A well-judged front running ride by Tim Clark saw Top Of My List lead all of the way to win the Group 3 $150,000 Sharp Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick today.
Top Of My List, above, was an all the way winner in the Japan Racing Association Plate at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Top Of My List ($18) was having her first race start for a month but still had enough stamina to hold off the challeng of runner up Sons Of John ($11).
Third placegetter Rudy ($18) was able to fight back in the run to the line to beat the $3.20 favourite Astronomos in a photo for the minor placings.
Top Of My List was coming off a last start third in the Group 3 $150,000 Bradford Black Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 18 but co-trainer Edward Cummings was not worried and knew the High Chaparral mare would race well fresh.
“She really lived up to our expectation. She is a fantastic fresh horse. We had no qualms about her having a break between runs,” Cummings said.
Cummings, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony, was also quick to praise Tim Clark for his well-judged front running ride.
“Tim did a fantastic job. She is the kind of mare that prefers to find her own rhythm in her own way, away from the rest of the crowd and I though Tim did a great job,” Cummings said.
“He just rated her perfectly in front.”
Craig Williams positioned the favourite Astronomos just behind the leading division and had him into the clear coming up the rise but the six year old struggled to make up any ground in the straight on the wet surface.
2017 Japan Racing Association Plate Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | TOP OF MY LIST | Anthony & Edward Cummings | Tim Clark | – | 6 | 53kg | $18 |
| 2 | 3 | SONS OF JOHN | Jason Attard | Glyn Schofield | 0.8L | 2 | 54kg | $11 |
| 3 | 2 | RUDY | Helen Page | Jason Collett | 3.8L | 4 | 54kg | $18 |
| 4 | 4 | ASTRONOMOS (GB) | John P Thompson | Craig Williams | 3.9L | 1 | 53.5kg | $3.20F |
| 5 | 6 | NEW TIPPERARY | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 4.3L | 10 | 53kg | $4.60 |
| 6 | 8 | HAPPY HANNAH | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 9L | 5 | 53kg | $10 |
| 7 | 7 | BIG BLUE (GB) | John O’Shea | Tommy Berry | 10.7L | 8 | 53kg | $8 |
| 8 | 9 | SLOW PACE (USA) | Kris Lees | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 10.9L | 9 | 53kg | $81 |
| 9 | 5 | GREEN SWEET (USA) | Jean Dubois | Johan Victoire | 11.6L | 7 | 53kg | $4.80 |
| 10 | 13 | BRING LUCK | Amanda Turner & Mauro Poletti | Peter Wells | 13.7L | 3 | 53kg | $61 |
