A Golden Guineas Day at Caulfield

Golden Mile (blue silks) overtaking a wall of rivals to win the 2022 Caulfield Guineas

When the rain was bucketing down last Friday it certainly didn’t look  as if Saturday would be any different.

Thankfully the weather improved and for the most part remained dry and sunny over the course of the afternoon.

It was Guineas Day at Caulfield, one of the classiest race meetings of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

By a strange quirk of fate, overnight, the incomparable Winx had given birth to a filly foal by Pierro.

I well recall seeing Winx win her 12th straight race in the Caulfield Stakes on Guineas Day 2016, where she only faced two rivals in Black Heart Bart and He Or She; a most unusual race.

Of particular interest last Saturday, in fact not to be missed, was the Group 1 Might and Power Stakes (formerly called the Caulfield Stakes) which had attracted a Cox Plate quality field of eight contenders that included the likes of Zaaki, Anamoe, Alligator Blood, Mo’unga and I’m Thunderstruck pitted against each other.

As the best races were later in the afternoon, I took my time getting to the track and arrived just before Race 4, the Listed Village Stakes run over1200 metres.

This was won by Gravina, the first of four winners for Godolphin and James Cummings over the afternoon.

Gravina on his way to winning the Village Stakes

Having left it too late to get back to the rail in time, I was obliged to watch Race 5, the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes, run over 2400 metres on a screen inside the Public Bar. Jamie Kah guided Saracen Knight to victory narrowly beating Makram and Desert Icon.

Race 6 was the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes, a sprint over 1100 and named for the brilliant grey speedster Schillaci who won eight Group 1 races in the 1990s.

Godolphin blue silks were to the fore again with race favourite  Paulele winning the bikkies from stablemate Ingratiating with Zoustyle running third.

Paulele neck and neck with Zoustyle as they zoom up the straight

As the Might and Power Stakes was up next Rebecca and I grabbed a spot on the fence early to witness the highly anticipated event. This was in an area next to the public lawn that we had to ourselves, though we were concerned that we would be told to leave by a security person. However we remained undisturbed so were able to photograph most of the field as they headed to the starting gates.

 
Alligator Blood – ran fourth

Anamoe – the winner

I’m Thunderstruck – ran second

Mo’unga – finished last

Nonconformist – seventh

Anamoe is regarded as the new star of the turf having in his short career won six Group 1 races. Most recently, besides Saturday's Might and Power Stakes, he also won  the Winx Stakes and George Main Stakes in Sydney. He actually won the Caulfield Guineas last year.

I've only seen Anamoe in the flesh once before where he ran second in the Blue Diamond Prelude behind General Beau in the Autumn of 2021.

Naturally  Anamoe started as the short priced favourite and raced handy in fourth spot, whilst Alligator Blood led the field with Zaaki close behind him.  Zaaki seized the lead in the straight but was overrun near the finishing post by Anamoe with I’m Thunderstruck on his tail running second.  It was an exciting race that lived up to its promise and we felt privileged to have witnessed Anamoe demonstrate his brilliance. He’s now hot favourite for the Cox Plate, which he could well win.

Might & Power Stakes finish – Zaaki leads but Anamoe is about to overtake him

Anamoe returns to scale after winning the Might & Power Stakes

We stayed in our spot to await the Caulfield Guineas which was up next, unwilling to leave in case we couldn’t get back to it.

As Caulfield Guineas go it wasn’t one of the strongest.  There were several live chances, but Golden Mile started as the warm favourite and prevailed narrowly from Elliptical and Osipenko. Less than a length separated the first five home.

A wall of horses thunders up the straight – Golden Mile (blue silks) is about to overtake them all

Golden Mile on his way to the barriers

Elliptical on his way to the barriers

Osipenko on his way to the barriers

The final Group 1 race of the day was the Toorak Handicap, run over 1600 metres, but as the afternoon was drawing in, I decided not to stay for it and headed home.

The afternoon had remained fine except for a drizzle of rain just before the Might And Power Stakes which barely wet the ground.

I’m looking forward to attending the Caulfield Cup meeting next Saturday and hope for another sunny day.