Top Of My List topples rivals at Randwick in JRA Plate
THE excellent recent form of Anthony and Edward Cummings-trained Top Of My List has continued on Saturday after the mare found the front and raced away at Randwick to cause a huge boil over.
The $20 shot at WilliamHill.com.au took up a position at the head of affairs and proceeded to run its rivals into the ground, booting clear at the 300m mark to record an impressive victory.
The run kept Top Of My List’s terrific placing run in tact which has seen the four-year-old place in four of its last five runs.
Co-trainer Edward Cummings said the horse was given the perfect ride from jockey Tim Clark.
“She bounced out well, she got across, (Tim) just rated her perfectly in front,” Cummings said.
“We were watching the sectionals of the race and we couldn’t have been more pleased with how things were panning out knowing that with that comfortable toe in the ground she can really be strong late. She really lived up to our expectations.”
Clark said Top Of My List was suited perfectly to the front running ride, and delivered a spirited effort when it mattered most.
“She looked like she was going to be able to get a nice lead and she was a bit free coming around and I just sort of let her find the front under her own steam,” Clark said.
“By the time we hit the 1000m she really came back underneath me and got some really cheap furlongs and gave herself a really good rest.
“When she heard them come up behind her she dragged herself up the rise, kicked strongly and she was full of running to the line.”
In what has been a semi-regular process for Top Of My List, the Cummings team elected to give the mare a month break after a third placed finish at Rosehill back in the beginning of March, and the move paid dividends.
Cummings said the month break between runs was ideal given how well the horse runs after a break.
“She’s a fantastic fresh horse,” he said.
“She ran a bottler first up, she was a little bit unlucky at Warwick Farm. We had no qualms about her having the break between runs, we just thought it was imperative she got a nice, comfortable run in transit and being up on speed with those fractions made it all the more difficult for the other horses to catch her.”
A pair of double figure runners rounded out the placings.
Sons Of John ($3.20 at WilliamHill.com.au) ran on well to pinch second while Rudy showed promising signs after a disappointing preparation to claim third and deliver $3.60 to Sportsbet.com.au clients.
Despite the strong showing, Jason Collett said he was disappointed Rudy could not make an impression on the leading pair.
“Got to the spot we wanted, bit of cat and mouse early, but he got out-sprinted when they quickened.” Collett said.
In what is certain to be the biggest trifecta dividend of the day, punters who nailed the three runners got $1,674.70 on their investment.