Eduardo showed who was boss in the Concorde Stakes, just as Joe Pride had expected him to, but the doubters even got to the confident trainer before the star sprinter’s return at Randwick on Saturday.
There were questions about the nine-year-old’s age, and the fact that he had been beaten in a barrier trial, but the bookmakers paid the penalty for pushing him out to $2.80 after he opened an odds-on favourite for the group 3 over 1000m.
Eduardo shows the field a clean pair of heels on a wet Randwick in the Concorde Stakes.Credit:Getty
“They didn’t forget to back him on track,” bookmaker David Dwyer said. “It was no good, the result, even though they backed the other one [Andermatt] as if he would just win.”
Nash Rawiller never felt any doubt as he followed Malkovich to the turn and then went past him. Eduardo ($2.70 fav) had 2½ lengths to spare on Athelric ($12), with another 1¾ lengths to Handle The Truth ($31). Andermatt finished fourth after being crunched in the betting to start at $2.80.
“Just before the corner I couldn’t believe how he travelled; I don’t think he has travelled in a race like that for a long time,” Rawiller said. “He is fit and well and he just wanted to show who’s boss, and he did.
“He is due for things to fall into place for him in the big one, so maybe this is his year.”
Pride had to convince himself he knew his horse best time and again heading into the race as he watched the doubters.
“Honestly, I thought the race was won when I put in the nomination on Monday,” Pride said. “Then I started believing what everyone was saying, but I couldn’t see how this horse was going to get beaten. How was he going to get beaten by these horses?
“That was superb. It’s irrelevant, his age, it’s the amount of starts he’s had. Malkovich is a four or five-year-old, he’s had 24 starts and my horse has had 27. Forget the age, he is an amazing athlete and you saw it again there today.”
Zaaki ready for Anamoe clash
Zaaki wasn’t at home in the deep conditions but his quality shone through as he took the group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) for the second consecutive year at Randwick on Saturday.
Jockey James McDonald noted that Zaaki ($1.90 fav) dipped on a number of occasions on his way to victory, but his ability carried him through the very heavy conditions. He scored by 1¾ lengths from noted wet-trackers Icebath ($4.40) and Nimalee ($12).
James McDonald has a look back at the chasing pack in the Tramway Stakes.Credit:Getty
“The way he travels, he just helps himself through the ground,” McDonald said. “He doesn’t like it but he is that smooth he can handle it.
“He was idling a fair way from home. He can do that when he is out in front. He switches off but he is a horse that finds under pressure, but I couldn’t say that was his favourite ground.”
McDonald will have to make a decision between the two best horses in the land given that trianer Annabel Neasham is likely to keep Zaaki in Sydney for the George Main Stakes, where he will clash with Godolphin star Anamoe.
“I think you should go to the Underwood [Stakes],” he said to connections when asked what they should do next.
North Star Lass too strong in Furious
Tim Clark can’t wait for the remainder of the Princess Series after North Star Lass ($5) got off the canvas to win the group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Tulloch Lodge filly showed all the characteristics of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained horses by fighting back after being clearly headed by Hugh Bowman on Willinga Beast ($6.50) to win by a long neck.
“We paired off a fair way from home, myself and Hughie, and had a good battle all the way down the straight,” Clark said. “I think my filly is going to be better over seven [furlongs 1400] and the mile and [the runner-up] is probably a real sharp six-furlong horse. That last 100m that toughness really shone through.
“She’s a really brave filly and once she gets to the 14 and the mile – the other two races in the Princess Series – she will probably be even better suited.”
Champagne Stakes winner She’s Extreme ($3.70) made ground late into third at her first run for the spring.
Knights Order gets perfect conditions in Chelmsford
Knights Order ($7) likes to lead and likes wet tracks, which proved a winning combination in the group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Sydney Cup winner gave the Tim Clark-Tulloch Lodge duo a winning double as he went to the front and kept a margin on his rivals throughout to score by 1¼ lengths from Numerian ($5.50) and Our Compromise ($19).
“Obviously the track conditions getting worse as the day went on played in his favour. He loves those conditions,” Clark said.
“There was a lot of other stayers resuming or very early in their preps, and it looked a race where he could work forward from that draw and take it up.
“That has been advantageous through the day, and he did the rest. He gets himself very fit.
“He was forward coming into today. He has some lofty goals later on in his campaign and that is a good start to his prep.”
Opal Ridge eyes Kosciuszko
Luke Pepper is hoping Opal Ridge can emulate It’s Me and win the Kosciuszko as a three-year-old filly after taking care of the older horses in the Highway Handicap at Randwick.
The daughter of Rubick was on track for the Black Opal after winning her first start, but a hairline fracture to a tibia curtailed her two-year-old season.
“She always been very good, and I would have pushed for the Black Opal if she didn’t get injured,” Pepper said. “Instead she went for a break and I didn’t recognise her when she came back. It was the making of her.
“We took the step back from the very good fillies grade, which are outstanding this season, and she got the job done. I think we can press for a Kosi slot now.
“She has a similar profile to It’s Me. After that, I think she could do the same thing.”
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