Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (Group 1)

THE So You Think five-year-old mare Palaisipan won the 74th and final Group 1 race of this season’s Australian calendar, delivering trainer Chris Munce and jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor a maiden victories at the highest level.

Jumping from barrier 12 of 17 in the 1,400 metre Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm, Palaisipan was able to jump well and take cover in the run before angling clear in the straight to overwhelm the leading Chain Of Lightning and land the win by a half-length.

Second was the Press Statement mare Roots, so named after the Sydney racing journalist Chris Roots, as the Testa Rossa mare Chaillot got the better of Chain Of Lightning to claim third.

“I can’t believe it. I’m on top of the world,” said an elated Kyle Wilson-Taylor. “It just goes to show that if you want something in life and put in the hard work you can achieve it.

“I can’t thank Chris and the connections enough. This is the greatest moment of my life so far.

“I came across, I wasn’t taking any prisoners, and I was calling to get in and I got in. She’s so tough and I knew if she had a restful run early she was going to be there late, and she was.”

Saddled up by the 1998 Melbourne Cup winning jockey Chris Munce, there was some unfinished business for Palaisipan who had finished third in this race last year having won the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes.

Taking a different tack this year, with a fourth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap en route, the win was bittersweet for Munce who now farewells Palaisipan who has been bought by the Yoshidas in Japan having raced in their colours on Saturday.

“You’ve got no idea of the emotions I’m feeling at the moment. It’s the ride of a lifetime with a mare like her. We paid nothing for her, she’s been all up and down the east coast for us and performed at the top level in every race she competed in,” said Munce who bought the unraced two-year-old filly for A$40,000 from a Gooree Stud reduction sale.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m so overwhelmed at the moment because so much goes into these horses, to mould them and develop them.

“She’s a wonderful mare, she’s going to have a great life as a broodmare with the top stallions and studs all over the world.”

THIS year’s Everest, scheduled for October 14th at Randwick will be worth A$20 million following the announcement of a $5 million stakes boost.

Additionally, a new event over 1,600 metres at weight-for-age, the King Charles III Stakes (replacing the George Main Stakes) will be worth $5 million taking the overall prize money for the Everest raceday beyond $31 million.

“It’s the highest rated sprint race in the world so it’s only just that we continue to put the money that it generates back into the race and continue to grow it,” said Racing New South Wales chief executive Peter V’landys from Royal Ascot’s final day.

“It’s been a juggernaut and it has really had a 12-month effect on NSW racing. We’ve never grown so much in revenue and we take these revenues and subsidise provincial racing and other areas.”

From the November 7th through to Melbourne Cup day over $62 million in prize money will be available from six race meetings at Randwick and Rosehill.

“I have achieved all there is to achieve in horse racing and have had a fantastic career, but the Lexus Melbourne Cup has always been one race that I would love to win,” said Dettori. “I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time and hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win.”

That maiden ride in the Cup was in 1993 aboard Drum Taps (ninth), the year the Cup changed forever following the win of Vintage Crop.

TOM Sherry landed his 12th metropolitan winner of the season (and 41st overall) at Randwick last Saturday, taking out the first on $17 outsider Twice As Special in the first, a benchmark 72 over 1,100 metres for trainer Jason Coyle.

It was Sherry’s first ride on the Testa Rossa six-year-old mare and he needed all his guile to weave through the field after dropping to last to then land the win in a tight photo.

“Jason was quietly confident beforehand,” said Sherry. “She relaxed well in the trial the other day so the plan was to be neutral and he said once she balances up, she’ll show a good turn of foot. We had a good run through and she attacked the line strong.”