Well Timed win for Parker stable
Connections of retired triple Group 1 winner Think It Over were to the fore in the opening race at Randwick with Well Timed carrying the former star's orange and blue colours to a determined victory in the Midway Handicap.
The lightly raced four-year-old responded to the urgings of Nash Rawiller to rack up his third win from nine starts, turning the tables on first-up conqueror Bundeena and overpowering him by three-quarters of length.
With the retirement last season of Kerry Parker's two best horses, Think It Over and Hope In Your Heart, the respected trainer is hoping Well Timed can continue to raise the bar and go some way towards filling that void.
"I don't know where his ceiling is, he is still learning," Parker said.
"He has been the horse that I put a bit of hope in a while ago.
"I have liked him from the moment he walked into the barn, but he was a colt and I lost him there for a bit. Then we found out he was a rig and once we gelded him, last preparation he came back and showed us the horse I thought he was, and he has gone on with it there today.
"Hopefully there are more steps to take."
The race was marred by an incident before the home turn when Smashing Eagle suffered a fatal episode and was eased down by James Mcdonald.
McDonald was ginger on an ankle following the incident but walked back to the jockeys' room unaided.
He was stood down from riding in the second race before being cleared by medical officials to fulfill the remainder of his engagements.
Metrop target for Strathtay
Rawiller went on to make it a clean sweep of the first two races when he brought the Chris Waller -trained Strathtay with a powerful run to claim the Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m).
It was the third Saturday metropolitan win for the former New Zealander, who will now be given the chance to earn his spot in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) in October.
Waller says the gelding will have one more start before that, potentially in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 20.
"If we can give him one more run, he can get to The Metropolitan,'' Waller said.
"He's a strong stayer by Preferment.
"Something like the Newcastle Cup or the Wyong Cup, two weeks then four weeks to The Metropolitan.
"Even the Kingston Town Stakes where he could go back to 2000-metres, then to the Metropolitan."
Strathtay ($3.30 fav) scored by two lengths over Jabbawockeez ($7.50) with the winner's stablemate Kapakiri ($9) third.
Eliyass confirmed G1 goal
Sydney's premier staying race of the spring is also on the agenda for exciting Tulloch Lodge stayer Eliyass.
The former French galloper remains undefeated in two Australian starts after adding Saturday's Group 3 Premier's Cup (2000m) to his Lord Mayors Cup victory over the same journey in June.
The $2.50 favourite swept to the front at the top of the straight and looked like he might be vulnerable to the swoopers, but he showed his class to hold Touristic at bay by a half-length.
"Those good horses, that's what separates them," co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
"He was able to dig deep and he found plenty there through the line.
"That run will really top him off now. He is on a Metropolitan path and I think he will be even better suited when he gets over that little bit further."
Bott will look to keep Eliyass fresh for his next run in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 21, a fortnight before the Metropolitan (2400m).
Portelli has Everest hopes for Kimochi
Gary Portelli is Everest dreaming with talented mare Kimochi ($6.50), believing she has returned better than ever this campaign.
The multiple Group 1 placegetter defied a wide run to post a tough first-up victory in Saturday's Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m), holding out the fast-finishing Commemorative($2.50 fav) by a neck with Mumbai Muse ($12) another nose away.
"I'm pushing for an Everest slot, she'll get better with racing," Portelli said.
"Every trainer wants to have a runner in the Everest, there's no doubt about that. We are a long way from there, but you are allowed to dream."
Portelli said he had been able to give Kimochi a proper spell for the first time and the mare had blossomed.
"She's been racing nearly forever, and this is the first time she's come in with a good two or three months under her belt," he said.
"She's been amongst these horses every time she's raced, so today was her day, and she did a great job."
Quote of the Day: "She was just beaten by a freak today, I was definitely not stopping. I'd love to see the sectionals of the winner. It was just too good on the day." – jockey Tommy Berry after riding Zougotcha into second behind Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes.
