Ron Dufficy’s raceday focus: Race by race analysis of the action at Rosehill on Saturday
TAB BIG BETS: SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers at Rosehill on Saturday, plus what the jockeys said in all the big races.
Opinion
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SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers at Rosehill on Saturday, plus what the jockeys said in all the big races.
Track: Good (4)
ROSEHILL: STEWARDS’ REPORT
R1: E-GROUP SECURITY (1400m)
1 FEDERAL: Three back on the rail, got the split and was too strong. Will improve.
2 RELIGIFY: Jumped OK, mustered and came across to lead. Kicked around the bend and was only run down late.
3 SABKHAT: Sweated up then settled fourth one off rail. Okay through line given pre-race antics.
NICE RETURN: A good training performance by John O’Shea with Federal to have him wound up enough to win at 1400m after 322 days off. He was aided by the perfect ride by James McDonald.
THE NEXT STEP: Federal and his stablemate Sabkhat will both be set for the Hawkesbury and Scone carnivals in the near future and the timing for that looks right.
BETTING: Federal was the popular pick right throughout the week. With $6 given, he bottomed out at $4.40 before getting back out to $5. Bets on Federal accounted for 42 per cent of the total investment. Sonic Swish was peppered in betting right throughout the week and was $9 into $5.50 while others to have had support included Rockolicious ($7-$6), Dragon Flyer $7) and Roaring To Win ($8-$7.50).
R2: THE SCHWEPPERVESCENCE (1400m)
1 ATTENTION: Trailed the leader and peeled off before making a winning break.
2 PRIZED ICON: Settled one off the rail in fourth but was hampered for a run. Got going late.
3 CRAFTY COP: Led and kept kicking.
TACTICS: Attention was ridden much more aggressively this week in comparison to his first up run and it certainly paid dividends with a strong performance. Look out for him to bob up over the Queensland carnival.
FORGIVE: Rock And Swing got a long way back and just plugged home. His run doesn’t reflect his ability.
BETTING: Crafty Cop had very good backing right throughout the week. With $9 available on Wednesday, punters took it and kept chipping away to see it start at $4.60. Moqueen ($8-7) was the best tried to beat the favourite while Achi Baba ($12-$8), Rock And Swing ($8.50) and Reinforced ($7). Attention ($16-$21) was largely ignored.
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
Blake Shinn (Attention): “We had to work hard early, he settled beautifully and we got a breather mid race and he had to dig deep from the 300m and he showed qualities of a nice horse going forward.”
Glyn Schofield (Prized Icon): “Ran well, got over nicely from the wide gate, followed the winner but just had to box his way out for three or four strides, hit the line strongly thereafter.”
Tommy Berry (Crafty Cop): “He had everything in his favour, he had an easy time in front, still a bit green in the straight, but he’s come a long way at just his second start.”
Hugh Bowman (Rock And Swing): “He just didn’t cope with the pressure of group racing at this stage but he’ll be a nice horse in the Spring.”
Brett Prebble (Reinforced): “Big raw baby, probably get out about midnight tonight.”
Brenton Avdulla (Taj Mahal): “I think he is a really talented horse just the penny has nowhere near dropped with him yet.”
Craig Williams (Wine): “He gives me a lovely feel for the future, unfortunately today at his second start with the blinkers on they went a little bit too slow, when they sprinted had horses all around him and just got a little bit lost.”
James McDonald (Achi Baba): “He is just a big green two-year-old who is going to take time to learn his craft.”
Tye Angland (Obscura): “Really good run. Got well back from a bad alley, they went slow, a lot of horses were checking in front of me and I had to make one long sustained run, he finished off very strongly.”
Damien Oliver (Moqueen): “Good run, she just wants a bit further.”
Jason Collett (Crown Him): “Better performance he picked up a lot from that first start, nice type.”
Winona Costin (Lasqueti Spirit): “She wasn’t up to these today but she is going to make a nice three-year-old.”
R3: NEVILLE SELLWOOD STKS (2000m)
1 IT’S SOMEWHAT: Settled third, solo with trail. Came to outside at 600m and launched into race. Scrambled home.
2 MESSENE: Loose lead, kicked, challenged and fought doggedly.
3 SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD: Midfield, came to outside and ran home okay hands and heels.
NICE BETS LANDED: It’s Somewhat landed confident bets to get the job done here. He made a move on the point of the turn and just had enough in hand on the line.
BRAVE: Messene was only having his second run at 2000m and was very brave in defeat. He kept having a go all the way down the straight and really made the favourite work.
BETTING: It’s Somewhat was one of the best backed runners all day. Opening at $4 during the week, $2.10 was still on offer an hour or so before the race but a flood of money saw it crunched into $1.70. Such was the weight of support for It’s Somewhat that it held 55 per cent of all bets on the race. Entirely Platinum ($7), Sir John Hawkwood ($8) and Messene ($6-$10) all had some support while Magic Hurricane blew right out in the closing stages of betting and went out at $17. BETS: It’s Somewhat $4,000 @ $1.80
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
James McDonald (It’s Somewhat): “I got on my bike a little bit early just so I could be in touch and I was lucky I did that at the right time. He was a tad dour but he made a 600m run so he stayed on strong it was a very good effort.”
Tommy Berry (Messene): “He went very nice, we had a beautiful time in front again. He was beaten by the favourite which he was expected to but I liked the way he challenged back at the end.”
Blake Spriggs (Sir John Hawkwood): “Look out Sydney Cup I think, he settled really well which was the main objective today. Just when they straightened they dashed away from him a little bit, being second up he didn’t go with him like he did last start but he was wearing away at them late. He drops down to 50kg in the Cup so I’d be looking out.”
Thomas Huet (Ghost Protocol): “Very good run, probably got a little bit too far back but hit the line well.”
Damien Oliver (Magic Hurricane): “I think he would appreciate a softer track.”
Dwayne Dunn (Entirely Platinum): “He just hasn’t come up this preparation he has been a little bit disappointing given what we know he can do.”
Jay Ford (Takewing): “He is poking a long okay, the tempo of the race was against. Probably will look to came back a cog in grade now.”
Craig Williams (Zarzali): “She is just not getting her right conditions which of course is a really heavy track.”
R4: STAR KINGDOM STAKES (1200m)
1 MALAGUERRA: Settled third on the fence, baulked for a run twice in the straight. Run came and dashed away for a good win.
2 TARGET IN SIGHT: Back, got to the outside and flashed home.
3 COOLRING: Worked early to lead, kicked, raced greenly.
REAL DEAL: The highly regarded Victorian Mulaguerra was terrific here. He sprinted quickly when the run opened and looked the real deal racing away.
MANNERS: Mulaguerra doesn’t help himself with his pre-race manners but obviously that doesn’t worry him. He looks a real Stradbroke type.
BETTING: There was a big go for Coolring to knock off the favourite Malaguerra. With $21 available throughout the week, punters kept backing the Bjorn Baker-trained runner no matter what price was on offer. Today it was $10 into $5.50 and overtook Alberto Magic ($4-$6) as second favourite. Malaguerra ($3.40-$2.60-$2.90) was still heavily supported and held over half of all bets on the race. BETS: Malaguerra $2,000 @ $3, Coolring $2,000 @ $5.50
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
Blake Shinn (Malaguerra): “He has a great motor, he settled great in the run once the barriers opened and I was just biding my time and wasn’t sure if the run was going to come, I had a lap full of horse and the leader just rolled off enough and at the 250m he showed a great turn of foot.
Hugh Bowman (Target In Sight): “First up for a very long time he raced very well.”
Jason Collett (Alberto Magic): “Disappointing, maybe looking for a bit of cut in the track.”
Brett Prebble (Decision Time): “Getting a it long in the tooth.”
Tim Clark (Angels Beach): “She was very disappointing second up today.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Bachman): “Little bit softer ground at Randwick is going to suit him now.”
James McDonald (Barbed): “Honest run, that’s as good as he can go.”
Brenton Avdulla (Coolring): “He ran super, he is a horse that is racing really well. He is probably better off with one or two to follow. He took the speed up today and got a bit lost but kept toughing it out well.”
Winona Costin (Turbulent Jet): “He had a good run in transit and worked to the line well.”
Craig Williams (Unequivocal): “They ran her off her legs for most part of the race but I was loving the way she stretched out up the straight.”
R5: TULLOCH STAKES (2000m)
1 OLD NORTH: Settled in 10th place early and travelled beautifully throughout, gained a rails run on straightening and sprinted clear for a comfortable win
2 TORGERSEN: Last all the way and let down out wide with a strong run to the line
3 MULTIFACETS: Behind a wall of horses on straightening and finished of strongly through the pack
SOFT WORK: Old North balanced beautifully behind the speed and charged through a narrow gap at the top of the straight to win with authority to stamp his claims for the Derby next week.
THE TASK AHEAD: While it was a soft win by the promising Old North, his task to beat Tarzino next week won’t be easy.
BETTING: Old North had very good backing throughout the day. With the removal of River Wild, who was supported earlier in the week, punters focused on Old North ($3.10-$3.70) who despite drifting was clearly the best tried runner in the Tulloch Stakes. Hattori Hanzo was unwanted and drifted from $5 out to $8.50. Balmain Boy saw good each way support ($17-$12-$8) while Torgersen was kept solid at that $15 quote. Man Of Choice drifted slightly from $6.50 to $7.50. BETS: Old North $5,000 @ $3.10, $5,000 @ $3.60, Torgersen $1,500 @ $15
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
James McDonald (Old North): “He is a beautiful animal, he has a lot of scope for improvement and is going through the grades quickly and I think the plan is head towards the Derby.”
Dwayne Dunn (Hattori Hanzo): “He ran terrific, he probably goes out for a spell now he has had a pretty busy campaign but is a very nice horse.”
Blake Shinn (Man Of Choice): “Not much to say.”
Brenton Avdulla (Tatoosh): “Ran well enough, he is just doing the little things wrong, I think blinkers will help him.”
Craig Williams (Torgersen): “He was back to second last throughout the race, when I asked him to quicken when he got a gap at the top of the straight he showed great acceleration and I liked the way he galloped strongly through the line. No doubt I think they will be backing up in seven days for the Derby.”
Tim Clark (Balmain Boy): “Not sure he ran the trip.”
Hugh Bowman (Multifacets): “Outstanding performance, probably could make a case that he was unlucky not to win but clearly passage next time he is definitely one to follow.”
Damien Oliver (Predator): “I think he needs a break.”
Daniel Moor (Hierarchal): “He travelled well but come off the bit too soon to be competitive.”
Jason Collett (Manhattan Son): “Not to bad a run, happy with that.”
Jay Ford (Schopenhauer): “Outclassed.”
Matthew Cahill (Alfden): “He raced in the first half dozen and was found wanting from the turn home.”
Tye Angland (Triantan): “He is a nice horse but he just isn’t quite ready for this pressure at the moment, he has had two wins this preparation, hopefully they spell him and he will come back a nice horse.”
R6: VINERY STUD STAKES (2000m)
1 SINGLE GAZE: Pressed forward early and settled in 4th place with cover, pulled out on straightening and strong to the line
2 VALLEY GIRL: Had a lovely run on the rails just behind the leader and gave her all
3 HAPPY HANNAH: Well back to the turn and doing her best work late
CINDERELLA STORY: Little Single Gaze has really turned the corner winning her past two now in very brave wins an dwhat a combination she and Kathy O’Hara are.
THE OAKS: The Kiwi Valley Girl did enough, Happy Hannah caught the eye, while Honesta may want a wet track leading into The Oaks.
BETTING: Risque ($3.40-$3.20) was the popular pick in terms of money taken. The race changed complexion when Jameka came out but prior to that Risque had good support from $4.60 into $3.80. Overall Risque had 43 per cent of the total investment. Valley Girl was a notable mover in the market and after starting at $15 was crunched into $8.50. Single Gaze had some good backing early and firmed up from $16-$14, however, blew right back out to $21 due to the support for several other runners. Asinara ($11-$7.50) was the other one that had each way backing. Happy Hannah, after initially touching $6, started at $8.50. BETS: Stay With Me $2,000 @ $9.50, Valley Girl $10,000 e/w @ $10/$3
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
Kathy O’Hara (Single Gaze): “She is such a trier this horse, she did it tough and got a bit of cover mid race but she is so strong she is so small. I am so pleased for Nick, it’s his first Group 1 and it’s just unbelievable to win it for him I am so excited, I have had a bit to do with this filly, I won her first start, have ridden the mother and it just means so much.”
Dwayne Dunn (Stay With Me): “Very disappointing, just probably starting to make us think that she doesn’t stay.”
Brett Prebble (Valley Girl): “Keep running like that I’m going to keep coming back to stay on them. She is a lovely filly and put her hand up today as being close to favourite in the Oaks.”
Craig Williams (Honesta): “In two weeks if they get the conditions which will be rain affected plus the step up in trip, she will be one of the main dangers in the Oaks.”
Damian Lane (Risque): “I don’t think she ran 2000m.”
Brenton Avdulla (Ambience): “I ended up with a great run, tracked around and thought I was going to be in the race on the corner but just struggled to let down. Maybe the firm surfaces aren’t suiting her.”
Opie Bosson (Capella): “That was a very good run she just peaked that last bit, it should bring her on nicely for the Oaks.”
James McDonald (Asinara): “Fantastic, she is a very green filly, I bet you her sectionals were the best in the race.”
Craig Newitt (Sailing By): “Disappointing, she had a beautiful run and followed the winner but either she is not good enough or she doesn’t stay. One or the other.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Believe): “A bit of interference out of the barriers didn’t help I was just posted wide and had to slide forward which we did relatively easily, I was a bit worried at the 800m and again at the 600m. She is a nice filly going into her next preparation, might have just felt the ground today as well.”
Tim Clark (Heartlings): “Overraced a little bit due to the slow tempo but I expected her to sprint a bit harder than she did.”
Blake Shinn (Happy Hannah): “Pretty happy with that performance, I think you have to be. Went slow mid-race and I just got a pair further back than I would have liked, she closed off exceptionally well, 2400m in a couple of weeks is only going to suit her, I can’t wait to ride her.”
R7: THE BMW (2400m)
1 PREFERMENT: Settled 7th early, gained ground wide to the 1200m, made a lightning move around the field at the 600m and kept going for game win
2 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN: Last early, made up ground to the 1200m and followed the winner when he made his move at the 600m but couldn’t bridge the gap
3 GRAND MARSHAL: Tailed the field into the straight and finished off strongly in the run to the line.
DOMINATION: A big result for the Chris Waller stable with the trifecta in the BMW here, but it was the strength of the performance of Preferment that came out on top after a confident ride by Bowman.
THE SYDNEY CUP: The best Cup trial came from Grand Marshal. If he finds a wet track he will be even more competitive.
BETTING: There were two significant betting moves in this race today. The first was for Mongolian Khan ($4.60), with money coming for the Caulfield Cup winner yesterday and into the early afternoon today. As a result punters backed it from $6 into as low as $4.20. The second move was a constant one throughout the day for Montaigne. Fans of the three-year-old backed it into equal favourite at $4.60 after being as much as $10 in the morning. As a result of the above, Preferment was a drifter from $3.50 to $4.60 but held more money than any other runner bar Mongolian Khan. Our Ivanhowe blew like a gale and was $4.60 out to $10 at one stage before jumping as an $8 chance. BETS: Preferment $5,000 @ $3.50, Our Ivanhowe $5,000 @ $9, Mongolian Khan $15,000 @ $4.80
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
Hugh Bowman (Preferment): I didn’t want to be left flat footed so I pulled him out a lot earlier than I usually would and he showed a turn of foot and I thought oh no.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Our Ivanhowe): “We decided to go forward today we got across nice enough, I was pretty happy through the middle stages but he is just not liking that firm ground. He is much better than that, look for him to bounce back when he gets some cut in the ground.”
Blake Shinn (Who Shot Thebarman): “Great effort, thought for a fleeting moment at the 300m I was going to beat Hughie [Bowman] and Preferment but he just pulled out enough. He is right on target for the Sydney Cup, he ran second last year and let’s hope he can go one better this year.”
Michael Walker (Almoonqith): “Really good run, I thought he was going to really run into it half way up when the gaps opened but he just blew out, Sydney Cup he will be spot on.”
Jason Collett (Grand Marshal): “Another good run, spot on for next start.”
James McDonald (Arab Dawn): “He ran okay.”
Opie Bosson (Mongolian Khan): “He raced quite erratic and tried to run off the first turn, he was just never happy from then on. I just don’t think he has come up this preparation.”
Tye Angland (Storm The Stars): “Bit disappointing, he is a funny horse to ride you’ve really got to make him be up there. He only just travels on the bridle and he can’t quicken off it, so he hasn’t brought his overseas form here yet.”
Craig Williams (Rising Romance): “She was a great run in defeat today.”
Damien Oliver (Montaigne): “It was a good effort, had a lovely run, got the run at the top of the straight and I thought I was a chance. Got within two lengths of the winner but just couldn’t peg them back, but I thought it was a great effort by a young horse on the way up.”
R8: EMANCIPATION STAKES (1500m)
1 ZANBAGH: Raced in 5th place to the turn and dug deep in the straight for gutsy win
2 SUPARA: Surprised but taking up the early running and fought on gamely right to the line
3 AMICUS: Ranged up to challenge at the 300m until the weight took its toll
IN THE ZONE: Zanbagh has raced terrific in all runs for John Thompson and deserved her Group 2 win here. She is in great form.
THE FAVOURITE: Solicit couldn’t lead on her own and she was the first horse beaten. She has had a good preparation and may have earnt a break now.
BETTING: Solicit was a heavily tried favourite in this one. Backed from $2.40 into $2 after opening at $2.80 earlier in the week, she was responsible for approximately 45 per cent of the total investment. Badawiya was clearly the one tried to beat it and hovered around the $4.60-$4.20 mark throughout the day. Zanbagh bottomed out at $7.50 but drifted as a result of the heavy support for the favourites. Lady Le Fay ($14-$11) saw a brief move for it in the morning but got back out to $15 come jump time while Amicus ($16-$21) was a constant drifter. BETS: Amicus $1,000 @ $21, Solicit $5,000 @ $2, $8,000 @ $2.80
WHAT THE JOCKEYS’ SAID
Courtesy of racingandsports.com.au and ATC
Blake Shinn (Zanbagh): “She jumped so well and John instructed me to ride her quiet and get her to the line and she jumped well and is really determined, she dug in for the fight and this is so special.
Hugh Bowman (Amicus): “Very good run, 1500m might be a bit further than her best trip, it was a good form turn around, maybe one for Brisbane.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Solicit): “Got across outside Supara and we got into a nice rhythm, she just failed to pick up in the straight so Gerald [Ryan] will just see how she pulls up and assess her in the next couple of days.”
Damian Lane (Pasadena Girl): “Ran well just didn’t jump well enough.”
Craig Newitt (Badawiya): “She went really well, she got bashed up a little bit coming to the corner which got her really unbalanced. She was good enough to regroup and go straight away. At the top of the straight I had to wait for a run, if the run had opened for her I think she would have exploded. Onwards and upwards for the Queen Of The Turf.”
Michael Walker (Thunder Lady): “Not going any good.”
Tim Clark (Casino Dancer): “She’ll take good improvement out of that run, she is still sort of carrying a bit of condition so she still has improvement in her.”
Jason Collett (Slightly Sweet): “Good run, she probably just got a little bit too far back. She is just lacking that early speed at the moment. She is going well though.”
James McDonald (Telepathic): “I think she has had enough, come to the end of her preparation.”
Craig Williams (Lady Le Fay): “Unfortunately she didn’t have an economical run, it’s a big disadvantage the way the track is playing today.”
Matthew Cahill (Just A Blur): “It was her usual good honest run”
Daniel Moor (Skyline Blush): “She travelled in a lovely spot but was poor to the line, maybe felt the firm track.”
Tommy Berry (Supara): “Most improved run, obviously we were a lot more positive today, the last time she was probably ridden positive she ran second to First Seal so its proved to be the right move.”
R9: DONCASTER PRELUDE (1500m)
1 HAVANA COOLER: Midfield early, weaved through the field in the straight and finished full of running.
2 COSMIC CUBE: Hit the front as they straightened, grabbed right on the line
3 RUDY: Raced handy throughout and finished off strongly
BIG DAY OUT: A huge day for McDonald and Godolphin with Havana Cooler producing the team with four winners for the day.
BIG RETURN: Havana Cooler has always sprinted well fresh but looks more switched on this preparation. The Brisbane Cup could be his race this time up.
BETTING: This race had a completely changed market when the well tried Excess Knowledge was scratched. Havana Cooler was just one of many horses tried in the final event on the card.
With double figures on offer earlier in the week, it was $8.50 to $7.50 today with the John O’Shea-trained runner landing some good bets in the Doncaster Prelude. Beaten Up ($6.50-$9) was $18 earlier in the week and one of the more popular runners today as was Rock Sturdy, Sadlers Lake ($8-$6.50) and Cosmic Cube ($8-$7.50). Magicool ($61-$31) attracted some light each way money. BETS: Rock Sturdy $3,000 @ $8.50, Havana Cooler $1,000 @ $8
FUTURES MARKETS UPDATE
QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES
Preferment $15-$8 (after winning The BMW)
AUSTRALIAN DERBY
Old North $15-$6 (after winning the Tulloch Stakes)
DONCASTER MILE
Zanbagh $101-$26 (after winning the Emanicaption Stakes)
ARROWFIELD SPRINT
Petits Filous $8-$6 (after winning the Jack Elliott Handicap at Caulfield)
QUEEN OF THE TURF
Zanbagh $26-$8 (after winning the Emancipation Stakes)
SIRES PRODUCE
Attention $101-$15 (after winning the Schweppervescence)
SYDNEY CUP
Who Shot Thebarman $8-$4.60 (after running 2nd in The BMW)
Grand Marshal $15-6 (after running 3rd in The BMW)
Originally published as Ron Dufficy’s raceday focus: Race by race analysis of the action at Rosehill on Saturday
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