Thursday, September 03, 2009

Spring Racing Season 2009 – Week Six

The Liston Stakes Finish - L to R - Whobegotyou, Predatory Price, Typhoon Tracy

 
Well, last week I was correct about the winners of the Memsie Stakes (Mic Mac) and the Golden Rose (Denman) Both of these young horses won very well, Mic Mac leading the Memsie field from start to finish, having enough in reserve to beat Whobegotyou by1½ lengths, and Denman, the spitting image of his sire Lonhro, storming home in the Golden Rose and finishing strongly, beating Trusting into second place with outsider Stryker coming third. Phelan Ready was not in contention at all and finished near the tail end of the field.

More Joyous was disappointing in the Sheraco Stakes, only managing to run into third place behind Madame Pedrille with 40/1 outsider Seeking Attention running second.

This coming Saturday looks a beauty as far as star performers are concerned with several of my super stable scheduled to run at Flemington.

The Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200 metres) has unbeaten filly Black Caviar pitted against the boys for the first time in her short racing career. Not only that, she is up against Manhattan Rain, reckoned by Gai Waterhouse to be the best three year old in the country. Others sure to be in contention are Wanted, Rarefied, Delago Bolt and fillies Corsaire and Rostova.
Typhoon Tracy returns this week with just as tough an assignment in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600 metres) as she faced in the Liston Stakes three weeks ago. Predatory Pricer, the victor on that occasion is the major danger and sure to start favourite. Heart of Dreams, another representative of my stable, is also entered for this race and will be competitive if he gets a good run. Cups contenders Master O’Reilly, C’est La Guerre, Mac’Reilly, among others, are starting their Spring campaigns in this race. I’m of course hoping Tracy can turn the tables on Predatory Pricer this time round, but am far from confident as to her chances.

The other Group 2 race the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400 metres) for mares has some interesting runners in Romneya, Cat’s Whisker, Estee and Dane Julia, any of whom could win.

I’m also interested in Irish imported mare Unsung Heroine in the last race of the day over 1700 metres. She is reputedly a class act and has been rated as such. Speed Gifted, another classy import (GB) seems to be her main opposition along with local stayers Cat’s Fun and Young Centaur.

Oh, and Randwick has some good races too, but I can’t be bothered writing about them here, but will follow them on Saturday.

My super stable is slowly accruing prize money, so at least I can substitute Metal Bender who has sustained an injury and will be out for the spring. I have yet to select a substitute, having decided to wait the results of Saturday’s racing. This kind of thing is the usual attrition concomitant with the super stable competition. Last year it was Sebring who was injured early in the spring. He never raced again and is now at stud. My top hope for the Cups, Rebel Raider also appears to be out for the spring with an injury. Very disappointing, as he was a definite chance and I was anticipating him taking out the Cup with Claire Lindop onboard, who would have become the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Still, she may get another ride, but perhaps not as classy a ride as Rebel Raider.

2 comments:

iODyne said...

a woman aboard a Cup winner would give the VRC members enclosure a collective heart attack I reckon.
I am presently reading a memoir by a Western District aristocrat who describes the old days of Melbourne racing
"it's a business now, not a sport and it's run by people the old boys wouldn't have tolerated as Members much less at the Committee table.
When a couple owned a horse, the man was welcome in the mounting yard but not the woman.
Women were not allowed in the betting ring - there was a white line painted on the ground and if a woman stepped over it a uniformed attendant took you by the arm and led you away."

Anne S said...

Claire Lindop is the most likely female jockey to win a Melbourne Cup. She has already ridden Rebel Raider to two Derby victories, becoming the first female jockey to do so.

There was also Sheila Laxon who was the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup with Ethereal in 2001.

So the girls have beaten the boys at their own game already.