Hellsing ends year-long drought to put Scone Cup on the radar
Craig Kerry
Trainer Annabel Archibald was hoping to secure a dry track in the Scone Cup (1600m) for Hellsing on May 15 after breaking the streak with a narrow win at Randwick on Saturday.
Tom Sherry drove the six-year-old import to the line to edge Encap in the top-rated 1500m 100 handicap on the Anzac Day programme. Stablemate Cristal Clear took third place.
The victory was the first in more than a year for Hellsing, who made an 11th final start in the $4 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
“I’m so happy for Hellsing,” said Archibald, who trains with her husband Rob.
“He’s knocking on the door, he’s had three seconds in this build-up, two of them here at Randwick.
“He had a second in the Muswellbrook Cup, then only on ground and maybe the group 1 class at Doncaster might have spotted him, but coming back to that level, the 1500 here, I think it’s a sweet spot.”
Archibald, whose stables are at Scone, said the listed cup would likely be the next race for Hellsing and Cristal Clear. Depth Of Character finished fourth and will head to The Coast in Gosford.
“I think that mileage is definitely at the top of his limit, but I think it’s in the dry, yeah,” he said of the Scone Cup at Hellsing.
Baker 3YO makes up for lost time
Bjorn Baker was eyeing the $200,000 Thunder Thousand in Indemnity at Gosford on May 9 after rewarding the owners’ patience as he ran away with a 78 handicap (1000m) on Saturday in just his third start.
Written Tycoon, the $2.15 favourite, raced to a one and a half length victory over Confidentiality under Rachel King at Randwick in 33.23 seconds over the final 600 metres.
This win followed a midweek victory at Rosehill and a third at Warwick Farm during this preparation, giving Baker the double on the Anzac Day programme.
“He’s very immature and we’ve had to take him out for three months a few different times and my vet is a part owner as well,” Baker said.
“He’s been x-rayed many times, so he’s the big winner this time.”
Midnight Dynamite previously dug deep to give jockey Josh Parr a welcome victory on Saturday.
Baker-trained four-year-old Pierata, with whom Parr has two spring wins, edged Mogul Monarch in a photo finish to the men’s reference point of 78 (1200m).
This was his first run since the heavy win at the Gong meeting at Kembla in November. The victory was only Parr’s seventh return since taking a month off following the death of his former jockey father Stephen Parr in February. It was the second win after another Darby Racing galloper, Shirvington, gave himself a midweek metro victory at Wyong.
“It’s nice to have Josh back in charge and of course in Darby colours,” Baker said.
“I’ll probably look at another 88 reference race. He’s been a good horse for us.”
“He had a good holiday and we thought we would bring him back to the back end of the carnival and into the winter, so it worked out really well.
Parr said Midnight Dynamite “digged deep for me and I’m grateful for that.”
Waller camp considering Rotagilla and Gosford Cup
Premier Sydney coach Chris Waller equaled the record for Group 1 wins in a season while also completing the double at Randwick.
Waller was celebrating her 19th group 1 of the campaign when Panova, alongside James McDonald, defeated Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. This also took the Rosehill trainer to 199 in his career.
At Randwick Rotagilla came from the outside and beat stablemate Sir Dinadan by half a length on a 94 handicap in the 1800m, before import Nobler came from the outside to take the final finish with a score of 78 in the 1600m. Tyler Schiller rode both.
Payne’s hot talent to lead the way
Experienced Rosehill trainer David Payne believes Bangkok Hottie can lead his stable’s charge in the spring after easily winning the 1100m two-year-old handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
Bangkok Hottie, who finished fifth in the Kindergarten Stakes with a win at Warwick Farm on his debut, moved into the lead in the 200 meters and beat Keen To Exceed by two and a half lengths.
Payne said the “special” filly would be written out ahead of a shoot at the Princess Series in the spring.
“She’s a bombproof filly and has the ability to turn her foot,” Payne said.
“We don’t have many horses. We only have 20. Now we can at least recapture them.”
“He has everything. From day one I told the owner [and breeder John Thompson]She’s a good mare, she’s got everything there. Temperament, turn of the foot, everything.”
Irishman wants to build on Randwick’s breakthrough
Irish jockey Adam Farragher is hoping to build momentum after a difficult spell in NSW after his first win at Randwick on Saturday.
Farragher guided the Ciaron Maher-trained Enamorada to a one and three-quarter length victory over Mr Miller in the 1400m handicap of 72.
It was Farragher’s third city win and 10th overall since taking up his duties in Australia late last year. He claimed his first Australian win aboard the Maher-trained Spywire on the Gong show at Kembla last November and had another metro success at the Kensington track before Saturday.
“It was a bit difficult,” said Farragher, who traveled from England to link up with Maher at Warwick Farm.
“It’s nice to cast some weak spells and get one here, so thanks to Ciaron and the owner.
“I always came in with that one-way ticket to see how things were going. I’m still enjoying it and I feel like I’m probably starting to get a better handle on things now and I’m just trying to buckle down and get some momentum.”
Lees weighs the right path for mare
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was again looking at betting grade with Cantiamo after diving late to beat Ernaux and Spice Baby and win the 78 handicap race over 1200 meters for mares and mares at Randwick.
Having eclipsed subsequent group 2 winners Hidden Motive and Rivellino at her second attempt, the Too Darn Hot filly extended her record to four wins in eight starts with a late rally under Jason Collett. His other four runs were risky misplaced efforts.
Lees was watching the 1100m Denise’s Joy Stakes race at Scone on May 16 before Saturday’s win. While he’s unsure of the next target, he said it “definitely depends on the company.”
The victory came two weeks after Lees and Collett combined to win the Sydney Cup with Changeoftheguard. Lees also won the State Midway final with Lord Of Biscay that day.
