John Thompson is pleased with Jojo Was A Man and Purple Sector ahead of home track assignment
Jojo Was A Man is backing up from a win last weekend while Purple Sector is racing well without winning but trainer John Thompson can’t split the pair at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer John Thompson doesn’t believe there is much between Jojo Was A Man and Purple Sector ahead of their clash in the Maroubra Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Jojo Was A Man is on the back-up after his good win at Randwick on Christmas Eve while Purple Sector has been racing well without much luck this campaign.
“This is a race that suits both horses,” Thompson said.
“Jojo Was A Man is in form, he went well last weekend and I think he will handle the back-up.
“Purple Sector is going well and a bit of rain around will put a bit of a ‘cushion’ into the track which will suit him.
“The form around Purple Sector is really good – he just needs to stick his neck out.”
In TAB Fixed Odds betting, Jojo Was A Man is at $4 and Purple Sector rated at $7.50 behind $2.80 favourite Steely.
Thompson’s other Randwick runner is another in-form galloper, With Your Blessing, the $4 favourite for the Furphy Handicap (1300m).
With Your Blessing goes to the closer with two wins from three starts this campaign including his impressive effort at Randwick over 1200m two weeks ago.
The barrier draw hasn’t been kind to With Your Blessing who has gate 15 before scratchings with Thompson relying on champion jockey Nash Rawiller to give the sprinter his chance.
“With Your Blessing is going really well, he just has to overcome the draw,” Thompson said.
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)
1100m; 4,5,6,3
1200m: 6,7,4,1
1300m: 1,7,2,5
1400m: 1,2,3,5
1600m: 3,4,5,2
2000m: 2,1,6,4
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: there has been no big bets or market movements of note
Race 2: Indicative $7.50-$5
Race 3: Garza Blanca has firmed from $3.50 to $1.85 after consistent support including bets of $1,500 at $3.50, $1,000 at $2.90, $1,250 at $2.60, $3,000 at $2.40, $6,500 at $2.10, $1,500 at $2, $1,150 at $2 twice, $1,000 at $1.90 and $800 at $1.90.
Race 4: Rupertaar $7.50-$6, Twice As Special $23-$14-$11
Race 5: Oakfield Duke $7-$4.80 including bets of $600 at $7, $2,000 at $5.50, Essonne $13-$10, Vindication $13-$14-$8.50 after bets of $500 at $14, $500 at $13, $500 at $11
Race 6: Steely $2.80-$2.90-$2.80 with bets of $1,000 at $2.90, $864 at $2.90, Bullfinch $8.50-$7-$6.50, Mach Schnell $11-$6.50 including $400 at $8
Race 7: Ain’tnodeeldun $5.50-$4 with bets of $500 at $4.60, $1,400 at $4.20, $700 at $4.20, Tony Be $10-$7-$6
Race 8: Dehorned Unicorn $3-$2.70 with bets of $2,000 at $3, $500 at $3, $500 at $2.70, Vowmaster $4.80-$4.60 with a bet of $500 at $4.60
Race 9: Kettle Hill $3.40-$2.90-$2.30 with bets of $600 at $3.30, $1,500 at $2.90, $1,052 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.90, $500 at $2.80 twice
Race 10: Contributingfactor $14-$15-$6 after bets of $500 at $15, $500 at $13, $1,500 at $10, $1,000 at $8, $1,500 at $7, Cosmic Minerva $17-$12
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 2,3,4
Race 4: 2,6,8
Race 5: 1,2,3,9
Race 6: 1,3,5,7
QUADDIE
Race 7: 2,4,5,8
Race 8: 4,6,8,12
Race 9: 2,3,12
Race 10: 3,6,8,12
PRICE CHECK
Garza Blanca (race 3) has been backed as if unbeatable. After opening at $3.50, there has been consistent, heavy support for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt who has firmed from $3.50 to $1.85 after consistent support including bets of $1,500 at $3.50, $1,000 at $2.90, $1,250 at $2.60, $3,000 at $2.40, $6,500 at $2.10, $1,500 at $2 and $1,150 at $2 twice.
TRIAL POINTERS
Besson (race 1) is trained by Jean Dubois who won the 2018 Todman Stakes with this colt’s somewhat enigmatic sire, Aylmerton. Besson is one of only five foals from Aylmerton’s first crop of foals. That said, he is an exceptionally well-bred colt. His third dam is Porto Roca who won the 2001 Coolmore Classic but is best known as the dam of the 2012 Dubai World Cup winner, Monterosso. As for Besson, he is ready to race off a couple of sterling trials this month, the first of them an easy win on the Warwick Farm synthetic.
Po Kare Kare (race 4) is a lightly-raced New Zealand bred mare trained by Bryce Heys who purchased the replica daughter of Savabeel at Karaka in 2020 for $100,000. While she still have plenty to offer on the racetrack, Po Kare Kare is a valuable breeding proposition when the time comes given her dam is a three-quarter-sister to Racing To Win and to Pinocchio - the mother of Classique Legend. Po Kare Kare resumes at Royal Randwick on Saturday with plenty of admirers, hardly surprising owing to the strength of her two trials, the last of which was a distant but unhurried in a 900m heat at Hawkesbury.
SECTIONAL STARS
Garza Blanca (race 3) was beaten as the $1.70 favourite when he made his Sydney racing debut at Rosehill Gardens on December 3. To cut a long story short, the Maher-Eustace trained colt was more or less the run of the race given a whole set of unfavourable circumstances. The handsome son of I Am Invincible hasn’t lost any friends among the punting fraternity, once again likely to start in the red and for good reason. Just some background, Garza Blanca was a $700,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase in 2021 - his dam is a half sister to Starspangledbanner.
Oceanic Flash (race 7) is a grey son of the dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls and a half brother to the 2011 Wellington Guineas winner, President Lincoln. Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Oceanic Flash is racing his way towards a peak performance this preparation. His two runs prior to Saturday have contained considerably more merit than it appears on paper, suffice to say that he has been statistically rock solid in both outings, particularly in his 2000m Benchmark 88 assignment here 14-days ago.
BEST BET
Garza Blanca (race 3) roared home his final 600m in a rousing 32.78s and closed late when second to Felix Majestic at Rosehill a month ago. At his previous start, Garza Blanca toyed with the speedy Greece at Cranbourne. There’s a lot to about this lightly-raced, well-bred three-year-old colt and he finds himself in a very winnable race.
VALUE BET
Queen Bellissimo (race 10) settled outside the leader early, forged to the front and fought hard before fading late when fourth to Barossa Rosa at Randwick. She has steadily improved with each run this campaign and should be ready to peak here. Drawn a favourable barrier, has the advantage of Zac Lloyd’s 3kg claim and is generous odds around $7.50.
THE JUDGEMENT
R6: Maroubra Mile (1600m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “The Maroubra Mile has attracted a good quality of galloper. It’s been a while between drinks but I’m leaning the way of Bullfinch. He’s well into his preparation and therefore a very fit racehorse, he’s also racing in great heart, and this can be his race. With 53.5kg, barrier 2 and Jay Ford, he’ll do me. Jojo Was A Man is on the backup and only has to hold his form to be a big player again, he loves racing at his home track. Steely is a beauty, he’ll be on speed and awfully hard to get past. Mach Schnell is up in grade but won’t know himself with his light weight.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Small field which should see Steely take it up from barrier 1. He is racing well and did all the work in front before being unable to hold off Nugget last start here over this trip and did similar at Kembla before that. No Nugget here and with the claim for Dylan Gibbons he does look very hard to beat.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Jojo Was A Man got a well-deserved victory last start and he backs up here only seven days later. He has drawn well, stays at 1600m and drops 2kg on his last start victory so there is no reason he can’t win again. He goes on top from Bullfinch who should have every possible opportunity from barrier 2.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “A very even affair. Steely while consistent, is no world beater and as such am happy to lay at the price. Bullfinch will be suited by the smaller field and with a good draw can settle a little closer in the run. Looks the logical bet in the race to me and punters agree firming him $9-$6.50.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Mach Schnell and Bullfinch were the first two backed. I like Steely though and his last start effort behind Nugget has him primed for this.”
Verdict: Steely
R7: Fujitsu General Hcp (1400m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I fancy an interstate visitor to make their presence felt. Ain’tnodeeldun has that ‘emerging stayer’ look about him and may have found just the right race. He’ll get back in the run but should be thundering home. No one is talking about Too Much Caviar but he has to be hard to run down here. He’s fit, the likely leader, and Regan Bayliss is a man in form. Tony Be was terrific in the way he hit the line last start, but he doesn’t win out of turn. This is a test for Youthfull, but everything in these colours is racing well at the moment.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I can’t see any standout chances here in a very even race. I’ve gone really wide and having something on Oceanic Flash. He’s had two runs back from a break has settled with tail in average run races and only got warm last 100m. Nice speed on here and a significant jockey change with Brenton Avdulla back on, and his last win was here 12 months ago. Few near top of betting here on trial at the trip.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Too Much Caviar was a good winner last start. Regan Bayliss can take him straight to the front and he should prove hard to catch from there. Tony Be was very strong through the line last time and I will be keeping him safe. I’m not completely sold on the favourite Ain’tnodeeldun and will be looking to take him on.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “With Matron Bullwinkel staying south it’s another very even staying contest. Ain’tnodeeldun deserves favouritism off a high rating last start performance and has been steadily supported $4.40-$4. Tony Be hit the line in one of the best final 200m splits of the day last start. He’s also been well supported $7-$6 and one we are keeping safe.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Ain’tnodeeldun looks ready to peak fourth-up. Loves the distance and looks a solid bet.
Verdict: Ain’tnodeeldun
R8: TAB Handicap (1100m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “What a competitive race. If Sacrimony is smothered up and gets last crack at them, I’m happy to be with him. He had no luck in the run last start and was still right there at the finish. He has a lethal sprint when allowed to use it and will be very strong late. The same can be said for Quick Tempo, he’s flying at present and will also be closing off hard. Dehorned Unicorn is a ripper, he’ll be on speed and in for the fight for a long way. I was with Vowmaster when he resumed the other day, he’s a player but I just wonder if he can produce that kind of performance again.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I think the gap between Dehorned Unicorn and Sacrimony is too wide here especially with the former coming back 100m in trip. Sacrimony has had two runs back from a break and both were solid. He only went down narrowly to Iowna Merc last start after working throughout. No great knock on the fav except think entitled to be a shade longer.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Stromboli presents here first-up off a short break and this looks a winnable race. Will most likely improve off whatever he does here but should make his presence felt with only 55kg on his back. Happy to play him each way around the $7 mark. He goes on top from the favourite Dehorned Unicorn who is racing in good form.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Dehorned Unicorn comes back in grade and looks very hard to beat. Gets the senior rider back aboard and from a good draw just stalks the speed. Quick Tempo is simply airborne and will flash at them again late but dictated too again by the draw. Happy to let them on Vowmaster who may instead go to Canterbury.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Love the way Vowmaster hit the line first-up. If he reproduces that, he wins.”
Verdict: Sacrimony
Originally published as John Thompson is pleased with Jojo Was A Man and Purple Sector ahead of home track assignment
Rain only concern for Moody filly at Flemington
Talented filly Eneeza has one box left to tick this spring when she begins her campaign in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Sargent buoyed by Sea’s Group 1 potential
With one eye on Group 1 goals later this spring, trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: Mitch’s moral ‘just wins’
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the big races at Royal Randwick on Saturday, where Mitch has a moral on a day featuring three Group 1s and a Premiere sprint.