Racing
Coolmore Classic goal for Verona Rose
A look at the Verry Elleegant Stakes undercard at Randwick.
Quinton continues good form at Randwick
Ron Quinton has jokingly laid down the gauntlet to premier horseman Chris Waller after celebrating his second Saturday metropolitan success in as many weeks.
Following the victory by Signor Tortoni at Rosehill last weekend, Quinton produced Bryant to take out the Midway Handicap (1100m) at Randwick, nudging his season tally of city wins to seven while Waller heads the premiership table with 102.
"How many am I behind Chris Waller now?" Quinton quipped.
"Tell him to look out."
The addition of blinkers provided the spark Bryant ($3.90 fav) needed to get another win on the board, the gelding overcoming a wide run to sprint to the front and overcome Shaggy ($8) by a half-length with Los Padres ($41) another neck away.
Tim Clark admitted it wasn't his prettiest ride but said he was prepared to take his medicine from a wide draw, knowing Bryant had the fitness base and ability to cope.
"It's never great when you're four-wide, no cover, is it?" Clark said.
"To get cover, I was going to have to give away three or four lengths, and I was going to have to make that up at the end.
"It was more about getting him comfortable. He had the blinkers on, back in trip, so he had that good grounding to do it a little bit tough and still be strong for me at the backend."
Brave Xena lands emotional Highway win
Brave Xena kept her unbeaten record intact and provided trainer Luke Pepper with an emotion-charged win in the TAB Highway (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Pepper wasn't on track as he was grieving the passing of his father on Friday night.
But emerging apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald wore a black armband in honour of Pepper's father as she brought three-year-old filly Brave Xena down the centre of the Randwick home straight for an impressive win.
"Don't tell me there is no such thing as divine intervention,'' said Sky Thoroughbred Central host Greg Radley as Brave Xena ($4.20) finished strongly to win by nearly a length from Neil ($3.90 favourite) with Satin Stilleto ($7) just over a length away third.
Brave Xena demonstrated above average ability to dash over the Randwick 1000m in a slick 57.06s including a final 600m sectional in 33.32s.
It is some training effort by Pepper as Brave Xena has made the perfect start to her race career, winning three races on the bounce, all during February, including the quick back-up from her Nowra win last Sunday to take out the Highway.
"I had never ridden her before, but she is a beautiful filly to ride,'' Fitzgerald said.
"She does everything right in her races and tries so hard.''
Brave Xena could be the next good horse to come out of the Pepper stable.
A renowned horseman, Pepper has trained some very talented horses over the years including most recently multiple stakeswinner and $1.2 million earner Opal Ridge.
Mr Monaco prevails in tight finish
Ciaron Maher is positive there is much more to come from import Mr Monaco after he emerged victorious from a two-horse war with eventual runner-up Bear On The Loose in Saturday's Asahi Super Dry Handicap (2000m).
Mr Monaco ranged up to the frontrunner at the top of the straight but as with most horses out of Tulloch Lodge, Bear On The Loose wasn't giving up without a fight.
The pair settled down to fight out the race, Jason Collett getting everything out of the Maher-trained gelding to get the verdict by a half-head.
"He (Jason Colett) actually said he thought he was going to get there too soon, and it ended up being a slog," Maher said.
"The other horse is very strong."
Mr Monaco was having just his fifth Australian start, and the win was his second locally after he claimed a 2400m race at Caulfield in October.
Maher expects him to continue his progression, especially as he's stepped up in trip.
"We see it time and time again with these imports. He did a good job to win a race his first 'prep' and they always blossom at their second and he's done that," he said.
'Perfect ride by Jase and he's only going to get better as he stretches out in trips over a further distance.
Mr Monaco holds a nomination for the Sydney Cup (3200m) in which he's been weighted with 50kg.
McDonald questioned over Pembrey ride
James Mcdonald told Racing NSW stewards he made a call and "stuck to it" when queried about his ride on Queensland filly Pembrey in the Sweet Embrace Stakes.
The youngster showed natural speed out of the gates to lead throughout for a 5-1/2 length romp on debut at Eagle Farm, but when she began awkwardly on Saturday, McDonald opted to take a sit.
"At any point did it cross your mind the better option might have been to let her stride?" chief steward Tom Moxon asked.
McDonald said he was mindful the $2.45 favourite was jumping from 1000m to 1200m and once she didn't fly the gates, he was loathe to press the button in case it prompted her to over-race.
Stewards asked what tactics had been discussed with trainer Tony Gollan and the jockey said they agreed to position the filly, "where she was comfortable".
"I made a decision, and I stuck to it," McDonald said.
"I would have ridden the filly aggressively if I knew I was going to get hemmed up."
Pembrey was in restricted room for much of the straight and finished off nicely enough for fifth, 1-1/2 lengths behind winner Spicy Miss.
Stewards noted McDonald's explanation, agreeing he should have been more aggressive, but didn't take any further action.
Portelli's Rose triumphant in Guy Walter
Gary Portelli has remembered fellow Warwick Farm trainer, the late Guy Walter, after winning the race named in his honour with Coolmore Classic-bound mare Verona Rose.
A renowned horseman who oversaw the careers of stars such as Tie The Knot, Walter died suddenly in 2014, aged just 59.
An emotional Portelli said Walter was never forgotten and that claiming the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) with Verona Rose was "a special moment", especially given the presence on course of Walter's widow, Wendy.
"I looked at Wendy and I started to cry and she said, 'don't look at me again'. It's a very special win," Portelli said.
"Guy was a great mate to us all at Warwick Farm and he is sorely missed."
Verona Rose backed up a promising first-up performance with Saturday's Group 2 victory, giving Portelli confidence as she pressed ahead to the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill next month.
"We were aiming her for an Oaks when I first bought her, she's got a pedigree to run two miles," he said.
"But she is brilliant and in a Coolmore, down in the weights, she should be very competitive."
Quote of the day: "Really happy with him. He slipped pretty badly out of the gates, which wasn't ideal. Both back legs went from underneath him. He kept finding well. He will take plenty of improvement from the run." – Jockey Rachel King on Golden Slipper fancy Warwoven after his close fourth in the Skyline Stakes.
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