Annabel Neasham was shocked by the price of Sweet Ride in the San Domenico Stakes, but not as surprised as punters and breeding heavyweights after the colt’s comprehensive victory in the group 3 feature at Rosehill on Saturday.
There was plenty of money at $51 for Sweet Ride, which started at $31 and raced to a 1½-length victory from Nettuno ($6) and stablemate Swiss Exile ($15).
Sweet Ride (left) wins the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.Credit:Getty
“I was amazed at his price to be honest. I thought his run the other day was very good, ” Neasham said. “We haven’t missed him at home; we’ve put a lot of work into him. We have kept him fit because he can be a bit fresh at home. He was the fittest horse here today.”
Neasham believes Sweet Ride might be a bit more of a pure sprinter and could target the Coolmore Stakes rather than the Golden Rose for his owner, Bert Vieira.
Favourite Best Of Bordeaux ($1.90) was too keen over the 1100m and finished fifth in what jockey James McDonald labelled a ring-rusty performance from the Coolmore-owned colt.
“It was a pass mark. He copped a check at the start. He got a lovely run in the race, but we might be a little more aggressive next time,” McDonald said.
Relentless Kibou could be the Spring Champion
He might be a tough ride but Regan Bayliss seems to have found the key to Kibou, which looked every bit a relentless miler in taking out the group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.
The son of Maurice will be set on a path towards the group 1 pring Champion Stakes (2000m) and should relish the step up in distance.
Bayliss had no hesitation going to the front from the outside barrier and the $3.50 favourite – with his head in the air – was never troubled by any rival as he zoomed away for a 2¼ lengths from Golden Mile ($16), with Basquiat ($4.80) another 3½ lengths away in third.
“I knew he was going to be out of his comfort zone in [The Rosebud over 1100m] because he didn’t have the turn of foot as those pure sprinters,” Bayliss said. “He’s come on leaps and bounds in his trackwork. I knew he was a red-hot chance today, and he put it together nicely.
“He’s always been a little bit awkward to ride. He’s still got so much improvement. He could be a better horse in the autumn. He’s going to keep improving.”
Kibou will step up to the Ming Dynasty Quality in a fortnight time with the option of going to the Golden Rose.
Memsie winner Snapdancer looks to Everest
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher might look for a slot in The Everest (1200m) after Snapdancer defied all challengers to win the Memsie Stakes (1400m) from the front at Caulfield on Saturday.
Snapdancer ($7.50) had a half-length to spare from a charging I’m Thunderstruck ($10), with Cascadian ($8.50) game again in third.
“Maybe The Everest is an option for her, but she seems to be really dominant at that 1400m. She has a high cruising speed,” Maher said.
“If she did nothing else this preparation, this year has been phenomenal for her. She is just going from strength to strength, and I think she’ll get better again.
“I always thought she would be better at four and five, and I think she is still developing, so the sky is the limit.”
Waterford just a good one
Chris Waller hasn’t got a specific race in mind for Waterford but knows there is a good one in him.
The import returned a winner as Tommy Berry brought him from back in the field and saw off Mahagoni to maintain an unbeaten Australian record.
“He just feels a much stronger horse than last time, when I got on him he just picked up,” Berry said. “He is just a very good horse and there is more to come.”
Waller put Waterford ($3.50 fav), which is a 65-rater, in the benchmark 78 with only 53.5kg and will take his time to get him through the grades.
“He is still in the handicap there today, which was a good starting point,” Waller said. “He is pretty good, but we will take our time and maybe get to a race like The Gong with him at the end of the carnival.
Old Flame has Five Diamonds in sights
Randwick trainer Paul Snowden knows he has a good, tough horse in Old Flame and will head to stakes grade with the import on the way to the Five Diamonds as a final target.
Old Flame ($3.50) got over the top of Purple Sector ($13) in the final a couple of strides, which could be his last benchmark race.
“I knew he would love to get into a dogfight and when he got alongside the other horse I thought he would win,” Snowden said. “He is a natural athlete, and we look to go to the Cameron Handicap with him in three weeks, and the Five Diamonds is probably the race for him.
“He is going to get better at a mile and there are plenty of options for him.”
Snowden also reported that Doomben Cup winner Huetor has had a setback and is likely to miss the spring carnival.
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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
