Amur leads home Godolphin 2YO quinella
James Cummings continues to roll out the two-year-old winners with Amur edging out stablemate Inhibitions to claim the Group 3 T L Baillieu Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
It was the Snitzel colt's third career win but first at stakes level and stable representative Darren Beadman credited the team effort from Godolphin's Sydney and Melbourne operations for the result.
"This horse, he's not the easiest horse to handle on race days and the team has done a tremendous job with him and sent him up in fine order (from Melbourne)," Beadman said.
"He did a lot of his prep work here in Sydney at Crown Lodge, went to Melbourne and won his first couple down there. Wherever he's been, he has made his presence felt.
"He was able to have that nice, cushy run in the race today, now he's a stakes winner and I'm sure there's bigger and better things in store from him."
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, Amur ($5) scored narrowly over Inhibitions ($6.50) with Waverley ($8.50) third and Beadman indicated the stable also had a healthy opinion of the runner-up.
"She's a very honest filly. It will season her up nicely for the backend of her two-year-old season, early three-year-old season, so you could see her running in better races over the spring carnival," he said.
Reece Jones celebrates first G2 win
The Tulloch Stakes produced an upset result when unheralded Queensland three-year-old Tapildoodledo stormed down the outside to blouse his rivals in the Derby lead-up.
The New Zealand-bred horse had one win from 13 starts heading into Saturday's Group 2 race but had been performing consistently in Brisbane where he'd placed in three of his four prior runs.
Sent out a $20 chance, the Kerry Taplin-trained Tapildoodledo settled back in the field for apprentice Reece Jones and finished hard down the outside to nudge out Major Beel ($6) by a half-head with Awesome John ($4.20) another long neck away.
Owner Ian Taplin was thrilled with the result and said the plan was to back up in next weekend's ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
"It was amazing. To come all the way from the Sunshine Coast and to win it, incredible," Taplin said.
"I think we might be in the Derby now."
The victory was a welcome change of luck for apprentice Jones and delivered him his first Group 2 win.
Tapildoodledo firmed from $101 into $26 for the Australian Derby while New Zealand Derby placegetter Full Of Sincerity ($7) lost no admirers, doing his best work late to finish fourth in a run jockey Nash Rawiller felt would top him off for next week.
"Nice horse. He's blown a few of the cobwebs out today as far as some nervous energy," Rawiller said.
"His last 100 metres for the (ATC Australian) Derby was terrific."
Beadman, Brown wind back the clock
Former top jockeys Darren Beadman and Corey Brown had many battles on the racetrack but they found themselves rivals of a different kind at Rosehill on Saturday.
The pair stood together to watch the Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) with Brown, now a media commentator on Sky Channel, cheering for the Hawkes Racing-trained Cleveland, while Godolphin assistant trainer Beadman was in the corner of their runners Bacchanalia and Athelric.
Cleveland ($4.80 fav) and Bacchanalia ($9.50) loomed inside the final 100m to fight the race out with Beadman's charge getting the verdict by a half-head in a photo finish.
"We were going head and head like the old days, 'Browny' (Corey Brown) and myself," Beadman said.
"It was like old bull, young bull and old bull got up."
Brown dusted himself off from Cleveland's loss and said the result was typical of their riding days.
"It was just like old times and more often than not, he was on top, Daz," Brown said.
Beadman described Bacchanalia's win as well-deserved given the gelding has been a model of consistency throughout his career.
"He's been a very, very honest and game horse for us and it was a lovely ride with a light weight with Rachel (King) on board," Beadman said.
Trifecta for Waller in Emancipation
It wasn't quite a Golden Slipper, but Chris Waller was back in the winner's circle at his home track when smart mare Roots led home a stable trifecta in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m).
Roots ($6) produced a superior turn of foot to down Atishu ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths with Finepoint ($18), who raced on the speed throughout, holding on for third.
"It's not all about Golden Slippers and the biggest races in town, it's a matter of getting the best out of these lesser-grade horses. It's a good achievement," Waller said.
The Emancipation was a campaign target for Roots and now she has ticked that off, she will be considered for a start in the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) during the Brisbane winter carnival.
Waller was also rapt with the performances of Atishu and Finepoint, who both snagged valuable black-type.
While unsure of plans for his placegetters, Waller expects both to find a winnable race in the coming weeks.
"Atishu, it will be hard for her to back-up in a Doncaster (Mile) after that, and Finepoint, she's similar to Roots, she will pick up one of these races," he said.
Quote of the day: "This time last year we were hoping to win about a benchmark 70 race, so it has worked out well." – Trainer Bjorn Baker after Arapaho capped his rise through the ranks by winning the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
