Winx again, Drama sixth, but Arod second

A fifteenth straight win today maintained Winx's place as Australasia's top horse, and while Endless Drama was only sixth behind her in a race at Randwick, Qatar Bloodstock's Arod performed above expectations.

Arod (pictured right) dropped back in grade to Group Three level for the $150,000 Liverpool City Cup, but ground that began the day soft and was nearer heavy by the close would, on past form, have been all against the horse. He defied conditions, however, and finished second of seven runners to his Chris Waller-trained stablemate McCreery, who won by a length.

Geoffrey Faber, Qatar Bloodstock's representative in Australia, said: ‚"Arod got on the heels of another runner in the straight, but once clear really knuckled down and ran on well. The winner caught him close to the line.

‚"His ability to handle that ground opens up a lot of avenues.‚"

There were moments in the $600,000 Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes when it appeared Endless Drama might take second, as Winx, holding all the aces, pulled clear in the home straight she won by two lengths and three lengths from Lasqueti Spirit and Who Shot Thebarman. Endless Drama was vying for the runner-up spot with just over 200m to run, but faded from there to finish sixth of the ten runners, although he reversed form with top-class Hartnell, who had finished in front of him in the recent Star Apollo Stakes.

Faber said: ‚"Interestingly Endless Drama was seven lengths behind Winx today, the same margin as last time [in the Star Apollo], but two lengths in front of Hartnell, which was a five lengths turnaround.‚"

Photograph of Arod with groom James Todd - Ce