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The Randwick Wrap: The Championships Day 1

3 minute read

The Randwick Timeform recap featuring a race by race recap of key performers from Day 1 of The Championships.

The ten race card was comprised largely of capacity fields and four Group 1’s.

The meeting proved something of a punters graveyard however The Doncaster Mile provided one of Sydney’s more popular wins this season with Happy Clapper claiming the $3million feature.

Happy Clapper
Happy Clapper Picture: Steve Hart

D’Argento turned heads flashing home into fourth and looks a colt well worth following next season while his stablemate Comin’ Through in second continued his stellar form this prep after being gelded.

Race 1: Paquirri - Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m)

Paquirri set the trend for the day winning the first at 50-1. The Gary Moore-trained colt had shown some promise prior to Saturday however the Blinkers going on really sparked him.


He’s run to a Timeform rating of 109. That’s a shade on the low side for a Kindergarten Stakes.

It’s still a good enough figure though to suggest the son of I Am Invincible can be a factor in Brisbane during the winter.

We might see a couple out of that race head north. Lean Mean Machine could be another.

Chris Waller won the JJ Atkins with Press Statement in 2015. Lean Mean Machine’s connections, Raffles Racing won it with Sacred Elixir in 2016.

Together they could perhaps forge a winning combination.

Race 2: Muraaqeb - Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)

Muraaqeb was a five time stakes placegetter prior to this. Getting this Group win is overdue.


We’ve got the Snitzel colt running to 107 on Saturday which is somewhere near his best.

The Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 21 is next for him. Icon Of Dubai who ran fifth should go there as well. He’ll relish 2000m fourth run from a spell.

Holy Snow was great in third. He was held up for a run but was strong late. Whether Mick Price spells the son of Fastnet Rock or finds another race I’m not sure. Either way, he’s a really nice colt.

Race 3: Houtzen - Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m)

So it turns out her first up run in the Fireball Quality last month was a case of too bad to be true.


Houtzen has bounced back well and run to a Timeform rating of 107.

The I Am Invincible filly will back up in the Arrowfield Stud 3YO Sprint and then contest the Robert Sangster Stakes on May 5. If she can get back to the best of her two-year-old form she’ll be there at the finish in each of them.

The three that finished right behind her, Manicure, Problem Solver and Demerara, they should all go the the Group 3 JB Carr Stakes over 1400m at Randwick in a fortnight. They’re all capable of adding some black type to their records there.

Race 4: Victorem - Country Championships Final (1400m)

Victorem is a talent. He’s won five of his six career starts now. On Saturday he ran to a Timeform rating of 101. That’s the highest winning figure of a Country Championships Final.


Clearly Innocent ran to a rating of 100 in 2016. The following year he went on to perform at Group 1 level.

The good thing for Victorem now is all the potential options they have with him. He could go to the Hawkesbury Guineas or head up to Brisbane for a Winter Carnival. Jenny Graham has a nice one on her hands and she’s spoilt for choice in regards to campaign options from here.

Victorem
Victorem Picture: Steve Hart

Race 5: Sir Charles Road - Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m)

There was good late support for Sir Charles Road and it turned out to be justified.

The Myboycharlie gelding got a beautiful run third pair back on the fence and outstayed them all.

He’s run to a Timeform rating of 112. It’s a shade on the low side for a Chairman’s win.

It still bodes well for the NZ Raider in the Sydney Cup however where he’ll carry just 50kg.

Ventura Storm was good in second. He’s been running in Australian Cups and Tancred’s so the UK import thrived dropping back from weight for age to handicaps.

That was his third run in as many weeks and will back up again in this Saturday’s Sydney Cup.

Race 6: El Dorado Dreaming - Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m)

El Dorado Dreaming has gone from a provincial placegetter to Group 1 winner. She’s run to a Timeform rating of 112. We’ve put a question mark next to the figure though based on how sharply the filly has improved.


It’s the biggest upset in a Sydney Group 1 since Zavite won the Ranvet Stakes in 2011 at $101.

She’ll go to the Champagne Stakes now. 40 2YO’s have claimed the Sires’ Produce - Champagne Stakes double.

El Dorado Dreaming
El Dorado Dreaming Picture: Steve Hart

With that in mind, if they put up a silly price about the Ben Smith-trained filly in the Champagne Stakes, snap it up.

Oohood was yet again held up for a run when she needed it. It’s probably cost her the win.

Tony McEvoy’s filly has now placed at Group 1 level on three occasions. They’ll likely run her again in the Champagne Stakes.

Race 7: Levendi - Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m)

Finishes don’t get much more enthralling than the one Levendi and Ace High produced in the Australian Derby on Saturday. A nose split them on the line and it was a further six lengths back to Tangled in third.


It is the second year running a horse has claimed the Tulloch Stakes - Australian Derby double. Jon Snow did it last year.

The Rosehill Guineas is generally considered the dominant form line brought into the Derby each year. That may have to be reassessed after Saturday.

Levendi & Ace High
Levendi & Ace High Picture: Steve Hart

We’ve assessed Levendi’s win at 120. That is a shade below the prior five year winning average of the race.

Some quality types have won during that time. Dundeel and Criterion in particular.

Pierro in his first crop has now sired the Australian Derby winner and Pinot who won the Victorian Oaks during the spring.

Race 8: Trapeze Artist - Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m)

In theory, successfully dropping a horse back from a Randwick Guineas to win a TJ Smith isn’t easy.


Gerald Ryan and Trapeze Artist however made it look clinical.

He’s run to a Timeform rating of 124. It’s the first time a three-year-old has won a TJ Smith Stakes since Melito won the 2010 renewal. She was also trained by Gerald Ryan.

Trapeze Artist
Trapeze Artist Picture: Steve Hart

The All Aged Stakes shapes as being Trapeze Artist’s last career start prior to commencing stud duties in the spring. He can become the first horse since Bentley Biscuit in 2007 to claim the TJ Smith - All Aged Stakes double.

Redzel was brave in second. The Team Snowden-trained sprinter beat everything else by two or more lengths. He’ll go to the Doomben 10,000 next month and should be too good.

In Her Time was strong late for third. She’s still early in her prep and should be headed to the Sunshine State as well.

Race 9: Happy Clapper - Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m)

It was a very popular win and a dominant one too. Happy Clapper gave most of his rivals a sizeable weight advantage and was still a class above by some way.


The Pat Webster-trained gelding ran to a Timeform rating of 129.

It’s the highest ever winning figure of a Doncaster Mile. It’s been produced by a horse who has run second to Winx on three occasions now. She of course is the world’s best mare.

Comin’ Through was great in second as was Arbeitsam in third.

D'Argento
D'Argento Picture: Steve Hart

D’Argento was the other real eye catcher in fourth. He was snagged back to last, spotted them a massive head start into the straight. It was extremely impressive.

They grey hasn’t had much go right for him this autumn but has still walked away with a Group 1 (Rosehill Guineas). It’s expected he’ll successfully make the transition to weight for age as a four-year-old.

Race 10: Luvaluva - Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m)

A fantastic win under the circumstances. Luvaluva was returning off a setback and giving all of her rivals 7kg but she was still too good.


She’s run to a Timeform rating of 113.

The Oaks is next for her on Saturday. She’ll meet everything she gave 7kg to in the Adrian Knox on level weights.

In theory she’ll have the measure of them again this Saturday.

It’s the fillies coming out of the Vinery Stud Stakes in Hiyaam and Unforgotten who are her main rivals come Saturday.


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 07th April 2018

9
16:30
(local)

Doncaster Mile (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 49kg Type: OPEN
AUD $3,139,250
1600m TURF GOOD
9
16:30
(local)
AUD $3,139,250
1600m GOOD

Doncaster Mile (G1)

Age: 3yo and up WT: 49kg Type: OPEN

Happy Clapper, winner of last year's Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) took out his second major 1600m Randwick race in winning impressively here, his third win at Group One level. He was smartly away from his good barrier (1) and had a nice trip in fourth place on the rails. Blake Shinn got him along the inner on turning for home, he took the lead at the 300m and then went on to score decisively by two lengths and in fast time (1:33.17). Comin' Through was seventh early on, improved to fifth (wide without cover) moved up nicely rounding the home turn, challenged at the 300m and then battled on strongly under his light weight (51.5kg) for a very good second. Arbeitsam went to the front as expected, was pressured mid-stages (by Tom Melbourne) and fought back really well for third after a challenging trip in the lead. D'Argento was eased from his wide barrier (15), raced at the tail of the 16-horse field, got between runners on turning for home and kept running on really well under his limit weight (49kg) for a very good (2.5 lengths) fourth. Tom Melbourne went forward to then race a bit keenly outside the leader (Arteitsam) and did well under the circumstances in holding on for (2.6 lengths) fifth. The favourite Kementari settled in sixth place, between runners, but was in restricted room all the way in the home straight and went to the post an untested tenth, beaten just over four lengths.

FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. HAPPY CLAPPER (AUS) 7yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - BUSKING (AUS)
BLAKE SHINN
PATRICK WEBSTER
$5
57kg
M W Thomas
2nd 10. COMIN' THROUGH (AUS) 4yo G
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - MICA'S PRIDE (AUS)
TIM CLARK
CHRIS WALLER
$21
51.5kg
EMIL ZAHARIEV

Sales Information

3rd 13. ARBEITSAM (AUS) 4yo G
SNITZEL (AUS) - WORKHARD (AUS)
MICHAEL DEE
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$26
51kg
Dynamic Syndications Racing (Mgr: D Watt), P Roberts, Mrs M Roberts, G Timmony, H Sookias, Mrs S Halliwell, M Wolens, S Loane, D Batchelor, J Yianni, J Allen, Mrs C Read, C J R Racing (Mgr: C Deeb), R Gall, N Honey, L Seminara, Mrs R Budd, G Rassos & L Woolhouse

Sales Information

4th 16. D'ARGENTO (AUS) 3yo C
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - FULLAZZ (AUS)
ANDREW ADKINS
CHRIS WALLER
$8.5
51kg

Sales Information

5th 8. TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) 7yo G
DYLAN THOMAS (IRE) - ROSHANAK (IRE)
KERRIN MCEVOY
CHRIS WALLER
$15
52kg

Sales Information

6th 15. COOL CHAP (AUS) 5yo G
HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - CHERISHING (USA)
CORY PARISH
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$41
50kg

Sales Information

7th 11. LANCIATO (NZ) 5yo G
PER INCANTO (USA) - SURREPTITIOUS (NZ)
RACHEL KING
MARK NEWNHAM
$21
51kg
8th 1. HUMIDOR (NZ) 5yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - ZALIKA (NZ)
MARK ZAHRA
DARREN WEIR
$13
58kg

Sales Information

9th 4. ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) 6yo H
LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) - DESERT DRAMA (IRE)
GLYN SCHOFIELD
CHRIS WALLER
$51
53.5kg

Sales Information

10th 9. KEMENTARI (AUS) 3yo C
LONHRO (AUS) - YAVANNA (AUS)
BRENTON AVDULLA
JAMES CUMMINGS
$3.25
51.5kg
11th 12. EGG TART (AUS) 4yo M
SEBRING (AUS) - MRS WINDSOR (AUS)
CRAIG NEWITT
CHRIS WALLER
$31
50.5kg

Sales Information

12th 6. CRACK ME UP (NZ) 4yo G
MOSSMAN (AUS) - CHUCKLE (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
BJORN BAKER
$21
53kg

Sales Information

13th 5. PRIZED ICON (AUS) 4yo H
MORE THAN READY (USA) - TROPICAL AFFAIR (AUS)
BEN MELHAM
KRIS LEES
$31
53.5kg

Sales Information

14th 7. INVINCIBLE GEM (AUS) 4yo M
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - DIAMOND DAY (AUS)
MICHAEL WALKER
KRIS LEES
$31
52.5kg
15th 2. TOSEN STARDOM (JPN) 7yo H
DEEP IMPACT (JPN) - ADMIRE KIRAMEKI (JPN)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
DARREN WEIR
$26
57.5kg

Sales Information

16th 14. MISTER SEA WOLF (IRE) 6yo G
AMADEUS WOLF (GB) - ROSE DE FRANCE (IRE)
JAY FORD
CHRIS WALLER
$81
50kg

Sales Information

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