Racing 2023: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Tulloch Lodge springs surprises on Randwick’s big day

“Spirit Ridge got it pretty comfortable in front and I was aware that he’s a horse that really does stay,” King said. “I wanted to give my bloke as easy a time as possible and not give him too much work to do. Luckily, once he got his nose in front he was very tough.“

The margin was a head between Just Fine and Spirit Ridge ($41) and left the rest four-and-a-quarter lengths behind with Kalapour ($18) back in third.

Earlier Adam Hyeronimus, who has grown up in the Tulloch Lodge system, won the Flight Stakes on Tropical Squall.

The Prized Icon filly delivered Tulloch Lodge a 24th win in the spring classic with Hyeronimus taking the front and defying rivals challenges to score. “Adam was very bullish about her all the way through,” Bott said. “We had her set to go to Melbourne as an Oaks horse and he said the Flight is her race and he was right.“

Hyeronimus delivered on his promise taking Tropical Squall ($9) the lead and kicking a couple of lengths clear and defying Kimochi ($6) to score by three-quarters of a length with Tutta La Vita ($11) 1 lengths back in third.

Hyeronimus liked Tropical Squall from the time she entered the stable for the spring. “It was three months ago when I first got on her and knew she was special,” he said. “She is only going to get better as she gets out in trip because she was so strong at the end.It is so satisfying because she is starting to show the filly I thought she was and there is more to come.”

It’s prefect all round for Rediener in the Epsom

Kathy O’Hara used her perfect draw on Rediener to deliver an equally perfect ride for the perfect result in the Epsom on Saturday. Rediener got on the back of leader Golden Mile from gate two and O’Hara had to bide her time until the final 50 metres to get over the top of the Caulfield Guineas winner and deny the late charge of stablemate and Queensland Derby winner Kovalica.

“It was awesome. It was pretty much a carbon copy of last time [win in the Bill Ritchie Handicap]. He was good enough to do his thing and put his head down when it counted,” O’Hara said. “When Damien [Oliver on Nugget] come around at the half-mile I was pretty happy that they put a bit more tempo on because I thought they could leave me a bit flat-footed here.”

Rediener ($9.50) scored by a half head from Kovalica ($10) to give Chris Waller the quinella with Golden Mile ($16) a head back in third, while another Waler miler Democracy Manifest was unlucky running fifth on their heels.

Clipperton still thinking about Everest favourite

Jockey Sam Clipperton still doesn’t know what top gear feels like on Everest favourite Think About It, despite winning two group 1s and Saturday’s Premiere Stakes at Randwick. Think About It took his record to 10 wins from 11 starts as fended off a late charge from Hawaii Five Oh putting his head down on the line for victory.

“There is a lot improvement left in him,” Clipperton said. “He got to the front so early when Lost And Running dropped off and he was, like, waiting for the next challenge. He did that in fourth gear but what I liked the most was when he felt Hawaii Five Oh coming he picked up under me again.”

Think About It started $1.85 favourite after Mazu was scratched earlier in the afternoon after being found to lame across his hind quarters. He got to the front halfway down the straight and had a head to spare from Hawaii Five Oh ($8.50) with Bella Nipotina ($7.50) three-quarters of a length back in third.

Yulong’s $10 million mare Alcohol Free was game in fourth, and it could see Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott get two runners into the Everest. “I thought Hawaii Five Oh was fantastic, he did everything but win and should get him into discussion for the Everest,” Bott said. “I thought Alcohol Free did enough for Yulong to run her in the Everest.”

Berry’s back as a winner in the Gimcrack

An emotional Tommy Berry got a group 3 winner as he returned from an eight-month disqualification when he punched Manaal through late to win in the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

It was Berry’s second day back after a suspension for improper dealings with a punter, and he showed he had lost nothing in a tight finish as Manaal just got home over Celestial Bling with wayward Repose a breath away in third.

“I promised I wouldn’t get emotional and then these guys [his kids] come along. It’s been a long road, I learnt so much about myself while I was off,” Berry said. “I built such a good relationship with my kids, it’s just made me come into racing with a new lease on life, a new way of looking at things.”

It gave trainer Michael Freedman the first two-year-old winner for the season and he was delighted to share it with Berry. “It’s terrific to get a result like that and for Tommy [Berry] because we’ve got a long association. He’s been doing it hard the last six to eight months and I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”