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Plays of the Week
From tight corners to trick shots, these are the most exciting, silly and downright crazy plays in the sport world this week.
PT2M13S 620 349Man of the moment James McDonald, fresh from a five-timer at Warwick Farm during the week, lamented heavily-backed favourite Pearls having her race over within a couple of strides in the Carr Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Godolphin's blueblood filly was backed late from $2.50 into $2.20, but was never a factor after settling near the tail of the field in a race won by James Cummings' pacesetter Yattarna.
"She began a bit sluggish and never mustered speed at all," McDonald told stewards. "She wasn't the best away and then didn't go. It was a non-race after that and they went too slow. I was hoping to be one-one."
Opportunity taken: Glyn Schofield and Yattarna took advantage of Pearls' off day to claim the opener at Randwick. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
The result capped a super carnival for Cummings, whose association with Glyn Schofield continues to flourish as Yattarna downed No More Tears by a half-length with Lady Sniper winding up in third.
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"We were going that slow because I was in front," Schofield quipped. "She got away with highway robbery and no one wanted to take us on."
Added Cummings: "It's been a great carnival. I've got a great team behind me and getting fast horses always helps. She put her hand up saying she was nearly ready for a break.
"She was nearly going to the paddock after being beaten at Wyong the other day. I think it's one of the things you've really got to work on as a trainer, to build your horses up and really have something left for that final run."
GUARDINI SHOWS STYLE
The Brisbane Cup looms as a major winter target for Guardini after he sped to victory in the group 3 JRA Plate.
Lee and Anthony Freedman's French-bred import impressed Hugh Bowman in a trackwork gallop at Werribee last spring and the Nathan Berry Medal winner did the job on the final day of the autumn carnival.
"I unfortunately ran him at Geelong when he was exhausted from a trip to America and a few other things but he has done brilliantly since then and his run in the Easter Cup put the mark on the board he was about to do something and there is improvement him in," co-trainer Lee Freedman said.
"He looks a nice Brisbane Cup horse and it's great for him to be in form, the owners that are in him have put a lot of money into horses, a lot of trust in me and I am really happy we got a result."
MARE A SYNDICATOR'S DREAM
News of Ammirata's win might have filtered through to a late Joe Pride via his car radio, but he could have heard the cheers from Champion Thoroughbred's jubilant owners if he was in earshot of Randwick.
The last start group 3-winning mare had the luxury of dropping back to restricted company and has set sail on a potential stakes double at Hawkesbury and Scone after victory at Randwick.
"All those types of races are ideal for her," Champion Thoroughbreds' Jason Abrahams said of the $48,000 yearling.
"She's by Nadeem so they're never really that popular in a sales ring, but out of an American mare's family. All the ingredients were there, it was just an unfashionable sire.
"For a syndicator it's almost a perfect horse. Hopefully because she was a low-rating horse and they didn't penalise her too much (for winning the Belle Of The Turf) she can keep winning."
Sam Clipperton arrived with a beautifully-timed run to score by a short neck from Alart with favourite Santa Ana Lane labouring a length back in third.
FRACTURE FEARS FOR 'LUCKY'
Lucky Can Be was rushed to the Randwick Equine Clinic after breaking down in the straight in the second race at Randwick.
Ron Quinton's mare was improving nicely into the race, but was quickly pulled up by Tim Clark as she staggered past the finishing post.
Racing NSW's senior official veterinarian Craig Suann reported the mare was whisked away with a possible fracture to her near hind pastern.
"I straightened up and it was just about the 300 (metres) - or in that vicinity - I was just starting to get to full speed and let her down and she shortened up behind," jockey Tim Clark told stewards.
"When she initially made a bit of ground in the straight I felt she was going to be in the finish."
BOYD EYES STAKES SUCCESS
Tammy Boyd's first city winner has her dreaming of stakes success in the Dark Jewel Classic with Unknown Destiny on her home track of Scone next month.
"That's been her aim all along," Boyd said.
Unknown Destiny outgunned Canberra mare Nights On Fire in the Highway Handicap, gifting Boyd a maiden metropolitan winner thanks to Kerrin McEvoy's astute ride.
But it didn't come without a brief probe from stewards, who inquired about Unknown Destiny failing to beat a runner home behind subsequent Country Championships winner Clearly Innocent at her last appearance.
"Last start we had the vet go over her and we were pretty disappointed in her," Boyd told stewards.
"We had bloods taken and nothing came up at all. We thought she could win. We didn't know how the others would come into the race, but she came into it fine.
"I've only got four horses at the moment and I haven't had many (city runners), maybe two or three."
Acting chairman of stewards Marc Van Gestel said: "Now that she has established that form we expect her to hold it."