Autumn Racing Carnival – Week 10

There are several interesting races tomorrow, including three Group Ones, the Ranvet Stakes and Queen of the Turf Stakes in Sydney, and in Perth the Western Australian Derby.

In the Ranvet, Sirmione and Princess Coup cross paths again with old war horse Desert War and top Sydney mare Tuesday Joy also competing. It should be an interesting race as should the Queen of the Turf with Melbourne spring star Devil Moon racing second up after being disappointing last start. She’s up against some classy mares and fillies such as Forensics, Occurrence and Mimi Le Brock.

I’m not strong on form for the WA Derby, but I kind of fancy the filly Grand Journey who is aiming for a hat trick of wins.

Others in my black book racing tomorrow are Mutawaajid in the Visage Stakes, Racing To Win, Mentality and Sniper’s Bullet fighting out the Canterbury Stakes, and Musket in the Sky High Stakes.

The Sydney carnival is hotting up and I am looking forward to seeing the return of Apache Cat later this month and also seeing how Weekend Hussler goes in his next race, possibly the Ryder Stakes which Haradasun won last year, before going on to win the Doncaster Handicap.

There is news that Augusta Proud may be competing in the Golden Slipper after all. Let’s hope her connections don’t get too greedy and over race her and ruin her for the future. She’s only two years old with lots of growing still to do.

I like following horses through their careers, hopefully over several years. Sunline’s career lasted for five years and it was thrilling watching her racing through every one them. I felt depressed and deflated when she was retired. Likewise, with Makybe Diva. Still, there are potential champions emerging all the time it seems. Look at this year, for instance, with the emergence of Light Fantastic and Augusta Proud to name a few.

Another of my favourites was retired this week. Divine Madonna, one of the best milers in the country, sustained a back injury in training and has been retired to the breeding barn. She came out of nowhere two years ago to win the 2006 Emirates Stakes and was consistently good in subsequent competitions, winning a total of four Group One races. Oh well, we can look forward to her children hitting the race track in the future.