Craig Kerry
Trainer Annabel Archibald hoped for a dry track in the Scone Cup (1600m) on May 15 for Hellsing after his broke a run of outs with a narrow win at Randwick on Saturday.
Tom Sherry drove the six-year-old import to the line to edge out Encap in the 1500m benchmark 100 handicap, the highest rated on the Anzac Day program. Stablemate Cristal Clear was a close third.
The victory was the first in more than a year for Hellsing, which was 11th last start at Randwick in the $4 million Doncaster Mile.
“Just delighted for Hellsing,” said Archibald, who trains in partnership with her husband, Rob.
“He has been knocking on the door, he’s had three seconds this prep, two here at Randwick.
“He had a second in the Muswellbrook Cup, and then just the ground, and maybe the group 1 class in the Doncaster, just maybe found him out, but back to this grade, 1500 here, I think, is a sweet spot.”
Archibald, who has stables at Scone, said the listed cup over the mile would likely be the next race for Hellsing and Cristal Clear. Depth Of Character was fourth and will head to The Coast at Gosford.
“I feel like the mile is just an absolute top of his limit, but I think on dry ground, yes,” she said of the Scone Cup for Hellsing.
Baker 3YO making up for lost time
Bjorn Baker was looking to the $200,000 Thunder Thousand at Gosford on May 9 with Compensation after he rewarded the patience of owners when running away with the benchmark 78 handicap (1000m) on Saturday at just his third start.
The Written Tycoon gelding, a $2.15 favourite, led then kicked clear under Rachel King for a one and a half-length victory over Confidentiality at Randwick, clocking 33.23 seconds for the last 600m.
The win followed a midweek Rosehill victory and a third on debut at Warwick Farm this preparation, and gave Baker a double on the Anzac Day program.
“He’s been very immature and we had to put him out for three months, a couple of different times, and my vet’s a part-owner,” Baker said.
“He’s X-rayed him multiple times, so he’s a big winner with this one.”
Midnight Dynamite earlier dug deep first up to give jockey Josh Parr a welcomed Saturday winner.
The Baker-trained Pierata four-year-old, which Parr took to two wins in the spring, held out Mogul Monarch in a photo-finish to the benchmark 78 (1200m) for the boys.
It was his first run since winning on heavy going at the Gong meeting at Kembla in November. The victory was just the seventh ride back for Parr since he took a month off following the death of his father, former jockey Stephen Parr, in February. It was a second win back after Shirvington, another Darby Racing galloper, gave him a midweek metro victory at Wyong.
“Good to have Josh back on, and of course in the Darby colours,” Baker said.
“I’ll just look for another probably benchmark 88 race. He’s been a good horse for us.
“He had a good break and we thought we’d bring him back for the back end of the carnival and into the winter, so it’s worked out really well.
Parr said Midnight Dynamite “dug deep for me, which I’m grateful for”.
Waller camp eye Gosford Cup with Rotagilla
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller equalled his record for group 1 wins in a season while also picking up a double at Randwick.
Waller was celebrating a 19th group 1 for the campaign when Panova took out the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville with James McDonald aboard. It also took the Rosehill trainer to 199 in his career.
At Randwick, Rotagilla came down the outside to beat stablemate Sir Dinadan by a half-length in the benchmark 94 handicap over 1800m then import Nobler came down the outside to claim the last, a benchmark 78 over 1600m. Tyler Schiller rode both.
Payne’s hot talent to lead the way
Veteran Rosehill trainer David Payne believes Bangkok Hottie can lead the charge for his stable in the spring after she easily won the 1100m two-year-old handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
Coming off a Warwick Farm win and fifth in the Kindergarten Stakes on debut, Bangkok Hottie swept to the lead inside the 200m to beat Keen To Exceed by two and a quarter lengths.
Payne said “special” filly would be spelled ahead of a shot at the Princess Series in the spring.
“She’s a bombproof filly and she’s got a turn of foot,” Payne said.
“We don’t get many horses. We’ve only got 20. Now at least we can take them on again.
“She’s just got everything. From day one I said to the owner [and breeder John Thompson], she’s a good filly, she’s just got everything there. Temperament, turn of foot, everything.”
Irishman keen to build on Randwick breakthrough
Irish jockey Adam Farragher hopes to build momentum, after a tough time establishing himself in NSW, following a first Randwick Saturday win.
Farragher steered Ciaron Maher-trained Enamorada to a one and three-quarter lengths win over Mr Miller in the benchmark 72 handicap over 1400m.
It was Farragher’s third city win and 10th overall since starting his Australian stint late last year. He had his first Australian winner with Maher-trained Spywire on the Gong program at Kembla last November and had just one more metro success, at the Kensington track, before Saturday.
“It’s been a bit tough,” said Farragher, who came from the UK to link with Maher at Warwick Farm.
“It’s nice when you do get on a bit of a lean spell to get one here, so thanks to Ciaron and the owner.
“I always came with that one-way ticket, with the intention of seeing how it goes. I’m still enjoying it and I’m probably feeling more at grips with things now and just trying to knuckle down and build a bit of momentum.”
Lees weighs up right path for filly
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was looking again to stakes grade with Cantiamo after she dived late to beat Ernaux and Spice Baby and win the 1200m benchmark 78 handicap for fillies and mares at Randwick.
The Too Darn Hot filly, which shaded subsequent group 2 winners Hidden Motive and Rivellino in her second ever trial, took her record to four wins in eight starts with the late rally under Jason Collett. Her other four runs have been unplaced efforts at stakes level.
Lees was eyeing the 1100m Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone on May 16 before Saturday’s win. While he was unsure of the next target, he said “she’s certainly up to stakes company”.
The victory came two weeks after Lees and Collett combined to win the Sydney Cup with Changingoftheguard. Lees also won the Provincial Midway final that day with Lord Of Biscay.
