Robbie Dolan made sure the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Randwick was run at a solid pace by making a mid-race move to take up the running on Skymax (GER), and it proved to be the winning move.
Tim Clark on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Wolfe (Jpn) took up the early running. Clark was not interested on getting in a speed dual when Dolan swept to the front.
Wolfe (JPN) levelled up again rounding the home turn. Spotting Skymax (GER) 6kgs pull in the weights, Wolfe could not claw back the short-neck margin.
Kaapfever, who also carried the minimum weight, was a further three lengths back in third.
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“It was great race and a great ride,” Newnham said.
“He didn’t begin as well as we hoped, so he was in a tricky position.
“Robbie rode the race to suit the horse and with a nice light weight and made it a good contest.
“He has been a really nice horse in the small time we have had him.
“This guy is another one with good improvement to come. Josh (Parr) has been doing a good job on him, but when you get down to 53kg, Robbie is a really good replacement.”
Bred by the Niarchos Family, Skymax (GER) was purchased for 49,000 euros at the 2017 Baden Baden August Yearling Sale.
He won a 2yo race at Newmarket in October 2018 when trained by Ralph Beckett and would later win over a mile and a half at Newbury.
He is the seventh stakes-winner for Monsun’s Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Maxios (GB).
Skymax (GER) is out of the lightly raced Galileo mare Set Dreams, a half-sister to the stakes placegetters (California) Disegno (Fastnet Rock) and Psychometry (Danehill Dancer).
This is the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) and her Group 1 Prix Morny winning half-brother Whipper (Miesque’s Son).
