Astronomix has continued his rapid ascent through the racing grades, finishing with great determination on the outside to win the Happy Retirement Lynne McLean Handicap (1300m).
James McDonald, who is on track to claim a record-equalling eighth successive Sydney jockeys’ premiership, and his 10th overall, had not ridden at a Sydney Saturday meeting since the All Aged Stakes Day in mid-April.
His most recent Sydney race ride was actually at a Canterbury midweek meeting on May 27, due to commitments both interstate and overseas.
McDonald was seen to great advantage on Astronomix ($3.90), with the promising three-year-old finishing strongly under the weight of 59kg to run down the brave front-runner Nullarbor Jane near the line, winning by a length. Aisle Two ($10) finished a further two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
Lady Invictus, which was backed into $3.30 favouritism, appeared to have every chance but could only manage to cross the line in fifth.
Astronomix has now improved his record to three wins and three placings from six starts, with the promise of more to come, according to McDonald.
“He’s a young horse with a lovely presence about him,” McDonald stated. “He has been so well handled, so well educated, and he was strong to the line today. I don’t think he’s any world-beater but he tries very hard in his races.”
The win by Astronomix provided trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton with the second part of a winning double, following the earlier success of the two-year-old Scintillation.
“We like him, he’s a very genuine young racehorse,” O’Shea said regarding Astronomix. “He’s only lightly raced, he gives his all but we feel he can only keep improving.”
Earlier, Leovanni also continued her impressive form surge by winning her third race in succession in the TAB Highway (1800m).
Leovanni initially struggled to break her maiden status, accumulating eight minor placings. However, after finally breaking through with a win at Tamworth, she has now won consecutive Randwick TAB Highways over 1600m and 1800m.
The Cameron Crockett-trained Leovanni ($7) settled on speed, forged to the front on the turn, and went on to score comfortably by three-quarters of a length from Maples ($5.50), with Moon Sweeper ($2.35 favourite) a long neck away in third.
“I thought she probably should have been favourite today,” Crockett commented. “But when you have an Arrowfield horse (Maples) and one of Matt Dunn’s (Moon Sweeper) then I don’t mind being third favourite. If we win it doesn’t make any difference.”
“As soon as Alysha Collett got up outside the leader I was worried that maybe she might over-race. But when she relaxed and half switched off then I thought she won’t let any of them pass her as I know how tough she is.”
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