Ray Thomas gives his five to follow from Rosehill Saturday plus all the news and views
James Cumming and Godolphin may have come up short with Aft Cabin on Saturday but they are reloading for a serious assault on Randwick this weekend.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings will be represented by the favourite in three Group 1 races next Saturday including champion Anamoe in the $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Anamoe, who will be ridden by James McDonald, will be chasing his eighth career major and is at the top of betting at $1.80 for the weight-for-age Randwick mile.
Also at the Randwick meeting, Cummings has boom three-old filly In Secret as $2.20 favourite for the $600,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) with Hong Kong-based Hugh Bowman returning to Sydney for the ride as he chases his 100th Australian Group 1 winner.
Cummings, the leading trainer of Group 1 winners this season with seven majors, also has unbeaten colt Barber ($5.50) for the $2m Blue Diamond (1200m) at Sandown.
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After a stable treble at Rosehill last Saturday including Cylinder’s tough win in the Group 2 Silver Slipper, Cummings was upbeat about the progress stable superstars Anamoe and In Secret have made since their first-up wins earlier this month
Anamoe was too strong for his rivals in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes and In Secret was similarly impressive with her comeback win in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.
Cummings said Anamoe and In Secret both had solid workouts at Godolphin’s private training facility, Osborne Park, last Saturday morning.
“What a pleasure it was to see them go through their gallops,’’ Cummings said.
“All systems are go for their assignments next Saturday and we are delighted with the ‘preps’ they have had so far.
Cummings said he is yet to determine if Anamoe and In Secret need another rousing gallop during the week to be ready for their Group 1 tests.
“I will have a look at them, I will have a think about it,’’ Cummings said.
“But it won’t hurt them to continue their training so we will keep them in the ‘gym’ every day and make sure they are ready to go and ready to fight next week.’’
Cummings is continuing with Aft Cabin’s preparation towards the Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 4 despite the boom colt’s defeat when only fifth behind Osipenko in the Hobartville Stakes.
“They don’t give away Group 2 races worth good prizemoney any day of the week,’’ Cummings said.
“But he has pulled up beautifully, we will monitor the horse but it is two weeks to the Guineas and he has had the run now.
“He was beaten a bit over two lengths and with the hard run, all things considered it was not too bad. He is going to need to lift, no doubt about that, and I would be willing to bet he can do so.’’
Godolphin’s other crack three-year-old colt, Golden Mile, is due to barrier trial at Hawkesbury on Tuesday ahead of his next start in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at the Randwick Guineas meeting.
Meanwhile, the Randwick barrier trials session on Monday features an all-star field for the second heat over 850m on the Kensington track including Lost And Running, Cascadian, Converge, In The Congo, Lion’s Roar, Old Flame, Promise Of Success and Shades Of Rose.
Later in the morning, the ageless Eduardo contests a 740m trial while Breeders Plate winner Empire Of Japan is entered for a two-year-old heat.
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YOU CAN BET ON IT
Aft Cabin’s shock defeat when only fifth in the Hobartville Stakes proved very costly for some TAB Fixed Odds punters.
The Godolphin colt was heavily backed into $1.60 favouritism with bets of $30,000 at $1.65, $10,000 at $1.65, $8,500 at $1.65 and a monster $100,000 place wager at $1.12.
Osipenko claims the G2 Hobartville glory, driven to the line down the fence by @nashhot for @cwallerracing! 💪 pic.twitter.com/Uz1HHFMhi1
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 18, 2023
But Godolphin stable supporters did collect with promising juvenile Cylinder winning the Silver Slipper. Some of the notable bets on Cylinder including $5,000 each at $4.40/$2.10 and $2,000/$9,500 at $4/$2.
Champion Nature Strip was heavily backed to win the Lightning Stakes with bets of $7,500 at $2, $5,000 at $2 multiple times and $9,000 at $1.95 before he faded to run sixth.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
Osipenko, Zou Tiger and Matcha Latte (race 8) fought out the finish of the Hobartville Stakes with the former winning narrowly. The impressive Osipenko will be even harder to beat when he gets to 1600m for the Randwick Guineas but connections of Zou Tiger and Matcha Latte will be looking forward to the rematch.
King Frankel (race 7) was first-up at 1900m but a clever ride from champion apprentice Tyler Schiller resulted in a narrow win in the Parramatta Cup. With four wins from five Australian starts, King Frankel’s staying star is on the rise.
Cylinder (race 4) was having his first start since fracturing his jaw back in November and could not have been more impressive winning the Silver Slipper. This was a high pressure race and Cylinder dug deep to beat Platinum Jubilee and King’s Gambit.
Parisal (race 3) came out of a Kensington maiden win and handled the class rise to benchmark 78 at a Sydney Saturday meeting with a very good win in fast time. She is up to stakes level.
Miracle Spin (race 2), the English-bred gelding, missed the start and was three lengths behind the second-last horse most of the race before sustaining a long run from the 600m to finish third, beaten a half-length. It was an eye-catching return from a promising, lightly-raced four-year-old who will be better when he gets out to a middle distance.
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TURF TALK
“Bookies should be able to pay expenses today. Nature Strip, Mariamia, Aft Cabin, Cross Talk. ‘Got away with something’,’’ wrote respected racing analyst Dominic Beirne on social media.
“He is 5-10 percent off his best. There is nothing to hide, it’s a shame. But I doubt you will see him run over 1000m in the autumn, he will go straight to 1200m but only if he is 100 per cent,’’ said Chris Waller, trainer of Nature Strip.
“She is as honest as the day is long. She always tries her heart out and the ultimate is to try and win a Group 1 with her,’’ said Michael Hawkes, trainer of Electric Girl.
“Banju, being a hard-fit horse, was always going to be hard to beat. It’s a difficult position to be in chasing down a tearaway leader but Tyler (Schiller, rider of King Frankel) crept his way up there and left enough to get over the top of him late,’’ said Mark Newnham, trainer of King Frankel.
“We’re cooking with gas with this one. He is just loaded with ability. First-up at his second preparation, that’s a damn good sign from this colt,’’ said James Cummings, trainer of Cylinder.
“I thought Platinum Jubilee ran well and there is still good improvement to come. She stuck on gamely and was very courageous. It is hard to fault her, she has run well every start,’’ said Adrian Bott, trainer of Platinum Jubilee.
CRUNCH TIME
King Frankel (race 7) was the immediate chaser behind tearaway leader Banju but sprinted brilliantly between the 400m and 200m recording a 11.09s sectional to reel in his rival, take the lead and win the Parramatta Cup.
Parisal (race 3) dashed over the Rosehill 1100m course in a flying 1m 2.82s including a final 600m of 32.73s. She raced on speed and still accelerated brilliantly to seize control of the race from the turn, sprinting the 200m sectional from the 400m mark in a very fast 10.73s to establish a winning break.
Cylinder (race 4) ran 1m 3.2s for the 1100m course and was impressive, absorbing pressure and finding a way to win. He ran his final 600m in 32.86s and 200m sectional in 11.08s to win the Silver Slipper.
Matcha Latte (race 8) ran on strongly late to claim third in the Hobartville, reeling off his final 600m in 33.78s.
Party For One (race 3) came from near last on the turn to claim third behind Parisal, running her final 200m in 10.93s, the best closing sectional of the meeting.
STEWARDS SAY
Aft Cabin (race 8) slipped behind on jumping and, as a consequence, was slow into stride. Jockey Tim Clark told stewards in the early stages he allowed Aft Cabin to stride forward from the outside barrier but he was caught three wide and without cover until he crossed Zou Tiger near the 800m. Clark said Aft Cabin did not finish off its race as he had anticipated but he was not too dissatisfied with the colt’s performance given the work the colt had to do in the first half of the race.
King’s Gambit (race 4) began awkwardly and shortly afterwards was bumped by Mumbai Muse. His jockey, Nash Rawiller, told stewards he was instructed to obtain cover if possible, and was reluctant to ride his mount in a more forward position early. Trainer Peter Snowden confirmed Rawiller was riding to instructions.
Cylinder wins the Group 2 Silver Slipper!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 18, 2023
Platinum Jubilee comes in second, followed by King's Gambit.
Bring on the Golden Slipper. ✨ pic.twitter.com/TUjCYhWoEW
Mariamia (race 6) was unable to obtain cover from her outside barrier early and to avoid being caught wide her rider Tim Clark pushed forward to settle outside the leader. Due to the tempo, Clark told stewards Mariamia was under pressure well prior to the home turn and with the mare being up in distance, she was unable to sustain her finishing effort in the straight.
True Crime (race 2) finished 10th but apprentice Tyler Schiller weighed in 0.6kg under his declared weight. Stewards disqualified True Crime from its placing. Schiller told stewards he lost fluid due to the extremely hot weather and this was the likely cause of him returning to scale underweight. Schiller was fined $700.
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ROSEHILL SNAPSHOT
With RON DUFFICY
RUN OF THE DAY
Osipenko bounced back with style after his forgivable first-up run. He probably had to be ridden a length or two closer than you’d want from the inside draw and expect even more improvement when he steps up in distance again.
FORGET THEY RAN
Midwest is a very genuine horse who was softened up badly mid-race by Kote. His effort to keep giving over the concluding stages was very commendable.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Plenty to follow from the meeting including Miracle Spin who’s in for a good preparation. Others are Lindermann who ran fast time for his grade and Matcha Latte who might be a good bet for the Rosehill Guineas.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Zac Lloyd bounced back off a suspension in style with three winners on a feature day including a Group 2 race. His best ride may have been the one he was beaten on in the first race in Preemptory. This young man with the backing of Godolphin is headed for the top.
Andermatt closes the card at Rosehill. @ZacLloydx and @JamesCummings88 combine for a double together, and a treble each! pic.twitter.com/NqhXPjjd09
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 18, 2023
NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
#What’s on in NSW racing this week:
Monday: Armidale, Sapphire Coast
Tuesday: Wyong
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Kembla Grange, Bathurst
Friday: Canterbury (night), Ballina
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Albury (Country Championships Qualifier)
Sunday: Tamworth (Country Champs Qualifier), Queanbeyan
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