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Saturday Post Mortem with Chris Scholtz

by Chris Scholtz ,
6 years ago

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing at Randwick and Flemington on March 10.

THE STARS

LINDSAY PARK: Nothing better for a premier stable than a Group One Newmarket-Australian Cup double on one of Melbourne’s biggest days. The Hayes dynasty rolls on….

REDKIRK WARRIOR: Two Newmarket wins and a Lightning Stakes places him among the best sprinters to have ever raced at Flemington. A shame if reports are right that he won’t meet up again with Redzel in Sydney this autumn.

KEMENTARI: Set Randwick alight with an arrogant win in the Randwick Guineas to establish his place as the top 3YO miler. Will take some beating in the Doncaster!

REDZEL: A track record win in the Challenge Stakes leaves no doubt he’s the king of the Sydney sprinters. Like Redkirk Warrior at Flemington he’s a specialist on his home track at Randwick.

HAPPY CLAPPER/PAT WEBSTER: What a team, aided by Blake Shinn’s riding. Sydney fans love Winx and Redzel but they also have soft spot for this big hearted gelding and his knockabout trainer.

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS

RANDWICK/FLEMINGTON: The often maligned Randwick course proper was presented in lightning fast condition just 48 hours after it was sitting in the Soft range. The excellent surface was responsible for very fair competition in stark contrast to the fast lane racing we saw at Flemington.

REGAN BAYLISS: A Newmarket win on Redkirk Warrior sealed a very happy 21st birthday celebration for the young jockey. He now has plenty of time to recover and reflect with his whip suspension on top of the 25 meeting ban he coped last week for reckless riding putting him out until April 7.

KRIS LEES: Lands a Group double with mares at Randwick, just another example of the talent one of Australia’s best - and he does it all from Newcastle.

JEAN DUBOIS: He is a clever horseman, this French trainer.

DAMIEN OLIVER: A day of costly defeats had some redemption when he finally found the fast lane on the last winner at Flemington. Most of his supporters would have run out of the readies by then!

TAYLOR MARSHALL: Former Sydney based son of former top rider John Marshall is really hitting his straps in Brisbane with a treble that took the spotlight at Doomben.

COREY BROWN: No punter’s pal when found to be 1kg overweight on Miss Que at Randwick after she is beaten a nose. Cops an eight meeting ban for the misdemeanour but Miss Que backers would be right in complaining that it should be accompanied by a heavy fine to make it akin to the financial loss they suffered.

RIDE OF THE DAY

GLYNN SCHOFIELD: Can be hot and cold but his ride on Kementari in the Randwick Guineas was a perfect example of a jockey having absolute confidence in the talent of the horse underneath. Just bided his time and kept him clear of any possible trouble by easing him wide to make his run where the colt’s classy turn of foot did the rest. The downside was a suspension for an incident early in the race that he intends to appeal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

• "I've only bagged him once and I won't do it again - I had to deal with his mother!" - Alan WiIliams, the father of champion jockey Craig Williams and co-trainer of Flemington winner Demonstrate ridden by his son.

THEY SAID IT

• “Down on the fence was like lightning!” - Australian Cup winning rider Michael Walker.

• “We've seen horses come two and three deep and they just hit brick walls.” - former trainer Peter Moody’s comment on the Flemington track.

• “We had Special, Grandiose, Planet Ruler, Isca, Rory's Jester - all that crew. In my era at Lindsay Park and all the sprinters I think he mixes pretty well with all of them.” – David Hayes rates Redkirk Warrior’s place in the pantheon.

• “His name suits his traits. He's a real warrior and I'm very grateful to be a part of his career.” – Redkirk Warrior’s jockey Regan Bayliss.

• “We were able to get him up on the farm with his head down, treat him, and he got over it. He had a lot of time in the irrigated day paddocks and it really turned him around." – David Hayes explains Harlem’s recovery from a cold that led to his form reversal in the Australian Cup.

• “Those colours have had a good day, haven't they?" – David Hayes makes a succinct comment as Redkirk Warrior and Harlem carry the blue and white silks of their Hong Kong-based owner Edmund Lee.

• “My heart was just pumping before the barriers opened because I did not see how they could beat him. They were racing for a lot more than a million dollars. It's a massive result for the company, it provides a lot of vindication for our whole racing operation.”- Kementari’s trainer James Cummings.

• “If I let him go at the 600 he would have whizzed around them and hit the front - he's got such an explosive turn of speed I knew they were not going to match his turn of speed." – Kementari’s jockey Glynn Schofield.

• “I could get used to this. Imagine if we had more than six horses. I just hope I haven't taken too much out of him first-up but who cares - it is a Group One.” – Happy Clapper’s trainer Pat Webster celebrating his second career Group One win.

• “With $290,000 for running second, I'm not dodging anybody.” – Webster on Happy Clapper’s next clash with Winx.

• “Every Group One is memorable in its own way and I think to do it for Pat Webster, who puts a lot in the industry, is a reward for all the hard work he does behind the scenes.” – Blake Shinn’s praise for Webster, a respected Racing NSW counsellor and mentor.

• “He is a seven-year-old but is sparingly raced so there is no reason he couldn’t reach the best form of his career. He gave Winx a good run for her money last prep so I think it’s going to be a good rematch again.” – Blake Shinn on Happy Clapper’s next engagement.

• “He’s definitely the top of the tree. I haven’t ridden a champion sprinter but this fellow is getting towards that.” – Redzel’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

• “It is more than incredible, it is a miracle. You always dream of things like this but don’t believe it can happen. He proved today that he can fight so he has everything to make a good horse.” - Aylmerton’s trainer Jean Dubois

• “It's all about winning. How much more do you have to improve? It's not about how far, you look at the time and the time says she has done it. Today was about looking after her and helping her and just getting the job done." - Estijaab’s co-trainer Michael Hawkes.

• “She’s a gem to ride. She’s obviously still learning her craft, she hasn’t seen a backside before. After riding her today I have no doubt that she will travel better with a bunny in front of her.” – Estijaab’s rider Brenton Avdulla.

• “I gave up after 100 metres," – Sugar Bella’s trainer Kris Lees after her big finish from last.

• “That was a relief. He is a very smart horse but he hadn't raced in a long time, the track was wet and there were a few other things. It is now a case of onwards and upwards.” – Niccanova’s trainer Steve Tregea.

• "I've got to thank Godolphin – they tell you everything you need to know about the horse and he came to us in fantastic order. He might have got a bit lost in their operation and maybe the one-on-one attention has made the difference." – Demonstrate’s co-trainer Jason Williams.

BLACKBOOK

INVINCIBLE GEM: Quality mare best against own sex.

PERAST: Impressive late. Set for a good campaign.

VIRIDINE: Classy young sprinter with plenty to offer.

NETTOYER: Sure to appreciate a strong rider over more ground.

SISTER SLEDGE: Impressive debut. Obviously has a future.

AKKADIAN: Stepped up in the Sires Produce. Can go on with it.

VENTURA STORM: Big player in coming staying races.

tags

Redkirk Warrior Kementari Harlem INVINCIBLE GEM PERAST Viridine NETTOYER SISTER SLEDGE AKKADIAN VENTURA STORM