France Runs Fast Closing Times In Inglis 3YO Guineas
Having only his sixth race start, France settled in last place from his difficult barrier (13) and after going widest of all on straightening, he showed a great turn of foot in the straight to score a late-closing short head win over the dual Group One winning colt Prized Icon (More Than Ready).
France was timed to run his last 600 metres in a quick 34.44 with his last 400 metres in 22.64 while his last 200 metres in 11.32 was the fastest of the day for that section of any of the winners on the eight race card.
Patiently handled by the Snowdens, France’s recent form had been affected by wet tracks, in addition he had also been slowly away in some of his starts, but with experience and firmer going, he is a colt likely to progress to even better things.
The overall time for the Inglis 3YO Guineas was 1:23.40 which was 0.22 seconds faster than Daysee Doom (Domesday) recorded in winning the Dark Jewel Classic (Gr 3, 1400m).
In exciting finish to that race, the Ron Quinton-trained mare put up a very game effort in winning her overdue Group success and took the consistent Daysee Doom’s record to six wins from 12 starts.
Well ridden by apprentice Andrew Adkins, Daysee Doom settled well in fifth place on the rails, before getting to the front at the 200 metres. She then dug deep to hold off Prompt Response (Beneteau) to win by a long head with Serene Majesty (Fastnet Rock) a long neck away in third.
Daysee Doom was timed her final 600 metres in 34.68, last 400 metres in 23.28 with her last 200 metres in 11.72.
Earlier in the day, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable had a good result with two-year-old filly Debonairly (Snitzel) taking out the Woodlands Stakes (Listed, 1100m) and three-year-old filly Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock) winning the Denise’s Joy Stakes (Listed, 1100m).
After racing behind the leader, Debonairly got
through to take the lead at the 200 metres and went on to score by one and a half lengths, sprinting home in smart time with her last 600 metres in 33.99, last 400 metres in 22.88 with the last 200 metres in 11.88.
While Miss Debutante then staged an excellent performance in overcoming her outside barrier (16), coming from near the tail of the field with a strong finish to score clearly by two and a half lengths, her fourth win and her first at stakes level in six starts.
Time for the 1100 metre distance was 1:03.38 (11.52 200m rate) which was the fastest of the four races on the day over that journey.
Miss Debutante clocked very smart sectionals, running 44.80 for her last 800 metres, 34.08 (last 600 metres), 22.88 (last 400 metres) with her last 200 metres in 11.72.
In the Luskin Star Stakes (Listed, 1300m), Clearly Innocent (Not A Single Doubt), who was having his second run since resuming for the Kris Lees stable, was quite impressive in taking that race out for the second year in succession and remain unbeaten in six starts on the Scone track.
After a well-judged and patient ride by leading jockey Hugh Bowman, the five-year-old gelding came from back in seventh place, after tracking a solid pace, to score easily by two and a quarter lengths.
Clearly Innocent returned quick closing times with his last 800 metres in 45.36, last 600 metres (33.68), last 400 metres (22.44) and final 200 metres (11.48) and he looks set for a very good campaign for his new stable.
With the Queensland Winter Carnival now underway, the feature race last weekend was the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m) which was taken out by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained sprinter Redzel (Snitzel).
Showing his customary pace, Redzel led but was pressured in front which resulted in the first 600 metres clocking a fast 34.94 on the Soft7 track.
But Redzel showed a lot of fight in the straight, despite his early efforts, and he fought back gamely record to seventh win in 17 starts, his first at Group One level, by a half length from the late closing Chris Waller-trained Counterattack (Redoute’s Choice).
Time for the 1200 metre distance was 1:10.54 on a track which was rated 0.43 slower on average by Racing And Sports’ Time Standards.
Adjusting the times for the affected track, Redzel’s times were equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:07.96, with the first 600 metres in 33.65 and the final 600 metres in 34.31.
Another impressive performance on the Doomben program was the solid staying effort recorded by the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained gelding Shocking Luck (Shocking) in winning the Rough Habit Plate (Gr 3, 2000m).
Having his second run in Australia and his second start this preparation, Shocking Luck settled nicely for Opie Bosson in fourth place, before moving up smartly nearing the home turn.
Shocking Luck then dashed clear on straightening and then went on to score impressively by two and three quarter lengths from the Brian Smith-trained Order Again (Iffraaj) in a time of 2:06.11.
Racing And Sports rated times for the race as being 0.41 slower than average – the adjusted times being 2:02.01 for the 2000 metre journey with the first 1400 metres in 1:26.28 and final 600 metres in 35.52.
It was Shocking Luck’s second win in seven starts, both wins being over the 2000 metre distance and the gelding is now headed towards the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at Eagle Farm on 10 June with strong claims.
The TAB subsequently adjusted their early market for that race, with Shocking Luck now sharing favouritism with the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Prized Icon at $5.00.
Scone Sectional Times provided by www.dailysectionals.com.au