On The Watch

On a day of amazingly fast times Trapeze Artist still enhances his reputation

The day began with the Muswellbrook-trained gelding Nic’s Vendetta (Nicconi) bettering Deploy’s (Fastnet Rock) 1200 metre course record by 0.2 seconds in winning the Class 3 TAB Highway (1200m) in a time of 1:08.04. That record set a record itself in soon becoming one of the shortest lived with the Mark Newnham-trained mare Anatola (More... Read More

Winx returns brilliant closing sectional times in last-to-first Queen Elizabeth victory

Not beaten in a race since 28 March, 2015, Saturday’s triumph was her 25th successive win so Winx’s turn of foot will come as no surprise, but her second Queen Elizabeth Stakes-winning performance on the watch was so good it deserves highlighting. Ridden patiently by Hugh Bowman, Winx was conceding the leaders about ten lengths... Read More

Trapeze Artist provides a star performance in winning Saturday’s T J Smith Stakes

The 2017 Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winning colt, recorded his second Group One success in most impressive fashion, dashing clear despite a wide trip, to defeat the outstanding sprinter Redzel (Snitzel) by two lengths in the fast time of 1:08.29. That was only 0.23 seconds outside of Deploy’s (Fastnet Rock) course record of... Read More

All placegetters in Vinery Stud Stakes impress with strong sectional times

The race saw Michael Dee obtain an uncontested lead with the Mick Price-trained filly Hiyaam (High Chaparral) and after some moderate early sectionals, he lifted the tempo significantly on passing the 800 metre point. Hiyaam turned for home with a dominant lead, before holding on really well to score by just under two lengths from... Read More

Winx runs fastest last 600 metres at Rosehill in her hard-fought George Ryder Stakes win

She settled back in second-last place in the six-horse field, behind a moderate tempo on the Soft 7 track that saw the first 800 metres (1400m to the 600m) clocked in only 49.12 (12.28 200m rate). Realising that the race had developed into a sprint home, Hugh Bowman moved forward on Winx (racing deep) from... Read More

Unforgotten boosts prospects for ATC Australian Oaks recording fast sectionals in Phar Lap Stakes win

Bouncing back quickly after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia attack in her last place finish in the Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) when resuming at Randwick on 3 March, Unforgotten remained at the tail of a ten-horse field before coming with a brilliant late bid to score narrowly but impressively. Unforgotten was timed to run her... Read More