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Past the Post: Randwick wrap

Roar Guru
19th September, 2015
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The Championships didn't draw the crowd that was hoped for (AAP Image/David Moir)
Roar Guru
19th September, 2015
8

A fabulous day of racing was run and won on Saturday at Randwick, where the feature race was the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m). Kermadec took out the honours in awesome fashion.

Kermadec was wide no cover for the first little bit of the race before Schofield got him in on the back of Sweynesse, and from there it was easy to watch if you backed him.

For a few strides it looked as though Pornichet was going to pinch it, but he just felt the pinch late, with the very gallant mare Royal Descent pinching second.

Kermadec is currently the best horse in Australia and is clearly the horse to beat in the Cox Plate. He just oozes class and is still very lightly raced.

Sam Clipperton continued his brilliant Spring carnival when he steered smart filly Pearls to a win in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). The close relation to Helmet had a lovely run behind Kimberley Star before peeling out, letting down powerfully then showing some ticker when fending off Honesta.

Honesta was fantastic and is the filly to beat for sure in the Flight Stakes (1400m). The likes of Ottoman and Lake Geneva were very plain.

Rebel Dane, first up after a wind operation, produced a brilliant finishing burst to nab Ball Of Muscle right on the peg in the feature sprint race, The Shorts (1100m). Brenton Avdulla, the form rider in Sydney at the moment, lifted the Group 1 winner late in a thrilling finish.

Ball Of Muscle could not have been ridden any better by Tim Clark while Shiraz and Hot Snitzel were solid also.

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Riding honours early on went to Jim Cassidy, who started the day with a double, with the second leg being a pearler on Sadler’s Lake to win the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m).

Pumper waited as long as possible before hitting the button and he gripped on to beat Rudy, who has had the perfect lead-up to the Epsom. He is my early pick there. Heart Testa, who was completely luckless last weekend, led and stuck on for third.

Three horses to follow
1. Honesta
2. Ruling Dynasty
3. Ulmann

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