Rawiller will miss the meeting at Canterbury on July 24.
In Flight BOBS up again
Joe Pride will take aim at another BOBS bonus with flying filly In Flight after she wrapped up the BOBS horse of the year title and completed a hat-trick of Benchmark 72 wins against her own age at Randwick on Saturday.
The Flying Artie filly sat off her rivals under the steadier of 60kg before sprinting clear. The win took her BOBS earnings to $78,750.
In Flight makes it a hat-trick at Randwick.Credit: Getty Images
She had previously won with 53.5 and 56.5 kilograms in the same grade and could be tested against older horses at Rosehill next Saturday.
“She has won five races for the season and that was her best win. We have a couple of weeks before the end of the season and there are two races that would suit her next weekend to give her a chance at another bonus,” Pride said.
“She is a very good filly, and it takes a good horse to win five races in a season. While she is up and running it’s worth having another go if she comes through that.”
Jay Ford parked In Flight, the $2.70 favourite, a couple of lengths off a fast speed set by Flag Hall ($6). When he In Flight to go at the 300m, the race was quickly in their keeping.
The margin at the post was two lengths to Flag Hall, with Kadall ($21) another 1¾ lengths back in third.
Ford compared Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds’ two smart fillies In Flight and The Black Cloud after the win.
“[In Flight] is more versatile than The Black Cloud. She can take a position and sprint. She is just a lovely horse to ride in a race,” Ford said.
“The Black Cloud is probably a bit better because she has more speed and gives you that feel that she is going to get things done.”
Don Diego De Vega has more to give after breaking Australian duck
Jason Collett believes there are several areas of development for Don Diego De Vega after he got his first Australian win at Randwick on Saturday.
The four-year-old son of Lope De Vega was a heavily supported $2.40 favourite but was made to work for his victory by The Englishman ($16). The margin was a long head, with leader I’mintowin ($3) holding on for third 1¼ lengths away.
Collett felt Don Deigo De Vega had improved from his first run in Australia, where he was second to Bear On The Loose, but is still looking for further.
“He was still not at home on that soft track, and with a firmer track and up in trip you are going to see a pretty good horse,” Collett said. “His manners were better in the straight and he really stuck his head out at the end.”
Trainer Annabel Neasham agreed with Collett’s assessment and will set Don Diego De Vega on a path to the Wyong and Newcastle Cups in September.
“He is an exciting horse and will only get better as we step him out further,” she said.
“We’ll work him through his grades, but I think Australian Bloodstock might be looking at him as a nice Newcastle Cup horse.”
Neasham made it a race-to-race winning double when Defining ($10) was strong despite being trapped three-wide thoughtout.
Cranky Harry to go dancing in Murwillumbah Cup
Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn could have a crack at his hometown cup with Cranky Harry after he dominated the Highway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
Nash Rawiller went straight to the front on the $1.80 favourite and left his rivals 3¼ lengths in his wake by the end of the 1600m. Field The Moment ($8.50) just tipped out behind The Storm ($31) by a nose for the minor money.
“That was his first time at the mile and he did it really well,” Dunn said. “He is a quality horse and you have to think of those races that give you a chance at the Big Dance. He has the right rating to be a chance in the Murwillumbah Cup next month, so that’s an opportunity.”
Unbeaten Wanaruah looks to spring
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Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott continue to produce quality two-year-olds as Wanaruah added his name to the spring team after an unbeaten winter campaign.
The Snitzel colt made two from two with a comprehensive win at Randwick over 1400m. That was Tulloch Lodge’s 33rd juvenile victory for the season and had Bott looking a couple of months ahead.
“I thought there was good improvement [from his debut win] and there is plenty more in store,” Bott said. “I just wanted to give him that extra run this campaign over a bit further and test him, and he has shown he is better than a winter horse.
“We will look to freshen him up and get him out to the mile in the spring.”
Wanaruah ($3.10) had a two-length-margin on Good Sort ($6), with Waterville ($13) another 1¾ lengths away in third.
“He’s a lovely horse going places. He’s got a really good attitude and settles really well out there, so I think over further he’ll be even better,” winning jockey Winona Costin said. “We are hoping to get a bit of seasoning in him and lift his rating for hopefully bigger things in the spring.”
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