Monday Musings from Saturday

It was a big day of spring racing across Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday with the Racenet team picking up four winners and finding a number of blackbookers that can be followed into feature races in the coming weeks.

Ben Dorries and Laurie Sainsbury were the star performers on Saturday and saved their best until the final race at Flemington on Saturday.

The pair were keen on the David Brideoake-trained Hardham in the Sofitel Girls' Day Out Handicap (1700m) after a solid performance first-up over 1400m at Caulfield. The four-year-old had claimed the Group II Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) in the autumn and was always going to relish the step-up in distance.

Luke Nolan gave Hardham the perfect ride just behind the speed in fifth position, easing across heels into the straight to forge to the front and hold off the fast finishing challenge of Nozomi by three-quarters of a length, with a further short-half-head back to veteran Jacquinot Bay.

The son of Redoute's Choice was supported from $9 into $7.50 but the clear blackbooker out of the race was Amelie's Star which was despairingly held up for the entirety of the straight. The Darren Weir-trained mare may even have claims as a light-weight Caulfield Cup chance.

Redzel was the horse on all the good judges' lips when it came to the Group II Shorts and it was no different at Racenet with Paul Joice confident his Everest tip would continue to build momentum into the race.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding was positioned just behind the leader Ball Of Muscle in the run by Hugh Bowman before shooting clear for a 1-1/4-length win. He seems to have gone to a new level this preparation and was also made the best bet of the weekend by bookmakers from Sportsbet and Unibet.

Christian Jantzen from Sportsbet also landed a big result in race one at Flemington, tipping the Ciaron Maher-trained Fox Swift as the best value of the day at $18 in 'Tips From The Big Bookies'. The daughter of Foxwedge scrambled in for a narrow victory over the charging Split Lip.

Unbeaten Godolphin colt Viridine was tipped as the value play in Weekend Winners and impressed in the Heritage Stakes (1100m).

James Cummings had three horses in the race and from a betting perspective it appeared that Viridine was the least fancied of the trio. However, the son of Poet's Voice was too good for his rivals, scoring a strong 1-1/4 length victory at $7 over the unlucky Single Bullet that should have finished closer, and was tipped on top by the Armchair Punter.

SORTING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF

Below are jockey comments from Randwick which highlight some hidden runs plus those runners that have been given the biggest pushes as coming winners.

Randwick

Listed Schweppes Heritage Stakes (1100 Metres)

Group III Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400 Metres)

Group II Mcgrath Estate Agents Tea Rose Stakes (1400 Metres)

Group II Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100 Metres)

HORSES TO FOLLOW

New Tipperary – Pajaro is a horse that would be finding itself in many people's blackbook after its eye-catching performance in the Group III Bill Ritchie Handicap, but at a second glance the hidden performance in the race was the Joe Pride-trained New Tipperary. The son of High Chaparral was speculated in betting and although beaten 2-3/4 lengths was charging home late. He was the only horse in the race to record two sub-11 second sectionals between the 600m and the 200m before peaking on his run late, which is understandable considering he was first-up. Second-up last preparation New Tipperary was beaten a half-head in the Ajax Stakes (1500m) by subsequent Doncaster Handicap winner It's Somewhat. He will likely run in the Epsom Handicap next where he has been assigned a featherweight of 50kg.

New Tipperary and Pajaro worked home strongly in the Bill Ritchie Handicap

Redkirk Warrior – Horses don't easily break 100-year-old records as this horse did when winning the Newmarket Handicap first-up last preparation. He then wasn't sighted in two subsequent runs in Sydney but that can be put down to the unsuitable heavy tracks. He returned in magnificent fashion in the Group II Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) over the Newmarket course on Saturday, reminding us all of his quality and stamping himself as a serious contender for The Everest. Hall Of Fame trainer David Hayes has been bullish about his prospects for some time now and I'm keen to be with him at the current quote of $8.50 with Sportsbet.

Redkirk Warrior blew them away in the Bobbie Lewis Quality

FORGIVE FILE

Amelie's Star – It was a cringeworthy watch if you were on the Darren Weir-trained Amelie's Star in the Sofitel Girls' Day Out Handicap (1700m) at Flemington. The Group II-winner was strangled off heels all the way down the straight and never got a crack at them. She looked to have plenty to give and is in for a big preparation. I wouldn't leave her out of Caulfield Cup calculations with just 51kg.

 Amelie's Star never got a crack at them on Saturday

SIN BIN

Veladero – Sat behind the eventual winner in third throughout the run on Saturday but dropped out badly in the straight to be beaten 7-1/2 lengths by Embley. Needs to produce a better effort before you can consider backing him again, especially at the $4 and $5.50 he has started in his two starts this prep.