Scales Of Justice Looks Primed For Eastern States Eastern States Campaign
The 2016 Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Scales Of Justice (Not A Single Doubt) has returned to racing in Western Australia in top form, his win in Saturday’s Hyperion Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) again showing the Perth star is well capable of being effective against Eastern States opposition.
Having his second start back since finishing second to the Darren Weir-trained Stratum Star (Stratum) in the Kingston Town Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) at Ascot on 3 December, Scales Of Justice impressed with his all-the-way win at Belmont on Saturday.
He was smartly away and soon went to the front, rider Daniel Staeck then settled Scales Of Justice well, the four-year-old gelding setting a reasonable tempo with first 1000 metres clocking 1:03.08 seconds.
On turning for home, Scales Of Justice grabbed a break before drawing away over the closing stages to win easily by three lengths, dashing home his last 600 metres in 34.45, which was the fastest recorded by any winner on the eight-race card.
Scales Of Justice has now raced 16 times for eight wins, seven seconds and one third for prize money earnings of $1,266,350 with his start being the Strickland Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) at Belmont on 1 July.
After that Scales Of Justice is likely to be set for a Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign with the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) in October potentially as one of the main objectives, connections already commenting realistically that a placing behind Winx (Street Cry) would be more than satisfactory.
“Perth horses have been very competitive in recent times in the Eastern States and he’s the best of the lot of them,” Lindsey Smith said after Saturday’s Hyperion Stakes victory.
The Rosehill meeting on Saturday opened with the running of the Two-Year-Old Handicap (1350m) with two promising colts fighting out the finish, victory going to the Godolphin-raced Gaulois (Street Cry) who produced smart closing sectional times considering the Heavy 8 track.
Brenton Avdulla soon had Gaulois in front following a quick beginning, and the colt then settled well, setting a moderate early pace which saw the first 750 metre run in 47.74 (12.73 200m) rate, which is equivalent to 800 metres in 50.92.
The pace lifted noticeably from the 600 metre point, Gaulois got a break at the 300 metres and after being challenged halfway down the straight, he drew clear to score with something in hand by a length from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Hualalai (Street Cry).
Gaulois was timed to run his last 600 metres in 35.67, last 400 metres in 23.64 and his last 200 metres in 11.86 on a track rated as 0.50 seconds slow per 200 metres by Racing And Sports.
The effort of the runner up Hualalai impressed.
Ridden quietly by Tommy Berry, Hualalai settled back in second last place in the nine horse field, he made a wide move rounding the home turn and did well in the sprint home in getting within a length of the winner.
Hualalai ran some of the best closing sectional times of the meeting, with his last 600 metres in 34.54, last 400 metres in 22.99 with his final 200 metres in 11.84.
The annual Ipswich meeting was the feature meeting in Queensland with Godolphin having a good day, including another promising juvenile winner in Revenire (Lonhro) who put up a good effort in winning the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1100m).
Having his third race start, Revenire did not show a lot of early pace and after settling back in seventh place, the colt ran on strongly, and after taking the lead at the 100 metres, he drew away to score comfortably by a length and a half.
Time on the Soft 7 track was 1:05.02 (11.82 200m rate), equivalent to 1:10.93 on a track rated by Racing And Sports as being 0.37 seconds slow per 200 metres and the final 600 metres of 35.13 was the quickest of any of the winners on the program.
Godolphin highlighted a good day by providing first and second in the final race on the card, the Gai Waterhouse Classic (Listed, 1350m) with Maternal (Street Cry) beating her stablemate Kinshachi (Commands) by a long head.
Time for the race was 1:22.22 (12.18 200m rate), equivalent to 1400 metres in 1:25.26, with the last 600 metres being covered in 35.55. (Racing And Sports rated the race as being 0.48 seconds per 200 metres.)
The average early pace and sprint home from the 600 metres, added merit to the performance of the runner up Kinshachi as she came from sixth at the 600 metre and was beaten narrowly, in addition she carried 59 kilogram top weight, conceding 4.5 kilograms to the winner.
The David Brideoake-trained stayer Self Sense (Street Sense) took out a truly run Ipswich Cup (Listed, 2150m) in very easy fashion, his first win since taking out the Kilmore Cup (Listed, 1600m) in February 2015.
A well supported favourite, Self Sense settled well back in sixth place behind a good tempo set by the free running Court’s Star (Court Command) before moving up from the 600 metres.
Self Sense took the lead on turning for home and then raced away, seemingly appreciating the Soft 7 track, to win by six and three quarter lengths.
Time for the 2150 metre journey was 2:14.27 (12.49 200m rate) with the final 600 metres in 36.67 (12.22 200m rate).
The runner up Benzini (Tale Of The Cat), although beaten by a decisive margin, deserves mention as the New Zealand-trained stayer carried 60 kilogram top weight and conceded the winner six kilograms and he came from near last in the 14-horse field with a wide move from the 800 metres.