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Punters post-race: All Aged Stakes day in review

by Punters.com.au
Overpass pulled out plenty to take out The Quokka Overpass pulled out plenty to take out The Quokka Image: X - Perth Racing

Check out all the highlights and lowlights from a massive Saturday of racing, highlighted by the All Aged and Champagne Stakes at Randwick, plus the $5m Quokka at Ascot in Perth.

Star Performer

Overpass (Ascot R8 - The Quokka)

Magic Time was impressive winning the G1 All Aged (1400m) at Randwick but it's never easy to go back-to-back in big feature races, so Bjorn Baker's Overpass ($6) takes Star Performer honours this week. Parr put the speedster into a lovely trailing position just off the leaders but he had the well-backed favourite Amelia's Jewel ($3) breathing down his neck from the outset. After surging to a clear lead a fair way from home, Overpass looked vulnerable as Oscar's Fortune ducked back to the fence and Amelia's Jewel built momentum under Damian Lane's urgings. However, the new king of the Ascot 1200m dug deep to hold a clear margin to the line, stopping the clock in a very slick 1:08.88.

Front Bar Fodder

RANDWICK

Downgrades early followed by abandonment
We started the day off on a Soft 5, which was very quickly downgraded into the Heavy 9 range. It led to a number of trainers scratching their runners throughout the day with the track quickly deteriorating. By race seven, it was downgraded again to a Heavy 10. And after the running of the G1 All Aged Stakes, the decision was made to abandon the rest of the Randwick card. With constant rain and a deteriorating track, it was a bit of a no-brainer but it was a decision that could have been made earlier in the day.

The protest in the Frank Packer Plate
A bit of drama in the Frank Packer Plate with Gary Portelli’s galloper Kintyre saluting. Stewards declared the interference over the final strides from Gold Bullion was enough to overturn the result, with the initial winning margin being declared a nose. As is often the case, it led to plenty of debate among punters and pundits.

Broadsiding too sharp in the Champagne
The boys finally struck a blow in the juvenile Group 1s this season with Broadsiding getting the better of Linebacker. In testing conditions, the Godolphin galloper was travelling a long way out and when J-Mac pressed go, he flew straight past Linebacker. Manaal was well-supported but failed to fire in the wet, finishing unplaced with Fearless grabbing third.


Magic Time too sharp for them in the All Aged
A genuine star emerged at Randwick with Grahame Begg’s mare getting her Group 1 at weight-for-age level. She was too good for them in the spring in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes under handicap conditions but has gone to another level this autumn and handled the tough conditions to take out the All Aged Stakes. Covered ground and didn’t have the coveted ‘fence in run’ but she proved to be the superior galloper on the day, holding off a brave Amenable with Private Eye sticking on for third.


MORNINGTON

Hungarian Horse of the Year (2019) into the Caulfield Cup
He'll likely start at three-figure odds if he gets there, but Esti Feny's shock Mornington Cup (2400m) victory secured his spot in this year's Caulfield Cup. Sent out as the rank outsider at $31, the 2019 Hungarian Horse of the Year was a comfortable winner of the Mornington feature for Daniel Stackhouse and trainer Matthew Smith. 

“He loves his racing, and he was actually borderline retired for a little while there and I think Matt felt a bit bad for him sitting in the paddock, so he made a great comeback and what a great decision that was," Smith's stable representative Rebecca Shanks said post-race.

It was the 9YOs second victory in Australia since heading Down Under in February, 2020.

Picket fence extended
Promising stayer Sea What I See was a surprising drifter in the seventh at Mornington, with her SP of $2.20 proving to be an absolute spoil for punters. The Danny O'Brien-trained 4YO made it five wins on the bounce with another effortless victory after stalking the leaders to the turn. 

O'Brien said the stable aren't in any great rush with Sea What I See, but he did identify her next assignment.

“There’s a 2000m Listed mares' race (Centaurea Stakes) in three weeks in Adelaide, so we’ll send her over there to have a trip away and have a chance in a stakes race. Then (following a spell), we hopefully get her back for the spring and aim her at some of those good mares’ races. Something like a Matriarch and she is effective at a mile too," O'Brien told Racing.com.


AROUND THE GROUNDS

Sir Kingsford (Morphettville Parks R7)
The gelding looks to have returned in fine fettle this preparation. He was taken to the front by Kayla Crowther and stormed to a commanding four-length win in his second run back from a spell. Looks to have plenty of upside and you can see him winning better races than this. 

Punters Pearler

Nash Rawiller on Huetor (Randwick R6)

He completely outrode James McDonald in the JRA Plate when he didn’t go around a single runner to get Huetor home in the JRA Plate. On a day where it was a clear advantage to those travellng on the fence, Nash Rawiller didn’t opt to circle them from the back and instead went hunting towards the rail. He was successful in finding clear running and Huetor put a space on them.

Saturday Slaughter

Noel Callow (Prince Of Boom), James Orman (Zarastro) & Michael Rodd (Petronius) - Eagle Farm R8

Strange one this week, as three experienced hoops got themselves in a speed battle in the Listed 1000m event at Eagle Farm, which ended up helping none of them. There might've been a chance for Callow to take a sit as the pair to his outside rocketed off, especially with the 60.5kg allotted. But we're not singling out any of the three - they all tired to finish outside the placings as the race shape benefitted the swoopers in the finish. Prince Of Boom ($3.70F), Petronius ($6.50) and Zarastro ($5.50) were all at the pointier end of the market, too.

 Saints

Mick Attard (Randwick)
Trained his first metro winner with Putt For Dough in the opener at Randwick.

Belvedere Boys (Randwick)
Missed a spot in the Country Championships Final but got a consolation prize in the way of Saturday’s Highway. Absolutely swam in the conditions.

Mazu (Randwick)
Had not won since the 2022 Doomben 10,000 but relished the rain-affected conditions and drop in grade. He’s now had eight runs on heavy tracks for five wins.


Broadsiding (Randwick)
Proved to be the superior two-year-old over the mile in the Champagne Stakes. Was an electric win too and that would suggest there’s more incoming.

Magic Time (Randwick)
She might be the next big thing among the sprinting ranks.

Amenable (Randwick)
The 4YO son of the late Lonhro nearly held on for what would have been a fitting win. Gave an almighty kick but just found Magic Time a shade too sharp.

Perspiration (Mornington R1)
He found one better in his first two starts but Perspiration broke through in the Mornington opener, doing so in emphatic fashion. 


Declan Bates (Mornington)
Rival jockeys take note: Declan Bates is pretty damn handy on frontrunners. Bates sent Disturbia straight across to lead from the outside gate in race two at Mornington and rated the Browne-trained to perfection to trot in by nearly 2L.


Fasuto (Mornington R3)
First-up since December, Fasuto exploded under Luke Nolen to make it 2 from 2 over the Mornington 1000m.


Daniel Stackhouse (Mornington)
With some of the top dogs riding in other states, Stackhouse really cashed in at Mornington. He guided the tough-as-old-boots Arran Bay ($5) to a typically gritty win in the 5th, before taking out the Mornington Cup (2400m) on outsider Esti Feny ($31). He then made it a treble with victory in the last aboard grey mare Frigid who had the race in her keeping a fair way from home. Stackhouse was a nostril hair off riding four winners, with Nicolini Vito ($10) just falling short in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m).


Jamie Mott (Mornington)
Mott notched up a double aboard Talbragar ($5.50) in the 5th and Sea What I See ($2.20) in the first leg of the quaddie. The latter was a genuine sit-and-steer job but it was still a strong day at the office for Mott.

Maharba (Mornington R9)
Celine Gaudray on Starlight Scope had them chasing a fair way from home in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) but $3.60 favourite Maharba was good enough to run down the leader and hold off a late challenge by Nicolini Vito. The son of Pride Of Dubai is building a strong record and has a nice race in him this spring.


Bustling (Karrakatta Plate)
The 2YO gelding put the field to the sword in the $500,000 Group Two, with Blake Shinn hooning around on him in front before careering to a 4.21L victory. Pro-level stuff. He's now won three of his four starts - 2nd in the other - and looks like a horse that is going places.


Blake Shinn (Ascot)
He bagged a double in Perth, with the win of Bustling coming after Above The Peg dominated the 1400m handicap.

Chris Parnham (Ascot)
It was 'only' a double for Perth's leading jock, but we say that in the context he also had three narrow 2nds - including aboard Laced Up Heels in the $200k Joey, beaten a lip. Given it is tight for the premiership with him and Willie Pike, he'd be kicking himself it couldn't have turned into a larger day in some respects.

James Orman / Tony Gollan (Eagle Farm)
They combined for a double with the wins of Hidden Wealth ($5) and Millane ($4), and nearly landed a treble when Transatlantic just missed in the Listed Daybreak Lover. Talking about Hidden Wealth's win earlier, Gollan said he felt the horse had been drawing bad gates in previous runs but got the dream scenario on Saturday. He added it had taken a while to get Hidden Wealth fit after a long time off, but he's certainly the product now hitting his straps.


Magic Max (Morphettville Parks R1)
Super impressive win. The favourite backers got off to a handy start at Morphettville in the opening race, with Magic Max storming home from last to score. The $3.90F (TAB) gave the leaders a sight of 8-9 lengths when they turned for home, but charged down the outside to overhaul The Magistrate. 


Material Dreams (Morphettville Parks R8)
The Nick Ryan-trained filly proved too strong in the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m), charging home from well back in the field to overrun fellow Victorian invader Miss Aria. The filly is pulling together a very healthy winning strike, with five wins from 10 starts - a first at black-type level on Saturday. 


Todd Pannell, Rochelle Milnes & Jacob Opperman (Morphettville Parks)
The three hoops each secured a double on Saturday's ten-race card, with Opperman taking home the feature race aboard Material Dreams. 

Craig Grylls (Ellerslie)
The jockey chalked up a treble across the ditch with Russian Satire, Domain Ace and Moonlight Magic. Russian Satire - foaled in Australia - was bred by, and is raced by, David Paykel and wife Angela who have bred and raced several generations of the family. Domain Ace won the Listed race for 2YOs in fine fashion for heralded trainer Graeme Rogerson, the gelding now two-from-two in his fledgling career. Meanwhile, Moonlight Magic dominated the G3 for 3YOs over 2100m, breaking her maiden with a 2.5L win.

Green Luck (Riccarton)
A 9YO breaking through for their first stakes win is some feat in any jurisdiction.


Nikita Beriman (Eagle Farm)
She had five rides on Saturday, the two shortest of which were paying $2.80 (Ocean Zar) and $11 (Wapiti) - and she won on them both.

Exotique Miss (Eagle Farm R9)
Tough win in the Listed Daybreak Lover to hold out Transatlantic as the two $5 pops went toe-to-toe. She's now won all three of her starts in 2024, which kicked off with a 10L romp at Eagle Farm back on January 3. That was a BM65 worth $38k - now she's a stakes-winning filly.


The Big Goodbye (Eagle Farm R8)
The race was set-up for swoopers as the leading trio went like last week's pay. The Big Goodbye was the main beneficiary to poke through the inside to hold out All That Pizzazz, who appeared to have the sweet run down the outside of the tiring leaders, but had to settle for second. It gave trainer Rob Heathcote and jockey Martin Harley another feature race success, after they won the Magic Millions Guineas with Abounding.

Sinners

The track (Randwick)
It was an extremely tricky track to be playing on, with it favouring those who were on pace that found the fence in run.

Front Page (Randwick)
Those who had the fence in run throughout the day had the advantage but Front Page failed to fire in the conditions. Well backed into $2, he was disappointing finishing out of the placings.

Espiona (Randwick)
Failed to fire in the conditions. Backed into favourite but just couldn’t finish off.

Bonny Ezra (Eagle Farm R2)
These staying races in Brisbane often shape to be a last-chance saloon for some horses in their careers. Surely 'Bonny' isn't far from his forever paddock as an 8YO. After winning three of his first five starts back in his homeland in 2018/2019, he's won two of his next 41. He's two-from-29 on Australian shores, including a Listed win at $31 in Nov 2022. So he sure ain't the punters' pal!

Mawkeb (Mornington R2)
It wasn't a race for the swoopers but she was awful today and is becoming costly.

End Assembly (Mornington R6)
Punters really launched into this ex-Queenslander, with End Assembly jumping a $2.80 favourite in his first run for the Moody and Coleman camp. He raced up on the speed but was very plain in the straight, fading to finish 8th.


Riproar (Mornington R7)
Second-favourite Grid Girl was bad, Riproar was worse. Much worse. An issue could very well come to light in the next couple of days because he was simply awful off a strong first-up win.

First Immortal (Mornington R8)
After winning first-up over 1600m, First Immortal has now put in two poor efforts in a row. It's back to the drawing board for the Kavanagh camp.

The Winners

Randwick Saturday 20th April Full Results SP Margin
R1 1400m 15 Putt For Dough T Sherry, M Attard $17.00 1.30L
R2 1400m 3 Belvedere Boys N Rawiller, M Dunn $2.50 4.10L
R3 1400m 8 Konasana R Bayliss, C Waller $18.00 3.70L
R4 2000m 4 Kintyre J Kah, G Portelli $3.50 0.10L
R5 1200m 1 Mazu J Kah, J Pride $5.00 0.90L
R6 2000m 1 Huetor N Rawiller, P P Snowden $15.00 2.30L
R7 1600m 3 Broadsiding J M Donald, J Cummings $3.30 0.80L
R8 1400m 11 Magic Time M Dee, G Begg $6.50 0.40L
Mornington Saturday 20th April Full Results SP Margin
R1 1200m 1 Perspiration E Brown, C Maher $2.40 2.50L
R2 1600m 8 Disturbia D Bates, E D Browne $6.00 1.80L
R3 1000m 3 Fasuto L Nolen, C Mcdonald $6.50 3.00L
R4 2000m 4 Arran Bay D Stackhouse, P Stokes $5.00 0.20L
R5 1200m 9 Talbragar J Mott, J Sandhu $5.50 0.50L
R6 1600m 4 Dual Pressure J Bowditch, M J Ellerton $18.00 0.50L
R7 2000m 3 Sea What I See J Mott, D O'brien $2.20 2.80L
R8 2400m 9 Esti Feny D Stackhouse, M Smith $31.00 1.30L
R9 1200m 10 Maharba M M Nab, G Begg $3.60 0.10L
R10 1600m 8 Frigid D Stackhouse, J L Jnr $2.80 1.50L
Eagle Farm Saturday 20th April Full Results SP Margin
R1 1000m 2 Hidden Wealth J Orman, T Gollan $5.00 1.60L
R2 2200m 9 Warp Speed M Cahill, M Goodwin $5.00 0.10L
R3 1400m 13 Ocean Zar N Beriman, S M O Hoysted $2.80 0.70L
R4 1600m 1 Wapiti N Beriman, G Duncan $11.00 0.20L
R5 1805m 4 Lately M Potgieter, B J Smith $31.00 0.50L
R6 1400m 11 Tojaki R Dolan, S Kendrick $3.50 3.50L
R7 1200m 4 Millane J Orman, T Gollan $3.70 1.10L
R8 1000m 5 The Big Goodbye M Harley, R Heathcote $26.00 0.60L
R9 1400m 17 Exotique Miss R Dolan, M G Nolan $5.00 0.20L
Ascot Saturday 20th April Full Results SP Margin
R1 1600m 4 Arnie's Boy A Kennedy, A Maley $8.50 0.20L
R2 1600m 3 Yarralea C Parnham, N Parnham $3.30 1.90L
R3 1400m 3 Above The Peg B Shinn, S Miller $3.40 2.00L
R4 1800m 7 Sowar H Watson, M Pateman $5.50 0.60L
R5 1000m 8 Barney's World C Parnham, L Fernie $4.80 0.80L
R6 1200m 6 Twain's Angel M Derrick, S J Casey $1.95 2.50L
R7 1200m 2 Bustling B Shinn, D Morton $1.75 4.20L
R8 1200m 1 Overpass J Parr, B Baker $6.00 0.90L
R9 1200m 11 Magnificent Andy J Noske, S Miller $17.00 0.10L
R10 1100m 7 The Boss Lady D Lane, M Lane $2.60 0.10L

Share your thoughts

benq28_8c69
You could hardly whinge about the Randwick track considering it’s had Melbournes annual rain fall in the last 2 weeks there horses made ground down the middle of the track was hardly bias it was just very heavy and lots of horses didn’t handle it

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