CHAMPIONS SHINE AT ROYAL RANDWICK
April 1, 2023
Royal Randwick turned black and white for The Star Championships Day One which featured four sought-after Group 1 races.
The Group 1 $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile saw Mr Brightside go back-to-back for brothers Ben & JD Hayes and become just the 10th dual winner in the race’s 158-year history. After the race JD said, he’s a very special horse, we’ve known it all along, but he’s now a very special horse in his own right doing something like that. Couldn’t be happier.”
It was the third The Star Doncaster Mile victory for star Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton who said all the credit must go to the stable.
The Group 1 $3 million Furphy TJ Smith Stakes saw I Wish I Win come from last to spoil Nature Strip creating history and winning four editions of the race. I Wish I Win won the $10 million Golden Eagle in the spring and looks to have a very bright future ahead for trainer Peter Moody. It was his and jockey Luke Nolen’s third win in the race having won in 2011 and 2013 with Black Caviar.
Group 1 $2 million Australian Derby gave Gai Waterhouse her first win in the race which she shared the success with Adrian Bott when Major Beel ridden by Tim Clark caused an upset.
The Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires’ for two-year-olds was won by Militarize trained by Chris Waller. It was the second win of the day for world-class jockey Joao “Magic Man” Moreira who has traveled from Hong Kong for a short stint in Sydney.
The raceday also featured the Newhaven Park Country Championships Final won in an upset by Sizzle Minizzle for trainer Brett Robb and gave jockey Sam Clipperton his second win of the day.
Top UK jockey Tom Marquand is back in Sydney and won on The Fortune Teller. Next week he will be aiming to win his third Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes when he partners with the William Haggas trained Dubai Honour.
The crowd danced the day away to PNAU (DJ SET) in the Theatre Of The Horse.
Next Saturday see’s another four Group 1 races at Royal Randwick on The Championships Day 2 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day.
It features the 70th running of the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Anamoe going for 10 Group 1 wins. Then Hot Dub Time Machine will perform after the last.