Derby Day: Best Of Bordeaux set for Coolmore Stud Stakes
Best Of Bordeaux won at Randwick on Saturday
Crack colt Best Of Bordeaux is Coolmore Stud Stakes-bound after bouncing back to winning form in the slush at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Best Of Bordeaux, trained by Kacy Fogden, overcame a recent setback in training and led most of the way to win the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes.
Coolmore Australia supremo Tom Magnier confirmed Best Of Bordeaux will now be aimed at the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day later this month.
"We are very excited by him,'' Magnier said.
"He could have been our Everest horse but he is a real star going forward.''
Excellent win from Best Of Bordeaux 👏@BMelham @kacyfogden pic.twitter.com/zClYjOI2LE
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 8, 2022
Best Of Bordeaux was found to have a minor viral infection after running second in the Run To The Rose behind In Secret last month, forcing him out of the Heritage Stakes.
But the month between runs didn't bother Golden Slipper runner-up Best Of Bordeaux who handled the very heavy Randwick track conditions to win impressively.
"Kacy has done a great job with Best Of Bordeaux, she has been very patient with him,'' Magnier said.
"I think the colt has proved he is up with the best three-year-olds in the country and we will head to the Coolmore at Flemington with him now.''
Coolmore couldn't wait for Best Of Bordeaux to prove his fitness for The Everest, instead they used their slot to strike a deal with the ownership group of outstanding Golden Rose winner, Jacquinot, to line up in the $15m The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
"Jacquinot is third or fourth in The Everest betting so that shows we have picked the right horse,'' Magnier said.
"But we are under no illusions about the task facing Jacquinot because Nature Strip is a champion and the one to beat.
"Some days, they don't turn up and we have to hope Nature Strip has an off day but we feel Jacquinot can make a race of it on Saturday.
"It's exciting to be part of it because even though The Everest is such a young race, it has built up so quickly and has everyone in NSW talking about the race.''
Meanwhile, Coolmore's American speed machine Golden Pal tuned up for his Breeders Cup Turf Sprint defence with a brilliant win in the Group 2 Woodford Stakes in Lexington on Sunday.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Sky Command was confidently backed including one wager of $20,000 each-way at $11/$3.20 and duly landed the plunge with her all the way win in The Nivison at Royal Randwick.
Sweet Ride, who is raced in similar interests to Sky Command, was backed from $9 into $7.50 including a bet of $20,000 each-way at $9/$2.50 but found Best Of Bordeaux too strong in the Roman Consul Stakes.
At Caulfield, Paulele was responsible for 60 per cent of all investments on the Schillaci Stakes and firmed into $2.15 before his win. Some of the successful wagers on Paulele included $10,000 at $2.15, $7,000 at $2.05 and $5,000 at $2.05.
Anamoe won the Might And Power landing some big bets in the process including a wager of $20,000 at $2.15 just before the jump.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
Best Of Bordeaux (race 4) showed his class in the Roman Consul Stakes, leading throughout and scoring with authority. He was challenged at the top of the straight but responded impressively and won by an increasing margin of nearly two lengths.
Opal Ridge (race 6) scored her fourth win from seven starts with a dominant effort in the Tapp-Craig. This talented filly followed a stakes placing in the Heritage Stakes on a good track by romping away in very heavy conditions at Randwick. She was unlucky not to secure a slot in The Kosciuszko.
Never Talk (race 5) was last at the 600m and defied the track bias to run on strongly for second in The Nivison. She's bursting to win a race, particularly if she gets another rain-affected track next start. Heresy made her run with Never Talk and also finished gamely.
Kote (race 2) took up the advantageous leader's role but he still had a fair bit on this field. He led throughout, revelling in the very heavy conditions and broke clear in the straight to win by a comfortable margin. Next stop stakes racing.
King Frankel (race 3), a son of English super horse Frankel, was heavily backed into favouritism at his second Australian start, finishing third to Navajo Peak. King Frankel loomed up three-wide on the turn and looked set to win but faded slightly in the very heavy conditions. He got to 2000m quickly for this run, will be fitter next start and can bounce back on a drier surface.
CRUNCH TIME
Best Of Bordeaux (race 4) was made to work early to lead then was put under pressure from the 600m which he put behind him in 37.44s. He really lifted the final 200m with a sectional of 12.89s to draw clear of his rivals and win comfortably.
Never Talk (race 5) is a proven mudlark as she demonstrated in The Nivison running on strongly to finish second behind Sky Command, recording a final 600m sectional of 36.69s and 200m of 12.53s - both splits were the best of the meeting.
Heresy (race 5) finished third in The Nivison and ran closing splits of 36.99s and 12.59s, times which were bettered only by runner-up Never Talk.
Jalmari (race 1) was one of only three horses all day to break 13s for the final 200m in very testing conditions, getting home in 12.91s to claim third.
TRACK TALK
"We are four weeks between runs and there are a lot of fitter horses in there than him I think so what he's done is just tremendous,'' said Kacy Fogden, trainer of Best Of Bordeaux.
"Best Of Bordeaux's had an interrupted prep. He's been a serious candidate for the spring the whole way through and in fairness to Kacy and the whole team, they've handled this horse magnificently. They've had some tough days but there are highs and lows in this sport and that's one of the high ones,'' said Tom Magnier from Coolmore.
He leads, he wins. 👊
Best Of Bordeaux claims the Roman Consul honours. @kacyfogden@BMelham@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/za6iEcyL8l
- SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 8, 2022
"It's rideable with horses that handle it, but it's pretty dangerous," said Tyler Schiller, rider of Opal Ridge.
"There would be a few (Kosciuszko) slot owners sitting at home wishing they had her,'' said Luke Pepper, trainer of Opal Ridge.
"We tried for this race to have the riders positioned away from the rail to find some better footing, but even the riders that did end up being out three, four, five (horses) away from the rail expressed concerns, not only over visibility, but footing also. When you've got the combination of those two, it's difficult to continue,'' said Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel.
STEWARDS SAY
Pink Ivory (race 3) was slow to begin and from its wide barrier was shifted behind runners in the early stages, then raced keenly in the early stages. Jockey Jason Collett reported that with the moderate early pace he was obliged to make a move on his mount near the 600m, but once placed under pressure the mare did not travel well through the heavy track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be slow to recover and was lame (1/5) in the near-foreleg.
Pale King (race 3) blundered in the going on a number of occasions, lost confidence and, as a result, was unable to finish off the race in the heavy track conditions. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.
Promise Of Success (race 5) did not stretch out comfortably on the heavy surface and failed to respond to riding in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.
Expat (race 5) was again slow to begin today and despite being ridden along in the early stages failed to muster speed to take up a forward position. Expat did not travel well at any stage and was disappointing. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be coughing and to be lame (1/5) in the off-foreleg.
RANDWICK SNAPSHOT
With Ron Dufficy
RUN OF THE DAY
Although she had the rub of the green as far as the pattern of the day was concerned, Opal Ridge was great taking her form from 1100m to 1400m and getting the job done on Saturday. She really earned her big payday in those testing conditions.
FORGET THEY RAN
A forgettable day for everything that got back and had to come more than two off the fence. Those type of horses on the day had no chance and could easily improve out of sight.
ONE TO FOLLOW
One horse that did catch the eye doing more than enough out wide was Pericles. He appears a likely type that might win a nice race in the future.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Impossible to single out any great ride on the day as speed was gold on the day but Ben Melham at least showed plenty of intent early on Best Of Bordeaux taking the opposition inside him out of play. He is a jockey who has great hands who relaxed him nicely after that.
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