Astronomix demonstrated his rapid improvement through the grades by finishing strongly on the outside to win the Happy Retirement Lynne McLean Handicap (1300m).
James McDonald, on the verge of securing his record-equalling eighth consecutive Sydney jockeys’ premiership and 10th overall, had not competed at a Sydney Saturday meeting since All Aged Stakes Day back in mid-April.
His most recent Sydney engagement was actually at a Canterbury midweek fixture on May 27, owing to commitments interstate and overseas.
However, McDonald’s skill was evident aboard Astronomix ($3.90), with the promising three-year-old surging past the courageous leader Nullarbor Jane near the finish line to secure a one-length victory. Aisle Two ($10) finished a further two-and-a-quarter lengths adrift in third.
Lady Invictus, backed into $3.30 favouritism, appeared to have every opportunity but could only manage fifth place.
Astronomix has now recorded three wins and three placings from his six starts, with further success anticipated, according to McDonald.
“He’s a young horse with a lovely presence about him,” McDonald commented. “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 provided trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton with the second part of a winning double, following the earlier triumph of two-year-old Scintillation.
“We like him, he’s a very genuine young racehorse,” O’Shea stated regarding Astronomix. “He’s only lightly raced, he gives his all but we feel he can only keep improving.”
Earlier in the day, Leovanni continued her impressive run of form by clinching her third consecutive win in the TAB Highway (1800m).
Leovanni had initially struggled to break her maiden status, accumulating eight minor placings before finally achieving a win at Tamworth. Since then, she has impressively won consecutive Randwick TAB Highways over 1600m and 1800m.
The Cameron Crockett-trained Leovanni ($7) settled near the pace, took the lead 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 neck behind in third.
“I thought she probably should have been favourite today,” Crockett admitted. “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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