Godolphin scored their second win of the day at Warwick Farm when European import It’s Somewhat won the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) on debut in Australia.
It’s Somewhat scored the Liverpool City Cup win on debut in Australia. Photo by Steve Hart.
The four-year-old gelding jumped well from barrier five, working his way up the field to sit somewhere in the middle. Coming around the home turn, It’s Somewhat worked through the leaders in a strong effort, coming strongly to hit the lead with 100m to go, winning one and a quarter lengths ahead of Helen Page’s Rudy with Peter & Paul Snowden’s Gypsy Diamond clinching third place in a photo with Malavio.
It’s Somewhat has now qualified for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in which he will be exempt from ballot along with runner-up Rudy. Trainer John O’Shea will need to decide whether the gelding tackles the $3 million race on day one of The Championships or waits a week for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
“They really ran, he was still on the bridle coming up past the 700m so that was a good sign,” the trainer said.
“Mac (James McDonald, jockey) obviously thinks the grounds not too bad so he cut the corner and away he went.
“He was sent here to possibly be a participant in the Queen Elizabeth. He ran third in the Coral-Eclipse, which would normally be good enough to be competitive in the Queen Elizabeth but we’ll see.
“His run will qualify him for the Doncaster now so we’ll see what happens.”
James McDonald rode It’s Somewhat to victory, happy with his decision to partner racing giant Godolphin. The hoop rates the gelding as more of a genuine stayer which means he’d likely be aimed towards the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“He did a good job, keeping enough sprint in his legs today and he run really well,” the jockey said.
“I think this one is more of a genuine stayer.”
The punters had it right once again with It’s Somewhat the market mover of the 2015 Liverpool City Cup betting after his price shortened from $7.5 into $6.
Punters who backed the European at Ladbrokes.com.au will enjoy their lucrative payout.
2015 Liverpool City Cup Race Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | John O’Shea | James McDonald | – | 5 | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 2 | 6 | RUDY | Helen Page | Luke Tarrant (a) | 1.3L | 11 | 57kg | $10 |
| 3 | 12 | GYPSY DIAMOND | Peter & Paul Snowden | Sam Clipperton | 1.6L | 14 | 54kg | $31 |
| 4 | 8 | MALAVIO | Steve Englebrecht | Jason Collett | 1.7L | 7 | 56.5kg | $19 |
| 5 | 7 | AOMEN (IRE) | Anthony Cummings | Joshua Parr | 2.2L | 9 | 56.5kg | $51 |
| 6 | 11 | THUMP | Kris Lees | Tye Angland | 2.3L | 10 | 55kg | $5 |
| 7 | 2 | DESTINY’S KISS | Joseph Pride | Hugh Bowman | 3.5L | 8 | 57.5kg | $26 |
| 8 | 4 | RED EXCITEMENT | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 3.6L | 4 | 57.5kg | $3.70F |
| 9 | 3 | PORNICHET (FR) | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 3.7L | 6 | 57.5kg | $9.50 |
| 10 | 1 | HOT SNITZEL | Gerald Ryan | Blake Shinn | 3.9L | 13 | 59kg | $11 |
| 11 | 14 | SINGING FLAME | Kevin Moses | Glyn Schofield | 4L | 1 | 54kg | $151 |
| 12 | 9 | SLOW PACE (USA) | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.8L | 2 | 56.5kg | $101 |
| 13 | 10 | TERRITORY | Jarrod Austin | Jim Cassidy | 5L | 12 | 55.5kg | $8 |
| 14 | 13 | CANNY BALLAD | Joseph Pride | Christian Reith | 6.7L | 3 | 54kg | $51 |
