Brisbane Winter Carnival Next for 2013 Frank Packer Plate Winner Usainity

The action of Sydney Cup Day 2013 has officially kicked off with Murray Baker’s promising young Kiwi Usainity winning the first on the card at Randwick, the $125,000 Group 1 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) ahead of a trip to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

Usainity (inside) will head to the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival after winning the Frank Packer Plate at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart

The nicely-bred Zed gelding travelled across the Tasman ready to tackle the Group races down under after a good start to their career back home winning three of their six starts.

Usainity came off a strong second to subsequent four and a half length Hawkes Bay Gold Cup winner Survived in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m), and continued the excellent form to come out of that race with the third placegetter Platinum Kingdom having also come to Sydney last weekend to win the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m).

Not disappointing those following the form Usainity had a lovely run for their Aussie debut today, Hugh Bowman getting them into a nice position in the slowly run Frank Packer Plate.

Settling just off the pace in third behind Laser Flash and the only filly in the field Cameo, they were positioned on the fence and Bowman kept them back as they looked to want to race a little keen.

It was a bunched field that came around the turn into the straight with Usainity right up on the inside sitting third on the fence.

In the end the Kiwi was too strong taking the spoils and beating home Honorius, a much improved run from the David Payne-trained runner-up who earlier ran 10^th in the Phar Lap Stakes and fourth behind today’s short-priced favourite Toydini in the Carbine Club Stakes.

Today Guy Walter’s dual Group winner Toydini was a little disappointing.

The Bernardini gelding had every chance but didn’t run out the 2000m, the slow canter possibly working against them.

They eventually finished fourth just beaten out of the minor placings by the John O’Shea-trained High Chaparral colt Kingdoms, working from the back of the field, who came off a third to It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m).

Baker also prepares spruik New Zealander It’s A Dundeel his stable ace to vie for their fourth consecutive Group 1 victory later today in the $400,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), their lesser-known stablemate’s win in the first setting things up nicely.

Happy with their Frank Packer victory Baker confirmed Usainity would continue onto the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with the $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June a likely target.

“It’s a good brave horse, I trained the sire and his mother…so I know a bit about him,” Baker said.

“He’s a promising horse this guy, I’ve rated him all along.

“Yeah we’ll send him up to Queensland.”

Bowman was also impressed with the victory and is excited about their consistent form now being shown off on Aussie soil.

“He attacked the line the way Murray’s horses do,” Bowman said.

“It was strong late and will be interesting to see where he’ll go from here.”

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2013 Frank Packer Plate Results & Finishing Order

Royal Randwick Race 1 – 27/04/2013