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Site Contributors |
| Editor: Elliot Dean | | Writer: Marcus Walta | | Writer: Janet Bastow | | Photographer: Matthew Smith | |
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Rock Kingdom has defied his alleged "unfair weighting" in the Espom Handicap by taking out the Group 1 $350,000 event at Randwick yesterday. During the week, trainer Gai Waterhouse was a little disappointed her gelding received 54kg in Sydney's premiere 1600m race of the Spring, but this was quickly turned to jubilation as stable jockey Blake Shinn steered the 4 year old to victory.
It was a brillian ride by Shinn, who was trapped 3-wide in the early going, but moved Rock Kingdom into second position just outside the leader. In the straight it looked like second favourite Rangirangdoo would pull past the Waterhouse galloper, but Rock Kingdom kept finding to win by a half head. Favourite Road To Rock finished a length away in third place.
The newly crowned Epsom champ will now head to Melbourne for the rest of the spring, where it is likely he will contest the Mackinnon Stakes. Last year another Waterhouse-trained horse, Theseo, won the Epsom Handicap - Mackinnon Stakes double.
In The Metropolitan, former English stayer Speed Gifted had a convincing win, taking out the 2400m Group 1 by over 3 lengths, and is now a short favourite for the Caulfield Cup. He currently has only 51kg for both Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but will likely receive a penalty after the Metrop win, which will ensure a start in the respective fields.
In the Spring Champion Stakes there was somewhat of a boilover when lightly raced NZ rougie Monaco Consul tracked up on the rails to be first past the post. Gathering and Viking Legend made up the placings with favourite Onemorenomore finishing a disappointing sixth.
In the final Group 1 event, the Stud Flight Stakes, Gai Waterhouse's boom 3 year old filly More Joyous proved way too strong, taking out the $300,000 classic. It was Gai's seventh win in the race.
Sister Madly loomed up and fought on bravely for second with Hurtle Myrtle not far behind in third. More Joyous will be spelled immediately which means she has no chance of going to the Thousand Guineas in 9 days time.
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