Royal Randwick Mounting Yard Report… By Matthew Howard and Intro by Jamie Stumer

Should Houtzen now be the Golden Slipper favourite? Photo by Ross Stevenson
Should Houtzen now be the Golden Slipper favourite? Photo by Ross Stevenson

The Golden Slipper picture was meant to become much clearer after the week ends main lead up races but we had only Houtzen do what was expected winning comfortably in Brisbane with the others in the market throwing up a mixed bag. The favourite, She Will Reign was beaten by a brilliant Tommy Berry ride on Frolic by getting to the outside fence which form analyst Luke Murrell correctly predicted on Friday night would be the place to be for jockeys who were brave enough to get out there.

In the next race, we had Menari the highest in the market of the colts with a massive boom on him not figuring at all in the Todman Stakes as drifting favourite with Gunnison getting the money from the other Snowden runner Invader running second. We then headed down to Canberra yesterday for the Black Opal with Trapeze Artist blowing the more fancied Slipper rivals away. So, with the Slipper now only 12 days away I think we have the most open Slipper that we have had for a number of years.

Matthew Howard had another good day at Randwick on Saturday with 1 of his top yard selections getting home with a couple of the second selections also getting the money. Below is this week’s mounting yard live report which you can also read live Matthew’s thoughts on his Facebook page each Saturday prior to the race to assist with backing winners each Saturday.

https://www.facebook.com/MountingYardLive/

Royal Randwick: Australian Turf Club Saturday 04, March 2017

Royal Randwick: Australian Turf Club Saturday 04, March 2017      
       
Race 1 – 12:25PM AFFINITY SHIPPING REISLING STAKES (1200 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
HOUTZEN SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
SHE WILL REIGN Neither Holding condition well, relaxed and should get through the ground. Top pick. 2nd
FROLIC Improved 2 length The only danger to the favourite for me. Looks rock hard fit and a classic wet tracker. 1st
FROM WITHIN Neither Holding condition from the Gold Coast race. Looks keen to race. 5th
LUCKY LOUIE Improved 1 length Still needs to strengthen up in the hind. Is relaxed. 7th
STAR SENSATION 1st I’ve seen Not the best moving filly. Should handle conditions. 6th
VILLA CARLOTTA Neither Tall and leggy filly, wet track type. Needs to grow inter her frame 3rd
SHE’S ON QUE Improved 2 lengths Nice horse but I think won’t like these conditions today 4th
PAHRULI Neither Needs more time to develop. No. 8th
       
       
Race 2 – 1:05PM UNSW TODMAN STAKES (1200 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
CHAUFFEUR SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
VERANILLO Backwards 1 length Fitness wise ok, maybe slightly better last start. Not 100% focused today which is unusual for him. 3rd
JUKEBOX SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
INVADER Neither Holding condition well. Like this horse. 2nd
KHAN SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
MENARI Improved 1 length In my opinion the best looking 2yr old running around at the moment. Fell to pieces in the yard last start, better today. Tricky gate only concern. 5th
TREKKING SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
SHOWTIME Improved 1 length Rock hard fit now. No real improvement to come after this race. 4th
PERAST 1st I’ve seen Light and looks like it needs further. Wet track ok 6th
MURAAQEB SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
LIGHTZ Backwards 2 lengths Normally like this horse but not today. Also, not focusing today. 7th
GUNNISON 1st I’ve seen Paid a lot of money for this horse. Not overly big. Should get through ground but others parading better. 1st
CUBA SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
SNITCH Backwards 2 lengths No Good today 8th
       
Race 3 – 1:40PM BRADLEY AUSTRALIA FIREBALL STAKES (1100 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
SCARLET RAIN Improved 2 lengths Looks the best she’s looked this preparation. 9th
ZELADY’S NIGHT OUT SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
HONESTY PREVAILS Improved 2 lengths Lovely horse this and parades better than last start. 8th
SUPER MAXI 1st I’ve seen this prep Fitness wise ok however I think he is better suited on top of the ground. 3rd
DEMOLITION SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
GLENALL 1st up Well in the market but displayed one of my key negatives when it entered the mounting yard. 2nd
CONCHITA 1st up Has the walk of a wet tracker however the horse is not fit. Needs the run. 5th
FAITH’S ENCORE 1st up Really unusual colouring for a Denman. 85% fit. 4th
SAMANTHA Improved 3 lengths Parades very well today. Disappointing last start but I think she is a wet track type so gets conditions to suit today. 1st
GLORIETTE Neither Just average today. 7th
MA TANTE Neither Not focusing in the yard and up on her toes. 6th
       
Race 4 – 2:15PM SCHWEPPES WENONA GIRL QUALITY (1200 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
NANCY Improved 3 lengths No oil painting this horse but gets the wet track that I think it needs. 4th
SAVOUREUX 1st up Very relaxed in the yard but still carrying a lot of condition. Needs a few runs. 9th
ZESTFUL Improved 1 length In great order today but parades as a horse better on top of the ground. 3rd
ROCKET COMMANDER 1st I’ve seen in 2 starts Light walking type that gets favourable conditions today. 1st
SERENE MAJESTY 1st up Still quite heavy and not moving well 6th
HIEROGLYPHICS Neither Cannot get any fitter. Query the distance but these wet conditions help this horse. 2nd
FRILL SEEKING SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
ALUCINARI Improved 2.5 lengths Good improvement between runs, next run will have it at peak fitness. 7th
QUEEN OF KARIBA improved 3-4 lengths Very solid improvement between runs. Looks very fit and focused. Top selection from the yard. 5th
MAGIC OF DREAMS Neither Physically in great order but won’t like the heavy conditions today. 8th
       
Race 5 – 2:50PM CANTERBURY BMW STAKES (1300 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
CHAUTAUQUA 1st I’ve seen this prep Horse is physically in good order, slight query on a heavy 10 track. 2nd
LE ROMAIN improved 2.5 lengths Love this horse. Coat looks a treat and physically horse is in great order. Top selection. 1st
HAURAKI 1st up Horse looks reasonably forward however coat is still quite dull. 3rd
MUSIC MAGNATE (NZ) Improved 2.5 lengths Good condition wise and moving well in the yard. 5th
JAPONISME 1st up Looks very plain today. 6th
TOO GOOD TO REFUSE 1st I’ve seen for some time Horse actually presents well but I’m not sure it will appreciate these wet conditions. 7th
UGO FOSCOLO (NZ) 1st I’ve seen The wet track type of the race but does lack the strength of some of these. 8th
IMPENDING Improved 3 lengths Thought it parades the better of the Godolphin pair. Great walker. 4th
       
Race 6 – 3:30PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS CHALLENGE STAKES (1000 METRES)      
       
BALL OF MUSCLE Neither Even despite the fitness edge I think this horse will struggle to win. Doesn’t parade like the ball of muscle of old. 9th
REDZEL 1st up fitness wise quite forward, but he’s getting hotter and hotter each lap he does in the yard. 2nd
SUPIDO 1st I’ve seen this prep This horse is in very good order, great overstep on it. 3rd
DAL CIELO (NZ) neither Horse can get quite worked up in the yard but under the cooler conditions parades better today. Doesn’t carry a lot of excess, I think he will handle track conditions. 7th
WOULDNT IT BE NICE Backwards 6 lengths Yawn… 6th
JUNGLE EDGE 1st up Very forward for not having raced since nova last year. Wet no issue but think the horse looks outclassed here. 5th
ENGLISH 1st up Very fit first up. She normally really plays up in the yard. Much more relaxed today. 1st
HEATHERLY SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
FELINES 1st up think she has returned well. Having said that Kris always presents her well and today is not different. 4th
KENTUCKY MISS 1st up She’s not up to this class. 8th
       
Race 7 – 4:10PM GIRVAN WAUGH RANDWICK GUINEAS (1600 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
PRIZED ICON SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
MAN FROM UNCLE Improved 2 lengths Like this horse. Great mover, very fit, coat looks a treat. Can’t fault. Top selection. 5th
INFERENCE improved 3 lengths Fourth pick in the yard here. Step up in distance suits and I think the horse has shown good improvement between runs. 1st
ECHO EFFECT SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
COMIN’ THROUGH Backwards 1 length Think this horse has gone backwards whilst others have improved between runs. 3rd
ACATOUR Improved 3 lengths Very good improvement between runs. Not sure he will handle wet but he’s a cracking horse. 8th
CAPTAIN DUFFY Neither Plain today at best. 11th
LAND OF PLENTY SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
MALAISE First I’ve seen this prep How this horse can still be fat 4th up may talk to why this stable is struggling at present. 10th
MANOLO BLAHNIQ (NZ) 1st I’ve seen Getting late support on track and whilst looks like it would handle conditions based on breeding, not really your classic wet track type in the yard. 9th
HARPER’S CHOICE Backwards 1 length Light, needs further. 6th
HARDHAM 1st I’ve seen this prep condition wise the horse is just fair but is a good moving horse. 7th
IMPAVIDO Backwards 1 length Light wet track type but looks outclassed. 4th
INVINCIBLE GEM Improved 2 lengths From Warwick farm to a Group 1 in the same prep and she looks fantastic. 2nd pick from the yard. 2nd
       
Race 8 – 4:50PM CITY FORD GROUP ASPIRATION QUALITY (1600 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
AMBIENCE Neither No improvement, this horse is not parading well at all. 9th
ELLE LOU improved 2 lengths Continues to parade well. There is a query that she runs the distance however her shape suggests she will. Loves these conditions. 2nd selection from the yard. 1st
ALEGRIA improved 4 lengths Great order today. Parades perfectly. Top selection. 2nd
CIRCULAR SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
TSARITSA improved 3 lengths She’s finally fit now however I have the stablemate parading better here. 7th
SONG AND LAUGHTER improved 2 lengths Normally melts in the yard but for the first time in a long time, actually pretty relaxed today. 4th selection. 4th
SEWREEL (NZ) Neither Needs the paddock. 12th
QUEEN OF WANDS Neither Too heavy for these track conditions. 6th
VANDANCER (NZ) 1st I’ve seen this prep think this horse will be competitive based on how it parades. Looks like it will go well in the heavy conditions. 3rd
CHAQUINTA (NZ) 1st I’ve seen this prep Light thing, needs further in my opinion. 10th
TOP OF MY LIST Missed its last start Lots of money for this horse yet it parades awfully. Easiest lay of the day today. 8th
MOQUEEN Improved 2 lengths Light walking filly by uncle mo. Needs one more run. 11th
COUNTESS MARINOV Improved 1 length Horse is in good order, would prefer on slightly drier surface. 5th
       
Race 9 – 5:30PM GIRVAN WAUGH RANDWICK CITY STAKES (2000 METRES)      
       
HORSE NAME IMPROVED/BACKWARDS COMMENTS FINISHING POSITION
ALLERGIC Neither Is this stable on a holiday? How horses show zero improvement between runs from a fitness perspective is beyond me. Still not fit. 4th
KINEMA (IRE) Improved 3 lengths Looks much better today, Expecting an improved performance. 5th
CLASSIC UNIFORM SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
CAFE SOCIETY (FR) 1st up This horse actually looks ok first up. May run a cheeky race. 2nd
OUR CENTURY (IRE) SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
ASTRONOMOS (GB) improved 1 length Had this horse clearly on top from a form perspective but is getting warm in the yard despite the cooler conditions and coat is still not there. 1st
MONTAUK Neither Really holding condition well this prep. Expecting another good run today. 3rd
LORD DE AIR SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
SHALMANESER Improved 1.5 lengths Dappled coat today and walking super relaxed in the yard. Looks well. 6th
IMPAVIDO SCRATCHED SCRATCHED SCRATCHED
BILLS A GOODIE Yuck The worst walk I’ve seen on a horse in months. Couldn’t win with a head start. 8th
MCNULTY 1st I’ve seen Is this April Fool’s Day? Why is this horse here? Zero chance. 7th
       
HORSE TO FOLLOW: NONE  
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