A look at some of the other angles from Chelmsford Stakes Day at Randwick.
In-form Northern Eyes wins again
Northern Eyes is proving a handy money-spinner for connections since transferring to trainer Kim Waugh, bringing up his fourth win in five starts for the stable in Saturday's Midway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
Originally with Chris Waller, the four-year-old appears to be relishing the change of scenery, although it is a gelding procedure that Waugh credits most for his vein of form.
"When we bought him off Chris, they said, 'you need to geld him', which we did and we gave him a little spell," Waugh said.
"He's done super and he has turned into a really lovely horse.
"He doesn't normally win by far, which you saw again today. He likes to give you a bit of a heart attack, but he just keeps giving."
Ridden by Tommy Berry, Northern Eyes ($7) raced on the speed throughout and held off the late charge of Cheerful Legend ($7.50) to score by a short head with filly Power Of Opal ($5.50 equal fav) motoring home for third in an eye-catching effort.
Waugh said she would look to keep Northern Eyes in work while he was going well and pick off a similar race.
Baker's mare Springs back into winner's list
Bjorn Baker plans to restrict talented mare Spring Lee to short course trips after she rebounded from a last start defeat as favourite to score narrowly at Randwick.
The daughter of Zoustar struggled to run out a strong 1200m at her prior outing but back to 1100m in the Precise Air Handicap on Saturday she returned to her best.
"The 1100 here is probably her real sweet spot," winning jockey Rachel King said.
"She has got a big stride and she has got to be allowed to use it.
"Today she finally drew a gate where we could let her flow a bit more and didn't have to drag her out of her comfort zone and that really helps her."
Confess Our Dreams ($4.20) made the running and gave a strong kick at the top of the rise before Spring Lee ($4.60) balanced up and gave chase, edging her out by a long head with Martini Mumma best of the chasers, another 2-3/4 lengths in arrears
Bott heartened by Major victory
A return to stakes company is on the cards for 2023 ATC Australian Derby winner Major Beel after he made a welcome return to form at Randwick.
Winless since the classic, the gelding set the tempo and despite looking to be under siege halfway up the straight, Major Beel ($8.50) lifted under Tim Clark to hold the fast-finishing Galeron ($3.80 fav) at bay.
Adrian Bott was delighted to see the winner's fight and said races like the Hill Stakes (1900m) on October 12 would now be considered.
"It was a really tough effort, he was there to beaten,'' Bott said.
"He did all the work in the run with the big weight and for him to keep picking up and finding was excellent.
"We might look at races like the Hill Stakes and Craven Plate now. To see him show that speed today gives us a bit of confidence he could pop back into that grade and do well.''
Neasham gets it right with Redstone Well
Spring plans for Redstone Well will be reassessed after the gelding passed his latest 2400-metre test with flying colours to post a dominant victory in the Listed City Tattersall's Club Cup.
The import was comfortably beaten at his only other attempt over the journey in the N E Manion Cup and trainer Annabel Neasham admitted she wasn't sure she had pulled the right rein in opting to run at Randwick over Friday's Wyong Cup (2100m).
"I think they probably went slow the first half and then built, but he certainly ticked the 2400 metre box," Neasham said.
"To be honest, I didn't think he'd get the 2400 metres. Now that he has, we'll see what else there is around for him.
"He is a pretty exciting horse and we're just taking him slowly, going through his grades.
"We can maybe look towards the Metropolitan or something like that."
Redstone Well ($4.20) was rated beautifully in front by Tommy Sherry and extended his advantage in the straight to score by four lengths over Victorian Think 'N' Fly ($20) with $2.90 favourite Strathay third.
Quote of the Day: "She doesn't know she got beat, so we'll let her think that she won today. We'll give her all the pats and cuddles. In another stride she probably had it." – Trainer Chris Waller after Hinged notched her tenth minor placing with a narrow second to stablemate Buckaroo in the Chelmsford Stakes.
