The Rosehill Timeform recap featuring a race by race recap of key performers from Golden Slipper Day on March 24.
Super Saturday at Rosehill did not disappoint with five Group 1’s held across the program.
Winx made it win number 24 on the trot contesting the George Ryder Stakes while 1.8 lengths away in third Kementari reaffirmed his status as Doncaster Mile favourite.
The Waller stable enjoyed a race to race Group 1 double courtesy of D’Argento taking out the Rosehill Guineas.
Second across the line in the Guineas but relegated to fourth, Vin De Dance looks set to have the last laugh contesting the Australian Derby in two week’s time.
Fillies filled the Golden Slipper trifecta for the second successive year before consistent mare In Her Time claimed a thoroughly deserved Group 1 in The Galaxy.
Race 1: I Am Excited - Listed Derby Munro Stakes (1200m)
David Pfeiffer placed I Am Excited perfectly on Saturday and she repayed him. She was pitchforked into the race under Set Weights plus Penalties.
I Am Excited weaves her way through the field and kicks clear for the line, fending off a late challenge from Isaurian to make it three straight this prep for @PfiefferRacing in the Darby Monro Stakes. pic.twitter.com/1jMjfJyFh5
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
We gave her win a Timeform rating of 113.
The Arrowfield Stud Sprint in three weeks is next for her. She’s a filly in form and clearly a live chance there.
The runner up Isaurian will likely go there too. He’ll meet her 2kg worse at the weights from Saturday under Set Weights. That was only his third career start though so the colt perhaps has a shade more upside.
Race 2: The Pinnacle - Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m)
After three placings, The Pinnacle was poised to be put into the bridesmaid category but she saved herself.
The Pinnacle responds to the urges of @reith_christian with a big kick at the 200m, racing quickly to the lead and driving it home to take out the Epona Stakes for @SnowdenRacing1. pic.twitter.com/GPTcT2ZSpf
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
The win yielded a Timeform rating of 101.
The Epona Stakes is a funny race. There aren’t many Group 3’s for fillies and mares over this sort of trip. It’s a race which gives mares the chance to get some black type who would otherwise most likely slip through the cracks.
She’s a well bred mare being a half to a pair of stakes performers so that win will certainly go a long way in maximising her broodmare value.
Domed and Nettoyer out wide for the placings have done the same thing.
Race 3: Master Of Arts - Group 3 Manion Cup (2400m)
In a 2400m event on a testing track, Master Of Arts was the rock hard fit horse in the race.
Master Of Arts pings to the outside and lets loose a big run over the top to land the Manion Cup at @rosehillgardens for @DKWeirRacing. An absolute peach of a ride from Damian Lane to find the clean air out wide! pic.twitter.com/IzlUwuVtwt
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
He had also been kept sharp with some recent jumps trials too.
These things combined were a recipe for success and he’s run to a Timeform rating of 108.
Next for him is the Chairman’s Quality at Randwick in two week’s time.
Three of the last four Manion Cup winners have claimed the Manion Cup-Chairman’s Quality double. His stablemate Big Duke was the last to do it 12 months ago.
Alward in second is by far though the horse to follow from the race. He got a long way back and was strong late. Third up 2400m isn’t easy on a testing track like that. It was an encouraging Sydney Cup audition.
Race 4: Gailo Chop - Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m)
Gailo was the shortest priced favourite of the day (outside of Winx) and delivered like one.
Too good!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
Gailo Chop makes his move rounding the bend, quickening the pace to take the lead and charge away to salute in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at @rosehillgardens. @DKWeirRacing brings up a running double! pic.twitter.com/SksrX8vr9j
We’ve awarded him a Timeform rating of 125. That’s the highest winning figure of a Ranvet Stakes since Tie The Knot won in 2000.
Gailo Chop will back up in the BMW this Saturday and take beating. He’s a slight query at the trip but probably not enough of one to jump off him.
Single Gaze will head there as well. She was her usual honest self as was Prized Icon.
Both are better suited on firmer ground. Looking at the weather forecast, they should get that on Saturday.
Race 5: Winx - Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m)
24 straight wins now and she was superb. Happy Clapper and Kementari are extremely talented in their own right and she was still too good.
24 of the the best for our Mighty Mare!!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
Witness what can only be described as poetry in motion as Winx breaks the Group 1 record with the kind of performance we've come to expect of her in the George Ryder. She's done it again!! #GoWinx pic.twitter.com/3YFpzW9wkm
We’ve got Winx running to a Timeform rating of 126.
She’s right on track for the Queen Elizabeth in two week’s time. She’ll become the first horse since Grand Armee in 2005 to claim back to back Queen Elizabeth’s.
We all know how good Winx is. It’s the placegetters we have to be focusing in on here, Happy Clapper and Kementari who were brave behind the world’s best.
For being beaten by three quarters of a length, by Happy Clapper, Kementari will meet him 2.5kg better at the weights in next month’s Doncaster.
He’s a $4 favourite for the Doncaster and deservedly so.
Race 6: D’Argento - Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
There was strong market support for D’Argento and he delivered. He’s run to 120 and in the process become just the second Australian bred 3YO to win the Rosehill Guineas this decade.
The Grey gets up in the Guineas!!@HugeBowman & @cwallerracing combine for back-to-back Group 1's with D'Argento, as the wide run proves too strong over the final furlong. Incredible scenes at @rosehillgardens!! pic.twitter.com/iZvx9qKYig
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
Laser Hawk in 2012 is the other.
Chris Waller has to make the call now whether they go to the Derby or the Doncaster in two week’s time.
He has trained six of the past ten Doncaster winners so D’Argento would have to be respected if the Doncaster was the way they elected to head.
The Doncaster may be smart option as holding off the kiwi invasion in the Australian Derby next fortnight looks tough. It was like the charge of the light brigade. There was only one length between third and ninth.
Vin De Dance was great on the wrong part of the track for second past the post (relegated to fourth). Mission Hill and Mongolian Conqueror were strong out wide late.
Race 7: Estijaab - Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m)
Estijaab was given an excellent ride by Brenton Avdulla. They found the front as was able to control the race. As far as Golden Slipper’s go, she got some nice cheap mid sectionals. That meant they had enough in the tank to hold their rivals off.
ESTIJAAB!!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
.@brentonavdulla puts the @HawkesRacing-trained filly in the pole position rounding the turn, sprinting best and holding off Oohood for a big win in the 2018 #GoldenSlipper. A thrilling finish at @rosehillgardens! pic.twitter.com/a5o8hFbmlW
She’s produced a Timeform rating of 118. That’s a shade on the low side for Slipper wins.
It means Written By’s Blue Diamond Stakes victory is still the pick of the 2YO performances this season.
Another talking point is fillies in the Slipper. They’ve now filled the trifecta in three of the past five runnings. They did it when Mossfun won in 2014 and last year as well led in by She Will Reign.
Oohood, Seabrook and Long Leaf, they were all finding the line like 2YO’s who can play a role in the Sires’.
Race 8: In Her Time - Group 1 Galaxy (1100m)
In Her Time got her Group 1 and boy she deserved it. In 2017 she mixed it with the best. She ran second in the Manikato Stakes, a Stradbroke and a Tatt’s Tiara.
In Her Time jumps out of the ground with a mighty kick and bolts in home ahead of English & Viridine to salute in impressive fashion in The Galaxy. pic.twitter.com/48o3Hngcxq
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
Ben Smith’s stable star was just that bit too good for her rivals under Handicap conditions. She’s run to a Timeform rating of 121. That’s above average for a Galaxy figure.
She’s off to the TJ Smith now. Redzel will be hard to knock off but thankfully she’s got her Group 1 now.
English and Viridine were each charging home.
Viridine’s two runs this prep against the older horses have been top shelf. I don’t think he is quite at Open weight for age level just yet.
In three weeks there is the Arrowfield Sprint for 3YO’s at Randwick over 1200m. If James Cummings drops Viridine back to that race, the Poet’s Voice colt will take a power of beating.
Race 9: Quilista - Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m)
Backing up on a testing track with a long float trip from Victoria in between isn’t easy. Quilista however took it in her stride and led throughout.
Quilista and Tommy Berry round the turn in the lead and drive it all the way to the line to take out the TAB Birthday Card Stakes for a @DKWeirRacing treble at @rosehillgardens. pic.twitter.com/5IR8S2uQ05
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2018
She’s run to a Timeform rating of 107.
The Sapphire Stakes in three week’s time at Randwick shapes as a great race for her. Sugar Bella should go there as well.
They are two mares in form who can make their presence felt in a race like that.
