Jockey Tyler Schiller praised Rotagilla as a “progressive horse” after the gelding overcame a tactical alteration to deliver a resounding triumph in the Anzac Day Cup held at Randwick.
Schiller intended a proactive ride on the four-year-old, but a poor start led to a patient approach instead, with Rotagilla firing a devastating burst down the outside to win the 1800m race by a clear margin.
“It obviously wasn’t the plan to be so neutral and negative on him, but they jumped quick around us and I thought, on a turn if we’re pushing we’re going to be using a lot of energy,” Schiller said.
“He’s come through and won like a really nice horse late. The tempo helped him.
“He’s a progressive horse.”
Rotagilla boasts six wins from 17 career starts, and assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth to Chris Waller mentioned the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on May 9 as a likely next port of call.
“He is tough and consistent,” Duckworth said.
“We thought he was more one-paced, but he seems to have that turn of foot and a willingness to win. We’ve just got to work out exactly where he measures up and what his distance range is, how far he can stay, and that will tell us the answers hopefully.”
At odds of $8, Rotagilla scored half a length clear of Sir Dinadan ($12) from the same stable, with consistent Polymnia ($4.40) just a short neck adrift in third.
Opting out of Friday’s Tamworth Cup (1400m)—successfully taken by their Formal Display—Annabel and Rob Archibald entered Hellsing in Saturday’s First Australian Imperial Force Handicap (1500m).
In an exciting three-horse photo finish, Hellsing outfinished Encap over the concluding 50m for his second local win, accompanied closely by stablemate Cristal Clear in third.
“I am delighted for Hellsing. He has been knocking on the door,” Annabel Archibald said.
“He’s had three seconds, two here and in the Muswellbrook Cup, and just the ground and maybe the class in the Doncaster (Mile) found him out.
“Back in grade, 1500 metres here I think is his sweet spot, and it was a nice ride by Tom Sherry as well.”
The Archibald stable had four participants, as Depth Of Character and Port Lockroy ended up fourth and fifth.
Annabel Archibald expects Hellsing and Cristal Clear to contest next month’s Scone Cup (1600m), with entry into the Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day.
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