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What the jockeys said: Winx Stakes Day 2024

Did the horse you backed perform below expectations at Randwick on Saturday? This is where you find out what the jockey had to say after selected races.

Clinton Payne
8 min read
August 24, 2024 - 10:33AM
Joliestar toys with her opponents in the Show County Quality at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.
Joliestar toys with her opponents in the Show County Quality at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

The Group 1 Winx Stakes headlined the Randwick card on Saturday and here is what the jockeys had to say about their mounts’ performances in selected races on the program.

The jockey reviews for all the runners in each of Saturday’s main races are below.

Race 5 – Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m)

1st - ELIYASS (Tim Clark) Horses that build that winning record, they just find a way to keep putting their head out. He fought, really, hardly there. Just loved how he ambled up to them and I think that he’ll be even, you know, more suitable in a higher pressure race where, much as you don’t often say this, he’ll be better ridden a pair further back where he’s got something to aim up at, because he sort of got there too quickly, and so he just thought the job was done until the other horse [Touristic] came at him. He’s building an imposing record, and he’s come back in good order.

2nd - TOURISTIC (Regan Bayliss) Terrific run. He’s freshened up really well. All credit to the winner but with this horse, Newcastle is really going to suit him in a couple of week’s time.

3rd - SUPER STRIKE (Jason Collett) A better performance. A softer gate helped him race closer. Happy with that.

4th - KALAPOUR (Dylan Gibbons) That is all he could have done today. Speed wasn’t on for him, he gave them a lot of weight. I thought it was a tremendous return.

5th - SIR LUCAN (Adam Hyeronimus) He went well. He just needed the run.

6th - CANBERRA LEGEND (Kerrin McEvoy) He might go a little bit further in trip now.

7th - POLITICAL DEBATE (Zac Lloyd (a)) Unfortunately my race was over in the first 10m. We tried to ride him on speed today but I copped a check out of the gates.

8th - CLEVELAND (James McDonald) He was a little bit disappointing.

N/A - REDSTONE WELL (Tyler Schiller) Scratched at the barriers.

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Race 6 – Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m)

1st - AMEENA (James McDonald) She’s improved a lot since last time I rode her, she’s come on immensely. She moved well today, she was a nice filly when I rode her so it wasn’t going to take much to improve her, really nice win today.

2nd - SILMARILLION (Kerrin McEvoy) She ran well and there’s still some improvement to come.

3rd - MANAAL (Jason Collett) Ran really well. Had a few more kilos than other runners and was first up too so there is improvement which is good to come. Happy with the run.

4th - ERNO’S CUBE (Mark Zahra) She ran super. Good return. Obviously had to go back from the wide draw. Strong late and should be in for a good prep.

5th - ZEITUNG (Zac Lloyd (a)) Fantastic run. Good to see her prove herself in this grade. I think if she drew a barrier she’d have been right in the finish.

6th - BAUHINIA (Tommy Berry) Couldn’t speak highly enough of this filly. A very muddling run race and she got keen in the mid-stages. It’s only her first prep. We had to back into probably the inferior ground on the day. She had motored home and only been beaten a couple of lengths by a horse like Manaal. Pretty exciting for next preparation.

7th - SAKIMA (Tyler Schiller) I thought she did a great job. She settled in a more handy spot today. Going up in trip will only help her. I think maybe even a softer track will help too.

8th - CHATEAU MIRAVAL (Rachel King) She got a nice comfortable lead. Just a little bit one-paced to the line. Plenty of improvement there.

9th - HALLETT (Tim Clark) Just over-raced a bit within herself. Left herself a bit vulnerable late.

10th - TRAFALGAR SQUARE (Chad Schofield) She got back. Travelled well. Was always on the inside of the track. She ran ok.

11th - MISS BUSSLINGER (Dylan Gibbons) She just jumped too well. So she was ridden upside down and we probably didn’t get to see how well she was finishing off. I wasn’t discouraged with her.

12th - PHOTOGRAPHICS (Molly Bourke (a)) Super run today. She was very unlucky throughout the race.

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Race 7 – Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m)

1st - JOLIESTAR (James McDonald) I expected her to win, but not with that much ease, she executed really well. I think there’s one more (gear) at least, anyway, and just watching the replay, it was pretty good. I really like her, we won’t go off too early, but she’s well on her way. It’ll be interesting to see where the boss man places her, she’s got some big targets, she could go for anything.

2nd - OUR KOBISON (Kerrin McEvoy) Great run. The winner was just too good.

3rd - PHEARSON (Joshua Parr) He does things the hard way. He is still knocking on the door when it matters. Full credit to him.

4th - DEMOCRACY MANIFEST (Nash Rawiller) Great return. He has a great record at the distance. I think another 100m would have helped him. He’s come back better than ever.

5th - SOUTHPORT TYCOON (Mark Zahra) He ran well. 1200m is short of his best. Obviously the winner was in a race of its own. I think he will be better up in trip.

6th - AIRMAN (Tommy Berry) He blew out. He only had one trial coming into this. He will take good improvement fitness wise. Feels like he is looking for further this prep.

7th - ENCAP (Jason Collett) Came under pressure early. Still finished off well.

8th - GRIFF (Dylan Gibbons) My bloke he’s gone well. He was a little bit race rusty with a long time off. Was encouraged with his last furlong.

9th - MUCH MUCH BETTER (Reece Jones) Good effort. Bowled along out in front as expected. Gave a good kick at the top of the straight. Looking for a break.

10th - DUCASSE (Zac Lloyd (a)) He just pulled too hard first-up.

11th - OLD FLAME (Winona Costin) A good starting off point for him. He will improve with that run under his belt.

12th - BANDI’S BOY (Jay Ford) Got pretty worked up in his pre-race work out. Just raced a bit fresh and keen. He’ll improve.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Race 8 – Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m)

1st - VIA SISTINA (Kerrin McEvoy) Great win, she’s just a winner basically, I’ve only sat on her once, which was last Saturday, and she was on her own, but she’s just a competitor. She jumped in the air a little bit and got sort of back and ended up on the rail, inside Fangirl and I just thought, I’ll cut the corner. I thought I’d just make it a little bit easier, rather than James (McDonald) who got shuffled back a little and had to come wide. When I got to the corner, I sort of saved a bit of ground and then went to the inside, but I was happy to do that because I think it’s drying out all day. She really motored the last furlong, so fantastic training effort to see her do that first up at that level, and the world is her oyster this prep now.

2nd - ZOUGOTCHA (Tommy Berry) Showed her versatility today. There wasn’t a lot of speed in the race and she was outside the leader. She was just beaten by a freak today. I was definitely not stopping. I’d love to see the sectionals of the winner. It was just too good on the day.

3rd - FANGIRL (James McDonald) She is great. She has returned in good order. Very proud of her efforts.

4th - SEMANA (Dylan Gibbons) Another 110 per cent effort from her. She is a length off probably the best horses we’ve got. Proud of her once again.

5th - DETONATOR JACK (Jason Collett) Really good run. Against these horses he’s very happy and come back well.

6th - ZARDOZI (Zac Lloyd (a)) Fantastic first-up run from her. Probably the best she has performed first-up. Only up from here. She had a nice day out and sure she will improve a lot from that.

7th - RIFF ROCKET (Nash Rawiller) I thought it was a great return. He really finished the race off well. This was an incredibly frustratingly run race for me on a horse first-up. We were hoping for a bit more even speed mid-race but he’s still gone through his gears and we got outsprinted. Has probably run one of the best closing sectionals for the day. Very happy.

8th - BUCKAROO (Joshua Parr) I thought that was a nice return.

9th - ATISHU (Tyler Schiller) Really good return. She settled nicely. She was very well behaved and I thought she quickened well the last 200m.

10th - TROPICAL SQUALL (Adam Hyeronimus) A little bit disappointing. She doesn’t normally run like that. She is bigger and older and probably just needs that run to bring her on in the coat as well.

11th - JUST FINE (Rachel King) Super first run back. I think he’s hopefully back to his best this prep.

12th - ZEYREK (Reece Jones) Take improvement from that run. WFA probably works against him a little bit. He put in a good performance. Take good benefit from it.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Race 9 – Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m)

1st - KIMOCHI (Jason Collett) It’s amazing what a break does, she’s just a powerhouse, she never dropped the bridle at all. I was afraid of how strong she was traveling on the speed, but when I let her go, she really let down. She’s been able to have a break, a decent break, from her three-year-old season and it’s really helped. I was more happy to be there than on the inside. Found that out from the inside gates all day. So, you know, probably happy to be there, but you know, you are always sitting duck late when you are first-up. Gary and the team have done a great job with her.

2nd - COMMEMORATIVE (Zac Lloyd (a)) Good run. Good to see her match it with these top fillies. She is still putting it together. She is far from the furnished product. She is a lovely filly going forward.

3rd - MUMBAI MUSE (Kerrin McEvoy) Really good run. Wasn’t beaten far and there is nice progression off that.

4th - DANCING ALONE (Alysha Collett) Looked a fantastic run. She only knocked up that last little bit. On track to do something next time.

5th - AUREUS ANGEL (Tim Clark) She acquitted herself really well. A great run.

6th - INFANCY (Dylan Gibbons) Very pleased with the way she has come back. Really improved last prep and she seems to have maintained that.

7th - LADY LAGUNA (Tyler Schiller) I thought she was fantastic. She probably struggled a bit with the weight having to sprint given her max is probably about 300m so it probably shortened that a bit. I thought she was pretty tough. She will only improve with the run.

8th - THE BLACK CLOUD (Jay Ford) She had her race run to suit. Travelled well, obviously it’s a day when they are swooping today and that doesn’t suit her. Also it was her first go at stakes level.

9th - OPAL RIDGE (Tommy Berry) Disappointing. She is just not letting down. Luke is just going to take her home. Have a good look at her and hopefully we find a reason.

10th - DIAMOND MODEL (Zac Wadick (a)) She has gone well today against a good quality of horse. When she gets over the right distance for her and maybe just a touch weaker she will be in the money.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/what-the-jockeys-said-winx-stakes-day-2024/news-story/0528be131f33fb56ebcc7ea5b9befc71