup 1 win for a very good ma​r​e Azkadellia here​. ​ Oliver stayed cool​, ​ calm and collected back in the field and had no hesitation bringing her along the inside for a soft win.

​THE FUTURE: A​zkadellia​ could go on to tackle the Stradbroke over the winter​, ​ while ​her trainer Ciaron Maher is already a big name in racing but he will get bigger.

BETTING: Azkadellia proved to be the punters pal as she took out the Coolmore. Heavily supported from $3.20 into $2.70 late, she held a whopping 60 per cent of all investments on the race. To highlight her popularity, she was six times more popular than the next best backed runner and that was Zanbagh ($7-$8). This was by far the worst result all day for the TAB at Randwick. Miss Rose De Lago was tried at one point and touched $9.50 before getting back out to $11 while the move for Heavens Above ($21-$17-$13) nearly paid dividends. BETS: Azkadellia $5,000 @ $3.20, $3,000 @ $2.80.

WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

Damien Oliver (Azkadellia): “She is a little ripper this one. You never get sick of riding these ones. She reels off some great sectionals. She hasn’t seen the wet tracks in Melbourne, it’s just been so dry down there. We always thought she had an action like she would love the soft and she showed that today. When she straightened up I think she was pretty happy not to see Winx in front of her. She quickened really good and she loves that ground.”

Luke Currie (Suavito): “She got in and had a nice run but she raced a little bit flat, little bit plain.”

James McDonald (Miss Rose De Lago): “She just never copped the sticky track conditions but I thought her effort was good.”

Craig Williams (Noble Protector): “Her mannerisms at the gate were much better and she got into a lovely position, I thought she was very gallant in defeat on a track that she is not 100 per cent comfortable. The winner is very good.”

Blake Shinn (Zanbagh): “Great run, ran 5th the winner and other placegetters just out sprinted her when the sprint went on but she stuck to her task really well.”

Sam Clipperton (Casino Dancer): “I thought it was a good run particularly against that grade. In another couple of runs she will be peaking at the right time and be hard to beat.”

Thomas Huet (Artistry): “From the wide draw we got a bit far back, she tried hard just better company today.”

Brenton Avdulla (Vergara): “She tried hard, she was on the quick back up and she handled it well. Obviously went up a lot in weight but she gave us a bit of a thrill early.”

Daniel Stackhouse (Coronation Shallan): “I don’t think she was ever comfortable in the ground and was outclassed.”

Jason Collett (Slightly Sweet): “Never close enough from the barrier.”

Tye Angland (Heavens Above): “Really good run, drew a really good gate and had a perfect run through the race, when I come through on the corner I actually thought I was the winner, but yeah Olly’s horse let down very strongly, but very brave, very gallant, my little filly.”

Hugh Bowman (Lady Le Fay): “She had dream run midfield and finished off well. She obviously couldn’t cater for the others at this stage but she is in great form.”

Craig Newitt (Badawiya): “She battled a little bit today. From the 700m she just whacked away.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Pasadena Girl): “Travelled behind the eventual winner but once she got off the bridle at the 700m in that ground she wasn’t happy and she only laboured home.”

Damian Lane (Risque): “She didn’t run to her best.”

R9: QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (2000m)

1 LUCIA VALENTINA: Last into the straight, went wide and let down brilliantly to win running away.

2 THE UNITED STATES: Just in front of the winner into the straight but no match over concluding stages.

3 HAPPY CLAPPER: Settled back in the field on the inside, finished off well when he gained clear running.

E​ASY AS YOU LIKE: An enormous performance by a bonny mare in Lucia Val​e​ntina who overcome trouble on the turn to race away for a brilliant win.

T​HE TRAINER: Kris Lees planned this move 6 months ago with this mare and he deserves all ​the ​credit.

BETTING: The serious money was with the likes of Preferment ($5), The United States ($5-$4.60-$5) and Criterion ($6-$8) today. Lucia Valentina actually bottomed out at $6 one point during the afternoon but after big support came for Preferment and The United States, she went back out. Happy Clapper ($11-$8) was another that saw good support in the closing stages of betting while Hauraki, which was unwanted all week and got out to $9.50, jumped at $8. overall, Preferment held nearly 30 per cent of all investments on the day. Other holds included The United States (23%) and Criterion (18%). Lucia Valentina held 9 per cent of the total investment. BETS: Preferment $9,600 @ $5, The United States $4,500 @ $5, $4,000 @ $4.60, Lucia Valentina $2,000 X $1,000 @ $8/$2.60, $2,000 E/W @ $6.$2.17.

WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

Damien Oliver (Lucia Valentina): “She couldn’t go with them at all early. If you just leave her alone this mare she will reward you late. Coming to the turn I had a lot of horse and not much room to go anywhere. I went up in between a couple as we straightened and I got shut-out of that. She picked herself up again and just went whoosh.”

Tommy Berry (Criterion): “He’s done a great job, he’s had a great career and is ready for the breeding barn now.”

Hugh Bowman (Preferment): “He is more at home on top of the ground but he had his chance today.”

Opie Bosson (Mongolian Khan): “Ran okay it was a big improvement from last time anyway.”

Kerrin McEvoy (The United States): “Really happy with his run he produced at the 300m and looked the winner but we just laboured a little bit in the ground whereas the winner loved it. It was a very credible run.”

Dwayne Dunn (Happy Trails): “What a warhorse he is, he has run terrific again today. The winner was just far too superior today.”

Sam Clipperton (It’s Somewhat): “Super run, had to do a little bit work to get where I did and got flushed out early, hit the front and put in a game performance.”

Nicholas Hall (Dibayani): “Back to the mile he’ll be a really nice horse.”

Brenton Avdulla (Happy Clapper): “He ran terrific, didn’t have a lot of room probably most of the way around, when he saw a bit of daylight the first two were off and gone but to his credit he stuck to his guns well and ran third.”

James McDonald (Hauraki): “Didn’t have the best of luck but he didn’t like that sticky track.”

Christian Reith (Leebaz): “Just found it a little bit tough today but he’ll bounce back.”

Damian Lane (Rising Romance): “She ran really well they just outsprinted her the last 100m.”

Blake Shinn (Fenway): “She ran her good honest race considering she didn’t handle the going.”

Stephen Baster (Awesome Rock): “Just didn’t handle it all.”

R10: SAPPHIRE STAKES (1200m)

1 TWO BLUE: Jumped well, went to the lead, found plenty when pressure applied

2 SECRET AGENDA: Had the run of the race in fourth spot and battled on well

3 BROOK ROAD: Had a nice run midfield, made ground along the rails

THE BATTLERS: A popular result from the gutsy Two Blue to give Kristan Buchanan and Paul King a win over the Championships.

​ THE FAVOURITES: Bounding and Griante both had the​ir chance and were very disappointing​. ​

BETTING: Bounding was backed into $6 favourite off the back of some good bets late. Cradle Me, which held favouritism for most of the week, started the day at $5 but drifted out to $7 with the support for Bounding while Secret Agenda had its admirers and was $13 into $9.50 late. The move for No More Tears didn’t come to fruition as it was specked since Wednesday, when it was $35. It would end up at $13. Two Blue ($21-26) had some small support but held a fraction of what the likes of Bounding, Cradle Me and Griante held. BETS: Bounding $5,000 @ $6, Griante $3,000 @ $7, Secret Agenda $2,000 @ $11.