Ron Dufficy’s raceday review: Royal Randwick

SLIPPER ODDS: SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers from Guineas Day at Randwick.

SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers from the Randwick meeting on Saturday.

AT THE TRACK: MELHAM KEEPS FAITH AFTER SHOCK DEFEAT

SUNDAY RACES: SCONE AND CANBERRA

RANDWICK: Track: Heavy 10. Bias: Close to outside fence the place to be.

R1: REISLING STAKES (1200m)

NEWS: REIGN OVER BUT PORTELLI REMAINS UPBEAT

1 FROLIC ($13) Settled well back but sprouted wings down the outside fence to score easily.

2 SHE WILL REIGN ($1.03) Stalked the leader, hit the front but was no match for the winner.

3 VILLA CARLOTTA ($2.51) Travelled OK in midfield, lacked dash but kept coming.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

PRIME LAND: Tommy Berry played his cards well here. He declared the outside fence was the place to be and he trusted his judgment and pinched the win on Frolic who now takes her place in the Slipper.

THE FAVOURITE: Boom filly She Will Reign suffered her first defeat but it’s hard to be critical. She chased what looked to be a good speed and found the front early. I wouldn’t completely drop off her come Slipper day.

TAB FIXED ODDS: GOLDEN SLIPPER

Great ride @TommyBerry21!

Frolic comes down the extreme outside to defeat She Will Reign in the G2 Reisling Stakes at #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/VygiWWozdk

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 4, 2017

R2: TODMAN STAKES (1200m)

NEWS: SURPRISE PACKET EARNS GOLDEN TICKET

1 GUNNISON ($7.40) Took control early, came wide and fought off the challenger for a gutsy win.

2 INVADER ($1.40) Followed the winner into the straight and tried very hard to only just fail.

3 VERANILLO ($1.60) Didn’t look comfortable in the ground but stuck on well.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

STABLE QUINELLA: Team Snowden produced two fit horses here and it was the improving Gunnison making it two from two doing everything right beating his brave stablemate Invader.

THE FAVOURITE: Menari was eased out at the start to find the outside, his main issue now may be making the final Slipper field.

Gunnison edged out stablemate Invader to win the Todman Stakes. Picture: Jenny Evans

R3: FIREBALL STAKES (1100m)

1 SAMANTHA ($6.40) Drifted back but picked her way through the field and finished best.

2 GLENALL ($1.80) Always handy, came to the centre and was just getting the upper hand when the winner pounced.

3 SUPER MAXI ($3.10) Made a dash down the outside fence and had his chance.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

TOO FIT: The very fit Samantha landed nice bets at odds here after a good ride from Corey Brown, finding the right part of the track.

FOLLOW: Glenall may just be out of maiden class but he is a horse with his foot on the till looking for a dry track.

R4: WENONA GIRL QUALITY (1200m)

NEWS: BERRY’S TOUCHING TRIBUTE

1 ROCKET COMMANDER ($6.20) Led into the straight, clearly headed but fought back hard to grab victory.

2 HIEROGLYPHICS ($1.70) On the inside fence on the turn then took over and went to the outside. Grabbed in the last stride.

3 ZESTFUL ($1.90) Tried her heart out running on in the straight and was far from disgraced.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

BACK-UP: Rocket Commander really appreciated backing up from last week, digging in deep when it counted late. Everything fell into place for her and she deserved her Stakes win.

NO EXCUSES: Hieroglyphics was well tried in the market and was left without excuses. After travelling well she sprinted to the best part of the track and only got tired in the last few strides.

Tommy Berry dedicated his win on Rocket Commander to Riharna Thomson. Picture: Jenny Evans

R5: CANTERBURY STAKES (1200m)

NEWS: LE ROMAIN TOPPLES CHAMP IN THRILLER

1 LE ROMAIN ($4.50) Always on the pace and made a beeline for the outside fence. Refused to be denied.

2 CHAUTAUQUA ($1.50) Well off them before cutting the corner on the turn. Hit the front and was nailed in the last stride.

3 HAURAKI ($2.50) Couldn’t sprint with the first two but a solid return, running on from second last.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

EXCITING: A terrific contest between two great horses, with the very underrated Le Romain who made it three Group 1 wins beating Chautauqua who was gallant in defeat after scrambling in the wet then having to make a long run.

THE PLUNGE: The Kiwi import Ugo Foscolo was heavily backed from $7 into $3.90 and after leading he dropped out to run a long last. It’ll be interesting to see if he can bounce back from this.

What a finish!!

Le Romain just edges out Chautauqua in a cracking finish to the G1 Canterbury Stakes at #Randwick! pic.twitter.com/pWqB08Y7En

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 4, 2017

R6: CHALLENGE STAKES (1000m)

1 ENGLISH ($3.80) Second last on the inside to turn, cut the corner then hit

the lead and fought them off.

2 REDZEL ($2) Always on the pace and took ground off the winner to just fail.

3 SUPIDO ($2) Settled back and made ground down the outside late into a place.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

BACK IN BUSINESS: English just wasn’t herself in the spring and although a query on the heavy track she resumed with a bang and kept her 1000m record intact. She is right back in contention for the big Autumn sprints.

IMPROVER: Redzel went down narrowly but still has room to move only being first-up. He appears a stronger horse now.

R7: RANDWICK GUINEAS (1600m)

NEWS: INFERENCE SIMPLY AWESOME FOR HAWKES

1 INFERENCE ($9.30) Settled last and rounded them up down the outside fence in a strong win.

2 INVINCIBLE GEM ($2.30) Gave a big sight in front and looked the winner 200m out. Game.

3 COMIN’ THROUGH ($1.70) Midfield on the fence and worked home fairly well into the minor spot.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

QUALITY: It’s easy to get carried away with heavy track form but this was a quality win by a very promising stayer in Inference who made a long sustained run from last. He is the one to beat in the three-year-old staying classics.

BEATEN BRIGADE: Invincible Gem has had a great prep and was gallant in defeat, Comin’ Through seemed to have his chance while Impavido and Harper’s Choice both look Derby types.

R8: ASPIRATION QUALITY (1600m)

1 ELLE LOU ($6.90) Settled last, cut the corner then sprinted strongly working wide and just held on.

2 ALEGRIA ($2.80) Made a long run from well back down the outside fence. Close to a win.

3 VANDANCER ($2.20) Midfield in running, lacked the turn of foot of the first two but worked home well.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

IN-FORM MARE: Elle Lou was considered a risk at a solid mile on the heavy track but Glyn Schofield cuddled her all the way giving her confidence to finish off.

UNLUCKY: Song And Laughter did a fantastic job. After pulling herself to the lead at the 700m she was left a sitting shot and should have finished closer.

R9: RANDWICK CITY STAKES (2000m)

1 ASTRONOMOS ($3.20) Settled back on the fence, hit the lead 300m out and powered away.

2 CAFE SOCIETY ($5) Made a dash to the front before the turn and stuck it out pretty well.

3 MONTAUK ($1.60) Ran on without threatening from last down the outside.

DUFF’S ANALYSIS

ALL THE FAVOURS: Astronomos had everything go his way with the track conditions and stats in his favour and really capitalised on it with a soft win.

NICE RETURN: Cafe Society was first-up on a heavy track at 200m and did a terrific job running a nice race.

Originally published as Ron Dufficy’s raceday review: Royal Randwick