Ahoy Roarers! You would have thought after Peter and Paul Snowden left Darley, they’d slowly find their feet and gradually build to success.
However, they are becoming a lethal training partnership, culminating with Capitalist scoring an outstanding win in the Golden Slipper (1200m). The colt was ridden to perfection by Blake Shinn, sitting just off the solid tempo and ready to pounce.
Once he got clear at the top of the straight, the race was over. The horse I liked, Yankee Rose, ran an absolute ripper and would have defied history in another 50m.
Flying Artie was solid, while Telperion was fantastic. The disappointment was clearly Extreme Choice, who was tardy away and just couldn’t get warm. He is better than that – but that doesn’t help the punters who launched into him.
Winx stamped herself as one of the greats with an arrogant win in the George Ryder (1500m). Due to circumstances, she was ridden outside her comfort zone by Bowman but it just did not matter.
She ambled to them at the top of the straight and won with plenty in reserve, beating home stablemates Kermadec and Press Statement, both of which lost no admirers.
Forgive First Seal, who was ridden too close to the tempo. In terms of the Doncaster, I’m very tempted to declare Happy Clapper.
His run was outstanding and will tumble down to near the minimum. But all eyes on Winx, who will wing the Queen Elizabeth and stamp herself as a true champion of Australian racing.
Tarzino looks set to claim the Victorian-Australian Derby double after a dominant win in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m). It was a beautiful ride from Newitt, who took full advantage of the inside draw and had the horse in the box seat.
It looked awkward 600m out but Newitt angled off the inside and from there it was pretty to watch. Montaigne was outstanding in running second, ahead of the tough filly Jameka. But really, it’s hard seeing Tarzino getting beat in a fortnight.
The United States locked himself a start in the Cups for the Spring with a dominant win in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
The pace didn’t look to be so hot and he was back near last, but it was a lovely ride from McEvoy who saved ground near the inside, burst through and showed an electric turn of foot. What I really liked is when he was challenged by Hauraki, he kicked and was comfortably holding them.
Criterion ran a much improved race and will be a serious chance in the Queen Elizabeth. The two flops were Mongolian Khan and Storm The Stars, who were disappointing, as was Dibayani. The old boy Weary worked home well and for mine could be a horse who would go close to winning a major if sent to Brisbane.
Griante looked a great outside chance in the Galaxy (1100m) and she took full advantage of the paint draw to claim her first major and it broke a run of outs for Craig Williams, though I suspect he will have a stint on the sidelines for the interference he caused to Terravista. The favourite in all honesty was very poor I thought and there is just no way he will match it with them at Randwick in the TJ Smith. Shiraz and Dothraki filled the placings, but all credit to the winner, who did deserve a Group 1.
Three horses to follow from Rosehill
1. Happy Clapper
2. Tarzino
3. Criterion
Have you ever tried your skills in a Racing daily fantasy competition? Put your best picks to the test for one day and see if you can scoop the pot with Draftstars. Looking for great odds on racing and sport? PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Without a Fight completed the rare Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday as star jockey Mark Zahra went back-to-back in the big one after…
The race that stops the nation is upon us again. Every horse in the Melbourne Cup has reasons they can win, and reasons they…
Those who want to have a really big collect on Australia’s greatest race, without risking too much, have to look at the exotic bets.
While most of the attention is on Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Gold Trip, there's no reason why stablemate Future History cannot upstage him.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is quietly confident his Melbourne Cup mount Alenquer will be passed fit to give him a farewell ride in the…
Melbourne Cup day is here again, and it’s never anything less than exciting. The Cup itself will of course be full of drama and…
