Gerald Ryan puts Peltzer on a pedestal after Bondi Stakes victory
Peltzer revelled in the wet to continue his perfect record at Randwick with a dominant victory in the Bondi Stakes, and trainer Gerald Ryan will aim the colt at more Group 1 features in the autumn.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It was only a jump-out about a year ago but trainer Gerald Ryan left the track that morning believing he had found his next top racehorse.
The then-unraced Peltzer had screamed along the back straight, recording a time that had Ryan checking his stopwatch for verification.
“I’ve only had four horses break 30s from the 1500m to the 1000m where I clock them from,’’ the master trainer said.
“The first was Snitzel, then Snitzerland, next was Rubick and this colt, Peltzer. It’s why I have always had a huge opinion of this horse.’’
At Royal Randwick on Saturday, Peltzer showed the racing public what Ryan has known for months with a brilliant frontrunning effort to win the $1 million Bondi Stakes (1600m).
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE TAB BIG BETS FROM RANDWICK
In driving rain and deteriorating, gloomy conditions, Peltzer ($2.80 favourite) stood out like a beacon as he strode clear under Tim Clark to win by nearly three lengths.
Prime Star ($4) ran on well to claim second just in front of a game Real Force ($26).
Acrophobic had a good run until straightening but struggled to let down in the heavy conditions, finishing seventh.
Godolphin attempted to repeat its spectacular race tactics which gave Osborne Bulls a third placing in The Everest two years ago by taking Namazu to the outside fence but he struggled and finished only eighth.
On the 10th anniversary of Coolmore Stud stallion So You Think’s second Cox Plate win, it was fitting he sired a feature-race double with Peltzer’s Bondi Stake complementing the Irish-bred Knights Order’s effort in the Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup.
Clark rated Peltzer brilliantly as the colt protected his perfect Randwick record with his fourth win from as many starts on the famous course.
“The wet track really played into his hands, he revelled in that ground,’’ Clark said.
“I think that was the reason he didn’t look quite as impressive the other day because of the ground.
“Getting his toe right into it today, he was just a different horse. He really quickened well at the 300m when I asked him and put the race beyond doubt pretty quickly.”
Nice colt.
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) October 24, 2020
Peltzer was in a league of his own in the Bondi Stakes. pic.twitter.com/tQxsUUSnlg
Clark said Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou had placed their colt brilliantly to complete the Stan Fox Stakes-Bondi Stakes double towards the back end of the Sydney spring carnival.
“Peltzer was tried against the best three-year-olds and probably just came up a little short but smart play by Gerald and Sterling, just coming back that notch,’’ Clark said.
“He’s a Group 2 winner and now he has won a $1 million dollar race so I think it was really smart planning by them and they deserve a lot of credit.
“Now he has shown he can run out a strong mile, he’s got a really nice attitude, he doesn’t worry about things and he’s a beautifully natured horse to ride.
“In the autumn, where generally we do get wet tracks, I’m sure he will be able to measure up to some better races.”
Peltzer was a $260,000 Magic Millions Yearling Sale buy and has proved a good investment with his earnings vaulting to $939,000 — and, if Ryan is right, the colt is only just getting started.
“The Randwick Guineas is the aim in the autumn and we will see where we end up,’’ Ryan said.
“Not many horses win five out of eight, not many horses win four out of four at Randwick. He’s just a nice colt.
“Really, he has done a super job because he’s only had 26 days off since January. He’ll go out on Monday and he’ll have a nice spell.
“He’s a horse who could improve, he has a great attitude for a colt, and come back a nice horse. There is so much to pick from in the autumn.’’
Tommy Berry, rider of Prime Star, thought he was a winning chance at the top of the straight.
“We were just beaten by a better horse, the winner found too much,’’ Berry said.
The Clarry Conners-trained Real Peace was coming out of a provincial maiden win and ran competitively for third.
“It was a huge effort, he will be a nice horse next ‘prep’ over a bit further,” apprentice Tom Sherry said.
THE NIVISION: BAKER’S POSITIVE SPRING
Trainer Bjorn Baker concedes he is spoilt for choice with so many big-money race options for talented mare Positive Peace.
“There is a good $500,000 race in two weeks (Hot Danish Stakes, Rosehill) which is probably where we will go with her next,’’ Baker said at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
“But then there is The Hunter (1300m, Newcastle, November 14) and The Gong (1600m, Kembla Grange, November 21). They are both $1 million races which we have to consider.
“The prizemoney is so good for these races but I don’t think we can run in all three so we will have to look at what races suit her the best.’’
At least Baker can look forward to the rest of the spring with confidence after Positive Peace ploughed through the heavy going to win the Group 3 $200,000 The Nivison (1200m).
Positive Peace ($16) was ridden by Josh Parr to a neck win over the fast finishing Wandabaa ($5.50 equal favourite) to win by a neck with Athiri ($6) just over a length away third.
Blazing Miss ($5.50 equal favourite) didn’t handle the heavy track conditions and laboured to finish sixth, according to her jockey, Robbie Dolan.
Positive Peace gave her jockey and trainer their second win in The Nivison. Parr rode Nayeli to win the race in 2015 and Baker prepared Egyptian Symbol to win the feature race the following year.
Parr, who rode a feature race double at Randwick after partnering The Bopper to his win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes, said he wasn’t surprised Positive Peace bounced back to form despite three unplaced runs to start her spring campaign.
“I was so confident going into the Angst but she over-raced and got her tongue over the bit. The tongue tie applied today, back to 1200m and a bit of rain around - it’s all worked out perfectly for her,’’ Parr said.
“I was very keen to be positive on her, especially coming from the 1600m to the 1200m. I needed her fitness to be her best asset. Racing on speed was vital. We got a nice clear run, nice clear air and she was brilliant.”
She's a beauty! Positive Peace has got the chocolates in the G3 Nivison for @BBakerRacing. pic.twitter.com/OlIHPrngXK
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 24, 2020
Positive Peace won five races in succession culminating in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes in autumn and Baker also felt the mare was going better than her three unplaced spring runs might have indicated.
“She is a class mare and it is good to see her back in winning form,’’ Baker said.
“We changed a few things with her today and it was a super result.
“Her run in the Golden Pendant was excellent, she was very unlucky that day and should have been in the finish then she had excuses for her last start effort. The tongue tie made a big help.
“But I couldn’t believe the price today for a mare with her record. I know she was coming back from 1600m to 1200m but with the wet track, it was more like 1400m anyway. It has worked out well.’’
Wandabaa’s fast-finishing effort to just miss in The Nivision capped a satisfying day for trainer Kris Lees.
His brilliant three-year-old The Bopper was impressive winning the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes earlier on the Randwick program while at Moonee Valley, his stayer Mugatoo ran an outstanding race to finish fourth in the Cox Plate behind Sir Dragonet.
Jockey Tommy Berry said Wandabaa produced an “honest, tough run.’’
Godolphin mare Athiri was chasing a hat-trick of wins and momentarily looked likely to snare her first at stakes level before eventually finishing third.
AT THE TRACK
MANNERS BRINGS CRIADERAS UNSTUCK
Criaderas has won four from six but is racing in much better races now which is why he needs to improve his barrier manners or he’ll lose races he would’ve won.
He was slow away again and had too much to do and wasn’t a winning chance at any point under Rachel King.
“He doesn’t do anything wrong in the gates. I think he still thinks the whole thing is a game and he’s not switching on,” King said.
“He’s not doing anything naughty in there. It’s just a severe lack of concentrating.”
Chief steward Marc Van Gestel said Godolphin had some work to do with him.
“It sounds like he’s got a bit of developing to do,” he said.
“I don’t think those who took the $1.75 would think it’s a game.”
NASH’S PLEA FALLS ON DEAF EARS
Girl Tuesday got her head caught up in the barriers in the staying race and missed the start and was eight lengths off them soon after her 2400m race began at Randwick.
Nash Rawiller pleaded for her to be declared a non-runner.
“It’s no-one’s fault but my horse had its head in the side of the stalls and it makes it impossible to start,” Rawiller said.
“There’s people out there that had a lot of money on it and it’s not fair on them when the horse has its head in the side of the stalls.”
Stewards reviewed footage and had a different opinion.
“When that red arm is released that’s what the starter has effected the start and the horse was in a position to jump,” chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.
“We can’t be satisfied the hoRse hasn’t been afforded a fair start.”
HILTON STEPS BACK TO GO FORWARD
It’s not often someone goes from a trainer to an assistant trainer but that’s what Luke Hilton is about to do.
The Gosford trainer races his last runners this week before linking up with the Matthew Smith stable in Sydney.
“I wanted to go down there with the big boys and see where it can take me,” he said.
“I think I can learn a lot off him and hopefully it will give me a stepping stone in the industry in Sydney.” The 36-year-old’s mates were questioning the decision.
“People were asking me why I’m doing it because I’ve had some success with a few winners and they were asking me if I should re-think it,” he said.
“It’s a side step but I think it’s a side step with a step to go forward.”
WINX IMMORTALISED
Here’s the new statue of Winx at Moonee Valley.
It’s obviously well-deserved and it will be great to see another version of her at Rosehill, probably next autumn.
Chris Waller went to visit Winx during the week to see how she was going after losing her first foal a week earlier and she’s doing great.
TANZIMAT MAKES MESS OF DEBUT
The supported Tanzimat didn’t really handle her debut race at Randwick yesterday according to jockey Rachel King.
“She just got a bit fired up and she’s a nervous filly. She ran on her nerves and didn’t have much left and she hasn’t been on a soft track like that before and there was a lot of kickback,” King said.
In the same race Jumbo Goal bounded to the front but also didn’t find much in the straight. “He might be starting to feel his shins, I reckon,” Nash Rawiller told stewards.
Horses to follow: Through The Cracks (big effort first-up), Sir Dragonet (Melbourne Cup) Tommy Gold (even better next time)
Ones to sack: Russian Camelot (will the love affair with him now stop), Destination (can’t get 1200m)
Ride of the day: Winona Costin on Proven Class (got it done from a tough spot)
Quote of the day: “I don’t think those who took the $1.75 would think it’s a game,” said Marc Van Gestel about Criaderas who was mucking around in the gates.
RANDWICK - TAB BIG BETS
RACE ONE
Punters pulled off a great betting move in the opening race of the day - the Forum Group Kirkham Plate (1000 metres).
Tiger Of Malay ($26-$9.50), tipped up by SKY Racing’s Ron Dufficy, proved best over the concluding stages to land a confident late betting move. The son of Extreme Choice really firmed up in the final 20 minutes.
Mura Mura ($3.20-$4.40) was the best tried all week and ran right up to the support while the big push for Jumbo Goal ($6.50-$5.50) all week, which began on Wednesday when $21 was available, was off the mark.
BETS: Jumbo Goal $1,000 @ $6
BETS: Socialist $1,500 @ $9.50
RACE TWO
Proven Class rattled home under Winona Costin to take out a very competitive TAB Highway Handicap (1800 metres).
Going around as a $14 chance, the James Ponsonby-trained galloper didn’t have a great deal of support after opening at $11 in the morning.
Rent A Rock, which had been favourite in the morning at $4.20, blew right out to $7 at the start of the race but battled on after doing plenty of work.
The big push was for Cosmic Haze ($6-$4.40) along with Crackerjack Kenny ($8-$6.50-$7). Prince Of Aragon ($7) and Evas Deel ($11-$9.50-$10) had plenty of admirers after both opened at much bigger prices on Wednesday.
BETS: Crackerjack Kenny $1,500 @ $6.50
BETS: Cosmic Haze $1,500 @ $4.80, $5,000 @ $4.40, $2,000 @ $4.40
BETS: Rent A Rock $2,400 @ $7
BETS: Evas Deel $1,000 @ $9.50
BETS: Prince Of Aragon $1,000 @ $7
RACE THREE
One of the best tried runners all day was Destination for the running of the AMD Brian Crowley Stakes (1200 metres).
Although the race itself was a top betting affair with strong money for every single runner in the event, it was Destination ($3-$2.50-$2.90) which carried the majority of the hold. In fact, close to half the investment was on the Godolphin runner.
The Bopper ($3.30-$4.20) had admirers but drifted on the day while On The Lead ($4.40-$4) was the second best tried outside the fav.
BETS: The Bopper $3,000 @ $4.20, $1,000 @ $4.20, $1,035 @ $3.90, $1,000 @ $3.90, $1,300 @ $3.70
BETS: Destination $2,500 @ $3.10, $1,500 @ $3, $5,500 @ $2.90, $4,500 @ $2.90, $4,000 @ $2.90, $3,000 @ $2.90 TWICE, $2,000 @ $2.90, $3,000 @ $2.70
RACE FOUR
Cuba landed some big bets after scoring an upset in the Robrick Lodge Filante Handicap (1400 metres).
While Criaderas was heavily supported as an odds-on favourite, Cuba ($8-$12-$11) attracted some decent bets including one which netted one TAB customer over $110,000 collect!
Ranier ($9.50-$11-$9) had admirers at the eachway quote as did Royal Celebration ($6) but the story of the day was Criaderas ($1.95-$1.55-$1.75) which went around with more than half the market on his back.
BETS: Cuba $10,000 e/w @ $11/$2.30
BETS: Criaderas $4,900 @ $2.15, $2,100 @ $1.95, $10,429 @ $1.75, $3,000 @ $1.75, $6,000 @ $1.70, $3,500 @ $1.60, $8,800 @ $1.55
RACE FIVE
Knights Order more than halved its quote and got the job done for her backers by leading throughout in the Clubs NSW City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400 metres).
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained galloper opened the day as a $21 chance after as much as $41 was available on Wednesday.
Today, the son of So You Think was backed into $8 off consistent support all afternoon and with Winona Costin taking the gelding straight to the front, the pair were never headed, giving the hoop a rare City double.
Girl Tuesday ($4.80-$3.90-$4.60) was easily the most popular runner but got the drifts late and after blowing the start, was out of play.
Of the rest, Attention Run ($9.50-$5.50) was a notable firm.
BETS: Girl Tuesday $2,000 @ $4.60, $4,500 @ $4.40
BETS: Djukon $5,000 e/w @ $6.50/$2.20, $2,500 e/w @ $6.50/$2.20
BETS: Attention Run $11,000 @ $5
BETS: Knights Order $2,000 e/w @ $8/$2.60
RACE SIX
Favourite backers were on good terms with themselves after the running of the Bar 83 Bondi Stakes (1600 metres).
While there were decent moves at varying stages throughout the day for the likes of Prime Star ($3.80), Acrophobic ($5-$4.40-$6) and Elizabeel ($6-$4.60) it was Peltzer which was carrying the really big money.
The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained galloper was twice as popular as anything else in the race and he was responsible for a tick under half the money.
Peltzer ($2.40-$3.10-$2.80) did get out in the betting early in the day but came in late thanks to some serious investments.
BETS: Peltzer $5,688 @ $3.10, $4,000 @ $3.10, $2,100 @ $3, $5,000 @ $2.90, $3,500 @ $2.90, $7,500 @ $2.80, $2,000 @ $2.80
BETS: Acrophobic $2,000 @ $4.80, $1,000 @ $4.40
BETS: Prime Star $2,000 @ $3.80, $1,072 @ $3.80, $6,000 @ $3.70, $3,000 @ $3.60
BETS: Elizabeel $2,000 @ $5.50, $5,040 @ $4.80, $1,750 @ $4.80
RACE SEVEN
Positive Peace was largely ignored until very late for the running of the Daily Press The Nivison (1200 metres).
Opening the day as an $11 chance, Positive Peace hit $21 at one stage before a late rally saw it come into $16 at the jump.
Wandabaa ($5) went around as the most popular runner and slight favourite in front of the big mover in Blazing Miss ($9-$5.50) and Athiri ($4.80-$6-$5.50).
BETS: Positive Peace $500 @ $16
BETS: Jen Rules $2,000 e/w @ $5.50/$2
RACE EIGHT
Hilo did the right thing by favourite backers in the Southern Cross Handicap (1200 metres).
Going around as one of the most popular horses all day, Hilo ($2.80-$2.90) led throughout for Rachel King and James Cummings which was to the delight of those who loaded up on the gelding.
The son of Lohnro went around with 41 percent of the total investment while he also featured a number of successful multis throughout the afternoon.
Inanup ($7.50) had support all week when as much as $18 was on offer while So Taken ($10) had eachway support along with Edison ($7.50), which came in from double figures, and Mount Horeb ($34-$19-$13).
BETS: Hilo $2,000 @ $2.80, $3,500 @ $2.70, $2,000 @ $2.70, $1,000 x $3,000 e/w @ $2.70/$1.40
BETS: Bound To Win $3,500 @ $10
RACE NINE
Icebath finally repaid the faithful with a strong win in the final event on the program – the Sharp EIT Handicap (1600 metres).
The Brad Widdup-trained galloper went around as one of the best tried horses of the afternoon. Starting a $2.60 favourite, it held more than three times the amount of money than anything else with the best supported outside of it being Betcha Flying ($7).
Of the rest, Vegas Jewel ($6) had backing at the eachway quote as did Navy Cross ($10).
Bets: Icebath $2,500 e/w @ $3.30/$1.60, $1,305 @ $3.30, $1,000 @ $3.30, $1,750 @ $3.20, $1,100 @ $3.20 $10,000 @ $2.60, $2,500 @ $2.60, $2,000 @ $2.60, $3,000 @ $2.50
BETS: Vegas Jewel $1,000 @ $5.50
BETS: Fortress Command $2,000 @ $8
BETS: Betcha Flying $1,000 @ $6.50 MULTIPLE TIMES
BETS: Navy Cross $5,000 @ $10
Originally published as Gerald Ryan puts Peltzer on a pedestal after Bondi Stakes victory