Odds-on favourite Jorda got the job done for the punters in the first on Epsom Handicap Day at Royal Randwick in Sydney holding on to take out the Gimcrack Stakes 2016.
The 2016 Gimcrack Stakes winner Jorda saluted for the punters as the odds-on favourite on debut at Royal Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Last Sydney Spring Racing Carnival trainer John OâShea and the powerhouse Godolphin stable took out the $150,000 Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) with subsequent Magic Night Stakes winner Calliope (2015), and the team were back in the winnersâ stall 12 months on with promising type Jorda.
The two-year-old daughter of Exceed And Excel went into the Gimcrack Stakes on the back of a two length trial win at the Randwick track over 850m from September 19, and ace Sydney hoop James McDonald stayed aboard.
One of the best out of the barriers, Jorda settled well into third with the Gimcrack Stakes field led around by the Gerald Ryan-trained Didnât Mention It.
The leader was keen up front with Gai Waterhouseâs runner Chain Of Fools, while the Chris Waller-trained Madame Moustache from the inside draw and Jorda were the next best in running throughout.
McDonald had Jorda very well positioned around the turn and she went into the straight ready to strike.
She came fast and hard on the outside showing class and flew to the front with 200m to go.
Over the closing stages Jorda ($1.90) seemed to slow down and the challengers came late, but she held them off to win by three-quarters of a length.
The eye-catching run of the race was from the Anthony Cummings-trained runner-up, Denman filly Kangaâs Eye ($71) who missed the kick before making up all the ground to hit the line hard for second.
Finishing off the Gimcrack Stakes trifecta in third was the fellow Cummings-trained Lucky Louie ($41) also at a roughiesâ price at the jump who ran second to Jorda in her lead-up trial.
Still looking very green, Jorda had the best passage throughout one-one in the run, and despite dropping off late won the stakesâ race on debut with plenty of improvement to come as she matures.
âShe moves like a panther and gallops like one as well,â winning hoop McDonald said of Jorda post-race.
âSheâs got a great attitude and sheâs not even blowing.
âSheâs been very well educatedâ¦credit to john and the team.â
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2016 Gimcrack Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Randwick Race 1 â 01/10/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | JORDA | John O’Shea | James McDonald | – | 4 | 56kg | $1.95F |
| 2 | 6 | KANGAâS EYE | Anthony Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 0.8L | 2 | 56kg | $81 |
| 3 | 7 | LUCKY LOUIE | Anthony Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 1.3L | 3 | 56kg | $31 |
| 4 | 8 | MADAME MOUSTACHE | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 1.4L | 1 | 56kg | $10 |
| 5 | 4 | GREATER GOOD | John P Thompson | Blake Shinn | 2.1L | 5 | 56kg | $6 |
| 6 | 9 | MYSTIC EMPIRE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 3.7L | 8 | 56kg | $26 |
| 7 | 3 | GRASSLANDS | Michael Freedman | Tommy Berry | 3.8L | 6 | 56kg | $9.50 |
| 8 | 1 | CHAIN OF FOOLS | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 4.3L | 9 | 56kg | $9 |
| 9 | 2 | DIDNâT MENTION IT | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 14.2L | 7 | 56kg | $14 |