Inference has produced a huge turn of foot in the final straight at Randwick to win the 2017 Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) from a brave Invincible Gem this afternoon.
Inference stormed home to win the Group 1 Randwick Guineas this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
Inference was settled off the early pace by jockey Tommy Berry after jumping well, as Invincible Gem took up the running and set a fair tempo alongside the likes of Man From Uncle and Captain Duffy.
Experiencing a good run in transit, Berry employed the same tactic that he used aboard Frolic in the Reisling Stakes earlier today and peeled the horse wide and onto the outside rail upon arriving at the final straight.
Allowing the horse plenty of time to balance before asking for an extra effort, Berry was greeted with a huge late turn of foot as the So You Think colt flew home to beat Invincible Gem on the line; Comin’ Through boxing on to finish third.
Berry had already experienced plenty of success on 2017 Randwick Guineas Day and was thrilled to pilot Inference to success in the feature race.
“I couldn’t work out if Brenton (Avdulla, Invincible Gem) was going to go to the inside,” Berry said after the race.
“I almost had to change course on him and he’s not the kind of horse you can change course on and get going again.
“I had such great momentum and it was so tight, so I pulled the stick up to the right and pulled him up as close as I could to the outside fence.
“I can’t thank the Hawkes team enough – they’ve been great supporters of me. Ihe Derby in Melbourne I put him up on the fence, so I didn’t know if I’d get on him!
“He’s such a clean-winded horse, he’ll stay all day and the secret to him today was just to get him to switch off.”
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was on hand for Inference’s impressive Randwick Guineas win and confirmed that the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) on Day 1 of The Championships is his major target.
“For this bloke, he’s got a lot of untapped potential,” Hawkes said after the race.
“He went so close in the Victoria Derby. Second-up today at a mile, especially on this bog track, I thought that if he was going to win, he’d just have to be patient. The rest is history.
“He got a bit blocked for a run, but he just kept pushing through.
“I said to the owners before that he’ll get this today on winning ability alone. The Rosehill Guineas into the Derby is obviously the ones we’re chasing.”
In being crowned the 2017 Randwick Guineas winner, Inference has now posted an impressive four wins and three minors, through only nine starts.
