Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on June 10.
THE STARS
DARREN BEADMAN/COREY BROWN: A Stradbroke win for a two old mates that would have been considered a highly unlikely trainer/jockey team a month ago. Beadman has made the most of his short time at the top for Godolphin and has brought his old riding rival Brown along for the ride. The downside was Beadman missed the thrill of the win as he was unable to attend after an ill week, spending time in hospital with a virus.
Impending wears down In Her Time to win the #StradbrokeHandicap! Congratulations to Darren Beadman, who is now a G1 winning trainer. pic.twitter.com/fwPlSkZuHB
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 10, 2017
JIM BYRNE: His vast experience shone through with two major wins on Stradbroke day in the JJ Atkins and the Brisbane Cup for unfashionable stables.
BRENDAN McCOULL: Tasmanian veteran made a rare trip across Bass Strait for the ride on Tshahitsi at Flemington and gave his Melbourne rivals a lesson on yet another talented galloper form the Apple Isle.PAYNE POWER: The best training performance of the day to win a treble in Adelaide and Melbourne including the SA Grand National Steeple with reliable jumper Angelology. His sister Michelle Payne did her bit for the stable to zoom home on Invincible Al at Flemington but Patrick was left wondering what happened when their “good thing” of the day Chamois Road was beaten as an odds on favourite at Morphettville.
THE OUT OF TOWNERS: Randwick was a day out for the visitors with two winners from Goulburn, one from Scone, another from Brisbane and one from Kembla Grange. That’s winter racing for you!
The Monstar takes out the feature event at #Randwick, the listed June Stakes! Jockey Josh Adams certainly enjoyed that one. pic.twitter.com/HK0r6U7WQ9
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 10, 2017
THEY SAID IT!
"It's been a long battle, it's pretty well documented I've had my demons to deal with.” - A circumspect Josh Adams on his comeback from ice addiction after winning his first city race in three years in the June Stakes.“Darren has had a pretty ordinary week. He got a virus and like all horse trainers he thought it was a cold. We sent him to hospital, he got out Thursday but I told him if he came up here I would fire him!" – Godolphin boss Henry Plumptre explains Darren Beadman’s absence from Doomben.
“Me and Darren were competitors. He was the old bull and I was the young bull. He’s done a lot for me, not only as a rider, teaching me how to ride, but just in life too. He’s a great bloke. Well done Daz, congratulations, this is all yours.” – Stradbroke winner Corey Brown on his friendship with Darren Beadman.“He's an impressive horse, I think you'll see a lot more of him in the spring. It wasn't what I'd consider a standard ride but I knew I was on a good horse.” – Hugh Bowman praises Queensland Derby winner Ruthven.
“The owners love him and in the end we decided it was best to continue racing him ourselves.” – Trainer Paul Butterworth explains why a Hong Kong offer was rejected for JJ Atkins winner Capital Gain.“He's been running up the bums of other horses at his past few starts. Today with a bit of luck in running he showed what he can do." –trainer Jason Coyle sums up recent runs by Queensland Guineas winner Salsonic.
“Lucy's gone to Thredbo with the kids. That's the beauty of a partnership.” - Goulburn trainer Emma Longmire reveals why her co-trainer and sister Emma wasn’t at Randwick for their first city win with Wildflowers."She can be a rat-bag but when you've got a horse that can handle the conditions it's great to come here and race in $100,000 races. She's keeps a small stable like mine going." – Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker praises his Randwick winner Heavenly Anna.
“My visiting trainer licence is up. He'll either have to go home or I'll have to transfer him.” - Tasmanian trainer Imogen Miller reveals why winter plans are undecided for stable star Tshahitsi.Great emotion shown by jockey Josh Adams after winning the listed June Stakes at #Randwick aboard The Monstar. pic.twitter.com/SgQJtzyuH1
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 10, 2017
[HUGH BOWMAN: He’s The Man when it comes to the big race days. Adopted tactics to give all his rides their best chance if they were good enough. His Derby win on Ruthven was a tactical gem – rode the 3YO like he was a good thing and won as he liked.
Ruthven gives his rivals a hiding in the Queensland Derby, bringing up @HugeBowman's thirteenth G1 win this season! pic.twitter.com/xGH7Tydumc
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 10, 2017
SIN BIN
[DAMIEN OLIVER: Has to be a day he would like to forget. Found all sorts of trouble on heavily backed favourite Lone Eagle in the opener at Flemington and it went downhill from there. No wins and ended the day being dumped from his mount Valliano when the gates opened in the last.MELODY BELLE: She was the absolute flop, shock, abject failure (insert your own description) of the day as an odds on favourite in the JJ Atkins. Raced lengths below her Eagle Farm win two weeks ago, highlighting just how much the condition of the maligned track impacted on the performances of so many horses.
TALKING POINTSEAGLE FARM FORM Does anybody still want to question why the Eagle Farm track could be the costliest mistake in Australian racing? Consider how far Saturday's Doomben winners Impending, Religify, Capital Gain and Chocante were beaten at the farcical meeting on May 27 and how much they turned their form around on a fair track on Saturday. Forget all the band aid fixes for Eagle Farm - just rip it up and start again!.
CHRIS WALLER AND QUEENSLAND: Chris Waller has revealed plans to open a Gold Coast satellite stable next season. Makes sense given the size of his Rosehill operation and the limited numbers he has racing in Melbourne away from the spring and autumn carnivals. The lesser prizemoney aside, it’s an obvious move for Waller as Queensland offers a wider range of options for horses coming through the classes than Melbourne – but he should also consider the Sydney trainers who have previously tried running satellite stables in Queensland only to shut them down for various reasons….it’s a costly challenge!WHIP RULES: Former leading bookmaker Dominic Beirne, a deep racing thinker in the mould of the late ratings genius Don Scott, has put forward a mathematical formula that he believes could help stewards resolve protests lodged under the controversial whip rules. The formula is novel and certainly provides food for thought but I doubt it is going to make first base with the stewards. Assessing weights, margins, times and class to formulate pre and post-race ratings is one thing but applying a a rigid mathematical equation to a whip protest is impossible due to the myriad of indeterminable factors that can influence how a jockey uses the whip and, in turn, the race outcome. To his credit Dominic’s proposal highlights what a mess stewards are in trying to adjudicate on whip breaches and protests under the rules as they currently stand.
BLACKBOOKLONE EAGLE: Forgive run. Never out of bother.
ALOISIA: Surprise if she doesn’t measure up to the best fillies next season.KILAMANJARO: How impressive! An obvious class act for Team Williams.
NICCANOVA: Probably wins the Guineas if he misses trouble.LOYALTY MAN: Solid start his winter campaign
JIMMY REA: Kiwi worth following while in Queensland.THREE SHEETS: Best run of the day by a Randwick backmarker.
TAB BETTING REPORTDOOMBEN
JJ ATKINS: Melody Belle was sent out as one of the best backed runners across Australia as a $1.75 favourite at the jump. TAB initially went up $2.40 when Final Field betting commenced and such was the popularity of Melody Belle that she held 70 percent of the total investment. Capital Gain scored at big odds after being a significant drifter from $7.50 to start $19.BETS: Melody Belle $10,000 @ $1.75, $5,000 @ $1.75, $4,000 @ $1.70
QLD DERBY: Ruthven was a big win for punters. The Ciaron Maher-trained 3YO was heavily supported in the last 48 hours. Late Friday you could have still secured $4.while his flucs on the day were $4 to $3.30. Easily the best supported runner in the race, Ruthven was nearly twice as popular as the next best backed runner in terms of money held, that being Ana Royale ($13-$10-$7.50-$8.50). Ruthven held nearly 40 percent of all bets in the feature. Shocking Luck ($6-$4.60-$5) had its share of support. Rockstar Rebel had specking from $18-$15.BETS: Ruthven $8,000 @ $4.40 (taken late Friday), $5,000 @ $3.60, $3,000 @ $3.40
STRADBROKE HANDICAP: Impending ($17-$21-$19) only had small money come for it compared to the favourites and held approximately 10 percent of the money that the popular elect Clearly Innocent attracted. Runner-up In Her Time ($18-$16-$18) was specked at the eachway quote. Clearly Innocent was $5.50-$4.80 while Counterattack was the other one they came late for $8-$6.50. His run was full of merit after bombing the start to run fourth. The moves earlier in the week for Burning Front ($21-$9-$14) and Mackintosh ($8-$6-$9) ran out of steam with the pair relatively unwanted in preference for other runners in late betting.BETS: Impending $1,500 e/w @ $18/$5.25; In Her time $1,000 e/w @ $16/$4.80; Clearly Innocent $5,000 @ $5; Counterattack $2,000 @ $7; Ulmann $3,000 x $2,000 e/w @ $9/$3
RANDWICKRACE 1: Favourite backers were on good terms with themselves following Champagne Cuddles' victory. Over half of all bets in the four-horse field sat with the Bjorn Baker-trained runner, who was twice was popular as Lipizzan ($2.50). The winner bottomed out at $1.90 and got out to as much as $2.40.
BETS: Champagne Cuddles $2,000 @ $2RACE 2: Memes ($5.50-$4.40) saw good late support to land some nice bets. The move for Memes was easily the best outside the favourite In Times Of War ($3.60-$4.20), who despite the drift commanded the majority of investments on the race. Geneteau was specked from $6.50 into $6.
BETS: Memes $1,000 @ $4.80RACE 3: Clipper ($2.10-$1.75) delivered for punters in the TAB Highway after being heavily supported. Clipper held 65 percent of all bets on the race and was very popular with Multi players. Conniving ($11-$9.50-$10) led and Nictock ($4) raced on the speed throughout and wound up third.
BETS: Clipper $7,000 @ $2.10, $3,000 @ $1.80RACE 4: Plot Twist was an upset winner of the Stayers Cup. He drifted from $13 to $16 as most of the cash focused on the favourites. Richard Of Yorke was well tried and after being $8 at one point in the morning, was backed from $4.40 to $3.80. Broadside, the $2.70 favourite, had every chance and Soviet Courage ($4.40) drifted from $3.30 at the start of the day.
RACE 5: Nettoyer ($21-$13-$15) gave Rachel King a winning double. While there was some nibbling for the Wendy Roche-trained filly, it was largely ignored by punters who preferred Mandalay Bay ($6) and Prometheus ($6-$4.20). Roseito held third after being specked at the $15. So Splendid ($9.50-$6.50) had some backing to suggest it would figure in the finish and ran fourth.RACE 6: Heavenly Anna ($4.40-$3.80) landed some good bets. Dagny, the most popular runner in terms of money held, was $4.20 to $4.40 late and Lani Girl ($15) had good eachway money throughout the day.
BETS: Heavenly Anna $1,600 @ $3.80, $1,000 @ $3.80RACE 7: The Monstar was the best backed runner all week. TAB went up $11 on Wednesday, backed into $6 on Thursday and early Saturday was as low as $5 but then he was on the drift and eventually jumped at $8. The blows can be attributed to the support for Kudero ($5.50-$3.20).
BETS: The Monstar $1,000 @ $8, $1,000 e/w @ $6/$2; Kudero $4,000 @ $3.20RACE 8: Specking for Wildflower ($18-$11-$13) and she handled the conditions best to beat Loving Home ($31) and Birds Of Tokyo ($6-$8) who had support during the week when opening an $11 chance. Curragh was the best supported runner $6 into $3.60 and was responsible for 46 percent of all bets.
BETS: Curragh $2,100 @ $4.60, $5,000 @ $4RACE 9: Stella Ombre landed a long range move, opening at $15 on Wednesday, backed it into as low as $9.50 and jumping an $11 chance. The Queenslander proved too strong for the heavily supported Clear The Beaches ($6-$4.80-$5) with the pair clearing out to fight the finish. Star Reflection ($6) was as much as $11 in the morning, made good ground over the concluding stages to grab third.
FLEMINGTONRACE 1: The majority of punters were riding Lone Eagle. Backed from $3 into as low as $2.30 and held 68 percent of all investments but never got a clear crack at them at the finish. Royal Phoenix and Andaz ultimately dead-heated. Andaz had specking at $9.50 while Royal Phoenix was the third best supported runner outside of the favourite and Sia ($7).
BETS: Lone Eagle $4,000 @ $2.50RACE 2: Pedrena ($4.40-$3.50) was the best supported to beat the favourite and the money was spot on. Held off the finishing burst of Samovare ($2.70) and together they held 75 percent of the total investment. Samovare opened at $4.60 and bottomed out at $2.20. It was four times as popular as the winner.
BETS: Samovare $18,000 @ $2.70, $10,000 @ $2.25’; Pedrena $2,000 @ $3.50, $2,193 @ $3.20RACE 3: Lake Como ($7.50-$5) attracted some good bets late and being ignored for most of the betting in favour of Military Reign and then Omalley. Defeated Rough Justice ($9.50-$10) and Play Master ($23-$19). Military Reign bottomed out at $2.80 before getting the blows to start at $4.20, while Santa Ana Lane was $2.80 during the week and started $4.60 second pick. The majority of the attention today was for Omalley who was backed from $6.50-$5.50.
BETS: Omalley $3,000 @ $6; Lake Como $1,200 @ $5; Military Reign $2,100 @ $3.80RACE 4: Goathland ($2-$1.70) proved to be a costly conveyance again, sent out as one of the best backed runners all day with the gelding commanding 72 percent of the market. Couldn't hold off the fast-finishing Falago ($13-$21) who had little to no money come for it. Try Four ($8-$17) ran third in front of the popular Charlevoix ($4.40).
BETS: Goathland $10,000 @ $1.70RACE 5: Bullish Stock ($15-$11-$13) caused a minor boilover over the heavily supported Zourkhan ($4.20). Kilimanjaro ($7.50-$5.50) had good support, worked home nicely to grab the minor end of the prize. Zourkhan and Kilimanjaro were the two best backed runners with a fair gap back to Portion Control ($6-$7).
BETS: Kilimanjaro $5,000 @ $5.50RACE 6: Royal Order ($5-$8) defied the betting drift to get the money in the first leg of the Quaddie. Punters came hard for the Darren Weir-trained Kiwia ($4.80-$2.40) before Royal Order swept past him right on the line. The rank outsider Moshway, which led, ran a cracking race at $151 to hold third. Kiwia held eight times the amount of money than Royal Order and was responsible for nearly half of all bets on the race.
BETS: Kiwia $6,000 @ $2.40RACE 7: Tshahitsi was dominant winner after he was backed in from $5.50-$4.20. Raced right away to beat Loyalty Man ($12) and Royal Rapture ($15-$9.50-$11). Sovereign Nation ($4.60-$3.90) held sway with punters and went out as the popular pick with a 33 percent hold.
BETS: Tshahitsi $2,000 @ $4.20; Sovereign Nation $2,400 @ $4RACE 8: Invincible Al ($9.50) found the fast lane down the outside of the track sweep past his rivals at the finish. An $11 chance late Friday, Invincible Al was backed into $9.50. The Patrick Payne-trained runner held 33 percent of the money of the favourite Dam Ready, did. Sacred Sham hovered around the $6.50-$7 mark while Mistoffelees ($31-$51) held third. Punters came hard for Dam Ready and backed it from $4.20 into $3.60.
BETS: Dam Ready $5,000 @ $3.60; Invincible Al $1,000 @ $9.50RACE 9: Urban Ruler ($7.50-$7-$8.50) attracted some eachway money but most of the focus was on Nikitas and Pattern. Nikitas ($6-$4.80) held 30 percent of all bets on the race and wound up second after having a good run. Pattern ($5.50-$4.80) wasn't far behind in the popularity stakes and had 22 percent of the market.
BETS: Pattern $4,000 @ $4.80; Urban Ruler $1,000 @ $8.50