2 2018 THE CHAMPIONSHIPS STANDS OUT IN EXHILARATING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE FIFTH RUNNING OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS WAS HIGHLY- SUCCESSFUL WITH PERFECT AUTUMN WEATHER AND SOME THRILLING RACING OVER THE TWO DAYS WORDS: MARK BRASSEL PICTURES: STEVE WHITE, OSCAR COLMAN & STEVE HART

ecord-breaking mare Winx How the 2018 The Championships war down the straight with Levendi cemented her place in races panned out: - and Mark Zahra narrowly edging out Australian racing history with NEWHAVEN PARK COUNTRY Tye Angland and Ace High. Zahra a power-packed display to CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL: said: “I just waited and waited and Rwin the $4 million Longines Queen Victorem charged along the fence knew Ace High would kick strongly. Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of to claim first prize for jockey Ben I couldn’t get in front of him but gee The Championships. Looker and trainer Jenny Graham. he has a big heart. I could feel when Her effortless victory equalled Looker said: “This is my Melbourne we both quickened there was no-one ’s 25-straight winning Cup, obviously being in the bush you else around it was a battle royale.” sequence and capped a memorable don’t find many progressive horses, afternoon on the final day of the let alone any as good as Victorem. I’ve 360 DMG PERCY SYKES hugely-successful The Championships. just got to thank Jenny (Graham) and STAKES: Grey galloper Pure Elation “There can be no doubt the owners for sticking with me the dashed away to an impressive win for ’s own Winx is the world’s whole way along.” Michael Walker who said: “I’ve always best racehorse with a huge crowd POLYTRACK PROVINCIAL had a really good opinion of this filly, attending Royal Randwick to witness CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL: Serene so have Peter and Paul (Snowden). a piece of history,” said Racing NSW’s Miss was too classy making it six Today she was beautiful in-running, CEO, Peter V’landys AM. wins from seven starts when she she can tend to get her head up and “In just five years since its inception overhauled Newsfan to score by a be a bit strong, but she was a lot The Championships has given Sydney length. Jason Collett said: “She’s got better this time. She’s the real deal.” an autumn racing carnival that is a great attitude, just mentally, 1400m DARLEY TJ SMITH STAKES: vibrant and showcases Australia’s best first time, no worries, it was very easy Dashing three-year-old Trapeze Artist horses to the world.” in the end. I came off the back of the came home too strongly for favourite There were highlights galore during stablemate and I hit the side wind at Redzel who had no answer to the the 2018 The Championships including the top of the straight and thought powerful finish of this now valuable the epic battle down the straight oh wow, but she powered over the stallion. Tye Angland said: “This boy between three-year-olds Levendi and top of rise and the rest was history.” has got a big future, he is only a Ace High in the , INGLIS SIRES’: Roughie El Dorado three-year-old but beat probably our and ’s victory in the Dreaming finished fast out wide to best sprinter in Australia and that was Doncaster Mile was one of the most again deny the luckless Oohood exciting. Coming up the rise, having popular wins in the history of the race. who had also finished second in Redzel in our sights and being able And a huge roar resonated around the Golden Slipper. Winning jockey to pick him up and put him away, that the course when the number of Damian Lane said: “I went back from feels so good.” popular stayer Who Shot Thebarman the wide draw and was second last THE STAR DONCASTER MILE: was announced as the narrow winner and as we turned for home. I thought One of the more popular wins of of the . I may have waited a bit too long on the autumn was Happy Clapper who ’s Chairman, one earlier in the day so I just went landed the prize for popular local Laurie Marci, said: “In more than for home and I thought I had done trainer Pat Webster. Rider Blake Shinn 150 years history of the Longines the opposite and thought I’d been remarked: “That is amazing, I have Queen Elizabeth Stakes, there has beaten, what a thrill.” just won a Doncaster. I have watched never been a better renewal than the HARROLDS AUSTRALIAN this race for so many years growing victory by Winx.” DERBY: It was a classic two-horse up and to finally win it and on the

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Hugh Bowman acknowledges the crowd after Winx’s devastating victory people’s champ ‘The Clapper’. He is so brave this horse, he is honest he is tenacious and tough, well done to Pat Webster and the team.” ARROWFIELD 3YO SPRINT: Catchy zoomed down the outside for ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira’s first win during this year’s The Championships. He said: “She settled nicely, where she likes to be in the race and finished off the race with all the power that’s she got. It’s such a great feeling to be riding ABOVE: Jason Collett and Serene Miss cruise home in the Polytrack Provincial Championships Final another Group winner in Australia.” BELOW: Pure Elation (Michael Walker) goes for home in the 360 DMG Percy Sykes JAMES BOAG’S PREMIUM Stakes AUSTRALIAN OAKS: won his third straight Oaks on Unforgotten who finished strongly to haul in the leader Hiyaam. Bowman said: “She’s a lovely filly and who knows what’s in store for her in the future. I was always confident, I had such a lovely run in transit, she was superb the last 500m.” COOLMORE LEGACY STAKES: Alizee bounced back to her best with an authoritative win after coming from well back. Winning jockey Glyn Schofield said: “She’s a special girl. James (Cummings) had this race in mind for a long time and all credit to him and the Godolphin team, they

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presented her in great order.” LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES: Sydney’s darling of the turf, Winx, again made it a one-act affair as she cruised away from her opposition. Hugh Bowman said: “She’s just an exceptional athlete, she creates so much attention, I’m just so elated, I’m so proud of her and I’m just so proud to be a part of it. There’s so many cogs to the wheel and I know I get the dream ride. I know I’ve got the engine to round them up.” SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP: Another popular win when Who Shot Thebarman, having twice finished second in the race, gained the judge’s nod in a tight finish with roughie Zacada. Blake Shinn said: “What a thrilling finish. If there is ever a horse that deserves to win a Sydney Cup it’s him. He’s got a great group of owners that follow him around every year. It was a massive thrill to be able to get him over the line.” Joao Moreira drives Catchy home in the Arrowfield 3yo Sprint

CARYL WILLIAMSON to round out all those tipsters who fellow tipsters – it was a lot of fun.” WINS TAB CHAMPION finished with more than $300 in Final 2018 TAB Champion Tipster TIPSTER the bank from a hypothetical $10 tally: - aryl Williamson of Australian each-way bet placed on the NSW • Caryl WILLIAMSON (AAP) $498 Associated Press (AAP) TAB on each of the 25 tipsters’ • Ryan PHELAN (Channel 7) $421 held on to win the 2018 TAB runners across 12 races over the two • Brad DAVIDSON (Sky Racing) CChampion Tipster Challenge after a weekends. $376 thrilling contest to complete Day 2 of • Ray THOMAS (Daily Telegraph) The Championships. $364 The star of the day for Williamson Williamson, a long- • Andrew WEBSTER (Sydney was Who Shot Thebarman, a time astute judge and Morning Herald) $307 narrow and popular winner of the • Cameron WILLIAMS (Channel 9) Schweppes Sydney Cup (paying prolific writer for $293 $13.70 and $2.70 on the NSW TAB), AAP, is now 2018 TAB • Tony BRASSEL (Sky which, combined with her remarkable Champion Tipster, Central) $245 effort to tip four winners on Day 1 of • Ben WALKER (Fairfax Media) $240 The Championships, helped her to a with TAB kindly • Matt MALONE (Wagga Advertiser) final tally of $498. donating $5000 to $229 Seven Network’s Ryan Phelan the winner’s charity • Glenn MUNSIE (TAB) $198 was the standout on Day 2 of The Championships, with four winners of choice, which (Serene Miss, Catchy, Unforgotten is BeyondBlue ‘REVOLUTION’ IN TAB and Alizee) plus a smart selection EDITORS’ CHALLENGE of Gailo Chop for a place strategy “I’m very happy to win for such a he cheering could be heard against Winx in the Longines Queen good cause in Beyondblue and while loud and clear from the Central Elizabeth Stakes to see him finish I couldn’t match the four winners Coast of NSW following runner-up on $421. on Day 1 of The Championships, Tthe victory of Serene Miss in the Brad Davidson (Sky Racing) was I was luckily able to rely on Who $500,000 Polytrack Provincial third on $376.40, Ray Thomas (Daily Shot Thebarman – he never lets me Championships Final (1400m). Telegraph) was fourth with $364.40 down,” Williamson said. Shoebox Revolution is the and Andrew Webster (The Sydney “Thanks to all those involved, the beneficiary of $5000 courtesy of TAB Morning Herald) was fifth on $307 sponsors, the organisers and my after Central Coast Express Advocate

www.racingnsw.com.au 2018 THE CHAMPIONSHIPS 5 nominated it as its charity of choice in TAB’s 2018 Provincial Editors’ SHINN CLAIMS Challenge. The Provincial Championships has NATHAN BERRY MEDAL generated huge interest right around the state and as such, newspaper editors were invited to ‘support their local horse’ leading up to the Final on The Championships Day 2 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day. TAB joined with The Championships to get behind each region’s horse and editors were asked to nominate a charity with $5000 heading to the winner’s respective charity. Central Coast Express Advocate was the lucky newspaper to draw Serene Miss with the paper’s Editor, Tony Curran, saying: “We’re thrilled to see Serene Miss win the Provincial Championships Final on behalf of the Central Coast Express Advocate. “And we’re even more delighted for our nominated charity Shoebox Revolution. The charity was set up by two Central Coast sisters with the simple aim of filling a shoebox with of essential items for the homeless. “We must thank TAB and Racing NSW as the $5000 prize will go a long way towards providing these care packages for those in need.” Blake Shinn charged into contention for the Nathan Berry Medal after winning the Schweppes Sydney Cup aboard Whot Shot Thebarman

PORT MACQUARIE LANDS lake Shinn arrived late to Day 1 of The Championships COUNTRY CHALLENGE capture the 2018 Nathan when the popular Happy Clapper ackillop College Women’s B Berry Medal in a thrilling raced away with the $3m The Star Legal Fund will benefit finish to the contest on Day 2 of Doncaster Mile. from the dashing win of The Championships. McEvoy led the Medal race Mwell-fancied galloper Victorem in the Shinn burst onto the scene by having earlier partnered Fiesta $500,000 Newhaven Park Country winning the Schweppes Sydney ($6.50) in the 360 DMG Percy Championships Final. Cup aboard crowd favourite Who Sykes Stakes (1200m) where he The charity will receive $5000 Shot Thebarman ($18) to reach had to be content with finishing courtesy of TAB after Port Macquarie six points before his second on second to Michael Walker aboard News nominated it as its charity Prompt Response ($12) in the the flying grey Pure Elation ($4 of choice in the 2018 TAB Country Coolmore Legacy Stakes put him favourite). Editors’ Challenge. on eight points. Port Macquarie News was the Pre-post favourite Kerrin 2017 NATHAN BERRY lucky newspaper to have Victorem as McEvoy led most of the way and MEDAL COUNT its representative with editor, Tracey also finished on eight points, Fairhurst, saying: “This is fantastic but on a countback Shinn was 8 Blake Shinn, Kerrin McEvoy news and we are so pleased for our awarded the Nathan Berry Medal. 6 Hugh Bowman, Tye Angland charity. In the event of a tie, the 5 Mark Zahra “A $5000 contribution to the winner is he/she who has ridden Damian Lane, Michael Mackillop College Legal Justice 4 the most winners during The Walker, Joao Moreira Fund in Port Macquarie will have a Championships. Shinn finished Ben Looker, Glyn Schofield, significant impact on the reach of with two winners and a second to 3 Jason Collett, Andrew this community project.” McEvoy’s five placings. Adkins, Michael Dee Further information is available at Shinn’s other winner was on – www.thechampionships.com.au

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