The three-year-olds took centre stage across Australia this Saturday, with the best being the Randwick Guineas (1600m), won by Hallowed Crown in a thrilling edition of the race.
I said a few weeks ago that this bunch of three-year-old colts could well be the best we have seen since Octagonal, Saintly, Filante and Nothin Leica Dane, and the 2014-15 crop are living right up to it.
We saw it firstly with the Hobartville and now with the Randwick Guineas (1600m), won by Hallowed Crown, who wore down leader Shooting To Win, with Sweynesse splitting the pair.
I don’t like being critical of riders, but as good as he is, that wasn’t a good ride from McDonald on Sweynesse. He got caught in a pocket when Preferrment took off, so he had to go back to the rail, and we know that the inside at Randwick isn’t 100 per cent.
To finish as close as he did was outstanding and he is clearly the horse I want to follow. I also think Shooting To Win will be much better ridden with a sit, but full credit to the winner.
Cosmic Endeavour produced a cracking run last weekend, and with that added fitness on her side she added another Group 1 to her CV with a win in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m). McDonald was back in the good books with an absolute peach here, holding out Tiger Tees for the lead before controlling the tempo and fighting off her rivals, including the gallant Catkins, who just can’t quite crack it for a Group 1.
Criterion was the real eye catcher, working home strongly near the inside for third ahead of Hooked. Criterion was excellent moving towards the Queen Elizabeth.
Vancouver stamped himself as the one to beat in the Golden Slipper (1200m) after a dominant on speed win in the Todman Stakes (1200m). Punters, like me, who were keen on him, were sweating a load when he broke through the barriers. Thankfully he did no harm, and he then let his racing do the talking, sitting outside Furnaces, putting him away 250 metres out and winning by a space.
Headwater ran third, and despite sitting wide he was very plain, and that was my query in my preview. He hadn’t been in a serious race and hadn’t worked hard. He did here and he looked like a provincial maiden.
Three Blackbookers from Randwick
1. Vancouver
2. Intimate Moment
3. Criterion
Wandjina, aided by a brilliant ride from in-form hoop Brett Prebble, capped off a big day for Gai Waterhouse by winning the Australian Guineas (1600m), fending off the clueless Alpine Eagle, who is a star, but has no idea what he is doing.
Stratum Star had the cheap run and stuck on for third ahead of Kermadec, who had absolutely no luck in the straight, and arguably should have won had he got clear running. He will go back to Sydney and be ultra competitive in the Rosehill Guineas.
Madam Gangster, off a freshen up, produced the goods yet again with a strong win in the Tressady Stakes (1400m), cutting back to the inside and finishing best to beat home Girl Guide, who improved big time off her poor effort last weekend.
Nadeem Lass ran third ahead of stablemate and the desperately unlucky Girl In Flight, who will be winning races this prep. She was very good, warming up late in the piece.
Three Blackbookers from Flemington
1. Ready For Victory
2. Girl In Flight
3. Kermadec
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