Lazzura delivers ‘unbelievable’ Coolmore win as J-Mac closes on group 1 record

McDonald, who had six wins at Randwick last week, had four wins that day. He also won the Phar Lap Stakes with Sixties, the Magic Night with Pembrey and the second race with Tazima.

Baker completes double comeback

Bjorn Baker believes there is not much difference between the two Golden Slipper contenders after Warwoven joins Paradoxium in the $5 million race with a dominant win in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) next week.

Warwoven, the long-time Slipper favorite, moved up to $9 and needed a Pago Pago win to qualify for the race after finishing close to fourth in his return to the Skyline Stakes after a failure two weeks ago.

Rachel King took the Sword Of State colt from a wide gate on Saturday to sit outside leader Star Of Jamaica and took over over 300 meters before beating Outspan by a length.

Paradoxium, who shares colors with Ridgmont Farm’s Mitch Cunningham, put in a similar performance in the Todman Stakes a week ago to earn the Slipper position following his battle with illness.

King expected Warwoven to evolve again.

“It’s a big improvement from the other day, but I still think it’s another 10 percent improvement,” King said. “I think there’s more under the hood, and if it’s challenged, there’s more under the hood even today, so it’s very exciting.”

Baker was cautious about the task Warwoven had to back up next week, but was happy and relieved with the outcome.

“It was nice to see him again and win like that. Hopefully [for improvement]you never really know the backup, it’s always a bit of a challenge, but today he couldn’t have done more than that,” Baker said.

Warwoven earned $7 on Slipper; He trailed only the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained filly Chayan and Paradoxium ($5).

“From what we’ve seen at home, there probably isn’t much difference between them,” Baker said of the couple. “Paradoxium will have a good gallop on Tuesday, she actually galloped on Thursday and I’m very excited about her. She’s definitely improved.”

McDonald was questioned about his driving in third place in the Central European favourite, who came into contact with High Alert early in the race, but escaped with a reprimand.

McDonald had selected the Tony Gollan-trained filly Pembrey for Slipper in the previous race of the Magic Night Stakes.

Pembrey had to win to win the Slipper after finishing fifth behind the runners in the Sweet Embrace Stakes two weeks ago. This time McDonald brought Pembrey forward from a wide gate and was strong enough to beat Lumbini by one and a half lengths. It was between $26 and $15 for slippers.

It seems likely that Connections Kia Ora will pay a late entry fee of $150,000 to get Pembrey into the race.

“We came here to get him running in Slippers, so we’ll see how the week goes,” Gollan said.

“He was pretty inconclusive a few weeks ago and it was good to see him progress today. He was still a bit up in the air… but when he switched to his new leg for the last half minute he managed to get over the line and did everything we hoped he would.”

“Looks like he has enough money left to go again in a week.”

Big Sky and Eternal Warrior are out of the game, while Closer To Free and Music Time Slipper are hit with late fees. The Ciaron Maher stable has stated that Tornado Valley will likely miss the race in favor of Sires’ Products. This scenario would leave the Michael Freedman-trained Incognito as the last horse in the 16-man field.

Vauban ages like fine wine

Assistant trainer Adrian Bott was considering another Melbourne Cup shoot with Vauban, who won a Queensland winter season Tancred Stakes and back-to-back winners in the Sky High Stakes (2000m).

Bott said he was unlikely to run the Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 11 after Tancred in a fortnight. Vauban’s final run before Saturday’s victory was sixth in the Melbourne Cup, his third attempt at the race.

“Queensland prep is getting pretty good for those types of horses, a bit older and you want to give their runs a bit of a break and campaign,” Bott said. “I hope to go to the Melbourne Cup again this year.”

Sixties later won the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes to give trainer Chris Waller a ninth victory in the three-year-old race and confirm her place in the Doncaster Mile, where Rachel King will race at 49kg.

Cristal Clear then started at Doncaster by winning the group 2 Ajax Stakes, giving the apprentice Braith Nock a resounding victory.

Waller thinks about stars colliding

Trainer Chris Waller says a poor draw, rather than Sheza Alibi’s presence, will be a bigger factor in whether Autumn Glow runs the Doncaster Mile.

Autumn Glow and stablemate Aeliana put on a gallop show at Rosehill on Saturday ahead of their runs in the George Ryder and Ranvet Stakes respectively next week.

Speculation has increased over a clash between unbeaten Autumn Glow at Doncaster and Randwick Guineas winner Sheza Alibi after assistant trainer Peter Moody confirmed his mare would enter the race.

Waller said Autumn Glow’s next target (possibly Doncaster or the 2000m Queen Elizabeth) would be given after George Ryder.

Asked if Sheza Alibi’s presence would be a factor, Waller said: “Not really. My only concern with a Doncaster is if you get a bad draw, it’s luck on the run. If you get 20 draws, it’s very difficult to get a perfect drive into it.”