Randwick on Saturday provided one of the clearest form reference meetings of the Sydney Autumn Carnival so far, with several major two-year-olds and staying performances set to shape markets over the coming weeks. From Golden Slipper implications to emerging staying types building toward longer targets, the meeting delivered plenty for punters to assess beyond the raw results.
Dean Watling has run the rule over the key runners through his weekly Buy, Hold, Sell lens, identifying horses ready to peak next start, runners worth forgiving, and a handful whose campaigns may already be nearing a crossroads. A luckless Group 2 juvenile sits firmly in the “Buy” category, while injury setbacks and tactical concerns force others into the Sell column.
Buy
Central Europe – Was a good thing beaten on Saturday. The extremely well-bred 2yo was on debut in the G2 Skyline – he jumped well but got into an awkward spot on the turn when pocketed by Fireball and the eventual winner Campione D’Italia. He had to ease up, go back and around that horse before letting down again. Needs to now win the Pago Pago to make the Slipper, dare say if he does it’ll be his Slipper to lose.
Bear On The Loose – Sat on speed through this 2000m second-up contest – massive gap back to third and we know his best comes at 2000m+. Right on track for a third-up win.
Mal Coupe – Winning machine, five in a row now and has added dry and soft tracks to his CV. Any rain around only adds to his confidence. On the way up.
Hold
Warwoven – Only beaten 0.45L overall. Was 56 days between runs, started $1.80 and was taken to the inferior inside going from gate 1. That will bring him on leaps and bounds now, I dare say he’ll have a trial between now and the Slipper too.
Lindermann – Soft track is okay for him but he pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia. Total forgive and we may get odds third-up. Back to dry and 2000m now.
Trinity College – beaten 6.81L so on face value it looks poor. But this was a very sneaky run, slowly run 1600m race before reeling off the sixth-fastest L400m of the meeting. Not giving up.
Willaidow – pulled up 1/5 lame, not ideal for the prep but can be forgiven.
Sell
Ceolwulf – Unfortunately he has bled from one nostril and has been sent to the paddock. Concerning for a rising star after a blood-in-nostril issue first-up as well. Let’s hope he comes back.
Apocalyptic – Not sure she’s come back this prep. She was very plain first-up when seemingly getting every chance, second-up she showed no signs of improvement. Happy to be against her for the rest of the prep.
Zarastro – Gollan and Jones have a wonderful combination in Queensland but she got it wrong on Saturday in Sydney. A new jockey for mine, back-to-back runs this prep where he has been poorly rated out in front again. +2.9L early speed on Saturday. He’s going well, no doubt, but needs to build into his races.
