3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on April 8.

THE STARS

WINX: They turned out to watch a superstar and she didn’t disappoint. She’s in a class of her own.

HUGH BOWMAN: Two Group Ones – no fuss! Just another day at the office for racing’s Mr Cool. And he takes home another Nathan Berry Medal.

MURRAYBAKER/ANDREW FORSMAN: Superior staying filly Bonneval caps a super autumn carnival for New Zealand’s best big race stable.

PHILIP COURTNEY: Maryore explodes to gives 65-year-old Canberra trainer the Provincial Championship. The late starter – he has been training for only five years - has a small team jumping out of the ground.

BEN CURRIE: Big mover in the Queensland training ranks had more success at Toowoomba to add to his hot winning strike rate.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“What a supreme athlete she is and what an honour it is to just be a part of her career. ” - Hugh Bowman praises his champion WInx.

“I could really feel the crowd’s love for her. Just look at her, she’s the ultimate professional, I love her.” – Bowman again.

“I was humming on the turn, but I did have a good 150 metres to make up, and I don’t care what level you are at, that’s hard to do.” Hugh Bowman praises the Oaks winner Bonneval.

“Thank you so much to everybody that loves this horse. Keep loving her," Winx’s part-owner Debbie Kepitis.

“We call her the Winx Junior, there's a lot of similarities.”- Chris Waller about Foxplay.

“”We're pretty stoked because we planned this. And when plans come off, it makes it even sweeter. This is a shot in the arm for us all, I can guarantee you.” – Maryore’s trainer Philip Courtney.

"I was jumping up and down too much to really see it.”- Courtney again.

SIN BIN

BATTLECAMP: Over rated, over hyped and over bet.

ALMANZORA: To keen for her own good and gave up meekly. Still learning.

BLAKE SHINN: Can be hot (Generalissimo ride was a beauty) and cold but was frigid on First Seal. Made too much use of her to push the pace. Stewards asked the question - why?

GIRL IN A MILLION: Hardly! Just a face in the crowd after her abject Toowoomba failure at short odds.

RIDE OF THE DAY

JOHN ALLEN: Pulled everything out to get up on the heavily backed Kenedna at Morphettville. No wonder he’s in the good books with Darren Weir.

TALKING POINTS

SYDNEY CUP: What else could the stewards do given the circumstances? Their first duty is safety and they made the right call when faced with a possible disaster.

RANDWICK CROWD: Winx and a perfect day pulled 26,000 to Randwick. By today’s standards it’s great but proves Sydney racing will never see the crowds of yesteryear - unless Doncaster Day returns to its traditional Easter Saturday. Maybe then we can talk 35,000-40,000 again! Only problem then will be Randwick isn’t built to cater for those size crowds anymore, so let’s just be happy with what we’ve got - a poor experience will be a certain turn off for new racegoers.

CLASSIC FORM: In years gone by the winners of the Sydney autumn classics would be close to the top of the opening markets for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Will the resurgence and dominance of the Kiwi three-year-olds in the Sydney this autumn reignite the big hand New Zealand stayers once played in the spring? Gingernuts, Jon Snow and Bonneval gives the Kiwis plenty to look forward to in the spring.

MONEY TALKS

WHISPERED SECRET: ($6 to $4.20). One of the strongest goes of the day got punters off to a flier at Randwick.

SHOALS (3.80 to $3): Proving a real money horse for the Freedman stable after landing another big go after her previous plunge win in Melbourne.

BONNEVAL: Easily the best backed filly in the Oaks. Bookies will be pleased to see the last of the Kiwis this autumn.

WINX ($1.10): Only for the big players but they unleased some big – and I mean big - bets on the good thing.

SECRET AGENDA ($13 to $10): Another good result for those backing the Melbourne visitors.

LIFE LESS ORDINARY ($15 to $10): A nice little earner first-up for the Waller punters.

CRYSTAL DREAMER ($4-$3.30): Heavily backed late. They were right on the mark.

ROYAL RUMBLE ($4.50 to $3): Early shoppers roughed up the bookies at the generous odds.

DREAMS APLENTY ($2.20 to $1.85): The Zielke stable rarely miss when the money goes on.

IN THE BAG

POMELO ($2.70): Ouch! A real setback for the punters who were all over this one from the time the markets went up.

GLOBAL GLAMOUR ($4 to $3.20). Costly. Her class almost got her home.

ARTISTRY ($8 to $5): Smart punters made her the get out of the three Snowden runners.

PLUTOCRACY ($2.60 to $2.15): They went for the kill early at Caulfield – and missed.

ROCKSTAR REBEL ($2.80): Punters fell into this one after she got a big push through the media.

TOFFEE NOSE ($5.50 to $3.50): Big pre post go from the time the markets up. Wasn’t up to it.

FREEZE OVER ($3 to $1.80): Left punters out in the cold with a weak effort after attacking for the lead.

BLACKBOOK

MISS STRATHALLAN: Forgive run. Capable of better.

MALIBU STYLE: Hit the line hard. Melbourne campaign should be profitable.

TOY BOY: Big finish in fast run race. Bright future.

SCREAMARR: Another luckless run. Close to a win.

EARTH ANGEL: Well bred filly with good prospects.

SAVOUREUX: Eye-catching return to form. Should go on with it.