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By Brad Gray
At Rosehill Gardens

Spend Money To Make Money
How does Spend compare to stablemate Exceedance? That was the posed to Tommy Berry after he piloted the impressive debutant to victory at Rosehill.

"I can't say yet, they are two very different horses but both have the same temperament, they are beautiful (in nature) and do whatever you ask of them," replied Berry.

Spend, a $1.55 million Snitzel colt, was left flatfooted when the leaders quickened and what made the win so impressive was his sustained last 800 metres, comfortably clocking the fastest closing splits in the race.

His last 200m of 11.82s was a length faster than True Detective's 11.96 despite the runner up getting the run of the race and travelling sweetly into the turn. Berry has Spend pegged as a 1200-1400m horse in time.

"I think he handled the track fine but the 1100m was too sharp for him. I thought we were in trouble because it takes a good horse to go from not travelling at all to picking them up and putting them away," he said.

"He got tired late so has improvement there and will be better once he steps up over further."

Meanwhile, co-trainer Michael Hawkes confirmed that Exceedance is back in work ahead of the spring.

Here’s our first look at Spend! Will he live up to the hype?

$2.70 with @tabcomau says yes! @HawkesRacing pic.twitter.com/80wKUFujTt

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 13, 2019

Best Losing Ride Of The Day
Even when he is losing he is winning. There wasn't a better losing ride at Rosehill than Blake Shinn's on Cinquedea! He did everything he possible could to steal a march on eventual winner Phiastos, pocketing the favourite.

Phaistos won comfortably in the end (Pic: Steve Hart)

"He ran a great race," said Shinn, "And is a really nice horse he just didn't know how to put the field away at the 300. I thought I did everything I could to win the race. That's racing though, the winner was too good."

On Phaistos, Hugh Bowman said he the son of Helmet would not be out of his depth in a higher grade of race.

"We are in the middle of winter so let's not get too carried away but he is the type of horse we could see late in the spring, picking off a fringe black type race," said Bowman.

Punters Intelligence tells the story. The only section in the race where Phaistos ranked #1 was the last 200m (12.39s).

Hawkes With Brutal Update
Doncaster Mile winner Brutal is back in work and "looks outstanding".

"He has been in for a couple of weeks now and will start to step up his work next week. Nothing has been planned yet, he'll just bob along and see where we are out," said Michael Hawkes.

There has been no interest around the rising four-year-old for The TAB Everest according to the stable. Yet. Brutal is currently $8 equal favourite for the Epsom and $4.50 equal favourite for the Golden Eagle, however.

"To us it's about getting him right and running in the races where he'll be at his best, he is an entire and we have to do the best thing by the horse," said Hawkes.

Meanwhile, Golden Slipper winner Etijaab has been retired.

Brutal looking Magnificent for the family photo !!! #3generations of Russo... Ron, David #proudowner and Liam #3yo #doncasterhcp #winner pic.twitter.com/ScUzFSM4vQ

— Hawkes Racing (@HawkesRacing) July 11, 2019

Inside The Head Of A Jockey
Tommy Berry offered an amazing insight into what level of thought goes into riding winners. Not only is it a matter of playing to the strengths of your own horse but also capitalising on the weaknesses of the rivals.

Tommy Berry (Pic: Bradley Photos)

"I've ridden True Detective," said Berry after getting Spend home narrowly, "He is a lovely horse but when I won on him (back in February on debut) he got to the front and wanted to lay in, he got a bit lost.

"I had it in the back of my mind that when I was going to go I wasn't just going to amble up, I wanted to pass him quickly. If I ambled up I knew it'd give him a chance to come back at me, like he did in the end."

Hugh Bowman later revealed what went through his head when Agent Pippa jumped so quickly to lead hot favourite Spiritual Pursuit.

"Kris (Lees) said she doesn't breathe too well if you interfere with her rhythm," said Bowman.

"Usually I'd try to get them to come back and settle them but I felt if I tried to slow any more than I did I was going to interfere with her, which I didn't want to do."

Beaten Favourites
Robbie Dolan (Waking Moment): "She jumped well and put herself in a lvoely spot, travelled like the winner the whole way but as soon as she come off the bridle she struggled. There had to be something wrong

Sam Clenton (Spiritual Pursuit): "She raced like she had had enough, I had nothing at the 600m to take me into it. She raced tired."

Check the results and replays for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday