Dubai: The second and final day of The Championships meeting at Royal Randwick, the biggest event on the Sydney racing calendar, had it all for Team Godolphin — anticipation, accomplishment and disappointment in equal measure.
Handfast, a progressive son of magnificent Darley stallion Street Cry, announced himself as an exciting horse for the future when delivering an eye-catching performance to win the Listed South Pacific Classic over seven furlongs.
Ridden confidently by Godolphin’s retained rider James McDonald, the striking three-year-old colt settled well midfield behind the leading group before being asked for his effort with two furlongs to run. Looking for a third win in four starts, Handfast responded well and quickened clear of his challenging rivals to post an impressive one and three-quarter length victory.
On a day when Godolphin’s Ambience was denied a first Group 1 victory after being beaten half a length by New Zealand filly Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, Handfast raised the spirits in Team Godolphin Australia.
“This is horse who has come through the grades quickly and convincingly,” said trainer John O’Shea.
“His last start was against older horses and he appreciated coming back to three-year-old company today.”
Rider McDonald described Handfast as a horse with great strength and a good turn of foot.
“He had to use his strength to get clear running and once he did he put them away very quickly,” McDonald said.
The Listed Hawkesbury Guineas in two weeks is a likely target for the Godolphin colt which O’Shea said was likely to be his last for his current preparation.
Street Cry, winner of the $10million (Dh36.7 million) Dubai World Cup (G1) at Nad Al Sheba in 2002, has been making a big impact on the Australian racing circuit.
This season alone he has sired 66 winners in Australia, including the country’s highest-rated runner, Winx, the winner of five Group 1 races this racing year and six in all.
Ambience is a highly-regarded staying filly by Godolphin having won the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes at Flemington last Spring, before her third placing to Jameka in the Group 1 Victoria Oaks at Flemington last November.
In the Randwick equivalent she had Jameka behind her, but just failed to outpace the tough New Zealand filly Sofia Rosa.
“That was a good, brave effort to be on the speed throughout and still be there at the finish,” O’Shea said. “She’s done a great job for us to be placed in two Classics and to win at Stakes level, I’m very proud of her.”
Meanwhile, two other Godolphin hopes, It’s Somewhat (Sam Clipperton) and Hauraki (James McDonald) had to be content with the fifth and sixth place respectively in a Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stales won by Lucia Valentina.
Gallante made all under a cunning ride by Kerrin McEvoy to win the A$2million Sydney Cup while Almoonqith, racing in the famous silks of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, but under the ownership of Shadwell Stud Australia Ltd. Syndicate, finished fifth.
