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By Ray Hickson and Brad Gray
At Royal Randwick

Fiesta Shines, Oohood Wants Further
Kerrin McEvoy continued his affinity with the Silver Shadow Stakes with Fiesta making it three of the past four editions, with Formality (2017) and Speak Fondly (2015) the other two.

“She’s grown up a lot. She is more developed and has strengthened up. Mentally she has grown up a bit too," McEvoy said of the filly who will now tackle the Princess Series, culminating in the G1 Flight Stakes.

Fiesta takes out the first leg of the @DarleyStallions Princess Series, the Silver Shadow Stakes pic.twitter.com/lh04a6Dp4n

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 18, 2018

Tim Clark wasn’t disappointed with Oohood’s closing fifth suggesting that ‘the country’s best maiden’ felt like she wants further.

“She ran really well, she didn’t jump as cleanly as I would have liked so I was on the back foot which meant I had to ride her conservatively,” said Clark.

“She travelled up well and hit the line. So far today nothing has run on out that wide, the run of the race was against her and if she had the winner’s run she probably wins. The 1400m and a mile is probably going to be ideal for her this preparation and that run will bring her on.”

Punters Intel reveals Futooh ran the fastest splits from the 800-200m before peaking on her run. Follow her.

Master Ash In Golden Rose Mix
TAB firmed Master Ash from $51 into $26 for the Golden Rose but you get the impression that Adrian Bott's rates the three-year-old a better chance than that.

Master Ash and Tim Clark (Pic: Steve Hart)

Bott confirmed that Master Ash will now plot the same path as Gold Standard did for the Waterhouse and Bott stable last year, tackling the Stan Fox over 1500m before dropping back to 1400m for the Golden Rose. Gold Standard won the Stan Fox before running fourth to Trapeze Artist.

"He’s held in high regard," Bott said, "In the last six weeks he has developed physically and mentally. Sitting one-one adds another string to his bow. Now that he is a more mature horse, he’s able to do those sort of things."

Tim Clark added, "I rode him on Tuesday morning here and he felt unbelievable. I was very confident he would run a bold race.”

“He gave me a lovely ride throughout. He had that fitness on his side. I put it to them a bit early and he was really strong late.”

Does Le Romain Deserve A Romaining Everest Slot?
Jockey James McDonald says the remaining three slot holders in The Everest could do a lot worse than give Le Romain his chance in the $13 million feature.

Though he is a three-time Group 1 winner, Le Romain tends to fall into the under-rated category due to his tradesman-like nature but he showed he’s all class lumping 61kg to victory in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Le Romain cruises to victory (Pic: Steve Hart)

TAB firmed Le Romain from $51 into $26 in The Everest but the six-year-old still needs support of either the Australian Turf Club, Max Whitby or GPI Racing to gain a start.

“He’s a warhorse, he’ll turn up on the day whether it is rain, hail or shine and he’ll give you his best,’’ McDonald said.

“Whether he has the class to win it, I don’t know, but I tell you he wouldn’t be far off.’’

Le Romain ran the Everest course in 1:08.62 in beating a luckless Siege Of Quebec, which is 0.26 slower than Redzel took to win the inaugural running last year, and that puts him right in the frame.

Trainer Kris Lees said Le Romain would race next in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 1 setting up a mouth watering clash with Pierata and Lanciato.

Lees was represented by Clearly Innocent in the Everest lastg year and said if Le Romain was to be picked up for the race he would certainly deserve it.

“He’s played at the highest level for a long while and it’s good to see get a win,’’ he said.

“If the Everest happens it happens. There are races either side. Or he could get to an Epsom. It was good to see him win today.”

Segenhoe Earns Reprieve Out-Shining Stablemate
“I was going to sack him’’.

That was the immediate response by trainer Clare Cunningham after Segenhoe reignited his career with an all the way win in the Bob Ingham Handicap (2400m).

A rousing track gallop on Tuesday morning saw the gelding’s fortunes turn a little in the trainer’s eye and the rest is now history.

Clare Cunningham (Pic: Steve Hart)

“I thought I should send him to Queensland, I was scratching my head and didn’t think sending him to a Saturday was the answer,’’ she said.

“After the gallop it made me think a bit out of the box.’’

Despite some specking in the betting for Segenhoe, it’s fair to say Cunningham’s hopes were higher for stablemate and favourite Just Shine.

But, thanks to a perfect front running ride by Tim Clark, the seven-year-old, the second lowest rated horse in the staying event, was never seriously challenged.

“I’m a little lost for words. The owners of Segenhoe definitely deserve this win, they’ve been very patient,’’ Cunningham said.

“It’s been a frustrating preparation, he trialled so well and we thought we were in for a real good prep.’’

As for Just Shine, who was on trial for the provincial Cups prior to Saturday’s race, he finished fifth after being strung up between horses for much of the straight.

“Nothing made ground, he didn’t get out and a chance to build some momentum,’’ Cunningham said.

Check out the results and replays for Royal Randwick on Saturday.