“When the other horse came at us, I thought he had us cold,” Collett said. “But he dug in and found another gear and was strong.”
Astute buy Eliyass takes Lord Mayors Cup on Australian debut
Astute Bloodstock principal Louis Le Metayer went to last year’s Arc De Triomphe with his family and was looking for stayer at the horses in training sale run in conjunction with Europe’s biggest race when he found Eliyass.
The import, which possessed a brilliant record in France of six wins from eight starts, began his Australian career with an impressive Lord Mayors Cup win at Randwick on Saturday.
Eliyass kicks clear in the Lord Mayors Cup.Credit: Getty
“I got him for 350,000 euros and I couldn’t believe it,” Le Metayer said. “He was an Aga Khan horse that won a race as a two-year-old and then missed a year because of a hind fetlock injury.
“He came back as a four-year-old and won five from seven and in stakes company, and when we vetted him, he was perfect. I was really surprised when we got him for that price.
“He was easy to sell. Gai Waterhouse called me almost straight away and said she wanted to train him, so that was an easy decision.”
Waterhouse and Adrian Bott had Eliyass ready to go first up at 2000m, and when Tim Clark asked him sprinted he put a gap in his rivals.
Eliyass started at $7.50 and quickly put away stablemate and favourite Sir Lucan in the straight and went away to score by 1¾ lengths from Hopeful ($8), with Williamsburg ($4.40) another 1¼ lengths away third.
“He got himself into a good spot just back off the speed, so he had an economical run throughout. When he peeled out from the 600, he towed me into the race nicely and won with some authority,” Clark said.
“You’d like to think there is a bit more to come from him in the future, and he could potentially have a really light campaign now and a quick turnaround to the spring.
“You never know what races he could end up in. Up to a mile-and-a-half [2400m] will be no problem for him. There are plenty of options for him and they do a great job with their horses, so they’ll find the right races.”
Fleetwood has Magic Million aim
Godolphin have a long-term eye on the Magic Millions with smart sprinter Fleetwood after he made it back-to-back wins this preparation at Randwick on Saturday.
Kerrin McEvoy settled just off the speed on Fleetwood ($5.50) and rolled through the inside to take the front at the 200m and held on to beat $2.20 favourite The Black Cloud by 1¼ length, with Jambalaya ($8.50) a closing third a further half-length back.
“He is by one of our stallions in Encryption, and he is building a very good record,” Godolphin assistant trainer Darren Beadman said. “James [Cummings] has him in at this time of year to get him through the grades and is already thinking of getting him back to the Magic Millions.”
McEvoy, who had earlier won on Bright Red, believes there is more to come from Fleetwood.
“He just has a sharp sprint, which is going to take him a long way,” McEvoy said. “He relaxed so well behind them and then when I asked him [to go] he was very good.”
Maher’s Sock Nation wins Queensland Oaks at $101
Ciaron Maher got his second $101 group 1 winner of his career when Socks Nation caused a boilover in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Maher’s first group 1 winner, Tears I Cry in the 2007 Emirates Stakes, also started $101, but Sock Nation was arguably a bigger shock.
The Sioux Nation filly repelled a challenge from Our Gold Hope ($16) to win by a long neck, with Miss Joelene ($19) two lengths away in third in a trifecta that left most punters reeling.
“The race couldn’t have panned out any better for me,” winning jockey Ryan Moloney said. “I was surprised nobody came to put any pressure on us.
“I knew she’d stay, and you just can’t rule out any of Ciaron’s horses, even though she was a big price.
“I was confident at the 600m mark. When I pressed the button, we put a bit of a margin on them. I didn’t want them to outsprint me, so I went a bit earlier than I would’ve done usually.
“When Craig [Williams on Our Gold Hope] came up to me, I thought we might be passed, but she was so tough.”
Hannah nips in to win at headquarters
Goulburn apprentice Hannah Williams rides Nipotino every morning for trainer Danielle Seib and was delighted to get her first Randwick win on him in Saturday’s Highway Handicap.
Williams bided her time midfield on Nipotino ($6.50) and came with a charge to hold off Syrian Star ($14) by a half-length, with Ticklebelly ($10) another three-quarters of a length back in third.
“He is only small, but he has a big heart,” Williams said. “It is good to get that first Highway win for Danielle because she has been a good supporter of mine and is someone who puts me on a lot.
“I ride him every day, so it is good to have a city win with him.”
It was Williams’ fourth city winner after twice winning Highways on the speedy Penthouse.
McLucas in cruise control on Madrina
Tulloch Lodge apprentice Amy McLucas only went as fast she had too early on Madrina and left plenty in the tank for the two-year-old filly to produce a strong win at Randwick on Saturday.
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Madrina ($3.70) found the front with some ease, and, when McLucas asked her to accelerate in the straight, she found 2¼ lengths over stablemate Buckingham Palace ($7), with the $2.70 favourite Shamadan making up ground from back in the field in the slowly run affair to grab third a length away.
“It’s these opportunities in the winter that I need to help me when I come out of my time to keep me rolling along,” McLucas said. “I was worried early in the run. She was changing legs a bit. But I think she was a little bit green still. She will get a lot of confidence from that.”
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