Ray Thomas has five to follow from Randwick on Saturday plus all the news from around the traps
Trainer John O’Shea is more than happy with his stocks as he starts to take aim on the autumn carnival which will be here before anyone knows it.
John O’Shea, trainer of The Ingham winner Kirwan’s Lane, flew to New Zealand on Sunday to inspect yearlings satisfied his autumn carnival stocks soared after Royal Randwick last Saturday.
Mile specialist Kirwan’s Lane guaranteed himself a start in the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile at The Championships next April with his game win in Group 2 The Ingham.
Kirwan’s Lane held off stablemate Lion’s Roar to win the race formerly known as the Villiers to cap a memorable day for the Randwick trainer.
O’Shea’s promising two-year-old filly Saltaire was a tenacious winner of the Inglis Nursery and talented sprinter Waihaha Falls just missed when a close second in the Razor Sharp Handicap.
“You try to have your horses peak for the big day and it’s great when it comes off,’’ O’Shea said.
“Kirwan’s Lane will go for a break now and will be aimed at the Doncaster Mile. I’m also heading that way with Lion’s Roar but he is likely to run in the Summer Cup on Boxing Day.’’
O’Shea also revealed his stable star, top sprinter Lost And Running will return to training before Christmas to prepare for the major sprints in autumn.
Lost And Running, winner of over $4.2 million prizemoney including the Group 2 Premiere Stakes during the spring, has been spelling since his seventh in the Nature Strip Stakes at Rosehill in late October.
“He’s had a nice break, looks great, and will come back into the stables soon,’’ O’Shea said.
“We will aim him for The Galaxy (1100m) first-up then to the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m).’’
O’Shea has some real depth in his carnival ranks for next autumn including ATC Australian Derby hopeful Stroke Of Luck and promising three-year-olds Zoukerino and Zou Tiger.
Meanwhile, O’Shea’s team for the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast next month is starting to take shape with Hell I Am and Shalailed nominated for the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3 and 4yo Stakes (1200m) at Wyong on Wednesday.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Nugget missed a start in The Ingham but punters rallied for him and were rewarded in the Jack and Bob Ingham Handicap at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Nugget held 60 per cent of all investments on the race before scoring as $1.75 favourite. Some of the notable bets for Nugget included $4500 at $2, $5000 at $1.85 and $6000 at $1.75.
Kirwan’s Lane might have been a $21 chance but he wasn’t friendless in betting before winning The Ingham. Some of the bigger bets on the gelding included $3500/$1000 each way at $21/$6.
At Sandown, Detonator Jack landed some big bets to win as the $1.65 favourite. The wagers included $15,000 at $1.65, $10,000 at $1.70 and $10,000 at $1.65.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
ROYAL RANDWICK
Iowna Merc (race 3) is an emerging three-year-old filly who has won twice from four starts (and two seconds) including her strong effort to beat Sacrimony. She has come a long way in her first race preparation and looks very promising.
Kir Royale and Nicci’s Fling (race 5) both ran well to fill the placings behind the smart Barossa Rosa. Kir Royale and Nicci’s Fling were first-up and will be improved by the run. They can be placed to advantage in coming week.
Salire (race 1) came from last on the turn with another storming finish to run third in the Highway behind Penthouse. His two runs back have been over 1000m and is looking for further now.
KEMBLA GRANGE
The Novelist (race 1) made a brilliant debut to win by five lengths stopping the clock at a very slick 56.66s including a final 600m in 32.5s. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt looks a natural and is on the Magic Millions trail.
Ausbred Flirt (race 5) is a lightly-raced mare by Maurice and scored her third win from seven starts with a runaway win. She has won successive races at Kembla by an aggregate margin of 11.3 lengths and is ready for city racing.
CRUNCH TIME
Salire (race 1) produced the fastest final 600m sectional of the meeting to come from near last to finish a close third. He stormed home in 32.32s with a final 200m in 11.07s, which was also the best of the day.
Facile (race 5) ran the best 200m sectional of the day with her brilliant 9.97s split between the 800m and 600m. She set the tempo and fought hard for a close second to Saltaire in a fast 56.75s.
Nugget (race 9) won over the Randwick 1600m in a slick 1m 33.94s which compared favourably to Kirwan’s Lane’s 1m 33.54s to win The Ingham.
Smart win from Nugget thanks to a serious ride from young Zac Lloyd! 🙌@cmaherracing@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/WrOOMnyA70
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 10, 2022
King Ratel (race 2) was competing in a benchmark 72 but won impressively, unleashing a powerful finishing surge and recording a final 600m sectional of 33.58s.
TURF TALK
“Kirwan’s Lane is one of the first horses I bought when I started out on my own again and his record is unbelievable at a mile – he’s a gun,’’ trainer John O’Shea said.
It's a @JohnOSheaRacing quinella in The Ingham with Kirwan's Lane holding off the stablemate Lion's Roar! ðŸ‘
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 10, 2022
A double on the day for @brentonavdulla. pic.twitter.com/KysqZ3pM8J
“The Ingham is a fantastic initiative. It gives everyone a chance to reflect on a great family of Australian racing. It is an honour to win a race of this calibre,’’ O’Shea said.
“Barossa Rosa is a very good mare and we really want to try and get some black type with her. The Belle of the Turf Stakes, it maps perfectly for her and she will go straight to Gosford without another run,’’ trainer Tracey Bartley said.
“In the run, I wanted her to be up and about on the corner to get onto the back of the favourite. With Facile, ‘Blind Freddie’ saw her at the trials and I knew she was going to give a kick. But I got to her quite sharply and my filly ended up winning with a nice bit of authority,’’ said jockey Kerrin McEvoy, rider of Saltaire.
“You beauty, good on you mate. You won’t find a finer man in this industry,’’ jockey Josh Parr said to trainer Marc Chevalier after winning on Torrens.
“This win means a lot to me. Torrens has been very good to us, he has helped us to get the stable in place. We had a slow start but now the stable is starting to hit the right form,’’ Chevalier said.
STEWARDS SAY
Nash Rawiller, rider of Bullfinch (race 9), was given a careless riding suspension for causing interference at the 300m when he directed his mount out when not sufficiently clear of Outlandos, which was checked and lost its rightful running. Stewards said Rawiller’s “poor disciplinary record in respect to careless riding charges” meant his penalty would commence immediate and he can’t return to race riding until December 27.
Dragonstone (race 7) finished near the tail of the field but the gelding was not able to establish clear running in the straight and consequently was not able to be fully tested to the line.
They couldn't catch Sky Command in the 7th event at Randwick! ðŸ‡ðŸŒ¬ï¸@Reganbayliss@GRyanRacingpic.twitter.com/d5mmpdZUKm
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 10, 2022
Authentic Jewel (race 6) led comfortably early but was the first horse beaten soon after straightening. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Authentic Jewel to be slow to recover.
Torrens (race 4) staged the ultimate form reversal to bounce back from his last of 14 in the ATC Cup to win the Christmas Cup. Trainer Marc Chevalier told stewards that Torrens, being a stallion, had taken some time to come to hand and said the horse had excuses for his last start defeat when forced to work early from an awkward barrier before weakening in the straight. Chevalier said he had subsequently increased the horse’s workload, Torrens had improved and also added winkers.
Sacrimony (race 3) began particularly well and was among the leading division in the early stages. He raced wide without cover and was inclined to race keenly.
RANDWICK SNAPSHOT
With RON DUFFICY
RUN OF THE DAY
Sky Command was up against it on a dry track at 1200m but she was fantastic holding off the two favourites and running fast time. It just showed what great form she’s in.
FORGET THEY RAN
Not much went right for Sacrimony when he was wide and aggressive while Blanc De Blanc would have got a lot closer from a better draw.
ONE TO FOLLOW
Although beaten at a short priced favourite Facile will be a much better filly when she matures and puts on a bit more weight next preparation. Also, I thought Bartholomeu Dias put in a decent Summer Cup trial for Boxing Day.
RIDE OF THE DAY
There were some beautiful rides on the day including Nash Rawiller producing two back markers perfectly for a winning double. Brenton Avdulla did everything right keeping his cool on his two while Zac Lloyd was terrific under pressure on the odds on pop Nugget.
The fan favourite Democracy Manifest goes home the better in the last! 🥡 @cwallerracing@nashhotpic.twitter.com/GhddBWwm9O
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 10, 2022
NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Orange
Tuesday: Tamworth, Tuncurry
Wednesday: Wyong
Thursday: Hawkesbury
Friday: Canterbury, Goulburn, Ballina, Warren
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Beaumont Newcastle
Sunday: Moruya, Taree
Originally published as Ray Thomas has five to follow from Randwick on Saturday plus all the news from around the traps
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