Favourite Cliff’s Edge set a suicidal pace in Saturday’s Australian Guineas
The winner Grunt (O’Reilly), a New Zealand-bred colt from the Mick Price stable, was patiently ridden by Damien Oliver and remained back in sixth place before coming with a well-timed bid to score by half a length in the quick time of 1:34.99.
Another lightly raced and promising colt Peaceful State (Animal Kingdom) ran on from eighth to take second with the filly Bring Me Roses (High Chaparral) holding on for third after enjoying a good trip on the rails.
The Darren Weir-trained Cliff’s Edge, the $4.60 favourite, had worked hard to overcome his difficult barrier (15) and after eventually crossing to the front, his rider John Allen let him stride along at a good tempo before dashing clear rounding the home turn, establishing a long lead entering the Flemington straight.
He then dropped out over the final 200 metres to finish (4.7 lengths) seventh – a telling feature of the colt’s early sectional times revealed that he had clocked a very fast and taxing 56.83 for the 1000 metres (from the 1400m to the 400m point).
A full breakdown of Cliff’s Edge’s 200 metre sectionals (from the 1400 metres) being: 10.76, 11.32 (400m in 22.08), 11.49 (600m in 33.57), 11.60 (800m in 45.17), 11.66 (1000m in 56.83), 11.97 (1200m in 1:08.80) before tiring over the final stages clocking 13.15 for his last 200 metres.
Cliff’s Edge is a consistent and classy colt having won five of his 12 previous starts (with four placings), a highlight being his victory by almost three lengths in the Caulfield Classic (Gr 3, 2000m) at Caulfield in October – Saturday’s seventh being an understandable blip on an otherwise impressive career record.
The pace in the Australian Guineas is expected to see it prove a reliable form reference, especially the winner Grunt who was having only his fifth start having now won all four runs this preparation, advancing from a maiden at Werribee in December to being a Group One winner in March.
Grunt returned fast closing sectional times with his last 1400m metres in 1:20.84, last 1200 metres in 1:09.80, last 1000 metres in 58.16, last 800 metres in 46.53, last 600 metres in 34.76 with his last 400 metres in 23.53.
While the runner-up Peaceful State clocked his last 1400m metres in 1:20.70, last 1200 metres in 1:09.59, last 1000 metres in 57.99, last 800 metres in 46.42, last 600 metres in 34.67 with his last 400 metres in 23.56.
The feature race at Randwick on Saturday was the Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) which saw the return of the champion Winx (Street Cry) and the mighty mare showed she is at least as good as ever (possibly better although that is hard to imagine) with an effortless seven lengths victory – her 23rd win in succession and her 16th at Group One level.
Always impressive on the watch, Winx came from near last in the nine-horse field, enjoying a solidly run race on the affected Soft 5 conditions, to score in a very smart 1:34.92 for the 1600 metre journey.
Some of her impressive closing sectionals being her last 600 metres (34.82), last 1000 metres (58.17) and last 1200 metres (1:09.98) but especially her final 1400 metres which was a really quick 1:21.09.
She runs next in the George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m) at Rosehill on 24 March, prior to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on 14 April, when connections of the seemingly unstoppable superstar are expected to subsequently confirm if Winx is to head to Royal Ascot in June.
On the subject of noteworthy sectional times, the Godolphin-raced four-year-old gelding Osborne Bulls (Street Cry) returned a surprising highlight in taking out the final race at Randwick, the Benchmark 85 (1200m).
Possessing a record that is light years away from Winx (even if he is by the same sire), Osborne Bulls actually clocked some of the fastest closing sectionals on the nine-race card – including Winx!
Osborne Bulls ran on strongly from back in seventh place for an easy length and three-quarter win in a time of 1:10.71 on a track still rated as Soft 5, although it probably had dried out reasonably well by the time of the last race.
Even so, Osborne Bulls was timed to run his last 1000 metres in 56.68, his last 800 metres in 45.59, last 600 metres in 34.10 with his final 400 metres in 22.87 – impressive times.
It was Osborne Bulls first start since winning a Benchmark 75 (1250m) at Canterbury in October and it was his fifth win in a six-start career to date.
In the Liverpool City Cup (Gr 3, 1300m) the winner Crack Me Up (Mossman) and fourth-placed Egg Tart (Sebring) also impressed on the watch.
Returning to Randwick after winning the Villiers Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) on 16 December, Crack Me Up was having his first run since January and his first outing for the Bjorn Baker stable and the four-year-old gelding did very well in running on from ninth for a soft half-length victory at the post.
Crack Me Up was timed to run his final 1000 metres in 1:08.02, last 1000 metres in 56.99, last 600 metres in 34.37 with his last 400 metres in 23.05.
The Chris Waller-trained mare Egg Tart, a dual Oaks-winning filly last season, was also resuming and was having her first run since racing at Flemington in November.
She came from second last place in the 12-horse field and having finally worked into clear running at the 150 metre, Egg Tart caught the eye with her late-closing fourth, beaten a length.
Egg Tart was timed to run her final 1200 metres in 1:08.02, last 1000 metres in 56.99, last 600 metres in 34.37 with her last 400 metres in 23.05.