The Racenet team are hitting their straps at the right time of year finding eight winners across three big days of spring racing.
Paul Joice found the winners of both the Group I Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday and the Group I Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday.
Joice was bullish about Happy Clapper in the feature handicap and the Pat Webster-trained gelding didn’t let follows down, bursting clear in the final stages for a popular win, paying $2.40.
On Sunday Joice was keen to take on even-money favourite Hartnell and instead back star New Zealand mare Bonneval at $4.40.
Bonneval and Hartnell settled back in the field and made sweeping runs together into the straight. Hartnell was unable to bridge the gap and Bonneval went on to score an impressive second-up victory.
The Armchair Punter, Stephen Brassel found us the winner of the hotly contested Group II Premiere Stakes at Randwick.
The race featured Everest contestants Chautauqua, English, Fell Swoop and Clearly Innocent but it was the Ben Smith-trained In Her Time that proved too good, holding off the fast finishing English to win, paying $4.80.
Clinton Payne found the team’s third feature winner in the Group I Metropolitan.
The Robert Hickmott-trained Foundry had not won in 1322 days but proved too strong in the 2400m handicap, upsetting the favourites after drifting from $7.50 to $10 by start time.
Ben Dorries added to the team’s tally with Helarocity saluting in the Bell Potter Benchmark 75 Handicap (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
The son of Ferocity charged home from the rear of the field to score a good win in a driving finish, paying $6.
It was not only at the major Metropolitan meetings that the Racenet team was able to get a collect.
Country Crackers highlighted three winners for followers from Kembla, Wagga and the Gold Coast.
Lord Kingsley ($2.50) proved too good at Kembla, Pittsburgh ($1.90) got the money at Wagga while Dazzling Red ($2.80) proved too slick over the short course at the Gold Coast.
Also worthy of a mention are the each-way selections from Laurie Sainsbury, Brad Waters and the Stephen Brassel at big odds.
Brassel saw the $41 available about Snitzson in the Epsom Handicap as over the odds considering his feather-weight and his strong form at a mile. Snitzson battled on strongly to hold on to third at a starting price of $26.
Both Sainsbury and Waters were keen at the $31 of Mintha in Friday night’s Scarborough Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice worked home well to finish just one length off star filly Houtzen.
The team was also able to land a percentage both the Moonee Valley and the Randwick quaddie s.
The Randwick quaddie paid $3511 and the Moonee Valley quaddie $537.60.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Salsamor – It was a huge performance by this son of Tavistock in the Group II Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. He got back and worked home strongly to record the fastest final 200m of the race giving every indication that he will relish a step up in trip. He looks a genuine Victorian Derby contender.
.@kpmcevoy and Badajoz deliver for @godolphin and @jamescummings88 in the final event @Caulfield. #RacingLive pic.twitter.com/9qLIWudB8c
— Racing.com (@Racing) 1 October 2017
Villermont – Brained a maiden field at Benalla on Friday by a widening 5-1/4 lengths. Although there was little depth to the field the strength of the win suggests the son of All Too Hard has plenty of wins in store and can be followed through the grades. Such was the ease of the win Villermont has firmed into $11 second-favourite with Ladbrokes for the Victoria Derby.
BANG! Villermont wins by 7 hard held in the 4th @Benallaturfclub. #RacingLive pic.twitter.com/C3TBF5h75Q
— Racing.com (@Racing) 29 September 2017
FORGIVE FILE
Chautauqua – Started favourite but there was no early speed in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday which didn’t play into Chautauqua’s hands. If you’re keen on him in The Everest I wouldn’t be dropping off as he should get a strong tempo in the $10 million event.
Theanswermyfriend – Was taken on by Attention in the early stages of the race to set an unsustainable pace. His effort to hold on to finish fifth held plenty of merit.
