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By Brad Gray
At Royal Randwick

Golden Chance For Yao Dash
Is Yao Dash up to the Golden Rose in three weeks?

Nash Rawiller would give him a chance to measure up after the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained three-year-old remained unbeaten, holding off Funstar.

Nash Rawiller (Pic: Steve Hart)

"He is a lovely horse," said Rawiller, "I think he has taken the step forward from his first-up win. He just gives that indication that he is going to improve with racing. I would be aiming for the Golden Rose and see how he trains on."

On debut, it was the strength of Yao Dash across the line after leading that was so impressive and again Punters Intelligence reveals his last 200m of 11.22s ranked favourable against his rivals. It wasn't the quickest, with Oaks prospect Emeralds clocking 11.12s but it wasn't far off.

James McDonald (Funstar) - "Great return. She executed the race really well. She has just run into a little bit fitter horse on the day but she is going to be an exciting filly when she gets over a mile."

Robbie Dolan (Emeralds) - "Really good run. She is a horse with a lot of ability and I will be looking forward to seeing her get up over a bit of ground."

Tommy Berry (Pandemic) - "He travelled really well for me in the run. He just probably struggled to see the trip out this time around. He is still only in his first preparation and I think he will get to 1400m eventually. This time around he is maybe not strong enough to do it yet."

Kerrin McEvoy (Superium) - "He ran an good race. He is still learning how to handle himself race day and a little bit further will suit as well."

Hugh Bowman (Maddi Rocks) - "Not up to it at this stage."

Joshua Parr (Mocambo) - "From the position we were in it was impossible to win. They walked and dashed home the last two furlongs but nice effort."

Luke Currie (Pretty Brazen) - "She is probably just not quite ready for it here yet."

Yao Dash was trimmed from $26 into $15 for the Golden Rose with TAB Fixed Odds.

Everest Too Soon For Libertini 
There is no denying that Libertini has the star qualities to be lining up in The Everest in years to come, but it'll come too soon in 2019 for the three-year-old.

Libertini and Berry (Pic: Steve Hart)

That's the verdict of Tommy Berry after Libertini got into "a dog fight" to reel in a brave Villami.

"She hit that wind at the top of the straight and it took her off her game a little bit, she dropped the bridle and made hard work of it in the straight," said Berry.

"I'm not sure if she is an Everest horse, it'll come a bit too quickly for her, but next year definitely. There will be a lot of people judging her on not winning by far but she did it in a nice way."

Punters Intelligence reveals a last 600m of 32.86s for Libertini, with the third-placed Let It Pour clocking the quickest at 32.81s. The Tea Rose over 1400m will be her next stop.

"The 1400m is a query, she has to run it out strong and I'm not sure she will but there is only one way to find out and that's go there," offered Berry.

Pierata Burns Home In Concorde
Redzel went straight to the front in the Concorde Stakes and never looked back but how about the return of Pierata.

Greg Hickman was left to lament the narrow winning margin but his five-year-old made a grand statement ahead of The TAB Everest in October, which will have the early favourite Santa Ana Lane looking over his shoulder. You can mount an argument that Pierata should be outright favourite himself.

Pierata ran a sizzling 31.61s last 600m. They simply can't go quicker than that. Redzel found the lead surprisingly comfortably in the early stages enabling him to sprint home in 32.32s. Pierata clocked four sub-11 splits his last 800m (10.70, 10.52, 10.32, 10.77).

“You’ve just got to watch the race to see how well he went," said Tommy Berry.

"He’s come back in much better order this preparation, we’ve been saying he’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s better. I think that showed it today. He’s on the right track and very excited about the rest of his spring."

James McDonald said of Nature Strip, "Even though there was a lot of pace on paper it didn’t work out like that. He fired up for about a furlong in the middle and finished accordingly."

Want to know Pierata’s last 600m there?

31.61s! Punters Intelligence has the answer. pic.twitter.com/AgMcrm0xsx

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 7, 2019

All Roads To Epsom For Dreamforce, Te Akau Shark
Dreamforce is the best John Thomoson has ever trained, while James McDonald said the way the track played beat Te Akau Shark. That was the washup after Dreamforce belted his rivals in the Tramway Stakes.

“He’s the best I’ve had," said Thompson, "Such a professional, a gun horse, does everything right and a pleasure to train."

"He’s a real racehorse. He begins well, gives you 100% every start, it’s his 11th win, he’s so honest. You can’t install that in horses. He’s sound, he eats, he’s a trainer’s dream.

"The Epsom is his main goal. He was better suited today and Nash was terrific today. I thought he’d suit him and he’s flying. I think he’s gone better than he ever has. He’ll go to the George Main next."

Te Akau Shark found the line late to grab second ahead of Eckstein and Star Of The Seas.

"He’s run a really good race. Hit the line strong. Pity the track is in leaderish condition," lamented McDonald.

Te Akau Shark is circling the @royalrandwick parade! 🦈 @TeAkauRacing @PaulGallen13 @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/6p75ST4XG3

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 7, 2019

Check the results and replays for Randwick on Saturday.