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The Randwick Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch out of the nine race program on August 4.
Sydney hosted its first Group race for season 2018/19 with the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) and the feature did not disappoint as Pierata and Kementari fought out the finish.
Pierata became the highest rated winner of the Missile Stakes since Rain Affair in 2013.
It’s potentially a sign the Missile Stakes will be reinvigorated as a race courtesy of The Everest, connections electing the race as an audition point to gain a slot in $13million feature.
The lucrative sprint already had a positive effect on races such as The Shorts and the Premiere Stakes in September last year, both boasting stronger than normal fields with Everest runners using them as their final lead ups.
While Godolphin couldn’t claim the Missile Stakes with Kementari, Avilius, Intuition and Soothing provided the stable with a treble for the meeting.
Avilius enjoyed a soft kill in his Australian debut contesting a Benchmark 91 Handicap, an understandable result considering how well his career commenced at Group level in France.
The son of Pivotal recorded the third fastest last 600m of the day (32.66), bettered only by Lanciato (32.60) who ran fourth in the Missile Stakes and stablemate Soothing (32.37) who was a dominant winner of the final event.
Race 1: Military Zone - 3YO Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m)
Military Zone missed the start and had to be ridden back. There was at least good pace on though courtesy of the favourite Danawi. That helped and he recorded a last to first victory. He returned a Timeform rating of 98 and broke 33 seconds for the final 600m.
Danawi in second has a big motor however just doesn’t quite know how to use it yet. He went a bit too hard out front early and was left wanting late.
They’re both nice three-year-olds moving forward and full of upside.
There are options aplenty for each. Danawi should be breaking his maiden wherever he goes next. Knowing the early speed he possesses, the Exceed And Excel colt would take catching around Canterbury Wednesday week.
Military Zone can work through his grades. He is only a Benchmark 67 horse after Saturday.
Race 2: Magic Choir - Class 3 Highway Handicap (1400m)
Magic Choir got a nice run, midfield and one off the fence. He wound up well when he was moved off heels in the straight and ran to a Timeform rating of 82.
He and the runner up Cliff came out of a strong Highway Handicap a fortnight earlier at Randwick.
Magic Choir won a Highway Handicap last prep as well. Saturday marked four career wins so he’s graduated from Highway Handicaps.
Fui San was sticking to his task well in third.
There is a 1600m Highway Plate at Randwick in two week’s time. He’ll be hard to beat in that third run from a spell.
Race 3: Red Alto - Benchmark 88 Handicap (2400m)
Red Alto single handedly held off an eight strong Waller army. Tye Angland gave him a beautiful ride in behind the leaders on the fence. It meant there was enough in the tank to win in a dogfight.
He produced a Timeform rating of 101 for the win. There is a Benchmark 88 at the course and distance in two week’s he can perhaps come back for. He’d get topweight there so Brent Stanley may have to put an apprentice on.
Vaucluse Bay was brave in second. Exoteric was good in his Sydney return running third. He’d been exiled to QLD for quite some time but might have earned himself a recall to the Premier State.
Raqeeq in fourth couldn’t deliver as favourite. Market expectations aside though it was still a fair effort. There was no early speed on which wasn’t ideal considering his get back racing style.
Race 4: Letter To Juliette - Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m)
Letter To Juliette was the second leg of a race to race double for Tye Angland. He put her in a great spot, two pairs back and one off the fence.
It was an impressive training performance by Garry White as well, getting her to fire over that trip (1800m) first up.
Saturday represented a career best win for her by some way as well, a couple of lengths clear of her previous best success in the Orange Cup (2100m).
There is a 2000m Benchmark 78 a Rosehill the daughter of Dane Shadow can go to in three week’s time.
Oklahoma Girl in fourth had Blinkers for the first time and produced the best result she’s recorded for an age.
Nicci’s Gold in sixth is still looking for a run. While she is probably nearing the end of her prep Saturday showed to hre connections she’ll be comfortable over a mile and beyond.
Race 5: Avilius - Benchmark 91 Handicap (1600m)
That was a pretty seamless win by Avilius. He produced a final 600m over the mile of 32.66 and ran to a Timeform rating of 107+. Scary for his upcoming rivals is the fact that is only the tip of the iceberg as well.
A mile is well short of his optimum trip. His career peak is 117 and ran that when second to Cracksman in a French Group 2 last year. Cracksman can lay claim to being one of the best horses in Europe at present.
Avilius has shot to favouritism for the The Metropolitan and that’s not an outlandish move either.
Keeping in mind that 117 figure, the son of Pivotal will be hard to beat down in the weights contesting that race.
Away from the Avilius hype, Brimham Rocks produced a good first up effort in third. Particularly considering this will likely be a pretty strong form race.
The imported son of Fastnet Rock showed encouraging signs in his first Australian prep, running second in each of his starts.
It’s a relatively safe assumption to think Chris Waller imports improve in their second Australian campaigns so Brimham Rocks is certainly one to keep an eye on over ten furlongs and beyond.
Race 6: Intuition - Benchmark 82 Handicap (1200m)
Intuition made it back to back wins on Saturday and ran to a Timeform rating of 103.
The @godolphin stable shows no signs of slowing down today @royalrandwick as Intuition bolts in under @HugeBowman to give @JamesCummings88 a double on the day in the first leg of the quaddie. pic.twitter.com/5VDasrRcLU
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 4 August 2018
There is a 1200m Benchmark 88 in three weeks he can head to where he’ll take some beating.
Smartedge can go there as well. He caught the eye charging into third.
As good as it looked though, we shouldn’t get too attached to horses like him. They get back and need everything to fall into place for them. Backing those types will take years off the lifespan and take a fair bit of cash out of the wallet.
Race 7: Pierata - Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m)
It was good seeing some of the big guns back at the races. The first signs of spring are well and truly upon us.
PIERATA!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 4 August 2018
The @HickmanRacing 4YO continues to lift under the masterful @mcacajamez and fends off the late dive of Kementari to land the Group 2 Missile Stakes @royalrandwick. pic.twitter.com/RLZQENGvJe
Pierata ended his autumn 0 and 2 against Kementari so it was refreshing to see the tables turned.
He ran to a Timeform rating of 119+, Kementari ran one pound below (118).
Pierata now owns the highest winning Timeform rating of the Missile Stakes since Rain Affair won it by 5.5 lengths in 2013.
Pierata and Kementari. They are two names we’ll be hearing a lot in the spring. Kementari will head south for the Memsie. Greg Hickman post race suggested he will wait until the dust settles before deciding Pierata’s next move. Off what he produced on Saturday, the Pierro entire should be firmly in calculations for one of the final Everest slots.
The Monstar ran third. He deserves a Kosciusko slot. Running third in a Group 2 surely confirms him a spot! Lanciato was excellent in fourth and ran the second fastest final 600m of the day. Mark Newnham’s stable star appear right on track for the Epsom.
In the early noughties, horses like Lonhro (2002), Spark Of Life (2004) and Dance Hero (2005) were winning this race. What we witnessed on Saturday could perhaps be the start of a Missile Stakes resurgence. Horses may start using it as an Everest audition.
Race 8: Bergerac - Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m)
Bergerac produced a good, strong, on pace effort. He was headed a furlong out but fought back.
The Drumbeats gelding ran to a Timeform rating of 97. It’s certainly a good enough figure to keep winning Benchmark races in Sydney. Sure enough, connections have extended their stay.
There is a Benchmark 88 over the same track and trip next fortnight. He’ll again carry no weight and be right there fighting out the finish.
The Blackbooker out of the race was Eagle Bay in ninth. He was charging home late between runners. Watch for him second run from a spell.
Race 9: Soothing - Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m)
Soothing mapped beautifully and was the subject of good late support. The mare settled off the pace behind a strong early tempo.
It was a demolition job by the Lonhro mare in the end. She won by almost five lengths and ran to a Timeform rating of 108+.
The time she ran was impressive and clocked 32.37 for the last 600m. She was coasting the last 50m as well.
James Cummings can keep looking for Benchmark races with her. She’s only a Benchmark 82 mare.
That said, the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in four week’s time has to be tempting with her though considering the dominance of that success on Saturday.
Pedway resumed well in second. There is a Benchmark 78 Handicap at the course and distance next fortnight. He can potentially go one better in that.
