The Championships Day 1 Review
Circle Of Fire firms into Sydney Cup Fav after smashing the clock in the 2600m Chairmans
Day 1 of The Championships and the track and track staff did an amazing job, the Daily Variant was only +1.4 which in my world is Dead-Slow track far better than expected with the meeting in some doubt 24 hours earlier.
R1 was the G3 Kindergarten for the 2yo boys and our $1.80 top pick Espionage won arrogantly by 3 at $2.40 with 106/95 a big new peak. That SR may prove a bit high as he did have the advantage of the first use of the track.. The ratings show the dominance of his win with the runner up Roselyn's Star rating 95/82
R2 was the G2 Chairmans at 2600m, the final lead up to the this Saturdays Sydney Cup. We rated the winner in import Circle Of Fire at $3.10 off back to back XR 95's the last was +16 at 1900m and he ate up the 2600m and was really strong late after being backed from $4.6 to $3.8 on race day. . The numbers were ridiculous, he got home 23.2 at the end of 2600m the same as Chain of Lightning in the TJ. The winner rated a staggering 117/132. I know the wet can amplify things but boy oh boy. The runner up Hopeful has had plenty of issues but was backed into Matrix Pushback zone starting at $8.50,115/127 was enormous as he did all the work. If you go back to May 2022 he has 100/109 in a Listed class win but he had been beaten an aggregate 146 lengths his last 5, so the $8.50 was so obviously suspicious. 3rd placed Double Cherry was another import having only 5th start in Ozz and first at this sort of trip.111/122 was also eye-catching. Nothing wrong with the XR's of 4th placed So Dazzling with 119 and Serpentine 116.
HTF - Circle Of Fire
R3 was the G3 Carbine Club for the 3yo's. Our 3rd pick was 94 horse Ducasse who pleased Fast 4 players with a tidy win dropping back 400m in trip. 102/93 was very neg split in nature. I had nearly given up on runner up Tannhauser, for those who have been with me for a while will remember he was our 1 x 3 play when home hard from the tail for 3rd in the G1 JJ Atkins this trip as a 2yo. Nice to see him back on track. His 98/98 was the run of the race. In 3rd was Kintyre who was a 95 horse and we got 95/91. We dodged Kiwi Witz End and as expected Les Vampires didnt get a strong mile
HTF - Tannhauser
R4 was the G3 Adrian Knox at 2000m for the 3yo fillies and I said runner up Autumn Angel was a 1 x 3 bet to nothing and she got out to a tasty $5.50 with people doubting her ability to handle the going. 97/111 is franked by 97/105 at previous. I said "There was plenty of merit in this ones +22 2 back and can be forgiven last start when wide the trip. Does look to be wanting this trip and is proven in the heavy." about the winner Good Banter and boy was she looking for the trip. Backed into $4.6 by the jump with 100/113 a huge peak.and she remains all upside. Concello also relished the trip with 93/108
HTF - Autumn Angel & Good Banter
R5 was the $1 Million Country Championship final and my advice was to stay out and the winner Asgarda for a little known Riverina trainer was $26 chance 110/102 was a big step up on his best of 101 at Wagga recently.
R6 was the G1 Sires for the 2yo's and again my advice as to stay out. Godolphin runner Traffic Warden was the only runner proven at the 1400m having won the VRC Sires but as my comment suggested most were neg splitting coming in and his 101/92 was similar to his previous. The winner was Manaal 101/95 who was best home but again neg split in nature Coleman with 97/91 was 3rd and Storm Boy who we have been against his last 3 was never likely with 88/82
R7 was the G1 TJ Smith and my fears about Imperitiriz came true, I stated she just wasn't going as well as last year with 102/97 when 4th her worst in over a year. The winner was Chain Of Lightning who has been very good to us in the past and so good to see Peter Moody get him back to best. He won his previous with an SR 102 and won here with 104/98, Bella Nipotina was 2nd, boy she is honest, 102/96 was down on expectations. The best closing splits were I Wish I Win 102/101. Espiona with XR 101 and Sunshine In Paris also XR 101 were both honest and a really odd sort of race.
R8 was the G1 Doncaster and as i stated its never a race to pin the ears back in with so many runners plummeting in the weights under the handicap conditions. The winner Celestial Legend was down 6.5kg and was well supported and won well. A 105 horse going in after being so good to us of late so i was a bit dirty that my quote of $10 left him light. His 109/108 is franked by 106/107 2 back and now we know why Les Bridge has started this one is the best he has ever trained and he has thrown the rug over a few handy ones. His dominance was shown with the ratings of runner up Pericles with 106/98, the same numbers of the 3rd placed Militarize. Another Wll was most disappointing, his worst by far this time in after 4 prior wins in slick time.
R9 was the G1 Derby and normality was restored with star and 108 horse Riff Rocket backed into $2.20 ina slowly ran affair where he rated 91/92. The funny thing the sun was out and the track improving but the times got worse as he it cut up. Runner Up Ceowulf who chased him home last start did so again with 89/92 and they hadd 4 on 3rd.
R10 was the G3 PJ Bell and the $10 rated Facile won at $11 with 91/83 well below best Gold Miners were cheering the $8.60 runner up Infancy who started at $17 again 90/82 was below the best. Nothing else of any note here.
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