Racing: Disappointing Envoy to lie low until the Sydney Cup

SYDNEY - Envoy will bypass the Chairman's Handicap and head straight to the Sydney Cup on April 22 after his ninth in The BMW at Rosehill on Saturday.

While it appeared a disappointing effort by the Wellington Cup winner, trainer Ken Kelso wasn't downcast, saying he never had a chance given the "mad" early pace in the 2400m classic.

The Sydney Cup at Randwick was always his main target.

"He was off the bridle all the way," Kelso said.

Envoy was always back towards the rear and made a little ground in the straight, finishing just under 11 lengths behind winner Eremein, whose victory gives him claim to being Australasia's best weight-for-age horse.

Envoy finished in front of Sydney Cup rivals Kindjhal and On A Jeune, and not far behind other Cup contenders Demerger, Lachlan River and County Tyrone.

Jockey Grant Cooksley said the fast pace, with Lachlan River tackling Our Smoking Joe charging for the lead, meant Envoy was never in the hunt.

"Two miles is more his go," he said.

Kelso said Envoy would head straight into the Cup without another run, while many of his rivals will tackle the A$200,000 ($240,000) Chairman's Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.

"It's the same type of preparation we had before the Wellington Cup."

Zabeat is likely to join Envoy as New Zealand-trained horses in the A$800,000 Cup.

Our Smoking Joe, Lachlan River and Roman Arch were at least 10 lengths in front of the rest of the BMW field at the 1400m and Our Smoking Joe did well to stick on well for third considering the pace.

Eremein swooped on him in the straight, while Railings, part-owned by New Zealanders Gerard Peterson and Owen Glenn, ran an honest second. The Caulfield Cup winner is headed for the spelling paddock with another Melbourne campaign due in the spring.

Three-year-old filly Falsetto, who has transferred from Graeme Rogerson's Tuhikaramea stable to his Sydney yard, ran on well for sixth in the group one Arrowfield Stud Stakes after having a chequered run at the top of the straight.

Rider Jim Cassidy said he had to duck back to the inside to avoid a skirmish and thought the filly would be best suited by some give in the ground.

The filly is headed for the AJC Oaks.

"It was a good run from an Oaks point of view, without getting carried away," said Rogerson.

Cambridge galloper Orpington was the unlucky runner in the Royal Parma Stakes, over 1400m.

Normally a good beginner, he was last away before Craig Newitt whipped him round the field to sit outside leader Gorgonite.

The effort told in the end, but he was a close-up fourth behind Gorgonite and will stay in Sydney for a A$70,000 race later in the carnival, Waikato trainer Tony Pike said.

"Craig said they held them in the gates too long and he ducked her head just as they jumped," Pike said. "He said it was the difference between winning and losing."

- NZPA