The Randwick Timeform recap featuring a race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch from All Aged Stakes Day.
The Sydney Autumn Carnival is over for another year and it was wrapped up in style courtesy of Trapeze Artist taking out the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Most feared it would be his farewell from the racetrack however connections have elected to race Trapeze Artist as a four-year-old pushing back stud duties to 2019.
Seabrook claimed the other Group 1 of the day, the Champagne Stakes (1600m), highlighting her versatility after winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) earlier in the autumn.
While Trapeze Artist and Seabrook head out for winter spells, Firsthand commenced his prep on Saturday and profiles as one to follow in the immediate future.
Race 1: Nic’s Vendetta - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m)
Nic’s Vendetta has returned in good order this prep. He’s netted himself a Timeform rating of 94 for that win.
Nic's Vendetta slowly wears down Ori On Fire with patient ride up the rail from @weir_mikayla, hitting the lead in the final stages to take out the opener on All Aged Stakes Day for @howlett_racing. pic.twitter.com/tOUP6MHZFf
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
The writing was on the wall for this first up when he ran fourth at Newcastle.
When you’re doing form for Highway Handicaps, if you hone in on horses dropping back from metropolitan or provincial races, you’re setting yourself up for success.
As good as initiative as they are, Highway Handicaps are glorified country restricted races so provincial and metropolitan form brought back to them always holds up extremely well.
Nic’s Vendetta’s Highway Handicap days are over now. But, off a Timeform rating of 94, he can definitely hold his own at the midweeks or even Saturday off season races.
Race 2: Anatola - Benchmark 85 3YO Handicap (1200m)
It’s a great way to kick off a prep. Anatola has run to a Timeform rating of 105.
Anatola & @JoshuaParr8 break the @royalrandwick track record with a commanding performance for @MarkMrn in the second event on All Aged Stakes Day. pic.twitter.com/iSPS1kpKao
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
She’s put a good margin on some handy rivals like Test The World and Dissolute, it bodes well for her winter prep.
Black type is what she needs now to maximise her future broodmare value. Her dam is a half sister to True Jewels who won the 2001 Blue Diamond Stakes.
She’ll be headed up to Brisbane now. Test The World in second should go up there as well.
The first two across the lines are nice consistent mares with good upside early in their preps.
Race 3: Burning Passion - Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m)
Burning Passion was ridden more positive on Saturday and they reaped the dividends. We’ve got him running to 112.
A thrilling three horse war up the straight sees Burning Passion pulling clear right where it counts to land the TAB Hall Mark Stakes for a @JoshuaParr8 & @MarkMrn double!! pic.twitter.com/i4PboW1ywi
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
The Hall Mark Stakes is a race that warrants respect as a form line for horses heading to Brisbane.
Music Magnate and Redzel won the prior two Hall Mark’s, they each then went to Brisbane and won the Doomben 10,000.
Firsthand produced an eye catcher in fourth. There are plenty of options for him on the calendar. The Star Witness gelding has won two of three starts second up as well. The Team Hawkes runner is a definite black booker for his next start.
Race 4: Higher Ground - Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m)
Higher Ground is another horse who booked his ticket to Brisbane for the winter. He’s improved nicely with each run this prep and on Saturday ran to a Timeform rating of 114.
A @cwallerracing quinella sees Higher Ground edging out Tangled by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling finish to the G3 Frank Packer Plate @royalrandwick! pic.twitter.com/1k5vLsafdo
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
This was a strong Frank Packer Plate. Higher Ground beat Tangled who came out of the Derby and Holy Snow who has also contested some good form races this autumn.
Higher Ground is on track for a Queensland Derby. Tangled is probably getting to the end of his prep, but, the SA Derby could be a nice race for him.
Holy Snow was good in third. My suspicion is he’s more of a miler however. The Fastnet Rock colt measuring up as say a lightweight Epsom hope next spring would come as no surprise.
Race 5: Moss Trip - Group 3 J H B Carr Stakes (1400m)
Moss Trip was slow out but it didn’t matter. She was extremely strong late out wide. We’ve given her win a Timeform rating of 108.
By a nose!!!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
Moss Trip lets loose a big run down the outside and arrives in the nick of time to nail Dyslexic on the bob for @SnowdenRacing1 & @TripleCrownSynd. pic.twitter.com/KZAJjPeZQb
Team Snowden have spaced her runs right apart and she seems to be responding to that well.
The Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 20 is her next goal.
Dyslexic and Manicure got themselves some more black type.
The JB Carr Stakes is not a noted race from a form perspective however it is a good chance for the second tier fillies to get black type. For the first three across the line, it was mission accomplished.
Race 6: Seabrook - Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m)
Seabrook settled back, was ridden for luck and got all of the right breaks. She was strong when out in the clear.
Seabrook comes with all the late speed to find Group 1 success in the Champagne Stakes @royalrandwick. A superb Damien Oliver ride on this 2YO gives @MickPriceRacing a well deserved win on All Aged Stakes Day! pic.twitter.com/qycTKet1e8
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
The rating we’ve given her is 112. It’s on the low side for a Champagne but still a great effort. It was the fillies fifth run this campaign. A lot of two-year-olds when they get to that stage of a prep have had enough but not this girl.
The Hinchinbrook filly has shown so much versatility this prep. She won the Sweet Embrace over 1200m and now the Champagne Stakes over the mile. It will be interesting to see what Mick Price does with her in the spring.
El Dorado Dreaming was unlucky in third. She was held up in the straight and surged late. They’re going to have some fun with her next prep as well.
Race 7: Trapeze Artist - Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m)
Trapeze Artist has had a superb autumn and this was a great way to round it out. He’s run to a Timeform rating of 124. That’s a high figure compared to a lot of the latest All Aged Stakes winners.
He's done it again!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
The @GRyanRacing-colt makes it back to back Group 1's with tough sprint in the All Aged Stakes @royalrandwick. Le Romain fought gallantly but Trapeze Artist was too strong in the end!! pic.twitter.com/9EmlL2eabI
The Snitzel colt is the first three-year-old to claim the TJ Smith - All Aged Stakes double. Bentley Biscuit was the last horse to claim the double back in 2007.
It sounds like Trapeze Artist is going to be spelled and then come back for The Everest. It’s a pleasant surprise seeing as most quality three-year-olds are rushed off to stud.
Full credit to connections if they do that. We lose so much good 3YO talent to stud the following spring so hopefully they are rewarded with an Everest victory.
He belongs to a trio of Group 1 winning three-year-olds this season who will race on next season, joining the likes of Kementari and D’Argento.
Le Romain was brave in defeat. I’m sure they can find a race in Brisbane for him this winter.
Race 8: Tally - Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m)
The Blinkers went back on Tally and they really sparked him.
The @godolphin-rougie Tally weaves his way through the field and leads them to the line to cause a boilover in the penultimate event for @JamesCummings88! pic.twitter.com/RFSbHT7s14
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
He’s run to a Timeform rating of 116.
The Wagga Cup in two weeks is next for the Street Cry gelding. He’ll go there as one of the class runners of the field.
Tally’s stablemate Interlocuter was good late in fourth. He could go to Wagga as well or perhaps the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Rosehill the next day. That was only his third run this prep and could be ready to win next start.
Race 9: Tribal Wisdom - Benchmark 99 Handicap (1400m)
Tribal Wisdom had been racing well this prep without winning so this was a reward for his consistency. We assessed the run at 104.
The grey Tribal Wisdom gets a true rails run and knuckles down to fend off the fast-finishing Osborne Bulls to wrap up All Aged Stakes Day @royalrandwick in impressive fashion. pic.twitter.com/exOmcvtx2q
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 21, 2018
The Stradbroke is his main goal. It seems ambitious at this stage. Mike Moroney knows what it takes to win a Stradbroke though having won it with Mr Baritone in 2008 at 30-1.
Osborne Bulls was great in second and would have won in another stride.
New Tipperary produced a genuine head turner for fifth. He could be set for a good prep out to a mile and beyond.
