Home Affairs given chance to upstage more-fancied rivals in Todman
Drier track, quieter ride set to see I Am Invincible colt improve in red-hot Group 2
Coolmore is not shying away from the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) challenge with its promising colt Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) as the global racing and breeding operation looks to shore up a strong Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) hand in two weeks’ time.
Last-start Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) winner Home Affairs, one of a group of two-year-old colts raced by a syndicate led by Coolmore, will take on the three boom colts, Profiteer (Capitalist), Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) and Remarque (Snitzel), in today’s juvenile feature.
The winner of the race, the colts and geldings version alongside the Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) also on today’s Randwick card, will almost certainly start favourite in the Slipper at Rosehill on March 20.
Coolmore Australia’s racing manager Rob Archibald is well aware of the “red-hot” Todman field but he was adamant a dry track and a quiet ride from new jockey Nash Rawiller would bring out a peak performance from the $875,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate.
“All those three horses in front of him in the betting are well-credentialed and have put in good performances previously. They all deserve to be the prices they are, but we are very happy with our horse.” Archibald said.
“His first two runs have been on rain-affected ground and Chris (Waller, trainer) has been of the opinion that when he gets on quick ground like he should have (today), we will see an improved horse.”
Tomorrow’s Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) was also considered for Home Affairs but connections have elected to stay in Sydney, believing it is the right lead-up for the Golden Slipper.
“He was first-up in the Canonbury when he went into it with one trial. He was only just beaten that day and his fitness probably let him down a little bit,” Archibald continued.
“He ran a very, very good race in the Silver Slipper and I think any horse who wins the Silver Slipper deserves to take their place in the Todman and it is always a good form race for the Slipper.”
Coolmore’s Waller-trained colt O’President (Fastnet Rock) won last week’s Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and Archibald yesterday confirmed the Kia Ora Stud-bred colt would not race again before the Slipper.
“He was afforded a pretty easy time out in front and was allowed to dictate and he was just too strong. He is a lovely, big strong horse who is improving with every run,” he said.
“He improved a lot from Canterbury when he won and he looks to be on the upward curve. He is training on well from that race. He will go directly to the Slipper.”
As for comparing the two, the Slipper has been on Home Affairs’ radar from a long time out whereas O’President has come into his own in the New Year.
“Home Affairs was always probably the most obvious horse we thought we had to head towards a race like the Slipper,” Archibald said.
“Chris sent him down to Melbourne to have a preparation away. He is experienced in that sense and he’s in good form. Hopefully the first time Home Affairs and O’President meet is in the Slipper.”
One of Coolmore’s early Slipper contenders, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Inglis Nursery (RL, 1000m) winner Acrobat (Fastnet Rock), had his autumn aborted after a hock injury but the Waller-trained Head Of State (American Pharoah) could step up to fill the void.
When the colt won at Warwick Farm on February 10 over 1300 metres, he became the first Australian-bred winner for Coolmore’s US Triple Crown-winning shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile).
He was subsequently given an easy time, with Group races now on the cards for Head Of State.
Archibald said: “Head Of State trialled on Thursday and he’s going to go to the Pago Pago where we expect him to run well.
“From there, he will go into the (Group 1 Inglis) Sires’, as long as he is fit and healthy and heading in the right direction and if he ran well in the Sires’, he might go to the Champagne as well.”
Archibald on …
King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice)
King’s Legacy will be given his chance to atone for a below par three-year-old season to date in the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) today. Coolmore bought into the Inglis Sires’ (Group 1, 1400m) and ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) as a juvenile.
The colt, a $1.4 million Magic Millions graduate, was placed in the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) during the spring, but has struck trouble at his three runs since. “Look, his Randwick record is very good. He is the winner of the Sires’ and the Champagne. He has been a little bit unlucky with barriers and he’s drawn a lot better (three), so we’re hoping that if he can settle a little bit closer to the speed he will give himself a bit more of an opportunity,” Archibald said.
“His last run at Rosehill, he drew wide and ended up too far back and he just couldn’t get himself into the race. We’re well aware it’s going to be a tough ask, but the Snowdens are very happy with him at home and it’s probably going to be his last chance to prove himself.”
Personal (Fastnet Rock)
Three-year-old filly Personal is a favourite of Coolmore’s, having won the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) last preparation and trainers Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes are setting the filly for the double with the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) her ultimate aim in the autumn. Today, she runs in the Kewney Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) at Flemington after finishing runner-up to Zou Dancer (Zoustar) in The Vanity (Gr 3, 1400m) on February 13.
“She ran in the Blue Diamond, she ran in the Slipper, she’s an Oaks winner. She is just an amazing filly, beautiful looking and she never disappoints,” Archibald said. “She resumed really well last start, the team is happy, she steps up to a mile, and they expect her to be very competitive tomorrow.”
The Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) is likely to be Personal’s third-up start before going to the Oaks at Randwick.
“We could have gone to the Australian Guineas with her, but we opted to give her that little bit more time,” he said. “She likes to go to the paddock between runs and the Lindsay Park team has done a fantastic job with her.
“They have managed her beautifully from the start and it’s a credit to them.”