3 minute read
A look at some of the other angles from San Domenico Stakes day at Rosehill.
Promitto breaks 30-month drought
The persistence of Newcastle trainer David Atkins has paid dividends with Promitto posting his first win since the 2022 Skyline Stakes (1200m) in Saturday's Midway Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill.
The gelding claimed the Group 2 juvenile feature, run on a heavy 10 track, at his second start, and while he went on to place behind Cascadian in that year's Craven Plate (2000m), he had been struggling to recapture his best form since.
He gave an indication he might be turning the corner with a last start second to West Of Africa over a mile at Randwick and went one better on Saturday.
"He won that Group race on a bog track, but he actually might be a dry tracker," winning apprentice Benjamin Osmond said.
"Since that last run, he might have grown a bit of confidence.
"Today, he got in a great spot. He wasn't really travelling like the winner at the top of the straight, but he got there."
Forecaster ($7) led and gave a strong kick in the straight and while Promitto ($15) took an age to warm up, he ground down his fellow Newcastle-trained rival by a half-neck with Koning ($7) the same margin away third.
Magic Millions target for It's A Knockout
A summer campaign in Queensland is on the agenda for progressive mare It's A Knockout after she led throughout to post a smart win in the Merrylands RSL Club Handicap (1500m).
Trainer by Ciaron Maher, the four-year-old was a late comer to the racetrack, making her debut in July with victory on the Kensington track before finishing runner-up at Randwick at her most recent appearance.
Maher's Sydney foreman Johann Gerard-Dubord said the stable had kept her ticking over with the intention of raising her rating in preparation for a potential shot at next year's Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast.
"There is a race like The Wave in Queensland in January that could be a good race for her, but we wanted to get her rating up and that's why we kept going," Gerard-Dubord said.
"It does help when she can put herself there on speed. She has got a very good racing style.
"She is a typical Dundeel, she will keep improving and she will stay further. She overdid it a touch last time, but she relaxed a lot better today and just kept going.
"We will see how she comes through that, but we will probably give her a little freshen now. She has done a terrific job."
Rated superbly in front by Tim Clark, It's A Knockout ($7) scored by 1-1/2 lengths over stablemate Vivy Air ($3.60) with Mountain Top ($9) another three-quarters of a length in arrears.
McDonald booked for Kosciuszko fancy
James Mcdonald is the new jockey for Kosciuszko favourite Front Page with confirmation the horse's regular rider Tyler Schiller will be in Melbourne to ride Fawkner Park in the Caulfield Cup.
Trainer Matthew Dale confirmed he had booked Sydney's leading hoop for the prized mount on the country sprinter, who will be chasing a Kosciuszko three-peat after winning the past two renewals under Schiller.
"James McDonald was booked as of last night," Dale said from Rosehill on Saturday.
"We would have loved to have had Tyler on, he's obviously won the last two on him, but I was very pleased to secure James with Tyler heading to Caulfield."
Front Page hasn't raced since finishing fourth in the Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in May and despite turning eight earlier this month, Dale says the horse is going as well as ever.
"He is following the exact same script as last year and he's every bit as good," he said.
"Even though he is an eight-year-old, he is very lightly raced and is right where we want him."
Dale was in the winner's stall at Rosehill with Super Norwest in the Highway Handicap (1400m), the mare breaking through for a well-deserved win after filling the placings at her previous three starts.
Payne gelding out-Foxes rivals
The stars finally aligned for Fox Fighter as the gelding relished a solid pace and firm track to storm to a last-stride victory in Saturday's Mounties Group Handicap (1200m).
Sneaking under the guard of most punters, the six-year-old was sent out at $41 and scored his first win in almost two years, nailing Battleton ($8.50) by a half-head in a blanket finish where less than a length separated the first five horses across the line.
Trainer David Payne said he pulled up stumps on Fox Fighter's last preparation after just two runs as he wasn't handling the wet tracks.
Back on a good surface at Rosehill, the horse lived up to his trackwork earlier in the week.
"He's got to have a hard track and a fast tempo," Payne said.
"He's always had that hell of a dash.
"We worked him the other day and Chad (Schofield) got off and said, 'gee he's well'".
"It has got to work out for him. He can't be too far back and he's got a very short burst. He used it today, thank goodness."
Payne has no grand plans for Fox Fighter but will continue to look for similar races for the sprinter.
Quote of the Day: "There is so much talent there. I'm glad he's been able to come back and race in that manner and showcase his talents and natural speed that's he's got today." – Co-trainer Adrian Bott following Storm Boy's stunning San Domenico Stakes win.
