1-AMASENUS
From a Sunday win at Ascot in March to feature race success in the Listed H.G.Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont four months later, what rapid improvement we’ve seen from four-year-old mare, Amasenus. If she keeps advancing a race like the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) will come into play according to her trainer Simon Miller. After charging over the top of Reflectivity, she has now won seven races from her last eight starts with a Beaufine Stakes third the only interruption to her winning spree.
2-DEANE SKIPWORTH
What a welcome tonic and pick-up for the Cardup trainer after the win of Nobel Laurence, a home bred that is now back in his care after he courageously fought back from cancer. Given a perfect rails ride from Lucy Warwick, the three-year-was Skipworth’s second city success since Blacksmith, coincidentally ridden by Warwick, saluted at Belmont seven years ago.
3-SIMON MILLER
I’m not certain if he’s more satisfied of going one clear of good friend and contemporary Jim Taylor or sharing a record-equaling fourth H.G.Bolton Sprint with Hall Of Famer Fred Kersley. Either way Amasenus caps his birthday week in style. His previous Bolton winners were Power Princess (2011), First Among Equals (2016) and Valour Road (2019).
4-CHRIS PARNHAM
With a week remaining before the end of the 2020-21 season, the national jockey premiership is within grasp of Parnham, who advanced to 195 wins and kicked three clear of New South Wales-based rider, Blaike McDougall, after booting home Treasured Crown in a nail-biter and Amasenus.
5-CHRIS & MICHAEL GANGEMI
The brothers almost potted one of the biggest upsets seen in years when Reflectivity, the rank outsider at nearly 100-1, came so close to recording an unlikely victory in the Bolton Sprint after being in front for the majority of the Listed event. Their anguish came on top of stable mate Notorious One finding a way to get beaten a race earlier.
6-BRAD RAWILLER
From limited rides, multiple Group 1 champion Brad Rawiller is maximising every opportunity he’s given. Skinnen Tins capped a top seven days at Belmont for the former Victorian after he guided home All Day Session last Saturday and Canny Jack on Wednesday. Rawiller’s last 15 rides at Belmont, Pinjarra, Northam and Kalgoorlie read: 4-1-2-2-1-2-1-5-2-2-3-3-3-1-1.–
7-OAKLAND PARK
An Oakland Park quinella in the Allan Guelfi Plate (1000m) with The Front Bar punching through along the fence to defeat the fast-finishing He’s A Sizzler by 1 ¼ lengths. Both horses look to have some promise and followed in the shadow of Miss Vasari, another product of the Yellow & Black Maltese Cross team that was so impressive on Wednesday.
Julio Santarelli