Race by race recap of key performers and ones to watch moving forward from Saturday’s Villiers Stakes meeting at Randwick.
Saturday racing returned to Randwick for the first time since October for the running of the Group 2 Villiers Stakes.
Crack Me Up was the winner and is now Doncaster bound however fifth placegetter Mister Sea Wolf could be the one to follow next campaign.
Race 1: Savatiano - Benchmark 70 3YO Handicap (1100m)
Nothing beats race fitness. Both the placegetters Calculated and Awesome Pluck were resuming and that was likely what made the difference.
.@godolphin filly Savatiano shows a brilliant turn of foot and races away for a strong victory in the opener on Villiers Stakes Day @royalrandwick! pic.twitter.com/PqtFHJz96E
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
Savatiano was given a perfect ride by Josh Parr one out and one back. For a 1.3 length win we’ve awarded her with a Timeform rating of 100.
Calculated profiles as being the best three-year-old from the race.
He’s run to a Timeform rating of 99.
Calculated is by So You Think so you’d imagine more ground will suit him. His form lines around Siege Of Quebec and Brave Song last prep further confirm he’s above average.
Race 2: Victorem - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1000m)
It wasn’t how you wanted him to do it if you’d taken the even money however Victorem dived late in a three way blanket finish to get it done.
A thrilling driving finish and it's a popular result for punters as the well backed favourite gets his head down right on the line to claim the TAB Highway @royalrandwick! A great job by Ben Looker to get the fav home. pic.twitter.com/99kPgYKfqv
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
Even before the tight photo, he wanted to pigroot at the start and then got held up at the 600m.
The dust has settled and we’ve got Victorem running to 84p. When we put a p on a Timeform rating, it indicates we believe he is likely to improve.
Last prep the Jenny Graham-trained gelding ran to a Timeform rating of 94 when winning a 2YO race at Grafton.
It suggests he’s still got a few lengths up his sleeve on what he produced last Saturday.
The next four across the line. All Stand, Under The Thumb, Elle’s Nel and Takookacod. They can be fighting out the finish of more than just this Highway Handicap.
Race 3: Vassal - Christmas Cup (2400m)
Vassal was the hard fit stayer of the field and that really told late.
A big drop in weight and a beautiful @KPMcEvoy ride gets Vassal home in the Listed Christmas Cup @royalrandwick ahead of Broadside! pic.twitter.com/HbdJPSsGgK
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
He’s produced a career peak with a figure of 103.
He’s certainly testament to the Chris Waller stable. The French import started this campaign in July and has raced in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Broadside kept grinding home for second.
Prince Cheri finished third. At the 200m he looked set to claim his first win in over four years however just peaked on his run.
You’ll see each of these three horses in the Tattersall’s Club Cup on New Year’s Day.
Broadside looks the hardest to beat there. He can probably turn the tables on Vassal third up with a weight swing.
Race 4: Irish Bet - Inglis Nursery (1000m)
Irish Bet was only $55,000 as a yearling. That debut win has netted him almost $300k.
The John O'Shea trained colt Irish Bet lives up to the impressive trial to race away for a strong debut victory in the $500,000 @inglis_sales Nursery @royalrandwick! pic.twitter.com/NXEno8nzZd
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
It’s also netted him a Timeform rating of 98.
Even though it is an Inglis restricted race, it has a real knack of producing a good winner.
Mossfun and She Will Reign last season each won the Nursery-Golden Slipper double.
Extreme Choice won the Inglis Nursery-Blue Diamond Stakes double two seasons ago.
All signs point to a good future for Irish Bet.
Sanctimonious in fifth. He had no idea what he was doing the Sydney way of going however still caught the eye late. Worth a look at his next start.
Race 5: Anatola - Benchmark 84 Fillies and Mares Handicap (1200m)
Anatola went straight to the front and kicked away from the 250m.
The @MarkMrn trained-Anatola does it all the way in Race 5 @royalrandwick to come away for a soft victory, giving @JoshuaParr8 a double. pic.twitter.com/tsEInN7tQk
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
She’s recorded a Timeform rating of 99.
O’Rachael was fantastic first up. She’s run to a Timeform rating of 95.
We still haven’t seen the best of this mare in Australia. She was Group 1 placed in NZ as a two-year-old with a Timeform rating of 103.
The Chris Waller-trained mare has got two to three lengths on her first up run to reach 103 and could perhaps bridge that gap second or third up.
Kerrin McEvoy breaking his hand when taking Sugar Bella to the barriers was disappointing.
The Sydney jockey premiership is a three way battle at the moment between him, Hugh Bowman and Brenton Avdulla. Let’s hope he’s back in the saddle sooner rather than later.
Race 6: Sedanzer - Benchmark 84 Handicap (1600m)
Sedanzer improved again on Saturday with a Timeform rating of 105.
Three in a row!@RachelK11 teams up with @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott to make it a hat trick of wins on Sedanzer. The mare keeps taking the step up! pic.twitter.com/bG4vgrrtK7
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
That’s a new peak figure for her which replaces the 103 she ran in the Schweppes Oaks last season behind Egg Tart.
Her Benchmark is starting to get up there now. It sounds like the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford over the mile is next on the agenda.
It looks a perfect race fourth up for a mare who thoroughly deserves some black type.
The placegetters Zourkhan and Xebec were each excellent.
Zourkhan has run an equal career peak first up with Blinkers first time so he could be in store for a good summer prep.
Race 7: Crack Me Up - Villiers Stakes (1600m)
It was perfect timing, fourth run from a spell at the Randwick Mile for Crack Me Up.
What a magnificent Villiers Stakes!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
A daring ride on Cabeza De Vaca just falls short as the Queensland visitor Crack Me Up does his best Winx impersonation, roaring home to win the Group 2 Villiers Stakes @royalrandwick. pic.twitter.com/pa389zrQ0n
He recorded a Timeform rating of 111. It’s right on the five year winning average. The race has been won in recent years by good horses like Sense Of Occasion and Happy Clapper.
Crack Me Up really came of age last prep with good runs through the Brisbane winter.
Magic Millions next month is where he is headed.
Cabeza De Vaca ran a new career peak of 111. He was given a gutbuster so proceed with caution if tempted to back him next start.
Interlocuter was excellent late. He’s shown he’s a future stakes winner this prep.
Mister Sea Wolf in fifth is the horse to follow from the Villiers and likely from the entire Randwick card last Saturday. Both his runs since arriving in Australia have been great.
Waller imports tend to come back better at their second Australian preps as well.
Race 8: Zestful - Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m)
Zestful has had a fantastic 2017 and she’s a dual stakes winner now. This one netted her a Timeform rating of 109.
Zestful and I Thought So come away to fight out the finish in the Listed Razor Sharp but it's the @LeesRacing galloper on the outside who just gets his head down in time to win! pic.twitter.com/6M8DuoEbvD
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
Brisbane beckons for Zestful this summer with her next main goal likely the 1300m $1million Fillies and Mares event during the Magic Millions Raceday on January 13 at the Gold Coast or the Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) on the same day.
With Zestful winning, the Razor Sharp Handicap continues to be a race for the older horses.
The last Razor Sharp won by a horse younger than five years was the 2003 renewal taken out by four-year-old Chester County.
The runner up I Thought So. He loves a placing and probably gets put in the Tom Melbourne category now.
Calanda in fourth. He was held up badly and only got out late.
Race 9: Uptown Lad - Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m)
Uptown Lad settled back, travelled very wide around the turn but was still too good.
This horse is flying! Sat wide the whole trip but still sprints home the best. The @KimWaugh6-trained Uptown Lad makes it a hat trick of wins getting home in the last @royalrandwick on Villiers Day! pic.twitter.com/luqnZHZBUg
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2017
The Manhattan Rain gelding produced a Timeform rating of 103.
It sounds like they’re aiming him at the Provincial Championships now.
Already a Class 5 horse, Kim Waugh will likely spell Uptown Lad immediately as if the four-year-old wins one more race he’s ineligible.
Savvan was excellent out wide in second and ended what was a good day for John O’Shea.
Irish Bet was of course great winning the Inglis Nursery however he also saddled up three tried horses in their first preps with the stable, Prince Cheri, Kuro and Savvan. Each of them placed.
