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Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

by Chris Scholtz 6 years ago 3 minute read

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Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on February 17.

THE STARS

WINX: Wherever she goes, whatever she does - there is only one Winx. The crowd lapped up her guest appearance at Randwick yet some narrow-minded ‘observers’ had to whinge that her special Randwick trial gave her some sort of ‘unfair advantage’ over other horses preparing for the Chipping Norton Stakes! Please, she is the best thing in racing and deserves the red carpet treatment any time she steps out in public - full marks to the ATC for capitalising on an invaluable asset.

TIM CLARK: One of Sydney’s hardest working riders enjoys a red letter day with four wins. They were terrific rides that underlined his talent and why he is riding for the top stables. Tim reckons there was an omen - it was his daughter’s eighth birthday!

LINDSAY PARK: Darren Weir may rack up the numbers but when it comes to the big races the Hayes/Dabernig team are a juggernaut. The Lightning Stakes/Vanity double at Flemington is only a pre cursor to what lies ahead for the stable in the autumn.

REDKIRK WARRIOR: An absolute Flemington specialist. Ran down Redzel fair and square with a sustained sprint from last.

ENDLESS DRAMA: No Winx in the Apollo Stakes but it made no difference to the Waller team. Great to see the stable has found the key to this classy import.

BAYLISS BROTHERS: While Regan Bayliss was celebrating a G1 win at Flemington after his dashing ride on Redkirk Warrior in the Lightning Stakes his brother Jake took the spotlight in NZ by winning the G2 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie, adding to the big impact he has made since he crossed the Tasman. Happy days!

MARK ZAHRA/DAMIEN OLIVER: Zahra took the riding honours at Flemington with a fine treble, but only just from a determined Oliver who continues to run back the clock with his riding form.

TALKING POINTS

• AN online print of the photo finish between Almost Court and Emperor’s Way in the third race at Randwick created plenty of debate among punters and stirred a lot of social media feedback as many believed the print showed a margin in favour of Emperor’s Way, but the stewards would have none of it.

“Me and three of my stewards looked at it and we all agreed it was a dead heat” was the response from Racing NSW chief steward Mark Van Gestel.

• IT seems the Tony McEvoy yard is becoming known as a “money talks” stable. On Saturday the stable landed a Morphettville double with two heavily backed odds on runners - one was a big go in from $5 - while at Flemington they couldn't write the name of another of his first starters Pierro Belle who blew from short odds like a southerly gale and was distanced at the finish. She was reported to be lame but the betting certainly told a story pre race.

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS

GLYN SCHOFIELD: Admitted his dead-heat on Emperor’s Way was better than nothing after a ride that left backers of the favourite non-plussed about his navigation at a critical stage at the 350m. Most would agree with Schofield that seeking a run on the outside of the leaders cost him a clear win, which was in stark contrast to his later ride on Alizee when he speared back to the inside of runners, thankfully with a happy result.

MICK PRICE: Wow, does he have some depth in his 2YO and 3YO teams. Must be looking forward to the next couple of weeks.

ALIZEE: Always good to see a top filly come back in winning form.

JOHN O’SHEA: Slow and steady is his current mantra. The work he has put into Kaepernick since the sprinter joined his team was rewarded at Randwick.

MATTHEW SMITH: Doing a great job with his team led by the classy mare Faraway Town.

RIDE OF THE DAY

REGAN BAYLISS: There some great rides at Flemington and Randwick but the pearler belonged to Regan Bayliss in the biggest race of the day. Tactics and timing were perfect in the Lightning Stakes.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

• "I felt that engine burn. It was great for her to exercise those competitive juices again." – Hugh Bowman sums up the feel he got from Winx in her Randwick trial. For the record her 1200m trial was run in quicker time than Kaepernick’s win in the Southern Cross Stakes so it was no soft exercise gallop for the mare!

THEY SAID IT

• “Hughie had to make sure she was in tune. It’s hard to simulate race conditions in a trial but we went pretty close today. I can tell she's very happy, not stressed at all, and she's enjoyed the day out. In two weeks, we will have her ready to run in a solid mile race.’’ – Chris Waller’s views on Winx after the trial.

• “He has been sent from the other side of the world to come here and take on Australian sprinters and it is great to win with him. He is starting to get towards becoming a commercial stallion.’ - Chris Waller’s delight with Apollo Stakes winner Endless Drama.

• “He loves straight racing. All his moons seem to come together when the straight races come on - he ran down the best sprinter in Australia." – David Hayes sums up his Lightning Stakes his winner Redkirk Warrior.

• “He is very loose and very fluid. That's what I look for - Vancouver had it, Pierro had it - that sexy factor. He has been our Slipper horse from day one.” - Why Gai Waterhouse is over the moon with her classy youngster Santos.

• "She got a big plus today, she didn't go around a horse - an Ollie special." David Hayes praises Damien Oliver’s ride on Rimraam.

• "We completely changed her work, we've kept her work short and sharp and just kept her fresh. When she ran so well first-up it gave me a bit of confidence that what we were doing was right.” – Faraway Town’s delighted trainer Matt Smith.

• “We always felt he was immature as a baby so it's nice to see him come back bigger and stronger." – Suncraze’s trainer Melanie O’Gorman.

• “That's his run to get him into the Australian Guineas. He's a good-winded horse, perfectly sound, and I think that will take a bit of freshness out of him…but he does have to beat Holy Snow and Mighty Boss." – Mick Price underlines his strong 3YO team after Grunt’s win in the CS Hayes Stakes.

THE SACK FILE

DEPLOY: Poor return leaves many questions to be answered.

DOTHRAKI: No upside here.

HANDSOME THIEF: Hard to find an excuse.

TERRAVISTA: Age may have caught up with him.

FORMALITY: Cardiac irregularity. Vet clearance needed.

BLACKBOOK

MAIN STAGE: Genuine classics contender. Watch him get better over ground.

BRING ME ROSES: Impressive first-up. Quality filly.

DUCA VALENTINOIS: Capable of adding to his record this autumn.

COMIN’ THROUGH: Nice start to what could be a big campaign.

ZESTFUL: Can hold her own in the best mares company.

GENERALISSIMO: Certain to be fitter when next produced.


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DEPLOY DOTHRAKI HANDSOME THIEF TERRAVISTA FORMALITY MAIN STAGE BRING ME ROSES DUCA VALENTINOIS COMIN’ THROUGH ZESTFUL GENERALISSIMO

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