Brilliant mare I Am Me is on the radar for The Everest while Ray Thomas also highlights his blackbookers from Randwick

Brilliant mare I Am Me has been on the radar of The Everest place holders after blitzing her rivals at Royal Randwick last Saturday.

I Am Me earned her third win in as many starts this term – and improved her overall record to six wins from 11 starts – as she blasted home in 1m 7.77s for the 1200m.

There was a strong tailwind from the top of the straight, but I Am Me still set one of the fastest 1200m times ever at Randwick. The course record is 1.7.32 minutes set by Yes Yes Yes at The Everest 2019.

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I Am Me, which provided Dean Watts Dynamic Syndications with their 800th race winner, was so impressive that price reviewers at TAB Fixed Odds cut their odds on The Everest from $101 to $34 next October, behind the equal $8 Favorites Giga Kick, In Secret and Nature Strip.

I Am Me failed to be caught by Dehorned Unicorn! @mcacajamez@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/7ztNikZfBi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 17, 2022

Watt revealed he was contacted by two Everest slot holders on Saturday night following the stunning I Am Me win.

“I’ve taken a few calls from slot holders wanting to know what our plans are for I Am Me,” Watt said, noting water is still flowing under the bridge.

Watt said I Am Me was doing well after her dominant Randwick win and will likely be chasing her first stakes win in the $160,000 listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m) in Canterbury on New Year’s Day.

“We’ve always had the Canterbury sprint in mind for them, but it’s all on the table,” Watt said.

“There are Group 1 sprints in New Zealand next month that we are looking at but I know Ciaron is keen to use them for the Oakleigh Plate in February. It’s a cliche, but we’ll let the mare speak for her.’ Us.”

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Global Ausbred also earned a chance at the next start with their tough win in the December Handicap (2000m).

Coach Brad Widdup, who was on a family vacation in America when Global Ausbred narrowly fended off Tony Be, said the promising stayer will get his chance in the $200,000 Summer Cup (2000m) Group 3 at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day.

Widdup also confirmed his stable star Icebath is back on duty and is among the early All-Star Mile nominees, but the coach is keen to focus on an autumn carnival campaign in Sydney.

“I have an autumn program to discuss with the Icebath owners but I think she still does well at the weights for the Doncaster Mile, there is also the Queen of the Turf Stakes and then we can take her to Brisbane.” said Widdup.

A well deserved victory for Global Ausbred in double digits for the @clarkyhk and @BWiddupRacing Team. pic.twitter.com/7CBohGgafx

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 17, 2022

YOU CAN BET ON IT

The clash between I Am Me and Dehorned Unicorn looked like a match on paper and it proved so on the track – although the former was a dominant winner.

I Am Me, along with runner-up Dehorned Unicorn (30 percent), held 45 percent of the total participation. After opening at $2.50, I Am Me confirmed the TAB fixed odds to start at $2.

TAB players confidently backed I Am Me with notable bets including $9.00 @ $2.50, $9,500 @ $2.25, $3,900 @ $2.40, and $3,500 @ $2.40.

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FIVE FOLLOWS

Royal Randwick

I AM ME (Race 9) is a zoned mare. She has impressively won each of her three starts this campaign and run fast sections, but her Randwick win was the best of her career. She is ready for the Stakes grade.

VOWMASTER (Race 5) had not raced in 20 months but made a superb return with a quick second place finish behind Our Bellagio Miss. Vowmaster showed great skill early in his career and has an exciting summer campaign ahead of him.

LAZZAGO (Race 1) is a well behaved filly and made an impressive debut bringing down hot favorite Snapback to win with authority. Coached by Chris Waller, Lazzago is tied to the Fall Carnival and prominent in early Golden Slipper bets.

Lazzago was a brilliant winner in the debut. Image: Sam Ruttyn

newcastle

AUSBRED RISING SUN (Race 2) looked well above average in the debut. He got away at the back of the field, went wide in the corner and finished powerfully to score. He will only improve if he gets to 1600m and beyond.

Friday night in Canterbury

CARDONE (Race 2) is another rookie who impressed with his win at last Friday’s Canterbury Night Meeting. Team Hawkes-trained Cardone will charge through the classes after finishing strong to pass the handy Shalatin.

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CRUNCH TIME

Lazzago (Race 1) showed plenty of natural winning ability in the debut, sprinting her final 600m in 32.83 seconds with consecutive Under-11 splits (400m-200m and 200m to finish) to finish the race.

Tony Be (Race 4) broke 33 seconds in the final 600m to narrowly miss overtaking Global Ausbred, an impressive endurance performance at the end of a 2000m race. Tony Be hit the line really hard with 200m splits of 10.66s and 10.98s as he charged to the line.

Vowmaster (Race 6) resumed after a long time running a blind, meandering through the field and finishing brilliantly for a close second place. He ran his final 600m in a staggering 31.69 seconds – but it wasn’t the fastest ending of the day! Quick Tempo finished fourth in the same race, sprinting home in 31.47 seconds.

I Am Me (Race 9) ran one of the fastest 1200m ever at Royal Randwick as she scorched the course in a stunning 1’7.77s – yet she seemed to have some reserves left on the line.

LAWN TALK

“To be honest, I thought maybe I can’t ride anymore. They still have a steroid injection (neck injury) and I went home to visit my parents in Sweden and I was just thinking about life I suppose and I thought I could “I’m not stepping down yet. I have still too much to do. Love it so much,” said trainee Jenny Duggan after her comeback win at Our Bellagio Miss.

Jenny Duggan gets Our Bellagio Miss home in Randwick. Image: Sam Ruttyn

“We knew she was something very special, her two tests were very good,” said Chris Waller, Lazzago coach.

“I only have three (sire) Maurices in the stable but they won all the races this week,” said trainer Widdup after Global Ausbred won at Randwick, complementing wins from stablemates Ausbred Riding Sun and Ausbred Flirt.

Global Ausbred was a tough winner under Tim Clark at Randwick. Image: Sam Ruttyn

“From now on, will every single breach of the whip rule result in a changed outcome? Or was it just because it was a dead heat?” Alicia said on Twitter after the stewards’ controversial protest decision to give Invincible Caviar the win at Flemington while My Yankee Girl was relegated to second place.

“No change of policy, no change of direction by the stewards, each case (considered) on its merits. It was a gross breach of the whip rule… it gave him (Blake Shinn) an advantage,” said Racing Victoria chief steward Robert Cram.

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STEWARDS SAY

Snapback (Race 1) started clumsily and lost ground early, then shortly after was interrupted by Blind Date, who turned on abruptly. Snapback eventually settled outside the leader and held up well for second behind Lazzago.

Secret Glamor (Race 4) got off on the wrong foot at the start and ended up at the end of the field. Secret Glamor traveled satisfactorily through the early and mid stages but did not respond to riding 500m. Coach Ciaron Maher was advised that Secret Glamor must complete a barrier test before racing again.

Vowmaster (Race 5) started awkwardly and lost ground early so he settled in a rear position. Vowmaster took some time to pick up speed on the straight but finished strongly in the final 200m.

Bella Rouge (Race 10) followed Frumos around the finish corner but with this horse under pressure, rider Jason Collett switched back inside Saigon hoping to get a free run. Collett told the stewards that Bella Rouge ran in a restricted space from the 300m to the final 75m when the mare finished well.

Frumos (race 10) couldn’t handle the moderate race pace. Jockey James McDonald told the stewards that the mare began to overrun when Bowery Breeze improved outwards mid-race and as the pace picked up from the 600m Frumos hit a flat spot, came off the bridle and as she landed the straight was pressurized one-tempo and ended just fair.

Our Modena seals the day in Randwick paying $12! pic.twitter.com/7HxNffbYZi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 17, 2022

RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

With RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY

I Am Me faced her toughest test to date over 1200m in the class and passed with flying colors in record time. She has great racing style and could be the new kid on the block.

FORGET YOU RUN

Vowmaster was hit by a head nod and had his chance, but you’d only expect an improvement considering he was first after so long.

ONE TO FOLLOW

Hellfest made up good ground first and is on track to overtake the Magic Millions Carnival by a wide margin, while the ex-Kiwi Super Pursuit has two runs under his belt and is poised to win.

RIDE OF THE DAY

James McDonald was back in the foreground but the rise of Zac Lloyd was back in action with a great ride on Superium cruising inside late.

Zac Lloyd took the rail route on Superium and pinned Coal Crusher to the post @HawkesRacing. pic.twitter.com/8WjVANYer8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 17, 2022

NSW RACING – THE COMING WEEK

Monday: Dubbo, Corowa

Tuesday: Scone

Wednesday: Warwick Farm

Thursday: Gosford

Friday: Coonabarabran, Wagga Wagga

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Wyong, Tamworth

Sunday: Christmas Day