Well I will start with congratulations to our owners for the efforts of
BERGDORF in the
GIMCRACK Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. You may be confused as to why we would say that since BERGDORF officially ran 9th defeated 6 lengths. However when you read the review you will understand why congratulations are in order.
BERGDORF was turned out in fabulous order by the
Chris Waller Stables and she was the best sort on looks and health and condition in the parade.
The race plan was to be as close as possible to the speed without bustling. We knew we didn’t have the early pace to lead but we had hoped that we could have pressed forward to settle just in behind the pace, either 2 or 3 lengths off them and then peel out and chase and hopefully, if she could reproduce what she had shown us in her trials, then we could catch them in the shadows of the post.
Unfortunately that didn’t happen but we were not discouraged. This was a huge run as we now highlight.
The Stewards report gives evidence as to why BERGDORF settled further back than we had wanted (and anticipated) on the strength of the interference and the subsequent loss of racetrack position. This proved vital at the end, as we were obliged to race further back and then, were held up upon straightening and had to find a wide course to the outside where Precia, who was racing ungenerously, was causing Bergdorf for several strides to baulk and loose momentum.
There is little doubt in our opinion that should the two Gai Waterhouse runners Tiare and Precia both not interfered with BERGDORF in the early stages, forcing her well back into 10th position on settling, she would have positioned 1-2 lengths closer, stalking the leaders as hoped.
Whilst that would not have allowed us to be in a winning position, as the first two around the home turn ran 1st and 2nd, the reality is we could have been competitive for 3rd position and valuable black type. As it was, we finished in 9th position just 1.2 lengths from 4th spot. When the babies are running home off the front in a slick11.50 secs, it becomes mathematically impossible to make up ground on them.
There are several stages in the race that Bergdorf received interference, then was locked up and lost momentum and track position and ground, this in our opinion cost us more than the 3.5 lengths difference between 3rd place and where we finished. However even if it didn’t cost Bergdorf the 3.5 lengths margin, it definitely cost us far more than the 1.2 lengths between 9th and 4th spots.
To win 2yo races, it’s a huge advantage to be on the pace, as was evidenced in both the fillies and colts races.
The sectional splits prove beyond doubt the merit of the race. BERGDORF despite not being a winning hope, back in 10th position at the 200m, still rallied with superb last 400m and 200m splits.
We take nothing away from the winner and runner-up. They were both jump and run fillies and went super. The winner’s effort was sensational considering she had to do it tough from a wide draw. Further, they ran sectional splits superior to BERGDORF so mathematically these two fillies were superior at this 1000m trip.
However without the interference in running and with a clear passage, our sectional splits would have been very competitive to that of Luck Racquie who finished in 3rd spot.
If we are unbiased and don’t look at it through rose coloured glasses, we should have run 4th and also 3rd was a huge possibility.
Such is the importance of barriers because they dictate pressure and drawing wide you become victim to others, instead of dictating to them.
To give further merit to the performance, we need to compare the race to the 2yo colts division which was run immediately afterwards.
The fillies ran 0.30 secs faster than the colts, which in early 2yo racing, is equal to approximately 2 lengths. Most important is to observe was the fact that both the Fillies race and the Colts’ race were Set Weights and the colts carried the same 56.0kgs weight as the fillies. However if in mixed sex events fillies always get a 2.0 kg allowance. So for the fillies to carry the same as the colts on the day and run significantly faster gives credit to the performance of these girls.
The question is: Were the girls better or the boys weaker ? I am convinced time will reveal that this crop of fillies in this race, were way above average. Some top class black type will come out of this field.
BERGDORF’S sectionals were 11.96, 23.06, 34.80.
History shows that ANY EARLY 2yo that can break 12.00 secs for their final 200m of a race, historically turns out to be very good.
To give accurate importance to this against the colts, BERGDORF’S sectionals against the boys showed she ran the SAME last 200m time as the colts Winner – LAW. Only the runner up ran a faster last 200m – MOHAVE in 11.90.
BERGDORF’S last 400m compared to the colts was sizzling. She ran 23.08. The fastest last 400m for the colts was MOHAVE in 23.22.
BERGDORF’S last 600m in 34.80 was only slightly bettered by 2 colts being the winner and runner up. Mohave ran 34.62 and Law ran 34.76 and both boys had uninterrupted runs whilst BERGDORF was held up and had to change course and was then baulked.
HUGH BOWMAN was optimistic about the filly. He reported that he was in a bit of trouble early and got further back than he wanted but she ran terrific and she was a nice filly in the making. She still had a lot to learn with racecraft as she raced the same way as she trialled for him without her knowing how to flatten out. She was getting her head up and baulking at runners. However just like the trial, her best work was her last 50m. He thought next time in after a spell with more maturity we will have some fun with her.
Whilst as owners, the immediate disappointment of not earning black type feels harsh, in analysis our horse went super.
In the parade ring she looked fantastic but was more a miler type than a sprinter. She was not your typical short coupled, speedy squib. She has good size and length to her with a powerful hindquarter. She had been turned out in wonderful order by the stable. She covers excellent ground per stride and was strong on the line.
Simply in review, 1000m is far too short. She looks a genuine city class 1400m - 1600m filly in the making. Unfortunately with 2yo racing, they don’t get out to 1200m on a regular basis until just before Easter time.
We will aim to have her back in work just before the New Year to target some nice races as soon as the trips get out beyond 1200m, so she can be competitive just like her sire Manhattan Rain was. Also the Exceed And Excel progeny are showing a tendency to be good quality milers as well. So we may have some fun in the Autumn / Winter.
This is what the
extract of the Stewards Report recorded relating to Bergdorf:
STEWARDS REPORT RACE 1: Keenland Gimcrack Stakes 1000m:
Extract for BERGDORF : Humble forced Tiare out, which in turn made contact with Bergdorf. In the incident Bergdorf then shifted out, resulting in Precia being steadied when tightened between Bergdorf and Alpha Miss.
RACE SECTIONALS – FACTS & FIGURES - FASTEST SPLITS:
Last 200m (par 12.00)
11.50 ALPHA MISS
11.58 TETSUKO
11.86 LUCKY RAQUIE
11.84 MURTA CAPE
11.96 BERGDORF = 5th
Last 400m (par 24.00)
22.74 ALPHA MISS
22.82 TETSUKO
23.00 LUCKY RAQUIE
23.06 BERGDORF = 4th
Last 600m (par 36.00)
34.22 ALPHA MISS
34.30 TETSUKO
34.34 LUCKY RAQUIE
34.64 KWINANA
34.76 MURTA CAPE
34.66 PRECIA
34.80 BERGDORF = 7th
IN COMPARISON to the 2yo COLTS
Overall Times Fillies 57.77 – Colts 58.07 (approx 2 lengths slower)
BERGDORF
She ran the same last 200m sectional as the winner
LAW at 11.96
Only 1 colt – the runner up
MOHAVE ran a faster last 200m in 11.90
FASTEST last 400m
NO COLT ran a Faster last 400m than
BERGDORF in 23.06
The best 400m split by any Colt was MOHAVE in 23.22
FASTEST last 600m
BERGDORF ran her last 600m in 34.80.
Only 2 colts ran a better last 600m MOHAVE ran 34.62 whilst the winner LAW ran 34.76
Hoofnote: Last week
OVERREACH her ¾ sister in Blood was named
Champion Australian 2yo which is a fantastic honour and looks terrific on our fillies pedigree page.
