A look at some of the other angles from Winx Stakes Day at Randwick.
Tortoni provides Quinton with sweet treat
The heavy 10 track at Randwick held no fears for trainer Ron Quinton, who recalled riding in significantly more testing conditions during his career as a champion jockey.
Quinton produced the opening winner on Saturday's 10-race card when Signor Tortoni prevailed in the Midway Handicap (1200m) and said he had no hesitation starting the gelding despite the track being in the extreme range.
"I remember the year Strawberry Road won the Derby (in 1983)," Quinton said.
"My God, you couldn't even see where you were going. It was unbelievable. They've done a great job here."
After weeks of near-relentless rain, Randwick was bathed in sunshine on Saturday and Signor Tortoni ($3 fav) provide Quinton with another bright spot when he lasted to score by a long neck over Apache Breeze ($12).
It was his third win in eight starts and Quinton said he went into the race confident, especially given the booking of Jason Collett, the hoop widely regarded as one of the best wet track riders in Sydney.
"I said to Jason, 'they tell me you're the best wet weather track jockey ever, go and show me how to do it'," Quinton quipped.
"I've always had a good opinion of him (Signor Tortoni). I thought he might have been even better. He might still get there because he's got very good galloping ability."
Dual hemisphere double for Dwyer
It has been a big weekend for Victorian-based trainer Henry Dwyer with Wuddzz saluting in the Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m) at Randwick just over 12 hours after his globetrotting sprinter Asfoora captured the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
Dwyer was in England to oversee Asfoora's success but took time out from his celebrations to issue some pre-race instructions to Wuddzz's jockey Tim Clark.
"I spoke to Henry about fifteen minutes ago. He was overseas celebrating so he might celebrate for a bit longer now," Clark said.
Wuddzz has been a regular visitor to Sydney during the late autumn and winter, his best result prior to Saturday a runner-up finish behind Casual Connection in May.
Clark said the gelding settled beautifully in the run and ran out a deserved winner.
"One thing he did, he really conserved his energy in the first half of the race, just completely went to sleep for me," he said.
"He was able to be really good late.
"He came here a couple of months ago on a really heavy track and he was a bit stiff so he got his just rewards today."
Nellie relishes wet to win Cup
Alysha Collett had been eagerly waiting to ride Nellie Leylax on a wet track and her patience was rewarded when she combined with the former UK galloper for her biggest Australian success in the Group 3 Premier's Cup (2000m).
A winner on testing ground overseas, Nellie Leylax ($5.50) ploughed through the heavy conditions at Randwick to post his first Australian win, scoring by 2-1/2 lengths over Belvedere Boys ($9) with Good Banter ($12) another length away third.
While having her first race day ride on the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained gelding, Collett was confident he would enjoy the ground after partnering him in a preliminary work-out a few months ago.
"I just couldn't wait to ride this horse," Collett said.
"I had a sit on him probably three months ago and he thrived on the outside track at Warwick Farm on a wet day and I knew he was going to get through this pretty comfortably.
"I have been patiently waiting."
Nellie Leylax arrived at the Premier's Cup off the back of two runs in Melbourne, including a last start placing at Moonee Valley.
His six wins in England were all on rain-affected ground and Rob Archibald said conditions on Saturday were key.
"He has relished it in Europe and he's handling it really well here so that will give him a lot of confidence," Archibald said.
"It's nice for connections. They've been very patient throughout the prep and it's good to see him put it together."
A Group 1-winning jockey in New Zealand, Collett has won two Listed races in Australia but the Premier's Cup marked her first Group victory since moving to Sydney.
G1 goal beckons for Lazzura
She has often played second fiddle to higher profile stalemates, but Lazzura will be given an opportunity to put her name in lights this spring with connections setting their sights on a Group One target.
Just what that goal will be remains up for debate but trainer Chris Waller is entertaining the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) in Melbourne and Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney as potential aims.
"She deserves a Group One so we have to pick out the right Group One," Waller said.
"The Sir Rupert Clarke early in the spring at Caulfield or whether we keep her up here for an Epsom and see where (stablemate) Autumn Glow is going. A few little things to map together. She will win one and maybe not just one."
Waller's confidence stemmed from Lazzura's stylish return at Randwick on Saturday, the four-year-old wearing down wet track specialist With Your Blessing to take out the Show County Quality (1200m) by 1-1/2 lengths.
It was her third black type win and first since capturing the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) in the autumn, a result that followed a Group 1 placing behind stablemate Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes (1400m).
Waller has often used the Phar Lap Stakes as a launch pad for his emerging fillies and says Lazzura fits that mould.
"She is a talented filly in her own right. All those horses that have won it have gone on to win Group One races. Lazzurra is just waiting for that moment to happen," he said.
Quote of the Day: "Gee the second horse was great. I could see the shadow and I couldn't think what it would be. I was thinking, I have quickened up beautifully and she gave me a hell of a fright." – Jockey James Mcdonald won the Winx Stakes on Via Sistina but was taken by the effort of rival and runner-up Aeliana.
