Handfast Flies The Flag At Randwick

Handfast added to the magnificent record of his sire Street Cry and took the honours for the Godolphin team on Day Two of The Championships meeting in Sydney with his win the Listed South Pacific Classic at Randwick on Saturday, April 9.

On a program where the Godolphin filly Ambience ran her second Classic placing when runner-up in the G1 Australian Oaks, Handfast (John O'Shea/James McDonald) showed he is a horse with a bright future.

Tucked away on the fence until 300m from the line, Handfast forced his way clear and then asserted himself, scoring by a length-and-three-quarters from Santa Ana Lane.

"This is a horse who has come through the grades quickly and convincingly," said trainer John O'Shea.

"His last start was against older horses and he appreciated coming back to three-year-old company today."

Rider James McDonald said the win had been made to look by a horse with great strength and a good turn of foot.

"He had to use his strength to get clear running and once he did he put them away very quickly," McDonald said.

Handfast may run in the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas in two weeks, which O'Shea was likely to be his last for his current preparation.

The G1 Oaks runner-up Ambience (John O'Shea/James McDonald) is also by Street Cry whose influence on Australian racing has been phenomenal.

This season alone he has sired 66 winners in Australia, including the country's highest-rated runner, Winx, the winner of five G1 races this racing year and six in all. Street Cry's last southern hemisphere crop are now yearlings.

Ambience had shown herself to be a superior staying filly when the G2 Wakeful Stakes at Flemington last Spring, before her third placing to Jameka in the G1 Victoria Oaks.

In the Randwick equivalent she had Jameka behind her, but just failed to peg back the New Zealand filly Sofia Rosa.

"That was a good, brave effort to be on the speed throughout and still be there at the finish," O'Shea said.

"She's done a great job for us to be placed in two Classics and to win at Stakes level, I'm very proud of her."