Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick was highlighted by Addeybb turning the tables on Verry Elleegant to make it back-to-back wins in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Hungry Heart made it consecutive Group 1 wins with victory in the Australian Oaks, while Selino and Nettoyer caused upset’s in the day’s other Group 1s, the Sydney Cup and Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

At Caulfield, William Pike was once again the star of the show, notching up a treble on their VOBIS race day. where Finance Tycoon took out the $1million Showdown.

Tim Geers and Trent Crebbin review the weekend’s action and provide their horses to follow out of both meetings.

Randwick

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Ellsberg (R2) – Returned with a dominant win first up, leading throughout. He was glued to the inside which wasn’t the place to be as the card went on, but he just got stronger the longer the race went. Handles any surface so can continue winning and is a potential Brisbane carnival horse.

Duais (R5) – Produced another good effort in the Australian Oaks, running 2^nd after encountering traffic in the straight. She continues to get better with every run and if she heads to SA Oaks or Queensland Oaks, she’ll be very hard to beat. The latter looks more likely.

Prague (R6) – Huge run first up after blowing the start. He then had to come from last and widest in the straight, which ended up being better ground, but his effort was still very good. All three runs for the new stable have been full of merit and he’s not far off winning one.

Amish Boy (R6) – Came out of the same race as Prague, finishing a further 2L behind, but he had to change path in the straight and ended up in inferior ground. He’s another that isn’t far off a win.

Air To Air (R10) – Has been good in both runs since returning this prep. She’s had to come from last in both of those and has hit the line very well. Going better than what her form on paper might read, so we might get a decent price about her in her next couple of starts.

HORSES TO SACK

Nil – Happy to forgive most horses on the track that was served up, where the inside was completely off and the surface was wetter than it should have been.

Caulfield

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Dice Roll (R2) – The French Guineas placegetter was coming off a very long break and was firm in the betting, suggesting he’d run well. He got a lovely run behind the speed and had every chance but with natural improvement he can progress through the winter, given he has a 5L listed in overseas on a heavy 10.

Approach Discreet (R2) – Big run from this horse first up, getting a long way back from a wide gate and hitting the line very strongly. Up in trip next start he can be hard to beat.

Shelby Cobra (R5) – I thought this was a great return from a talented horse with 59kg. He got a long way back from a wide gate over an unsuitable 1100m and fitness clearly just gave out late. His 400-200m split was exceptional, only bettered by Prophet’s Thumb on the day and clearly the race fastest, before just gassing out over the final furlong. Very keen to follow this horse next start.

Rubisaki (R7) – Good return from this talented mare. She lost her way last prep and clearly didn’t come up but this was a nice return, getting back and held up but finishing strongly in the 2nd fastest last 200m of the race. I suspect we’ll see her in the group 1 Sangster in Adelaide, and I think she’d be a decent chance.

HORSES TO SACK

Iconoclasm (R4) – He was awful after having every chance behind the leader after a bare pass mark first up. His last 5 runs have been below par and he looks to have lost his way.

Ancestry (R7) – His last two he’s folded under pressure and it seems he’s turning into a bit of a flat track bully. Sisstar eyeballed him and won the race by a length while he dropped out late. Perhaps he needs a spell or a race where he gets complete control, which isn’t always easy to predict.