Optus Business Apollo Stakes (G2)
Winx, having her first run since her brilliant win in the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) in October, resumed to score a very good first-up win. She began well and settled nicely in fifth place on the rails, following a good pace (first 800m 46.91). She improved nearing the home turn, went back to the rails at the 200m, hit the front at the 50m and drew clear to score comfortably. Solicit went to the front, set a good pace, held a good lead at the 200m and fought particularly well for a very good second. Hauraki raced back in seventh place, improved along the inner rounding the home turn and lifted well over the closing stages to take third in a promising first-up effort. Dibayani was sixth in the early stages, improved to the third (one off the rails), behind a solid pace at 600m and kept fighting on nicely in the straight for (3.9 lengths) fourth in a sound run at his first start this preparation.
Previous Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
CONTRIBUTER
(IRE)
5H HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - SERISIA (FR) EXIT TO NOWHERE (USA) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 59.0 | JOHN O'SHEA | 6 |
|
|
APPEARANCE
(AUS)
5M COMMANDS (AUS) - DISGUISE (AUS) GRAND LODGE (USA) |
B SHINN | 57.0 | G H WALTER | 2 |
|
|
ALMA'S FURY
(AUS)
5G REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) - DANCE ATTENDANCE (NZ) WHAT A GUEST (IRE) |
B SHINN | 59.0 | PAUL MURRAY | 11 |
|
|
RAIN AFFAIR
(AUS)
4G COMMANDS (AUS) - I BELIEVE (AUS) OCTAGONAL (NZ) |
C W BROWN | 59.0 | JOSEPH PRIDE | 12 |
|
|
MELITO
(AUS)
4M REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - CLOISTER (AUS) MARAUDING (NZ) |
B AVDULLA | 57.0 | GERALD RYAN | 9 |
|
|
DANLEIGH
(AUS)
6G MUJAHID (USA) - GRACEFUL LILY (AUS) DR. GRACE (NZ) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 59.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 13 |
|
|
TUESDAY JOY
(NZ)
5M CARNEGIE (IRE) - JOIE DENISE (AUS) DANEHILL (USA) |
B SHINN | 57.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 4 |
|
|
RACING TO WIN
(AUS)
5G ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - SURREALIST (AUS) KENNY'S BEST PAL (AUS) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 59.0 | JOHN O'SHEA | 1 |
|
|
DESERT WAR
(AUS)
6G DESERT KING (IRE) - HIGH HEELS (AUS) CAN'T FIGHT FATE (AUS) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 59.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 8 |
|
|
IKE'S DREAM
(AUS)
5M KING OF KINGS (IRE) - MRS. KAHN (AUS) VAIN (AUS) |
D BEADMAN | 55.5 | JOHN HAWKES | 1 |
|
|
GRAND ARMEE
(AUS)
6G HENNESSY (USA) - TAMBOUR (AUS) MARAUDING (NZ) |
D BEASLEY | 58.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 5 |
|
|
PRIVATE STEER
(AUS)
4M DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) - LISHEENOWEN (AUS) SEMIPALATINSK (USA) |
L V CASSIDY | 55.5 | JOHN O'SHEA | 8 |
|
|
LONHRO
(AUS)
4H OCTAGONAL (NZ) - SHADEA (NZ) STRAIGHT STRIKE (USA) |
D BEADMAN | 58.0 | JOHN HAWKES | 7 |
|
|
HA HA
(AUS)
3F DANEHILL (USA) - VERY DROLL (AUS) CROWN JESTER (AUS) |
J CASSIDY | 52.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 8 |
|
|
SUNLINE
(NZ)
5M DESERT SUN (GB) - SONGLINE (NZ) WESTERN SYMPHONY (USA) |
G CHILDS | 55.5 | TREVOR MCKEE | 5 |
|
|
SUNLINE
(NZ)
4M DESERT SUN (GB) - SONGLINE (NZ) WESTERN SYMPHONY (USA) |
G CHILDS | 55.5 | TREVOR MCKEE | 9 |
