Punters did not just get the cash off Shaun Beirne last night.
They filled up.
Headbanger put them away by the length of the straight and the 1+ Length play at $2.80 never looked in doubt. It was clinical.
Shaun took it in stride.
“If I’m going to get beat, I’d rather it be loud,” he said. “At least everyone knows where they stand.”
Today is a very different setup.
The good horses are back. Randwick. First-up runners everywhere. Different fitness levels. Different levels of intent.
“This is the sort of card where late moves are going to be crucial,” Shaun said. “There are a lot of horses resuming. Some are here to win. Some are here to build.”
Add in the mounting yard and the parade and the picture could change quickly.
“You’ll learn more in the final ten minutes than you will the previous two hours.”
But on raw assessment, one race stands out.
Randwick Race 7 – Angel Capital
The pace looks moderate. Caballus and Coal Crusher probably set the tempo.
Joliestar resumes with an outstanding first-up record, four wins from six fresh and she saluted first-up last prep after heavy support. She clashed with Angel Capital in The Everest, started one fifth her odds and beat her home.
The form guide tells one story. Shaun sees it differently.
“Angel Capital was very unlucky that day. The margin doesn’t tell you the full picture.”
Angel Capital then went to the CF Orr and was beaten but far from disgraced at weight-for-age level. Since then, the pair have met in a recent trial.
“Yes, it was only a trial,” Shaun said. “But I thought Angel Capital trialled much better. He looked sharper.”
In what shapes as a genuinely competitive race, Shaun is comfortable taking a view.
“I can find holes in the rest. Whether it’s map, fitness, or ratings, there are queries.”
Which leaves him with just one horse: “Happy to be with Angel Capital and we will take on the balance of the field.”
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