Break Dancing, Rappers and Racing – Caulfield Guineas Day

Griff wins the Caulfield Guineas from Veight

You may wonder at the connection between break dancing, rapping and racing, but my Saturday afternoon’s jaunt to the Caulfield Guineas meeting actually involved all three activities.

As the race I most wanted to see was scheduled as the last of ten, I took my time getting to the track and arrived as Race 4, the Northwood Plume Stakes was in progress. I watched it on a big screen and noted that She Dances was the winner.

After that race I headed trackside – a longish walk - to locate my friend Rebecca, who I found as usual near the finishing post.

A visit to stalls area was then in order to see if Amelia’s Jewel had arrived yet.

However, even though Amelia’s Jewel was not in her stall we did come across the Caulfield Guineas favourite Militarize in his stall. At his previous starts he had won the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes, the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and the Group 1 Golden Rose in Sydney.

Militarize in his stall

Whilst we were out the back, we checked out the on course entertainment, which amusingly was some kind of Break Dance/Hip Hop competition.

The B Boys face off before demonstrating their skills as break dancers

The guy in red went first with his opponent watching from the sidelines

The guy in blue takes his turn

While all this happened the band on stage (electric organ/commentary and a drummer) played breakdance music rather loudly.

We returned trackside before Race 5 , the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes, a sprint over 1100 metres, was set to run,  and squeezed in on the fence closest to the finish line.

Asfoora led from the start to the finish and won by over 3 lengths from Uncommon James, with Chain of Lightning running third.

Asfoora burns up the straight unopposed

Uncommon James (no 2) and Chain of Lightning running second and third

The weather bureau had predicted a rainy afternoon, but apart from the occasional speck, it surprisingly remained dry though windy, and was even sunny every so often.

The Weekend Hussler, a listed race over 1400 metres, was up next and was won by Ayrton from Stageman and Rubamos.

Ayrton wins the Weekend Hussler

Formerly called the Caulfield Stakes, the Might and Power was the first of the Group 1 races to run and Alligator Blood, second favourite to Irish horse Just Fine, proved he was back to his best with  a determined win, defeating 2019 Melbourne Cup winner, Vow and Declare by two lengths with Duais running third.

 
Alligator Blood on his way to winning the Might and Power

Alligator Blood returns to scale with the clerk of course

Vow and Declare (no 2) and Duais vie for second place

We killed time before the next race by heading back to the stalls to see if Amelia’s Jewel had arrived, which she had.

Amelia’s Jewel in her stall

There was one more race before the Caulfield Guineas was set to run. This was the Group 3 Catanach’s Jewellers Vase, for mares,  run over 1600 metres.

Wishlor Lass, one of the few favourites to win on the day, didn’t disappoint her backers, leading all the way to narrowly win from Barbie’s Fox.

 
Wishlor Lass (pink silks)  battles out the finish with Barbie’s Fox

Militarize was the hot favourite for the Caulfield Guineas, but he missed the start and stymied his chances, but the winner Griff led from the start and held off a challenge from Veight to score by 1.75 lengths. Steparty finished third.

Griff on his way to the barriers

Veight on his way to the barriers

Steparty on his way to the barriers

The Caulfield Guineas trifecta paid a fortune, well over $1.500, with Griff paying $36.80 for the win.

We were obliged to wait for another 40 minutes for Amelia’s Jewel’s race, the Group 1 Toorak Handicap which proved disappointing, Amelia’s Jewel failing to run a place.

The finish was a battle between Attrition and Antino with the former winning narrowly in the end. Banker’s Choice snagged third spot.

The trifecta paid an even bigger dividend than the Caulfield Guineas.

Attrition & Antino battle to the finish line in the Toorak Handicap

All was not lost however as I managed to snap some nice photos of Amelia’s Jewel as she was on her way to the barriers.

Amelia’s Jewel

The main race in Sydney was of course The Everest which we watched on the big screen at Caulfield.  Think About It won the bickies from I Wish I Win with Private Eye running third.

Next Saturday is Caulfield Cup Day. Let’s hope the weather is alright, i.e. not raining or too windy.

On the way home from the races, on the Hurstbridge train, I was astounded to see and hear a young rapper doing his stuff in the same carriage as myself.

Who would have thought that after watching the break dancers at Caulfield, a rapper would distract me on the way home.

A strange coincidence!