By Craig Kerry
Briasa became the second horse into the $20 million The Everest (1200m) after the Hawkes training team announced on Saturday that the four-year-old had secured the slot held by Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett.
Nathan Doyle’s unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first into the October 18 race at Randwick last month when Kurrinda Bloodstock struck a part-ownership deal with slot-holders Yulong Investments after winning the group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 22.
Briasa comes down the outside to beat Overpass in the TJ Smith Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
Briasa, a homebred son of Smart Missile for Ian and Anthony Johnson, pressed his claims for a spot when taking out the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 5 at Randwick for John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes.
He was an $8 Sportsbet chance for the richest race on turf behind Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising ($2) and Private Harry ($7). Regular jockey Tyler Schiller was thrilled to hear the news between races at Gosford.
“It’s very exciting,” Schiller said. “We were hoping [for a slot], because he’s a very good, up-and-coming sprinter and on what he did last prep, he showed he’s a group 1 sprinter.
“Weight for age should be fine. He’s a big boy and hopefully a little spell just does him well. Really pleased with him and very happy to hear.”
Big Dance plans
Trainer Adrian Bott said Les Vampires was likely headed to the paddock before a preparation aimed at the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November after stamping his ticket with a commanding win in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Monday.
A $2.90 favourite, Les Vampires led the $300,000 listed race under Winona Costin and was challenged approaching the home turn, only to kick clear late and win by one-and-a-third lengths from Etna Rosso.
Bott said Les Vampires would likely rest before taking on the Big Dance mile at Randwick second or third up.
“You’ve got to give him a decent break, he’s been up quite a while to get here, and I don’t think there’s too much more to do,” Bott said.
“We’ve seen he can be effective early in the campaign, sharp over that sort of trip. I think he would be well-placed in a race like that.”
Bott and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse earlier won with Enter The Dragon in the benchmark 72 handicap (1600m) for three- and four-year-olds. Zac Wadick rode that winner, going to 21 in the city apprentices’ premiership. Leader Braith Nock also had a victory at Gosford, on Asgoodassobergets, to rise to 24.
Burges bet paying off
Tuncurry trainer Joe Burges was savouring the dream result of $2000 buy McKeon after her Highway Handicap win on Saturday.
McKeon, which Burges bought online as a four-start maiden, edged out Ritzsun in the 1200m class 3 as a $17 chance. The win took her earnings to just under $200,000.
“Peter Moody had her and she won a trial at Caulfield, and she started favourite in a two-year-old race at Caulfield,” Burges said.
“They said she’s bad in her wind, but in her trials she was missing the kick by 12 and flashing home. That’s not a bad-winded thing. Those ones lead by 10 and fall in a heap.
“Two of her relations have won listed races, and now Inglis and Magic Millions are ringing up wanting to sell her as a broodmare. I might keep her and breed a foal out of her myself.”
The win was part of a double for jockey Alysha Collett, who later won the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m) on Lulumon for Jason Coyle. The Warwick Farm trainer said the mare would potentially target the listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 7.
Hyeronimus on the money
Adam Hyeronimus gained redemption on Monte Kate as part of an early double aboard I Am Invincible progeny on the Gosford program on Saturday.
Hyeronimus positioned Robert and Luke Price-trained Monte Kate outside leader Duck Egg Blue in the Midway Handicap and she won the final-furlong duel by a half-length. He then took Hidden Achievement to victory in the two-year-old race. Monte Kate was second-up off a ninth at Randwick.
“He did a great job because I thought he butchered her last start, and he knew that,” Robert Price said of Hyeronimus’s ride. “You just can’t hold her up.”
Price said the four-year-old, a $400,000 yearling, had overcome feet problems and an abnormality in her upper airways to find success.
“She might be weighted out of Midway, but she’s every minute a Saturday benchmark horse,” he said. “We’ve just got to get her right and she’s on the money now.”
Hidden gem uncovered
Yulong-owned colt Hidden Achievement was into $8, from $26, with Sportsbet for the group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 14 after an impressive maiden win in the two-year-old race at Gosford on Saturday.
Chris Waller-trained Hidden Achievement, a $5 chance after rattling home from near last for second on debut at Canterbury, was strong to the line again to defeat stablemate Sarapo by two thirds of a length.
A Queensland winter campaign beckoned for the son of I Am Invincible and Sarapo, which was into $15 for the JJ Atkins from $51.
The only negative for the Waller camp came post-race when fined $1500 for a saddle mix-up between Hidden Achievement (No.6) and Beechworth (No.10), which came fourth. The mistake was detected, and the bay colts were re-saddled correctly.
Favourite Sequista (Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou) was a late scratching on vets advice after sustaining lacerations when fractious on the float ride to the course.
