By Craig Kerry
Randwick trainer John Thompson was looking for Open Secret to just get a bit of prizemoney to book a spot in the $2 million Inglis Millennium when on debut on Saturday.
Off one trial, the $150,000 buy could now give Thompson another chance in the $5 million Golden Slipper after a surprising all-the-way win at Randwick.
Open Secret ($10), which beat Thompson’s top Slipper hope, Bel Merci, in a trial, showed speed to lead the two-year-olds 1000m event under Zac Lloyd before narrowly holding off $1.75 million colt United States ($3.60).
The King’s Legacy-Vain Elaine filly, which Thompson picked out at the sales, joined the market for the February 8 Inglis Millennium at $8 and firmed into $21 from $51 for the Golden Slipper. Bel Merci will trial again on Monday week and resume in the Silver Slipper on February 22.
Thompson said the Millennium was the target for Open Secret and a Golden Slipper run “all depends on her”.
“We were just trying to get a bit of prizemoney today to get into the Millennium, but natural horses they just come out and do it,” Thompson said.
“She was out on her feet I think the last 100 metres, but just held on. There was no way we thought she’d lead. We thought they’d be too nippy for her and she could maybe pick them up late.
“Typically my horses improve as they go along, and she’s no different.
“Bel Merci is so brilliant, but she’s a good filly, too. It’s hard to split them, but I’d say Bel Merci’s pretty special. But it’s nice to have some nice horses, and there’s probably a couple more to come.”
Berry hospitalised after fall
Senior jockey Tommy Berry was taken to hospital by ambulance with lower back pain after he and apprentice Teighan Worsnop fell in the last race at Randwick on Saturday.
Berry was reported to be conscious and able to move his arms and legs after falling from Chris Waller-trained Step Aside near the 800m mark of the 1200m race.
Worsnop fell first from Glen Milligan’s Shihab after they were inconvenienced. Berry, travelling on Shihab’s inside, was then dislodged from Step Aside.
Worsnop later walked into the jockeys’ room and appeared uninjured. Both horses ran on and appeared to escape serious injury.
Berry earlier had a win for Waller on Political Debate.
Baker blitz continues
The Bjorn Baker stable will target the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on March 1 with exciting three-year-old Point And Shoot after he broke through in town in dominant style.
The Blue Point gelding had placed twice at metro level before delivering on his potential on Saturday at Randwick, coming from last to race away with the seven-horse benchmark 72 (1400m) by almost five and a half lengths for jockey Tim Clark.
“Bjorn was adamant that he wanted him ridden patient today, and he showed his true colours,” Baker racing manager Luke Hilton said. “He’s got an outstanding turn of foot.”
Hilton said Point And Shoot would likely be freshened for the Inglis Sprint, which could also feature stablemates Midnight Dynamite and Imperial Force.
The win gave Baker a double, after Our Anchorage took out the benchmark 88 over 2000m.
Consolation prizes for Pride
Cosmonova and Headley Grange gave Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride consolation wins after the loss of the Carrington Stakes from Saturday’s program.
Pride-trained Accredited was set to start favourite in the Carrington Stakes at Randwick, but the listed feature was abandoned because of a lack of acceptors.
Cosmonova, with Reece Jones riding, came over the top of her rivals in the benchmark 78 (1200m) for fillies and mares for Pride, before Headley Grange (Adam Hyeronimus) made it consecutive wins in town in the benchmark 78 (1400m).
Accredited will now likely run in the group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) next week at Rosehill. Pride believed the Carrington Stakes should have been run, regardless of the field size.
“It’s a biased opinion, but I think it’s one of those cases where it’s not always about making money for Racing NSW, maybe they need to take a loss on that one to repay connections for paying up,” Pride said.
“Owners turn up all the time not to make money. It can’t always be about the bottom line.”
Waller sparks Political Debate
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller will look to the Parramatta Cup on February 22 with stable favourite Political Debate after he broke a two-and-a-half year drought.
Tommy Berry took the So You Think five-year-old forward from gate seven to lead the 1600m benchmark 88 handicap second-up on Saturday at Randwick. He then edged out Bjorn Baker’s Father’s Day by a long neck on the line.
“He’s a stable favourite, believe it or not. He’s just a real gentleman and he’s a lovely mover. All the young ones ride him,” Waller said.
“It’s an advantage to be on pace today, but this horse has actually switched on before when ridden up on speed.
“It’s the right time of year for him, and he’ll progress through races like the Parramatta Cup as a fit horse, whereas some of the better carnival horses will still be a little bit soft.”
Wadick breaks dry spell
Magnatear continued a rich vein of form in Midway grade to win and help break a city drought for Zac Wadick on Saturday at Randwick.
The Richard and Will Freedman-trained gelding, which came from the stable of the late Sam Kavanagh last month, made it consecutive wins, after two placings, in Midway grade this preparation.
Wadick’s two-kilogram claim gave Magnatear the same weight he carried to a narrow win with Ash Morgan aboard at Wyong on January 11. He led again but this time kicked well clear for an almost three-length victory.
After four weeks without a win in town, Wadick went to 17 victories for the season – four behind now senior rider Zac Lloyd and four clear of Ben Osmond in the apprentices’ race.
“It was a similar race to two weeks ago but the only thing that worried me was how he finished off then, but he was able to have a much softer run today, which negated that,” Wadick said.
Scone mare earns Stakes shot
Scone trainer Paul Messara is eyeing the group 3 Triscay Stakes on February 15 with Clear Thinking after she carried 60 kilograms to victory in the Highway Handicap (1200m) on Saturday to remain unbeaten.
The five-year-old, which won a class 3 Highway in July on a heavy Randwick track before a spell, was strongest to the line after a weaving run through the field under Aaron Bullock on a fast surface first-up. Danny Williams-trained Highway Strip was less than a half-length away after wide run throughout.
Messara, who trains the Arrowfield team with Leah Gavranich, said the Triscay Stakes was in their plans if Clear Thinking made it four from four on Saturday, but he was not ruling out a campaign in the Country Championships.
“She just finds a way to win,” Messara said.
“She was up in company and down in weight. I think the 1200 is still her trip and she will strip fitter for today. It was a really nice to see her do it again.”