Racing: Media impresses in San Domenico Stakes

Golden Slipper placegetter Media drew first blood at Randwick yesterday as the cream of last season's 2-year-olds made their return in the San Domenico Stakes.

The filly finished third to Stratum and Fashions Afield in the country's premier two-year-old race in March but a much bigger and stronger Media took her place today.

Outsiders Witches Hat and Pasikatera led the field out of the gates for the 1000m dash and when the rest charged in the straight, Rod Quinn took Media along the rails to score by 1-1/4 lengths over Written Tycoon.

Favourite Snitzel ($2.50) was wide all the way and held on well for third a short neck behind with Slipper winner Stratum working home late for a close fourth.

"It's so exciting when they come back at three, and to put paid to a field like that, well it's wonderful," Media's trainer Bob Thomsen said.

"The conditions of the race with set weights and penalties didn't favour my filly and she's done a great job.

"She'll run in the Silver Shadow next and then we'll see which other races in the Princess Series she goes in on the way to the Flight Stakes."

Thomsen sprung a surprise when he booked Quinn to replace the suspended Hugh Bowman but the trainer has a long memory.

"Rodney is a great rider and he rode Shogun Lodge to win for me once," he said.

Grahame Begg said Written Tycoon's next start would be in the Ascot Vale Stakes in Melbourne in four weeks while Snitzel and Stratum will clash again in Sydney in the Up And Coming Stakes.

Shares in both colts have been sold to leading studs during the winter with Arrowfield buying 25 percent of Snitzel and Widden 40 percent of Stratum.

The breeding heavyweights were out in force to watch their new acquisitions today and were pleased with what they saw.

Trainer Gerald Ryan was also pleased with Snitzel who was ridden by Corey Brown after Stathi Katsidis was sacked last week.

"He was three-wide facing the breeze so that was going to make it hard," he said.

"I thought he stuck to his guns and held his ground.

"The others had the sit on him but I'm happy."

The Stratum camp was over the moon, with the hulking colt making up many lengths over the last 300m.

"That's just what you want to see," trainer Paul Perry said.

"A thousand metres was always going to be a bit short and he will only get better. Just how much further he can run will be interesting.

"He's a big, relaxed colt and I'm very, very happy."

The only young stars missing from today's race were Slipper runner-up Fashions Afield who is scheduled to resume in the Silver Shadow Stakes in two weeks while Champagne Stakes winner Carry On Cutie will line up in next week's weight-for-age Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

Darren Beadman was back to his masterful best earlier in the day aboard Grand Traverse who booked himself a berth in the $A1 million Golden Rose with his win in the Quiet Little Drink Hcp (1400m).

Grand Traverse was elevated to $4 favouritism after God's Own ($2.10) was scratched when he burst through the barriers and travelled 200m before being caught.

"He struck the gate with an upward blow to the head and that's why I ordered his withdrawal," veterinary surgeon Dr Peter Knight told stewards.

Trainer Bart Cummings said God's Own, a close relation to his champion of the 1990s, Saintly, was one of the quietest horses in the stable.

Cummings said he would now start at Rosehill next Saturday in preparation for the Golden Rose at the same track on August 20.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY