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It’s Somewhat has claimed his first Group 1 success when taking out the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
With the track once again coming up as heavy, It’s Somewhat was taken to the lead by Zac Purton and was able to hold off a fast finishing Happy Clapper in second with Sense Of Occasion well back in third.
It’s Somewhat returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 122, four pounds higher than his first up win in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m).
The Godolphin runner ran well below 2016 winner Winx who returned a figure of 128 and he is the lowest rated winner of the race since Vision And Power in 2009 (121).
It’s Somewhat became the fifth horse to complete the Ajax-Doncaster double since 1974 joining Grand Armee (2003), Soho Square (1992), Vite Cheval (1984) and Tontonan (1974).
Catalan Opening has also completed the double but across two years, winning the Ajax in both 1996 and 1997 before taking out the Doncaster in 1998.
The Racing and Sports field strength (RSFS) of 119.8 is below par for a Group 1 race in what was jockey Zac Purton’s second Doncaster win, also riding Sacred Falls in 2014.
Of the beaten runners, Happy Clapper ran a good race again to finish runner up his second time in as many years also running to 122 a new career peak.
The Patrick Webster-trained runner ran to 110 when running second to Winx in 2016 with just 50.5kg his highest previous racing of 121 coming in the Group 2 Newcastle Newmarket the start prior.
Sense Of Occasion in third ran to a Timeform figure of 107, two pounds below his previous best achieved when winning the Group 2 Villiers Stakes last year.
Arguably the best win of the day came from Chautauqua who became the first horse to claim the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes three times.
Settling back in the field and hugging the rail throughout, Chautauqua made his way through the field to finish off strongly and win by a narrow margin, very similar to his 2016 TJ win.
The flashy grey ran to a Timeform figure of 127, the same figure as his 2016 TJ win which saw the same horses in Fell Swoop and English fill the placings, albeit in different order.
Chautauqua who now has six Group 1 wins to his name and over $7 million in prizemoney had not won a race since May of last year (Chairman’s Sprint) but equalled his previous best Timeform figure, run twice previously in the 2016 Newmarket and 2016 TJ Smith.
His winning Timeform figure of 127 is two pounds above his 2015 win with Lankan Rupee and Black Caviar running to 132 and 134+ respectively in recent years.
English was super in second place after looking the winner at the 200m and returned a Timeform figure of 121, a new career peak, two pounds above her third placing in this race last year.
Fell Swoop who settled up on the speed before running third has now placed in five Group 1 races without winning one and ran a Timeform of 122, his equal highest achieved when runner up in this race last year.
The RSFS value of 123.5 was around par for a Group 1 race and only slightly above last years renewal of 123.4.
Earlier in the programme Jon Snow was able to follow up his Tulloch Stakes win with a hard fought victory in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) a week later after settling on the speed.
The New Zealand galloper returned a Timeform figure of 117, the same as his Tulloch Stakes win following a third placing to Gingernuts in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.
Jon Snow is the lowest rated winner of the Derby since Ebony Grosve in 1997 who ran to 116 with 2016 winner Tavago returning a Timeform figure of 118.
Since the inception of the Tulloch Stakes in 1973, seven runners have now completed the Tulloch-Derby double with Jon Snow joining Starcraft (2004), Ivory’s Irish (1995), Mahogany (1994), Durbridge (1991) and Prolific (1984).
Of the beaten runners Harper’s Choice in second ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 116, two pounds above his fifth placing in the Rosehill Guineas with Hardham in third running to 115, well above his previous best of 106 the start prior in the Group 2 Alister Clark.
The final Group 1 race of the day saw the Peter and Paul Snoweden-trained Invader win the Sires’ by just under a length with Summer Passage second and Trapeze Artist third.
Having been ruled out of the Group 1 Golden Slipper with a stone bruise, Invader was last seen when running second in the Group 2 Todman behind Gunnison, only narrowly beaten on that occasion.
Invader, ridden by Hugh Bowman returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 119, four pounds above his Todman Stakes effort.
Invader retuned a figure one pound below 2016 winner Yankee Rose with the last colt to win the race Pride Of Dubai in 2015 running to 118.
Interestingly despite the top three runners of the Golden Slipper being fillies, it appeared with was the boys turn in the Sires’ with the first filly to finish the race being Tulip in fifth place.
New Zealand galloper Summer Passage in second place ran to a clear new career peak Timeform figure of 117, seven pounds above his win in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes the start prior.
Black Opal Stakes winner Trapeze Artist in third also ran to a new career peak of 115, one pound above his Black Opal effort.