Outstanding race at Randwick on Saturday

The horse racing bookmakers will have had a mixed day at Randwick on Saturday. Burnt by the winner of the Australian Derby, they will have had a better time with a roughie saluting in the Doncaster Mile.

The ground dried out quickly on Saturday at Randwick. What had been a heavy track most of the week ended up a Good 4 but with that came a tacky surface which would have not suited some of the bigger contenders during the day.

A second Group 1 for Stefi Magentica

It was late in the season last year that Stefi Magnetica really hit her stride last year. Her first Group 1 win came in the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm in June when just holding off the recently retired Bella Nipotina.

She has reached that level of form a couple of months earlier this time around and now has a pair of Group 1 wins on good ground. Another pair of roughies chased her home in Royal Patronage and Encap so it is hard to know what the level of form is going to be worth.

That said, she is adaptable over distances from 1200m to 1600m, so she is going to have plenty of opportunities open to her. Where she is placed now to be seen to best effect is going to be fascinating as she is clearly capable of further success at the top level.

Waller wins the Australian Derby

One for the girls as Aeliana claimed the Australian Derby for Chris Waller and Damian Lane. She has improved every time that she has gone up in distance, roaring home to finish second in the Rosehill Guineas last time out over 2000m. That was behind Broadsiding who was winning for the fourth time in a Group 1 that day.

Up to 2400m here saw a massive personal best, winning by more than five lengths. It was a spectacular performance to land her maiden Group 1 win and it will be fascinating to see where connections take her from here as stamina is clearly her biggest asset.

Briasa continues to improve

It is seven wins now in nine career starts for the grey gelding who is one of the fastest improving horses in the country. He had won a Bm88 at Kensington in October before landing a Group 2 success on the final start of his spring prep at Newcastle in the Hunter.

Things didn’t really go his way in the Galaxy on his first attempt in a Group 1. Held up right out the back, he roared home but had too much to do, finishing fourth. Things panned out much better for him on Saturday, closer to the pace early on, which enabled him to time his winning run perfectly. Overpass does some great work fresh so the ‘right’ horse chased him home.

Vinrock remains unbeaten in the Inglis Sires

The Group 1 for the two-year-old generation went to the Matt Lawrie-trained Vinrock. He didn’t make his debut until the end of February, winning a maiden at Pakenham by a margin that suggested straight away that he was above average.

Had no problem stepping up to a Group 2 contest on his second start at Flemington and once more, had no issues taking a further rise up in class on Saturday. He was closer to the speed than the others who filled out the frame so the run can be marked up a touch. 1400m has been the winning distance of both of his group races so far.

It is days with serious quality that we all live for in horse racing. The betting sites are always buzzing on a Saturday where there are so many Group 1 races and there are plenty more incredible cards to enjoy before the season ends.