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The final two Group 1 races of the autumn were run at Royal Randwick on Saturday to close out what has been a good carnival.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained runner is only the second three-year-old filly to win the race in over 50 years and ran to a career peak Timeform rating of 120, one pound above her third in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes two starts back.
Atlantic Jewel in 2012 was the other three-year-old filly to manage the feat in recent times, returning a figure of 128 on that occasion with 2015 winner Dissident running to 124.
With the mares allowance that puts English about on par with Dissident and above 2014 winner Hana’s Goal who returned a figure of 118.
In 2010 Melito ran to the same figure of 120 as a three-year-old filly in the race when runner up behind Hot Danish and she went on to be very competitive in Brisbane that campaign.
English who has terrific this campaign will head north to the Brisbane Winter Carnival to tackle races like the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
2015 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Srikandi ran to 118 which puts English right in the mix in a race like that and she is certainly one to follow throughout the winter.
Of the beaten brigade Black Heart Bart was very good with the 59kg running second, beaten a head and returned a career peak Timeform figure of 123, some three pounds higher than his previous best in the two starts prior.
Kermadec who was not far away in third also showed good improvement on his poor Doncaster effort and returned a Timeform figure of 122 which is three pounds below his previous best.
The other five runners all ran below their previous best efforts with Press Statement (113) and Malaguerra (110) running well below what they are capable of.
The Racing and Sports field strength value (RSFS) of 121.9 was below that of the 2015 renewal of 125.4 which saw Wandjina second and Chautauqua third.
The Scratching of Yankee Rose in the 2016 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) made for an open and competitive race which saw Prized Icon take out the race giving James Cummings his first solo Group 1 success.
Backing up in just seven days following a win in the Listed Fernhill, Prized Icon improved some five pounds to return at career peak Timeform figure of 116.
With El Sicario setting a very quick tempo in the lead early, the race was well set up for Prized Icon who was fit off a mile run in the Fernhill and was able to hold off his rivals late.
Prized Icon is the first colt to win the race since Pierro in 2012 who returned a figure of 127.
Since the introduction of the Championships and the increased money for the Sires’ two weeks earlier, this race has somewhat fallen away over the last three years.
2015 winner Pasadena Girl ran to 110+ with 2014 winner Go Indy Go 116+ and Guelph returning a figure of 111 in 2013 which puts Guelph and Pasadena Girl in similar company to Prized icon.
The RSFS of 113.8 is higher than the 2015 renewal of 110.5 but slightly below 2014 of 114.6.
Of the placegetters Chimboraa ran to a clear new career peak of 113 with Divine Prophet also returning a figure of 113 to make it a trifecta for the colts.
Music Magnate returned in good order for Bjorn Baker and was able to secure a very narrow win in the 2016 Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).
With the top five runners all within half a length at the finish, Music Magnate was able to get the better of Knoydart in second with Fast ‘N’ Rocking third.
Music Magnate ran to a new career peak of 112, five pounds above his win at Randwick before a spell in the spring.
Knoydart ran to 116, his highest rating since running second in the BTC Cup last year with third placegetter Fast ‘N’ Rocking also running to 116.
2015 winner Our Boy Malachi ran to 116+ with Hot Snitzel running to 118 in 2014.
The RSFS of 114.5 was well above that of the 2015 renewal of 111.5 which had a handful of the same horses lining up.
Guardini produced a terrific run after being wide throughout to win the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m).
Proving too strong over the concluding stages for Index Linked in second and Havana Cooler third, Guardini ran to a new career peak figure of 117, five pounds above his previous best.
Likely to head towards a race like the Brisbane Cup, the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained runner looks to have good improvement in him and rates above recent JRA winners Gypsy Diamond (108) and Spillway (111), one pound below 2013 winner Kelinni.