Legendary Afternoon Of Racing At Royal Randwick

6 April, 2024

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon at Royal Randwick for The Star Championships Day 1.

Heavy rain on Friday and early Saturday morning threatened the meeting, however, Royal Randwick Track Manager Michael Wood and his team gave the track the ‘all clear’ just prior to 8am.

It paved the way for a spectacular day’s racing which was highlighted by four Group 1s worth $10 million.

Les Bridge was the toast of the course after the 85-year-old trainer secured his second $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile, 39 years after his first, thanks to Celestial Legend. Bridge’s first win in the famous mile was back in 1985 with Row Of Waves.

Rising star jockey Tyler Schiller had to find the gaps in the straight with the stunning grey, with the pair flashing home once clear to defeat Godolphin’s Pericles and Chris Waller’s Militarize in a great finish. Schiller would end the day with a double thanks to Facile’s victory in the China Horse Club PJ Bell Stakes.

Other highlights on a stunning day of racing were:

*Chain Of Lightning scored his second successive win at double figure odds in Sydney, upsetting the more fancied types in the $3 million James Squire TJ Smith Stakes. The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained mare took out the Birthday Card at Rosehill a fortnight ago at a big price. For Moody, it was his second straight TJ success, having prepared I Wish I Win in 2023 (third in this one), while for Coleman it was a milestone – her first at the top level.

*James McDonald rode a patient race aboard hot favourite Riff Rocket in the $2 million ATC Australian Derby – and it paid dividends. The Chris Waller-trained gelding secured his third Group 1 and second Derby, sprinting sharply down the Randwick straight to beat the fast-finishing Ceolwulf in a great finish.

*Michael Freedman enjoyed a big day at Royal Randwick, securing a double.
The big highlight for the Randwick-based trainer was securing the $1 million Inglis Sires with promising filly, Manaal.
Ridden a treat by Jason Collett, Manaal was back last on the turn but came down the centre of the track with a sweeping run to nail Traffic Warden right on the line in a thrilling finish.
Blake Shinn rode Ducasse for him earlier in the day in the HKJC World Pool Carbine Club Stakes, positioning the son of Trapeze Artist behind the leader before peeling at the top of the straight and running away with the prize.

*Espionage got the day off on a good note for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, racing clear to win the Widden Stud Kindergarten Stakes. Ridden a treat by Tommy Berry, Espionage went on to defeat Roselyn’s Star and Hallet.

*Circle Of Fire overhauled the leaders late in the Schweppes Chairman’s Quality. Ridden by Dylan Gibbons and trained by Ciaron Maher, Circle Of Fire left it to the shadows of the post to knock off the Annabel Neasham-trained stablemates, Hopeful and Double Cherry.

*Good Banter ($5.50-$4.40) landed some nice bets in the TAB Adrian Knox Stakes. Jamie Kah timed her run perfectly on the John O’Shea-trained filly, getting the better of topweight Autumn Angel over the concluding stages with Concello winding up in third.

*Kayla Nisbet scored one of the biggest wins of her career when Asgarda proved a blowout result in the $1 million Newhaven Park Country Championships Final. The Doug Gorrel-trained galloper defeated Gallant Star and Rapbidash in a rough result to the feature.

Royal Randwick hosts The Star Championships Day 2 next Saturday (April 13) for another four Group 1s – the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup, $1 million The Star Australian Oaks and $1 million Grainshaker Vodka Queen of the Turf Stakes.