With the rail out nine metres at Royal Randwick on Saturday, a point of contention with elder statesman Ron Quinton, the scene is set for what could be one of great form reversals — Kermadec in the group one All Aged Stakes.
Big question: Will Kermadec emerge from the dark? Photo: Vince Caligiuri
Kermadec, in the Doncaster at the same venue two weeks back, produced a fence jumper's performance. Twenty years ago the fence jumpers were nobblers who thought nothing of scaling stable walls in the dead of night and giving savage watchdogs a go slow in transit before getting to their prime target, a good thing the next day.
Before the Doncaster flop behind stablemate the outstanding Winx, Kermadec had strong credentials but came in 17 lengths behind the winner, prompting grim memories of startling improvements in a short time.
Glastonbury, trained by David Hayes, taking The Metropolitan at Randwick in 1994, produced the last worthwhile demonstration by Sydney racegoers about which Hayes still has nightmares. Glastonbury was downed only 15.4 lengths in his prior race, the Colin Stephen Quality.
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Of course in those days Randwick patrons were more involved in having a bet than boozing like their current counterparts, who obviously adjourn to the bar when the pain sets in.
Pacifists maintain a horse should be forgiven one bad run, a quaint turf parable. You can. I don't.
Anyway Kermadec last start wasn't bad but deplorable. Stewards reported jockey Zac Purton felt the effort was "most disappointing", plus the stallion had "blood in its mouth" and "poor post-race recovery". Trainer Chris Waller has treated him for "soreness across the back".
Should this do the trick, I'll engage the chiropractor to work on my aches and pain if I survive the high blood pressure a Kermadec win will generate, particularly if he beats Press Statement, also prepared by Waller.
Good losers go broke and nothing hurts more than doing your money when a stablemate is responsible. Big outfits are now monopolising Sydney, emphasised by Randwick on Saturday, so adjustment is required.
Press Statement, a three-year-old, has impeccable credentials but at his best Kermadec would be a major danger. Kermadec has the services of "Supermac", James McDonald, who would win on a broomstick — while Hugh Bowman handles Press Statement. Both jockeys are in great touch and worth a trip to headquarters for the experience.
Still, punters are confronted with the stablemate predicament with McDonald, who amongst other top engagements will navigate Old North in the Frank Packer Plate and Medcaut (Royal Randwick), who will meet stern opposition from others trained by John O'Shea.
The filly Asinara (Tim Clark) has a great chance against Old North, while I'll gamble on Malice, another Clark mount, resuming after a spell but with group one figures, taking on Medcaut.
To what degree the wide rail affects racing will have to be monitored on a surface that has carried many tags over the past couple of weeks, most uncomplimentary, but it hasn't had an adverse effect on a great Randwick carnival.
But Quinton, learned on turf matters, reckons moving the rail out, which necessitates emergencies, should be abolished and jockeys left to locate the best ground.
"Owners are being fined when their horses can't get a run," Quinton said. Four events on the program have reserves, the situation in the group one Oaks last Saturday.
Jockeys are scouting inside and wide, attempting to get an edge, and Bowman in the final event at Randwick last Saturday went to the outside fence on Sultry Feeling in the Sapphire Stakes, influenced by trainer James Cummings and Dom Beirne, his godfather on spiritual and racing matters.
With the withdrawal on Friday of favourite Yankee Rose in the Champagne, Cummings has a great chance with Prized Icon, racing in the Gooree colours like Speak Fondly (Hall Mark), a member of the Gai Waterhouse team.
A three-year-old, Speak Fondly was only ninth in the Challenge behind stablemate English, but will be much fitter. Her recent Randwick barrier trial was a bottler.
Play The Randwick Exotics
Parlay: Race 3 – (9) Asinara, Race 4 – (1) Pearls, Race 6 – (6) Speak Fondly (best bet), Race 7 – (6) Press Statement.
Quadrella: Race 6 – (6) Speak Fondly, (7) That's A Good Idea, (11) Music Magnate, Race 7 – (2) Black Heart Bart, (5) Goldstream, (6) Press Statement. Race 8 – (4) Havana Cooler, (11) Saddler's Lake, Race 9 – (1) Strawberry Boy , (4) Malice, (13) Nancy.
Early Quadrella: Race 2 – (3) Santa Ana Lane, (9) Queen Of Kariba. Race 3 – (1) Old North, (9) Asinara. Race 4 – (1) Pearls, (12) Cartier Rock, Race 5 – (1) Prized Icon, (3) Chimboraa, (10) Faraway Town.
Best Box Trifecta: Race 9 – (1) Strawberry Boy, (4) Malice, (13) Nancy.
Best Quinella: Race 2 – (3) Santa Ana Lane, (9) Queen Of Kariba.