THE PETLEY REPORT: LOOKING FORWARD TO A MASSIVE DAY OF RACING AT ROYAL RANDWICK

By Jack Petley | Saturday, April 10, 2021

What a massive day of racing this will be at Royal Randwick today. Super, super fields packed with so much talent, horses and jockeys alike, and playing in front of a packed out house with fans well and truly back on the tracks in New South Wales.

And it could be a day to remember for the fairer sex. The First Lady of Racing Gai Waterhouse has untold wins in the Doncaster and she gets another crack at the $2m event with lightweight Yao Dash, the mount of Kiwi born Michael Dee, and the $31 shot Shout the Bar.

Waterhouse has yet to win a Derby, her famous dad, TJ Smith, won so many, but she gets a good chance this afternoon with last start winner Yaletown.

Then there is the champion lady rider from Victoria, Jamie Kah. She missed out on her TJ Smith ride with Haut Brion Her withdrawn by Chris Waller, but she has an ever so strong book.

Then there is Anabelle Neasham, in her first year or training and who will saddle up the $7.50 shot , the high class Savabeel, three-year-old Mo'Unga in the Doncaster Handicap, who gave her her first Gr1 win the other day. Mo'Unga has drawn awkwardly, but that is not worrying Neasham and his rider Robbie Doolan. "It is not ideal but both of us have gone back through many Doncasters and it does seem that that is one barrier that doesn't matter where you draw” Neasham said she is more than happy with the way the three-year-old has done since his dashing Guineas win and she said he has "freshened up nicely," and “has got a real spring in his step."

And don't forget others including Rachael King who is a superb rider and has the backing of the powerful Godolphin stable behind her, and lesser-known trainer, Wendy Roche, who has that 51-to 1 show Nettoyer in the Doncaster and 125 to 1 chance Zakspeed in the Derby. And by the way she has only two horses in work at present and both are on the biggest stage of racing and in Gr1 races. What a day for her and her stable.

Now for my fancies … the Doncaster first. I have to stay with Mo'Unga. He may have drawn wide, but he should get into a good position back in the field and remember he has that ever so light weight, 49.5kgs. His toughest rivals for me, two of the older horses in the race, Mugatoo and Avilius. Mugatoo is bred for longer journeys but he did win the All-Star Mile in Melbourne last time and this is a race which that master JB Cummings said, more often than not, is won by a middle distance horse as it is one tough race from go to whoa.

Avilius, in that famous blue jacket and the mount of Kiwi James McDonald, has been running into form again. Like Mugatoo he is a tough character and from all accounts having thrived since his last run for third.

NZ bred three-year-olds are many in the $2m Derby heading by the NZ Derby winner Rocket Spade and the placegetters in the Ellerslie Classic, The Frontman and Milford. Both have raced at the carnival and both have been disappointing. So, will that NZ Derby form stack up here?

Three of the highest rated sprinters in the world go around in the TJ Smith … Nature Strip, Eduardo and Bivouac … and this will be some contest, too. I'm tipping Nature Strip for Chris Waller and James McDonald. This may be the last Aussie run for Bivouac as if he races well here today and he certainly is expected to do so with new rider High Bowman up, he will then head off to England for the big sprints there before stud duties with Darley.

Much Kiwi interest in the Chairman’s Quality with Sir Charles Road, Concert Hall, Quick Thinker and the former Matamata mare Rondinella, now with John OShea … with this race a good guide to the Sydney Cup.

Good Punting …