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Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick

Mitch Cohen has analysed all 10 races on day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick and identified some key runners that he wants to back at their next starts.

Mitch Cohen
Buffalo (outside) was excellent in an even Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Buffalo (outside) was excellent in an even Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
4 min read
6:30AMApril 07, 2025

Mitch Cohen has analysed all 10 races on day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick and identified some key runners that he wants to back at their next starts.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

MISS ALEXIS (4.1-length 5th of 15, race 2): Her mum Jameka won a VRC Oaks and was runner-up in an Australian Oaks at the same age. She looks to have similar staying prowess after she was strongest late in the Adrian Knox Stakes.

ALALCANCE (2.6-length 1st of 20, race 3): It was another demolition job in the Chairman’s Quality for the highly-talented import. It’s hard to see anything beating her in the Sydney Cup on Saturday at Randwick, where she drops 4.5kg in weight.

BUFFALO (0.3-length 3rd of 10, race 6): There was a blanket finish to the Inglis’ Sires but nothing was hitting the line better than this bloke from the back. He’s going to be a major player in the Champagne Stakes. The same goes for Federalist.

HEADWALL (1.4-length 3rd of 13, race 7): He showed an explosive turn of foot when the gap came to surge home for a minor placing in the TJ Smith. His rise through the sprint ranks has been remarkable and I’d love to see him in a Quokka.

JIMMYSSTAR (1.5-length 4th of 13, race 7): His was a huge run from the back in the TJ Smith Stakes but just ran out of time to catch the leaders. A date with the All Aged Stakes next start looks perfect for him.

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STEWARDS SAY

Beskar (race 1): Rider Ben Melham lodged a protest against second placegetter King Of Pop, alleging interference approaching the 300m. It was quickly dismissed.

Belle Detelle (race 2): Jockey Damian Lane was final $750 for using the whip on nine occasions prior to the 100m, four more than permitted.

Inevitable Truth (race 2): Was found to have bled in both nostrils for the first time in the Adrian Knox. The filly is now banned from racing for three months.

Another Wil (race 8): Had to check when suffering interference from Just Folk, who shifted in passing the 1200m. Just Folk’s jockey Daniel Moor was suspended for careless riding.

Geoglyph (race 8): Damian Lane said the Japanese raider overrated badly and thought it contributed to his finishing effort. No abnormalities were found post-race.

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CRUNCH TIME

Buffalo (race 6): His finishing burst from last was enormous in the Sires’, rocketing home in 34.78 seconds to finish third in the Group 1. Runner up State Visit (35.04) was next best.

Jimmysstar (race 7): The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper didn’t have a runner behind him at the 800m before rattling home for fourth with a last 600m of 32.72 seconds. He clocked slick closing splits of 10.57 and 11.06.

Linebacker (race 8): The favourite ended up with too much to do in the Doncaster but his 33.26 seconds last 600m was actually the fastest of the race. Luckless third placegetter Encap was next best in 33.32.

Aeliana (race 9):Chris Waller’s exciting filly kept getting further away from them with every stride in the straight with a clear best last 600m of 34.74 seconds. Her closing splits of 11.46 and 11.80 were the best of the race.

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TRACK TALK

“You need this. I needed this. And my team needed it.” — Bjorn Baker after winning the Doncaster Mile with Stefi Magnetica.

“She’s not the biggest, but she’s the toughest. She’s her own personality.” — Baker again.

“I was in front at the line and was like, ‘holy hell, sh** I’ve just won.” — Jason Collett after the Doncaster.

“He (owner Ian Johnson) came down to the stables and he said to me, ‘is this the horse that I’ve dreamt of?’ He hadn’t even had a race start, I said ‘Sir, this will be the horse of your life’.” — Michael Hawkes on TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa.

“I don’t get as emotional these days as I used to, but that was really special.” — Chris Waller on Aeliana.

“To win two Group 1 races in Sydney this week is hard to describe, it really is. This is a dream come true.” — Matt Laurie after Vinrock’s Sires’ success.

“I’ve got 12 Qualifying trophies at home, so now I can finally add a Finals one to the trophy cabinet.” — Aaron Bullock after winning the Country Championships on Know Thyself.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

TJ SMITH STAKES: Joliestar had been heavily backed but Briasa – on the third line of TAB betting – saluted at $6.50 on the tote with less than 20 per cent of the hold. One punter had $2000 on the winner at $6.50 and another also had $2000 on at $5.50.

DONCASTER MILE: One TAB punter was smiling after having $5000 at $17 on upset winner Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster Mile. The Bjorn Baker-trained mare was on the eighth line of betting with only about 8 per cent of the hold.

AUSTRALIAN DERBY: Aeliana – backed from $3.70 into $2.25 – had a weight of money behind it. Bets of $6000 at $2.30 and a $6000 at $3.70 were taken on the winner.

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THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Dubbo, Kempsey
Tuesday: Ballina, Goulburn
Wednesday: Hawkesbury
Thursday: Gosford
Friday: Orange, Port Macquarie
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Queanbeyan, Dubbo
Sunday: Grafton, Wagga

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RON DUFFICY’S ROYAL RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY: Aeliana produced a Makybe Diva-like performance in destroying her rivals in the Derby, beating the boys by more than 5 lengths in a dominant win. It’s a longshot but if by any chance she decided to take on the other star filly Treasure The Moment next week, what a contest that would be.

FORGET THEY RAN: Encap and Linebacker were very good considering they found themselves in an unusually slowly run Doncaster Mile while the two-year-olds King Of Pop and Beskar may well have fought out the finish if they weren’t so worried about each other.

THE BLACK BOOK: Jimmystar was fantastic from the back in the T J Smith setting himself up well for the All Aged Stakes and She’s Got Pizzazz might be a better filly than we think.

RIDE OF THE DAY: Obviously some great rides on the day but Aaron Bullock blended Know Thyself into the race beautifully from barrier 11 with a lovely ride and credit to him with a tough job of wasting for the ride and keeping focused.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/horse-racing/mitch-cohens-blackbook-five-to-follow-from-day-one-of-the-championships-at-royal-randwick/news-story/eef306d1d3ec9642b3db8d9892cb6ac6