By Craig Kerry
Broadsiding returned with a commanding victory in the group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) to lead a “turning point” double for Godolphin at Rosehill on Saturday.
Zac Lloyd, who rode five winners on the day, put last season’s champion two-year-old just off the speed before he cruised to the lead inside the 200m on the way to a length win over Swiftfalcon.
Zac Lloyd takes Broadsiding to victory in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images
The victory followed another dominant display from a Godolphin colt, when Beiwacht raced away with the group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes.
Trainer James Cummings said it was “an important day for the team” at Godolphin, which has cut back its runners in Australia amid talk of a strategic change.
“It’s got a little bit of a feel of a moving day for us, a turning point, and that’s a good kick-along we need because we’ve been focusing on these good horses,” Cummings said.
“I’m really thrilled for the team that they are getting good rewards now for their hard work they have put in over the summer with these horses.
“They are not Mickey Mouse races any more, we mean business and these colts have turned up and delivered today.”
Cummings said the plan was for Broadsiding, a $2.80 Sportsbet favourite on Saturday, to stick to three-year-old races, with the next target the group 1 Randwick Guineas.
He earlier said the decision to keep Beiwacht in Sydney was a key to success when the Bivouac colt bounced back from a “disastrous” debut to win the Silver Slipper.
Beiwacht, a $15 chance, upstaged his more fancied rivals, racing outside leader Gambler before hitting the lead at the 300m mark and surging to a two-length win.
Seventh on debut, then second in the Lonhro Plate, Beiwacht was now $34 into $15 for the Golden Slipper.
“He’s taken work and the guys at Crown Lodge got him going,” Cummings said.
“I thought about moving him to Melbourne briefly, but I kept him in Sydney and just transferred him to Osborne Park, and he’s just got more and more relaxed and he’s getting things right.
“His debut was a disaster, but we got through that and we stuck to the plan and we’re pretty happy.
“We just kept it simple, we’ve just backed ourselves to get it right.”
He said a start in the Todman Stakes in two weeks was a possible next target for Beiwacht.
Chris Waller-trained Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton lost no admirers in finishing well for third after he raced three wide and back in the field from the outside draw. He drifted only slightly in Slipper betting from $3 to $3.50 (TAB). West Of Swindon was second to firm slightly into $15.
Roller-coaster day for Lloyd
Jockey Zac Lloyd had a roller-coaster day, winning the first three races, the Hobartville Stakes then the last – as well as fronting stewards twice.
Lloyd won the third race on Step Aside, which he brought off heels at the 300m mark to make his winning run. However, the move forced Tim Clark wide on Baroque Road, which in turn caused interference to Ben Osmond’s mount Cadetship.
The win came after Lloyd rode Rush Attack (Midway Handicap) and Exit Fee (Highway) to victories. He then won the last on Time To Boogie. It took him to 47 city wins for the season, nine behind premiership leader James McDonald (56).
Zac Lloyd after winning on Broadsiding.Credit: Getty Images
However, he faced suspension for his ride on Step Aside then was later questioned about the condition of Bel Merci, which finished six lengths back in the Silver Slipper.
Lloyd reported to stewards that he was told by Bel Merci’s strapper that the filly had blood in its nostrils after the run. After an inquiry, though, the exchange was deemed a miscommunication and no sign of bleeding was found in an examination.
Fresh Firestorm strikes
Chris Waller was looking to the Coolmore Classic and potentially the Queen of the Turf with Firestorm after the four-year-old continued her winning first-up record in Sydney with victory in the group 2 Millie Fox Stakes.
The former New Zealand mare, which had won her other two first-up runs in Australia, raced midfield under Jason Collett before making her run down the outside at the top of the straight.
The $8.50 chance hit the front in the final 50m as odds-on favourite Makarena faded. She held off $31 shot Dark Glitter, which flashed home along the rail, by a long head.
Waller, who also had third placegetter Scarlet Oak, said the Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 15 was the right timing, track and distance for Firestorm.
“It was a lovely ride from Jason and she’s been well-prepared into the race, with two trials, and we expected her to show something, but to win a group 2, it’s quite a step-up,” Waller said.
Baker backing Morgan again
Trainer Bjorn Baker was full of praise for jockey Ash Morgan after he earned a first group race win on Our Anchorage in the Parramatta Cup (1900m) on Saturday.
Morgan raced favourite Our Anchorage, chasing a fourth consecutive win, outside leader Redstone Well in the group 3 before pushing him to a long neck victory over Palmetto.
It continued a great start to 2025 for Morgan, who scored his first stakes on Baker-trained Iowna Merc then piloted Private Harry to victory in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight.
Baker said Morgan will ride Perfumist for him in The Kiwi slot on March 8 at Ellerslie.
“I thought it was a great ride by Ash Morgan, he’s a smooth rider, a big-time rider, and he’s going to cement himself at home in Sydney city,” Baker said.
He was unsure of the next target for Our Anchorage, which is nominated for the group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Williams looks to Highway exit
Goulburn trainer Danny Williams was weighing up a shot at qualifying Exit Fee for a Country Championships wildcard or keeping him for another Highway Handicap after his win at Rosehill on Saturday.
The three-year-old finished best down the outside to claim his first Highway win in the class 3 over 1300m by almost a length.
A benchmark 62-rater before the victory, Exit Fee may need to run again and earn more points to make the Southern wildcard at Goulburn on March 23. However, a fourth career win will rule him out of Highway grade.
“I’d rather not throw away a Highway, and just put him in the paddock,” said Williams, who believed Exit Fee would fall short of the wildcard field.
