“Barrier 10 of 10 is never easy, especially when you roll back so far at the 1100, but I knew she had the professionalism to overcome that and that’s exactly what she showed,” Bayliss said.
“She showed good speed from the barriers and she was able to get outside the leader, she switched off a treat for me and she showed a bit of fight at the end.”
Bott said Sly Boots ($4.40) would likely target the $500,000 (1600m) The Lakes at Wyong on January 10 after he cruised to a two-length victory over Sounds Unusual when second-up in the benchmark 78 handicap (1600m).
“He’s just been a slow-maturing horse and based off his first-up run, I think the penny is really starting to drop with him,” Bayliss said.
“He’s really starting to put it together. He enjoyed a beautiful run today off a nice, solid clip and really put them away nicely.”
Fitzgerald shows sign of what’s to come
Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald showcased her potential with a smart ride on Cougars to score a maiden Saturday city winner aboard her first chance at Randwick.
Fitzgerald, last season’s leading provincial apprentice, took Cougars from gate eight in the class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m) to a spot just behind the leaders before guiding the Barbara Joseph, Matt and Paul Jones-trained four-year-old through a gap late for a neck win over Joiselle.
The 23-year-old from Taree, now with 176 winners, has been based at Warwick Farm with bosses Annabel and Rob Archibald for the past 13 months and will soon turn her focus to city racing as her provincial claim comes to an end.
Fitzgerald had one city win, at Canterbury early this season, from just 14 rides in town before Saturday.
“Absolutely thrilled, first Saturday winner and couldn’t have asked for nicer support with my first ride for the team,” Fitzgerald said.
Paul Jones praised the ride and said Cougars would be set for the Country Championships.
“It was a pretty good race so you can never be really confident when you come here, but it was a great ride,” he said.
“I just felt I needed to take three kilos off his back and Mollie’s been riding well. We’ve kept an eye on her for a little while now, and I think that [claim] was probably very important in the final wash up.”
Meanwhile, Zac Lloyd, a two-time champion Sydney apprentice, went two wins clear of James McDonald atop the senior premiership with four wins over two days at Randwick for the John O’Shea-Tom Charlton stable.
Lloyd went to 36 victories after winning on Livin’ Thing in the benchmark 78 handicap (1200m) on Saturday following a treble with Mamushka, Cellarmaster and Cross Tasman on Friday. McDonald has been away riding in Hong Kong.
Clipperton boosts comeback run
Chris Waller-trained Mare Of Mt Buller will be set for the $500,000 The Lakes at Wyong after being part of a breakthrough double for Everest-winning jockey Sam Clipperton at Randwick.
Clipperton announced his retirement a year ago but was back riding in races last month. He has now notched up four wins after Mare Of Mt Buller and stablemate Unlimited gave him first Saturday city victories in his return. He put Mare Of Mt Buller just behind the leaders in the benchmark 94 (1600m) and she came home best for a one-length win over Collect The Cash. He later took Unlimited to a two and a half-length win in the ninth, a benchmark 88 (2000m).
“Obviously out of the winners’ circle for retirement reasons, but it’s great to be back here at Randwick and riding winners and I appreciate the support I’ve been receiving off a wide variety of people and it’s great to be back,” Clipperton said.
“It feels different this time around, but I’m a bit more appreciative of what I’m lucky to be doing every day.”
Waller said: “Sam’s a thinker and it’s good to see that he’s come back well and his heart’s there.
“He’s a hard worker and it’s getting justified with some results.”
Pfieffer hopes for cooler head in Sunlight
Trainer David Pfieffer is excited by the prospect of Ice Kool improving with racing after he all but cemented a slot in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight with a victory in the benchmark 72 handicap (1100m) at Randwick.
Ice Kool was a $2.40 favourite on Saturday after an impressive three and a half-length win on debut at home at Warwick Farm, which put him in the frame for the 3YO slot race on the Gold Coast on January 10.
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Despite over-racing, Ice Kool was strong to the line under Jay Ford on Saturday to beat Southern Heiress by a neck.
Pfieffer said there had been interest from Sunlight slot-holders before the victory and “we’ll see what transpires the next 24 hours”. He was pleased with the winning time and what was to come with the Zoustar gelding.
“He’s obviously got plenty of ability and is still learning his trade,” Pfieffer said.
“He just got a bit keen, a bit over-racing the mid-stages of the race. The more he races the probably more he’ll furnish and the better he’ll get, we hope. It’s just a case of learning to drop the bridle at the right times of the race, settle, breathe and lengthen again.”
