Latest News

By Brad Gray
At Royal Randwick

Not So Plucky
The effort of Awesome Pluck behind Savatiano was admirable but he still left most punters, including myself, a little underwhelmed.

In his defence, he paraded like a giraffe still with plenty of filling out to do and there is certainly both mental and physical improvement to come.

“The only way he is going to improve is with racing,” said Tye Angland.

“He was good but still hasn’t matured yet. He’d appreciate a few more runs to take the freshness out of his legs.

“He is long and lanky and has the ability but hasn’t got the racing brain just yet.”

Angland also suggested the three-year-old, who jumped $2.15 with TAB Fixed Odds, wasn’t really suited to leading and would appreciated cover out to 1200-1300m trips.

“Once he learns how to relax and calm down a lit bit, he’ll make a nice horse he just doesn’t know what it’s about just yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Calculated, who was always going to find the 1100m short of his best, found the line well to run second.

“He just got held up on the inside of the winner with the top weight but he ran really well. Good starting point for him,” said Kerrin McEvoy.

Awesome Pluck parades well for @JGrahamRace.

$2.15 with @tabcomau and well backed. pic.twitter.com/IZCipU9Xmu

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) December 16, 2017

Spieth Finds A Home At Aquis
Spieth has been secured by Aquis Farm however no decision has been made on his racing career.

“There is no leaning either way at this early stage. We’ll give him a break and reassesses from there,” said Aquis Farm CEO Shane McGrath.

“He’s an outcross, has speed and is an outstanding individual. He’s a 10 out of 10 physically and went within a lip of being a Group One winner.”

“Race credentials are one thing but physical presence is another and that’s what you want to see. If he produces yearlings that look like himself he’ll make a commercial stallion.”

McGrath was also quick to pay credit to Spieth’s trainer Bryce Heys.

Shane McGrath - CEO, Aquis Farm
“I am delighted to have secured Spieth for the Aquis Stallions Division. Giving the market what it wants #Speed #Outcross #Sprinter #Spieth”

— Aquis Farm (@AquisFarm) December 15, 2017

Inglis Feature A Nursery
There has been nine editions of the $500,000 Inglis Nursery but how about the winners of the last two – Extreme Choice and She Will Reign!

Will this year’s victor Irish Bet continue the trend?

“He is a really nice colt and come a long really quickly. He had the one jumpout and a trial and then gone straight to the races. He is obviously doing the right things and has the pedigree to back him up. He’ll make a lovely colt in time,” said Brenton Avdulla.

It was a significant win for John O’Shea – his second in town since leaving Godolphin – who setting about re-establishing himself in the Sydney training ranks.

“He is a classic two-year-old. He is a compact horse, a running horse with a great attitude. (He'll be in the) paddock on Monday for a short let up, probably come back in for a Skyline to qualify him for a Slipper or he might end up in the 1100m race (Kindergarten Stakes) over The Championships,” O’Shea said.

"He is a running horse with a great attitude." Irish Bet was too strong in the @inglis_sales Nursey!

📸SteveHart pic.twitter.com/g6PX1Zy019

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) December 16, 2017

Mister Sea Wolf To Howl Next Prep
If Mister Sea Wolf made his way into your blackbook after his Festival Stakes run, leave him right where he is having backed that effort up with a fast-finishing fifth in the Villiers Stakes.

The six-year-old import ran home in 12.22s, according to Punters' Intel, which was the fastest late split, equal to that of Salsonic.

“He gave me a great feel and I was happy with the run. Just with the field being stretched out so far it made it hard to get momentum and with the awkward gate,” said Corey Parish, who replaced Kerrin McEvoy who earlier broke his hand.

“He’ll be better again next time in.”

It was a similar report from Tye Angland who guided race favourite Interlocuter into third, beaten just 0.6L at the finish.

“He went well. The tearaway leader didn’t help at all. It turned the race upside down,” he said.

All results and replays for the Villiers meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday.