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Group 1 Australian Guineas day at Flemington produced more than one unexpected result and while on occasion it left punters scratching their heads, so too connections of beaten runners.
A $301 winner of the feature race meant there was plenty of fallout from the Guineas itself and the stewards were busy, suspending two leading jockeys for careless riding. Read all the information and fallout from a big news day.
PLATOON (3rd)
Jockey Brad Parnham: “It was a great run, the pace backed off and then they quickened at the 600m and when that happened he was left flat footed, but really built to the line. He wants more ground than 1400m so he was good.”
Punters post-race: Australian Guineas day in review by James Lamb, Luke Sheehan & David Hocking Lunar Fox caused a boilover in the Guineas Image: Getty
Verry Elleegant displayed all of her fighting qualities once again, while Lunar Fox became the longest-priced Australian G1 winner in history with victory in the Guineas. Star Performer
Verry Elleegant in the Chipping Norton Stakes (Randwick R7)
Her seventh Group One win was a customary tough display as the Caulfield Cup champion staved off a quartet of horses in a five-way go to claim the G1 feature at Randwick. James McDonald had to bustle along the daughter of Zed out of the gates as she was tardy away, and then got going before the corner as she went eye-to-eye with main market rival Colette. To the inside of the Godolphin mare was Waller s other pair Funstar and Kolding, while it looked as though Avilius was going to end his winning drought of 500+ days when he travelled into it beautifully off the backs
2:55PM29 December 2020
Two plus two generally equals four, but it doesn t seem to when you look at the history of jockey betting bans.
SOMETHING DOESN’T ADD UP
Ben Melham was disqualified for five months for betting offences and giving false evidence, Damien Oliver was outed for eight months for backing a rival horse while Adam Hyeronimus was thrown out for three years for betting offences and providing false evidence. His appeal will be handed down in the new year.
I was only fair at mathematics but the numbers don’t seem to add up to me.
I realise each case is different but it’s a case of either two of the sentences are ridiculously light or one is very harsh or a mixture of both.
Greg Polson analyses the Group III Summer Cup John Thompson prepares one of the value runners in the Summer Cup at Randwick Source: Daily Telegraph
(9) Spirit Ridge rated $4
With a couple of wins overseas in the 2400m distance range before coming to Australia and getting to a middle distance for the first time since entering the Mark Newnham stable, it’s easy to see why the gelding is at the top of the ratings, he hasn’t finished worse than second in his three local starts and is ready to win however the $3.60 is on the skinny side.
(8) Primitivo rated $6
Glamour mare leads throughout in the Villiers Stakes Posted by: Mediality Racing+ at 6:17pm on 12/12/2020 Image: Steve Hart
Mark Newnham and jockey Rachel King have combined to claim their second Villiers Stakes
Trainer Mark Newnham and jockey Rachel King have combined to claim their second successive Villiers Stakes and they were thrilled to do it with stable favourite Greysful Glamour.
The five-year-old was one of the first horses through the door when Newnham took out his trainers’ licence and she has been a wonderful money-spinner.
King has also forged a dynamic relationship with her and admits she isn’t the only member of her family with a soft spot for the mare.