Timeform Recap - 2017 Randwick Guineas

A heavy track at Randwick on Saturday made for an interesting day of racing which saw Inference take out the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).

Settling back in the field last, Inference swept wide on the turn to find the outside fence and running on strongly in the straight, grabbed a narrow win over Invincible Gem in second with Comin’ Through third.

The son of So You Think ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 118p, five pounds above his third placing in the Victorian Derby last campaign.

Inference ran to the same figure as 2016 winner Le Romain, which is the equal lowest winning figure for a colt or gelding since the race moved to Randwick in 2006.

The Team Hawkes-trained runner will now be aimed at the ATC Derby (2400m) as he attempts to become the third runner to complete the Randwick Guineas-ATC Derby double (since 2006).

Shoot Out (2010) and It’s A Dundeel (2013) were the two to complete the double previously, running to 122 and 123p respectively when winning the Guineas.

Of the beaten brigade, Invincible Gem ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 113 with Comin’ Through also running to 113, one pound below his third placing in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.

Earlier in the day last years Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain, claimed his third Group 1 victory when edging out Chautauqua in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

Settling just off the leaders with Chautauqua back last and on the rail, Le Romain found the better going on the outside fence before meeting Chautauqua inside the 200m who drifted out from the inside.

The two fought hard to the line with Le Romain just doing enough to grab the narrow win from Chautauqua with Hauraki three lengths back in third.

Le Romain returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 125, two pounds above his win in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes when returning the start prior.

The Kris Lees-trained runner is the highest rated winner of the race since Pierro in 2013 who also ran to 125, with More Joyous (2011) the highest rated winner in the last 25 years when running to 126.

Le Romain became the second runner to complete the Randwick Guineas- Canterbury Stakes double, joining Mentality (2008).

The Kris Lees-trained runner will now target the Group 1 Doncaster Mile later in the autumn with the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18 the likely lead-up race.

Only four runners in the last 50 years have completed the Canterbury Stakes- Doncaster Mile double in the same year being Brokers Tip (1970), Emancipation (1983). Sprint By (1996) and More Joyous (2012).

Chautauqua who did not have a great deal of luck in second ran to a Timeform figure of 125, his highest since winning the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint (1200m) in Hong Kong (125).

Hauraki who was returning from a spell ran well enough in third and will no doubt improve off the 114 Timeform rating.

The Golden Slipper puzzle was not made any easier on the heavy track with both Frolic and Gunnison earning ballot exemptions from the 2017 Golden Slipper after winning the Group 2 Reisling Stakes and Group 2 Todman Stakes respectively.

Frolic, who came from last down the outside to beat current Golden Slipper favourite She Will Reign, ran to a new career Timeform peak of 113, with She Will Reign in second running to 106, well below her previous peak of 116.

Frolic is the highest rated winner of the race since Earthquake in 2014 (119p), running well above 2016 winner French Fern (109).

Gunnison, who remains undefeated also ran to a new career peak of 115 in the Todman, as did second placegetter Invader with Veranillo in third running to 107, well below his previous peak of 115.

Gunnison is the equal lowest rated winner of the race since Krupt in 2008 (112), with Criterion (2013) and Ghibellines (2014) also running to 115.

Since 1973, four fillies have completed the Reisling Stakes-Golden Slipper double

Only one more colt or gelding has completed the Todman Stakes-Golden Slipper double with Luskin Star (1977), Marauding (1987), Tierce (1991), Pierro (2012) and Vancouver (2015) achieving the feat.