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The Randwick Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch out of the Chipping Norton Stakes program on March 2.
Winx surpassed Hurricane Fly for most career Group 1’s ever recorded (23) as she cruised by a brave Happy Clapper to win the Chipping Norton Stakes.
Godolphin’s 2YO juggernaut continued courtesy of Microphone winning the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) and is now exempt from ballot in the Golden Slipper.
Later on the card, a pair of Team Hawkes-trained runners in Dyslexic and Renewal turned heads as they commenced their autumn preparations.
Race 1: Haames - Class 3 Highway Plate (1600m)
Haames has been performing well in these Highway Handicaps for a long time now although hadn’t won one until Saturday.
The run prior he was luckless in one of these behind another Highway Handicap regular - Fui San.
After Saturday, Haames only has a Benchmark of 64 so there are plenty of options for him moving forward even though there are no Highway Handicaps until the end of April.
Terry Evans has a nice one on his hands in the form of Onemore Sapphire. The three-year-old was really attacking the line late to run third. This is only his maiden prep as well. He’ll take some great improvement from the run and campaign as a whole.
Race 2: Goathland - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (2000m)
Kim Waugh is doing an excellent job with the ex Lloyd Williams runners she has acquired. Of course Our Century is a dual stakes winner under Waugh and now Goathland has a win to his name.
It was an impressive training effort to get the son of Teofilo firing first up over 2000m.
Goathland has always promised to be a stakes level stayer. This could be the prep he makes that transition.
Waugh can aim him towards races like the Manion Cup and the Chairman’s Handicap this autumn where he would carry no weight. The UK import also holds a nomination for the Sydney Cup.
Desert Path looked much more at home in his second Australian run after Chris Waller stepped him up noticeably in trip.
Evergreen veteran Doukhan was finding the line well enough back in eighth. All of them will be heading to 12 furlongs and beyond later this autumn.
Race 3: Microphone - Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m)
Microphone has now confirmed himself a Golden Slipper berth. He settled just off the pace and had the race won approaching the furlong.
We’ve awarded the win a Timeform rating of 113. That’s the highest winning figure of the race since Exosphere won in 2015.
You would assume he goes straight to the Golden Slipper from here. The last 2YO to claim the Skyline Stakes - Golden Slipper double was Dance Hero in 2004.
Microphone sits at the top of the Golden Slipper ballot and is one of seven Godolphin runners listed in the Top 21 on the ballot.
Runner up Cosmic Force was solid. He’s on the cusp of a Slipper berth. The Team Snowden colt may need to run in the Pago Pago to get his prizemoney high enough though.
Castelvecchio was strong late in third. A third straight run at 1200m may not have suited.
Getting up over more ground in the Sires’ and the Champagne next month can’t come soon enough for the son of Dundeel.
Race 4: Anaheed - Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m)
Anaheed got a cosy run outside the lead and they weren’t going overly hard out in front.
She let down well once Tim Clark shook her up from the 300m.
The girls ran slower time than the boys in the Skyline Stakes, .4 of a second.
That’s reflected to some extent in the rating she’s returned, well shy of Microphone.
The Sweet Embrace is a lesser form line taken into the Slipper as well.
Ha Ha in 2001 and Crystal Lily in 2010 are the only two fillies to have claimed the Sweet Embrace - Golden Slipper double in the past 20 years.
A few here were doing their best work late. Icebath is of some interest. She’s found the line well in both her career outings to date. By Sacred Falls, she is bred to need further.
Race 5: Dreamforce - Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m)
Dreamforce is a winner and has long proven himself a worthwhile horse to follow.
After enduring a luckless run first up, Dreamforce was aided by a perfect ride from Blake Shinn.
They forced You Make Me Smile to work for the early lead and eventually let him have it. All that meant is they had a bunny to follow into the straight.
Dreamforce had put the race to bed by the 200m, it was an easy watch for followers. The Fastnet Rock gelding produced an overall time and sectional time both inside standard for the meeting.
The six-year-old recorded a Timeform rating of 116 for the win. It was a career best display, a pound clear of his Chatham Stakes (1400m) win at Flemington during the spring.
He’s likely off to the Ajax Stakes next. It’s Somewhat claimed the Liverpool City Cup - Ajax Stakes double in 2015.
It was something of a mixed bag behind him. Snippets Land and Salsonic were surprise placegetters behind him to say the least.
Fifth placegetter Kaonic will strip fitter for the run. Ever Loyal had no luck whatsoever in his Australian debut.
Race 6: Winx - Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m)
Happy Clapper attempted to throw down a challenge but Winx still won by two lengths. Hugh Bowman didn’t even need to pull the persuader and the great mare was eased down late.
Saturday’s Chipping Norton Stakes marked 23 Group 1 wins for Winx who in the process eclipsed UK Hurdler Hurricane Fly as the record holder for most career Group 1 wins.
She also equalled Tie The Knot as the only horses to have won four Chipping Norton Stakes’.
129 is the figure we’ve awarded Winx for the win. Her 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes win was the pick of them where she won by seven lengths.
The daughter of Street Cry showed good improvement on her first up run in the Apollo Stakes and Saturday should bring her on again.
Next for Winx is the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 23.
It’s a race the Chris Waller-trained mare has already won three times now. She tends to take on some high quality opposition in that race each year.
Placegetters behind Winx during those three renewals read Kermadec, Press Statement (2016), Le Romain, Chautauqua (2017), Happy Clapper and Kementari (2018).
Happy Clapper won’t be contesting the George Ryder Stakes this year as he’s off to the All Star Mile. The veteran son of Teofilo deserves to win any time he gets the chance to move out of Winx’s shadow.
Unforgotten was solid to the line in third. She’s ticking over well as she’s prepared for the Doncaster Mile and is set to carry just 51.5kg.
Race 7: Nakeeta Jane - Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m)
The Surround Stakes produced a thrilling finish as four of them went to the line together.
In the end it was the favourite Nakeeta Jane who got it done.
The daughter of So You Think produced a Timeform rating of 114 with the display. It’s the highest rated Surround Stakes win since First Seal in 2015.
It sounds like Mark Newnham is strongly considering backing Nakeeta Jane up in the Randwick Guineas.
The Randwick Guineas would be a tough ask for Nakeeta Jane with The Autumn Sun running there as a deserved odds on favourite.
The Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks looks a more natural progression for the filly into the Vinery and the Oaks with the event a proven path into such races.
Only 12 months ago, Unforgotten won the Phar Lap Stakes with Hiyaam running third.
Hiyaam went on to win the Vinery Stud Stakes ahead of Unforgotten in second. A fortnight later in the AJC Oaks the result was reversed.
Fundamentalist was brave as was Mizzy who is now headed to the Coolmore Classic with no weight on her back.
Zalatte was sneaking through the pack late for seventh. It was a good first up run. She went unbeaten through her maiden prep late last year. It will be interesting to see if she can build on it this campaign. Early signs are certainly encouraging.
Race 8: Alassio - Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m)
Alassio has done a superb job working through her grades this prep. She was getting beaten in off season Benchmark races at the start of the campaign however has since found a new level.
There was a bit of a question mark with the daughter of Foxwedge out to 1400m on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott-trained mare kept finding the line however and recorded a new peak figure of 110.
The Coolmore Classic is next for her. The last mare to claim the Guy Walter Stakes - Coolmore Classic double was Steps In Time in 2012.
It’s been a while since Gai Waterhouse won a Coolmore Classic. Tuesday Joy won it in 2007.
The first four mares across the line were doing what they needed to heading into the Coolmore.
Dyslexic came from an absolute mile back to run fourth, beaten 1.5 lengths. She’ll carry no weight in the race and has to be considered a lightweight hope in the Coolmore Classic second up.
Race 9: Renewal - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (1200m)
After Dyslexic charged home in the Guy Walter, Renewal also commenced his autumn campaign ideally for Team Hawkes by taking out the last as a well supported favourite.
Renewal has always promised plenty. Notable performances as a three-year-old last season include his fourth to Unforgotten in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and a third in the South Pacific Classic (1400m).
He appears capable of getting up to a mile in time however a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill in a fortnight for now looks like an ideal stepping stone.