3 minute read

The Rosehill Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch out of the Coolmore Classic Day program on March 16.

Ron Quinton continued his recent dominance of the Coolmore Classic with Dixie Blossoms recording the strongest winning figure of the race since Typhoon Tracy in 2009.

The daughter of Street Sense gave Quinton his third Coolmore Classic win in four years, following in the footsteps of Peeping (2016) and Daysee Doom (2018).

Dixie Blossoms was the only Australian-bred winner through the last five races at Rosehill on Saturday.

Fifty Stars continued his strong form in Australia by taking out the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) ahead of another Irish import, Mask Of Time.

The son of Sea The Stars is now exempt from ballot in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships.

He has shot to the top of betting after last Saturday’s Ajax Stakes win which over the past few years holds up strongly as a form line in the prestigious mile event.

Race 1: Star Of The Seas - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (1350m)

Star Of The Seas was building towards this nicely having kicked off his campaign with two seconds.

On Saturday he was third up, ready to go and produced a Timeform rating of 98.

The son of Ocean Park was the only horse on the program who ran inside standard time for the meeting.

That’s encouraging for him, particularly considering the stable from here are trying to get him into the Doncaster Mile.

He’ll be off to the Doncaster Mile Prelude from here where the winner is exempt from ballot in the main event.

Hogmanay in fourth was finding the line nicely first up off a 14 month spell. The son of Lonhro prior to that absence was a solid money earner for connections.

He would have been in dire need of that outing. A trip to Queensland during the Sydney autumn carnival could be an option for the son of Lonhro.

Race 2: Easy Eddie - Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m)

Easy Eddie enjoyed a nice run in behind the leaders and one off the fence. The son of Super Easy was good in the straight and in the process claimed his first victory at Group level.

The son of Super Easy recorded a Timeform rating of 109 for the win. It’s a shade below the five year winning average.

The Galaxy is this Saturday. Connections have nominated him and should certainly consider backing him up. It will likely be a Soft track on Saturday and he loves the sting out.

Trekking in fourth was the eye catcher first up. He worked through his grades last prep. Might be ready to take another step this autumn

Race 3: Kiamichi - Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m)

Godolphin ran first, third and fourth in this race. It’s a result which typifies the dominance of their two-year-olds so far this season.

Kiamichi leads all the way to win the Magic Night Stakes @rosehillgardens and there's another @godolphin 2YO into the Golden Slipper... pic.twitter.com/498SVQQa0A

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 16 March 2019

Kiamichi was the winner. She’s produced a Timeform rating of 109 for the victory.

It’s a shade below the five year average of the race however it has been won by some nice fillies in that time.

Sunlight won it last year, Speak Fondly won it in 2015, Alizee ran second to Tulip in 2017.

The Golden Slipper is next for her. The double has been claimed five times. Bint Marscay was the last to do so in 1993.

Others to have achieved the feat include Toy Show (1975), Century Miss (1979), Dark Eclipse (1980) and Bounding Away (1986).

Outside of Kiamichi, third placegetter Athiri can also be Slipper bound although did pull up with the thumps post race.

Probabeel was good late to run sixth. The New Zealand Raider could be a Sires’/Champagne Stakes filly. By Savabeel out of Pins. She’s desperate for more ground.

Race 4: Cosmic Force - Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m)

It took until the last minute however Cosmic Force has stamped himself as a genuine Golden Slipper contender. The Deep Field colt enjoyed a nice run just off the leader and skipped over the rain affected ground. He put more than seven lengths back to second.

Cosmic Force has absolutely blitzed them on the wet track in the Pago Pago Stakes @rosehillgardens and is in to the Golden Slipper. pic.twitter.com/shaAwaYnQX

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 16 March 2019

The son of Deep Field is seemingly peaking at the right time and on Saturday ran to a Timeform rating of 118. It’s the highest winning figure of the Pago Pago since All Too Hard won in 2012.

The Team Snowden-trained colt has shown twice now he’s in his element on rain affected ground. Realistically, that’s what the Golden Slipper will be conducted on this weekend.

Three horses have won the Pago Pago-Golden Slipper double. Stratum was the last in 2005 who followed the likes of Inspired (1984) and Rory’s Jester (1985).

Cosmic Force certainly ran figures on Saturday to suggest he can join them.

Race 5: Verry Elleegant - Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m)

The kiwi in Verry Elleegant came to the fore on Saturday and the daughter of Zed was dominant on the heavy track. She’s produced a Timeform rating of 115 for the win. She’s the fourth filly in five years to win this race.

They’ve all been trained by Chris Waller. Winx, Foxplay and Unforgotten have been the others.

This race used to be held on Golden Slipper Day, they’ve brought it forward a week. It now means the race is two weeks before the Vinery which is perfect for fillies heading there.

Verry Elleegant is off to the Vinery Stud Stakes next then likely the Australian Oaks. Unforgotten claimed the Phar Lap Stakes - Australian Oaks double last year.

Seabrook and Aristia were good filling the minors.

Race 6: Red Cardinal - Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m)

Red Cardinal has now had two starts for Kris Lees for as many wins. The son of Montjeu commenced this prep on rain affected ground and has thrived on it.

Kris Lees @Leesracing spoke to Greg Radley and is hoping for more wet tracks after Red Cardinal took out the Sky High Stakes @rosehillgardens today. pic.twitter.com/1Ey4jkZKB7

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 16 March 2019

The Australian Bloodstock-raced stayer has run to 113 in both starts for Lees. After Saturday he’ll keep progressing toward the Sydney Cup. Races like the Manion Cup (2400m) and Chairman’s Quality (2600m) shape as his next targets.

Goathland was solid in third. He can go to those same races and carry no weight on his back. He was a first up winner at Benchmark level over 2000m. On Saturday he ticked the boxes at stakes level and on rain affected ground in Australia.

Brimham Rocks was good enough in fourth too. It’s shaping as a solid form reference in these staying races over the next month.

Race 7: Dixie Blossoms - Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m)

Dixie Blossoms has long been a staple of the fillies and mares racing scene in Sydney. She was already a dual Group 1 placegetter but this will really maximise her value.

The daughter of Street Sense got a cosy run on the fence. While she was held up badly at the top of the straight, once that gap emerged at the furlong she just exploded through it.

Ronny Quinton has done it again in the Coolmore Classic as Dixie Blossoms smashed them @rosehillgardens today. pic.twitter.com/fbzMJK4caJ

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 16 March 2019

We’ve got her running to a Timeform rating of 120, it’s the highest winning of a Coolmore Classic in a decade since Typhoon Tracy won.

Ron Quinton has a stranglehold on this race. He’s won three of the past four Coolmore Classics now. Peeping in 2016, Daysee Doom last year and now Dixie Blossoms. Daysee and Dixie both won the race at 20-1.

Saturday was just Dixie Blossom’s second run this prep. You would expect Ron would send her to the Emancipation Stakes and the Coolmore Legacy from here where the mare will undoubtedly be one of the proven class runners in each of those races.

Outside of Dixie Blossoms, Aloisia along the fence in fifth was solid. She could be working to something third up.

Race 8: Fifty Stars - Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m)

Jye McNeil gave Fifty Stars a beautiful run in fourth and one off the fence.

The son of Sea The Stars was clear on straightening and quickened nicely inside the final 100m.

We’ve got him running to 119 which is a shade above the five year winning average of an Ajax Stakes.

The win confirms him a start in the Doncaster Mile where the Hayes Dabernig runner will carry no weight on his back.

Recent history suggests you’re in a good spot heading to the Doncaster if you win this race.

It’s Somewhat claimed the Ajax Stakes - Doncaster Mile ouble in 2017.

Comin’ Through almost did the same in 2018.

Dyslexic finished third. She’s produced two strong runs to commence her prep. It was somewhat surprising to see her contest this instead of the Coolmore Classic.

She is worth keeping an eye out for third up likely contesting either the Doncaster Prelude (1500m) or the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) on March 30.

Race 9: Supernova - Benchmark 78 3YO+ Handicap (1900m)

Supernova wrapped up a superb day for the imports. They won four of the last five races on the program. Dixie Blossoms was the only resistance.

The son of Intello faced a wall of horses on straightening but managed to weave a path and was strong in the final furlong.

He returned a Timeform rating of 103.

Supernova on Saturday only took out a Benchmark 78 Handicap. He can string a few more wins together at Benchmark level before things get serious.

Team Hawkes no doubt brought the lightly-raced type over with a view to racing him over ten furlongs and beyond.

Our staying ranks are thin and this in particular is reflected at Benchmark level with races generally made up of exposed off-season types.

A horse of Supernova’s profile should be able to string a few Benchmark wins together this prep.