Melbourne Hoop shows who’s boss with the Classic win

slippers sorted

Shinzo and Steel City capitalized on the last few opportunities to enter next week’s Golden Slipper with impressive but contrasting victories at Rosehill.

Steel City led all the way and ran faster to win the Magic Night Stakes and jockey Regan Bayliss let them down the line as they won by 2 lengths over Blanc De Blanc.

“She’s just the ultimate pro. It’s not overly big, but it has a good engine,” said Bayliss.

Shinzo charged down the middle of the track to beat Maharba by 1 length, with Based Loaded third.
Chris Waller believes Shinzo has the right temperament and quality to become the first Pago Pago Stakes winner to snag the Golden Slipper since Stratum in 2005.

“He drew the outside, came back to last place and got the first half of the race right,” said Waller. “He got into a beautiful rhythm, emerged effortlessly and it was good to see him fighting the last 100.

“When he appears, it won’t hurt him [backing up]. He is the most relaxed horse imaginable.

“He’s got the build to handle it because he’s a nice spacious filly. I didn’t punish him for coming here; he did it all naturally, believe it or not.″⁣

Holland’s day

Dean Holland filled in for an injured Jamie Kah as In Secret exploded to the top of the Australian sprint ranks with a devastating Newmarket handicap at Flemington yesterday.
Kah was injured in a fall early in the afternoon, leaving Godolphin trainer James Cummings looking for a jockey who could handle the 120 lbs.
“I’m just the lucky one who got an easy ride today,” Holland said after putting In Secret down the middle of the straight to win by a length ahead of Lofty Strike and favorite I Wish I Win.

Zogotcha shows classes

Zougotcha’s class meant she was expected to win the Phar Lap Stakes, which was a repeat for Doncaster next month, and it was her class that saw her win at Rosehill yesterday.

James McDonald had the perfect run on the favorite and when he asked her to leave she went to Glint Of Silver and won Group 2 with something in hand. She joined Winx, Foxplay, Unforgotten, Verry Elleegant, Funstar and Hungry Heart as a Group 1 filly to win the race for Chris Waller.
“She’ll probably go to the Doncaster,” Waller said. “She’s low weight, she can’t be rehandicapped to win today. The Doncaster is all about beating the handicapper.”

Haggas up

Newmarket manager William Haggas returned to Australia in 2023 and has carried on when Addeybb retired from his second Queen Elizabeth Stakes win two years ago as Protagonist was too tough at the Sky High Stakes.
He gave James McDonald a winning triple by kicking and deflecting a quick finishing Zeryek.
“He’s a nice solid gallop. He’s handling himself beautifully and I think he’s going to improve a bit too,” said McDonald.

“He pulled up to the front a fair bit from home, looked up at the stars a bit, just looked around. When they got to him he found some gear, that was impressive.”

Ryan Moloney told the stewards that Zeryek wanted to stay on the straight and couldn’t ride it with his usual vigour.

Matte finish for Ajax
Murwillumbah manager Matt Dunn returned to his old home of Rosehill with Cepheus and earned himself a chance at the Doncaster with an overall win in the Ajax Stakes.
The import in his second Australian pre-season had the benefit of two finishes at Brisbane and late on kept Waterford from taking the exception from the Doncaster election.

“That was the plan when it came down. He arrived Thursday morning and has traveled well,” Dunn said. “He got a bit churned up in the yard today which was a bit of a concern but he’s hot and so is everyone today so I probably can’t blame him.

“He did a good job and it’s always nice to see Nash taking the plan into his own hands and inventing things over time. That was the best place for him in the race and he’s in the lead.”