WEEKEND RACING RECAP – SATURDAY 9TH MAY
Group 1 racing headed to the “City of Churches”, where Adelaide hosted the running of the time-honoured Goodwood Handicap for the sprinters. In what was a very open Goodwood this season, the Trent Edmonds trained Extragalactic ($3.50) was sent out the favourite after powering home to just miss in the Tobin Bronze last start.
It turned out to be one of the more exciting Group 1 finishes of the year, with the first 8 horses finishing within 2 lengths of the winner. It was a solidly run affair on a rain affected track and riders headed to middle track and beyond for the best ground straightening. The favourite looked to be battling out wide at the 200m but the apprentice Luke Cartwright knuckled down to ride the three-year-old filly hard to the line and as they went across the line she looked to have done enough to win but the photo proved deceptive and the old firm of Moody (Coleman) and Luke Nolen spoiled the favourites party with the outsider Desert Storm ($18) getting his head down last stride to deny the favourite a win.
The Gold Coast hosted the current weight-for-age stars in the Hollindale Stakes over the 1800m. It was a quality field assembled with the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours coming into the race second-up and he was the early favourite, but the way the track was favouring leaders there was a late rally for the bold front running Pride Of Jenni and she ultimately started favourite at $3.30. Declan Bates let Pride Of Jenni role after she flew the gates and in the middle stages she was 15 lengths in front of the field. She was coming back to them before the corner and although started to tire last 200m the only late challenger was the gutsy stayer Birdman with James McDonald riding him desperately over the final stages but he could not run her down and Pride Of Jenni produced another all the way breathtaking win.
The run of Half Yours was solid from the back and he ran into a brave fourth placing suggesting that run will have him in perfect condition to take on the Doomben Cup third-up from break.
James McDonald was not out of the winners stall for long as he steered the Peter Snowden trained Beadman ($2.60) to a decisive win from the back in the Gold Coast Guineas. It was arguably the best win of the day as they chose to ride the son of Snitzel off the pace before unleashing an exciting turn-of-hoof to reel in leaders and power away to beat the brave Nepo Baby ($5) with the fast finishing Motorsports ($14) filling the minor placing.
New South Wales metropolitan racing headed to Gosford for their Cup Day and a standalone Saturday meeting. Chris Waller and Jason Collett are a lethal combination and although he was sent out at $11 the gallant top-weight Asterix proved too strong despite carrying the impost of 61kgs.