Trapeze Artist provides a star performance in winning Saturday’s T J Smith Stakes
The 2017 Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winning colt, recorded his second Group One success in most impressive fashion, dashing clear despite a wide trip, to defeat the outstanding sprinter Redzel (Snitzel) by two lengths in the fast time of 1:08.29.
That was only 0.23 seconds outside of Deploy’s (Fastnet Rock) course record of 1:08.29, the blistering tempo being set by the runner up Redzel who clocked 56.76 for the first 1000 metres of the race before being overtaken at the 200 metre point.
Trapeze Artist’s closing sectional times were therefore quite brilliant in coming off such a hot pace – his last 1000 metres being 54.75, last 800 metres 44.24, last 600 metres in 33.33 with his final 400 metres in 22.27.
The colt is now expected to run next in the weight-for-age All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on Saturday week, which could be his final start prior to commencing a stud career in the spring.
Another to produce fast closing sectional times was the third-placed mare In Her Time (Time Thief) who came from near the tail of the field at the home turn. She was timed to run her final 1000 metres in 55.45, last 800 metres in 44.88, last 600 metres in 33.95 with her final 400 metres in 22.76.
In the feature race, the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m), the Pat Webster-trained Happy Clapper (Teofilo) succeeded in taking out his third Group One race with an outstanding win under 57 kilograms in a very fast 1:33.17.
That time was only 0.4 seconds outside of Ike’s Dream (Galileo) track record of 1:33.13, which has stood since 2004.
Happy Clapper did enjoy and ideal trip from his inside barrier, racing in fourth place on the rails before Blake Shinn steered him along the inner to take the lead shortly after turning for home.
The highly consistent seven-year-old gelding then went on to score decisively by two lengths from the Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) with Abeitsam (Snitzel) a half-neck away third – Happy Clapper conceding those horses 5.5 kilograms and 6.0 kilograms, respectively.
Happy Clapper ran some brilliant closing sectionals with his final 1400 metres in 1:19.75, last 1200 metres in 1:08.77, last 1000 metres in 57.55, last 800 metres in 46.23, last 600 metres in 34.95 with his final 400 metres in 23.12.
The hectic pace was set by the leader Arbeitsam, who was timed to run his first 1400 metres in a fast 1:21.20, so he did very well in holding on for third.
The tempo naturally saw some fast closing sectional times but the fastest were returned by the Chris Waller-trained colt D’Argento (So You Think) who came from last place in the 16-horse field to finish (2.5 lengths) fourth.
D’Argento was clocked to run his final 1400 metres in 1:18.80, last 1200 metres in 1:07.75, last 1000 metres in 56.48, last 800 metres in 45.07, last 600 metres in 34.00 with his final 400 metres in 22.91 – brilliant times.
A winner of the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) at his prior run when having his sixth race start, Saturday’s performance confirms that D’Argento looks primed to progress to a high level when he resumes as a four-year-old.
Another factor worth highlighting was that apprentice Andrew Adkins was a late replacement rider for D’Argento with stewards giving him permission to declare two kilograms overweight, the colt carrying 51 kilograms instead of his allotted 49 kilograms.
The Inglis Sires’ (registered as ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes) (Gr 1, 1400m) saw a shock result with the Newcastle-trained filly El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) coming from the tail of the field to grab a last-stride win at odds of $81.00, being a maiden after three starts.
She had her first start and was third in a two-year-old (1000m) at Tamworth in October last year and resumed with a fourth in a midweek two-year-old fillies’ maiden (1000m) at Warwick Farm on 14 March before running second in another two-year-old fillies’ maiden (1200m) at Newcastle on 31 March.
How El Dorado Dreaming came off form like that to win a Group One contest at Randwick in the manner she did is hard to fathom considering her credentials – perhaps being from a Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare, advancing to 1400 metres being one possible explanation – but it was a stunning effort, nevertheless.
The Ben Smith-trained filly had settled in second last place in the 15-horse field before Damian Lane moved her up widest of all at the home turn.
El Dorado Dreaming then produced a great turn of foot, going quickly to be in a challenging position at the 100 metres and maintained that finishing effort to score by a half-head, going away.
Time for the race was a quick 1:22.10 with the leaders running the first 1000 metres in 58.53.
El Dorado Dreaming produced the fastest closing sectionals of the race with her final 1200 metres in 1:08.17, last 1000 metres in 57.16, last 800 metres in 45.17, last 600 metres in 34.34, with her final 400 metres in 22.85 – times that suggest that her victory was far from a fluke!
The Tony McEvoy-trained filly Oohood (I Am Invincible) yet again ran well without winning, now being placed in all six starts, her last three at Group One level.
Her closing times were also very good with her final 1200 metres in 1:08.74, last 1000 metres in 57.93, last 800 metres in 46.51, last 600 metres in 34.88, with her final 400 metres in 23.17.
While the Team Hawkes-trained colt Outrageous (All Too Hard), a close up third, also impressed on the watch in coming from tenth at the home turn.
Outrageous was timed to run his final 1200 metres in 1:08.32, last 1000 metres in 57.57, last 800 metres in 46.25, last 600 metres in 34.83 with his final 400 metres in 23.16.
That trio are expected to meet again at Randwick on Saturday week where they will advance in distance in tackling the ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m, a race that will certainly answer some questions.
But do not be surprised to see El Dorado Dreaming confirm that she is not a one hit wonder.