Mitch Cohen dissects Randwick Saturday

The annual Sydney jockeys’ exodus to the Brisbane Winter Carnival ensured there were plenty of opportunities and a couple of underrated hoops gladly took their chance at Randwick on Saturday.

Finding cover in running on a windy day in Sydney proved key for a few of big winners while a couple of the fence was the place to be in the straight when it matter most.

STAR OF THE DAY – REECE JONES & GRAVINA

Jones only chalked up the one winner on the card but the young apprentice certainly left his mark when winning on his first ride for breeding and racing powerhouse Godolphin. He made the most of his good draw and had Gravina travelling in the box seat. When he hit the ‘go’ button on the James Cummings-trained colt, he surged away to score by a dominant five lengths. Both horse and jockey could be set to go on with things from here. Jones has been riding well in the country and provincials and as racing heads into winter you’d expect him to start getting a few more opportunities in town, particularly given his 3kg claim.

WHAT A WIN @PaulJoice1 Best bet takes out race 5 for @JamesCummings88 and a great ride from Reece Jones! ? pic.twitter.com/gk54nd5ps2

RIDE OF THE DAY – JORDAN MALLYON

A rare appearance on a Sydney Saturday for Jordan Mallyon and he made the most of opportunity aboard the Mitchell Beer-trained Swagger. From a tricky draw in barrier seven, Mallyon elected to go forward and found a spot a couple back on the fence. Rather than wait for a run closest to the fence he had Swagger in the three-wide line as the Highway Handicap field rounded the turn into the Randwick straight. Swagger got headed by More Sundays over the final furlong and Mallyon threw everything at his galloper to get the gelding over the line.

Swagger just holds on from the fast finishing More Sunday's in the TAB Highway for @MitchBeerRacing ? pic.twitter.com/MsStZi3Gd0

RUN OF THE DAY – PARK AVENUE

Park Avenue continued his unbeaten start to life on the track with a strong last-to-first effort in the opener on the card. Apprentice Jean Van Overmeire had the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained juvenile in the final pairing alongside Conexy in the run before pealing widest at the top of the straight. Much of the focus was on the Hawkes Racing-trained Sacred Field but Park Avenue blew straight by him in the straight and gunned down the brave Winning Verse, trained by Marc Conners, on the line. Park Avenue unsurprisingly ran the fastest last 600m of the race, clocking 33.87 seconds for the second half of the 1100m affair.

Park Avenue goes back to back to take out the first from Randwick for @Freedman_bros & @jeanvovermeire ? pic.twitter.com/ixB7vGVKwg

CLOCK STOPPER – BELLUCI BABE

The Bjorn Baker-trained mare didn’t look like she would get close to either of the leaders, Lillemor and Malkovich, around 300m from home before growing wings late to finish less than half a length off the winner. Her last 600m was the fastest of the meeting, clocking a slick 32.81 on the soft going in a race that saw the first two in running finish the quinella. She came home in 10.63 from the 400m to the 200m and 11.22 from the 200m to the winning post.

Lillemor takes out the last for @JohnOSheaRacing@LouiseDay3 was in the fight in the straight but was too strong late ? pic.twitter.com/YZwwJXShRV

PREMIERSHIP BLOW – TOMMY BERRY

Berry has been riding in white hot form on Sydney Saturdays and came to Randwick with another strong book however it didn't go to script for the talented hoop. While Berry chalked up a winner on No Compromise, his other main chances didn’t produce as expected. Hawkes Racing first starter Sacred Field ($2.40 fav) was caught a tad wide but the well-supported colt never let down as expected in the two-year-old feature. The same goes for April Rain despite Berry’s best efforts to get the $2.30 elect home. His final chance came aboard $3.80 second favourite Hulk in the last but the Chris Waller-trained gelding had to make up too much ground on the inside, clocking 33.15 seconds for his final 600m when fourth. The scratchings of Grand Rumore and Bravado certainly didn’t help Berry’s cause.

Dream Circle does it again for @DPayneRacing!@keagz88 finds the lead and is too strong ? pic.twitter.com/CidVwYsdQ7

DOUBLE UP – JAY FORD

Ford is no stranger to riding winners in town but was able to steal more of the limelight with several of Sydney’s big guns in Queensland. Wins on Adelong and Lina’s Hero pushed the lightweight hoop into double digits for metropolitan victories for the 2020/21 season. He pushed forward on Adelong and pounced on the Brad Widdup-trained mare at healthy odds of $12. Ford then took the shortest way home along the fence of Lina’s Hero, holding off Roy

Lina's Hero stuck his nose out to win for @cwallerracing

Another win for Jay Ford! ? pic.twitter.com/E0FqeUw6St

BLACK BOOKERS

Conexy – Louise Day struggled to find run in the straight before surging home along the fence. A win is coming for this two-year-old.

Park Avenue – Two from two now and reckon he can keep winning.

More Sundays – He will get his Highway eventually.

Belluci Babe – In a race dominated by the on-speed runners, Bjorn Baker‘s mare made up a stack of ground to finish with touching distance of the leaders.

JURY’S OUT

Sixgun – The son of Snitzel hasn‘t won since his debut now after he was a beaten favourite for the second time this prep on Saturday. Will need to see him do it before diving in again.

April Rain – Back to back defeats at the short quote. She was given every hope on Saturday.

Originally published asMitch Cohen dissects Randwick Saturday

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