Beau & Dosh–Australia Day at Caulfield

General Beau wins the colts Blue Diamond Preview

The weather could have been better, but it was a pleasant change of scene to be back trackside at the races yesterday.

It has been almost a year since I last attended the races, so having renewed my Melbourne Racing Club Casual Membership I was able to attend yesterday’s races at Caulfield, which featured the two Blue Diamond Previews, one for the boys and one for the girls.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions on the number of spectators at the track,  one had to register to attend in advance. Being a casual member the only area option available was the Front Lawn, which suited me fine as it’s where I would choose to be normally.

There were restrictions on other areas of the track, such as the stalls, parade rings and mounting yard fence. But overall, the front lawn was a spacious area to hang  out in as there wasn’t that much of a crowd. By pretending to be media photographers we managed to get next to the fence for photo practice. I’m glad I took my stool.

My photographer friends Rebecca and George were also in attendance yesterday, so it was great to catch up with them after almost a year since we last met in person.

Last year the Blue Diamond Previews were won by  Hanseatic (colts & geldings BD Preview) and A Beautiful Night won the fillies version. Hanseatic went on to win the Blue Diamond Prelude on Orr Stakes Day, and finished second to Tagaloa in the Blue Diamond Stakes.  A Beautiful Night faded into insignificance thereafter, finishing unplaced in her next four races.

The winners yesterday were quite impressive, General Beau, after racing in third or fourth for most of the race, stormed to the finish line to win by ½ length from Extreme Warrior and Gulf of Suez.

General Beau on his way to the barriers

Extreme Warrior on his way to the barriers

The wonderfully named Dosh (Rich Enuff / Raise Up) led the fillies Blue Diamond Preview field from the start and was strong to the finish, successfully holding off challengers Tayla’s Moment and hot favourite Frost Flowers, to win by by ½ length

Dosh holds off a challenge from Frost Flowers as they approach the finish line

Dosh in the mounting yard

As previously mentioned the weather was pretty awful, rainy at first, though clearing as the afternoon progressed.

Not that it was important as I didn’t tarry long after the Blue Diamond Previews had been run, the rest of the race card being of not much interest.

Next Saturday I hope to attend Caulfield again where the feature races are the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes and Manfred Stakes. They look very interesting with potential stars of the turf such as class filly Enthaar and 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa having accepted to run.

Again the weather is forecast to be showery, but cross fingers for some sunshine as well.

The first Group 1 race of Melbourne’s Autumn Carnival is the Orr Stakes in a little over a week on 6 February, so the racing from now on will be more exciting and I’ll hopefully get to see some of it in person.

Blue Diamond Stakes Day 2020

Hanseatic – favourite for the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes

The jewel in the crown of Caulfield’s autumn race program, Blue Diamond Stakes Day is always worth attending. Not only do you get to watch the babies vying for riches in the Blue Diamond Stakes, but there are two other tasty Group 1 events on the card.

This year’s Autumn racing season has so far been constantly interesting with a bunch of new and exciting horses hitting the track, as witnessed last week at Flemington. This coming Saturday there will be more of the same with a great field of acceptors in each of the feature events.

A full field of 16 runners has accepted for the Blue Diamond Stakes, comprising 7 colts and 9 fillies. Having watched the Blue Diamond Previews and Preludes I have some grasp of who are likely to be in the finish.

Of the colts, Hanseatic stands out, being the unbeaten winner of both the Colts Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude.  Can he emulate Sepoy and win the Blue Diamond Stakes as well? 

He faces stiff competition from fellow colt Rulership who he just beat in the Blue Diamond Prelude, but several very smart fillies could spoil his party, such as Magic Millions Classic winner Away Game,  A Beautiful Night,winner of the fillies BD Preview, Letzbeglam who was impressive winning the fillies BD Prelude at her last start.  Muntaseera and Arayaaf who respectively ran second in the BD Prelude and Chairman’s Stakes could also be in the finish.

The first of the Group 1 races on the program is the Futurity Stakes (1400 metres) which has a great field that includes Epsom and Golden Eagle winner Kolding, star New Zealand mare Melody Belle and Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth along with the tried and true Black Heart Bart and Cape of Good Hope.

A huge field of 18 runners will be contesting the Oakleigh Plate, a sprint over 1100 metres. I don’t think I’ll be staying at the track for it, but top chances are Bivouac, Faatinah and the three year old Anaheed and Free of Debt.

The weather tomorrow is forecast to be cool and sunny as a change from last week.

Back at the Track – Blue Diamond Previews

Hanseatic on his way to winning the Colts & Geldings Blue Diamond Preview

With the CF Orr Stakes, the first Group 1 of the 2020 Autumn Racing Carnival, a little less than a fortnight hence,  it was pleasant to resume my Saturday afternoons at the races.

Though not a particularly riveting meeting, I always take an interest in the early build up races to the Blue Diamond Stakes, and at Caulfield last Saturday the two Blue Diamond Previews were the must see events.

My racing photographer friends Rebecca and George, also had the same idea, so it was pleasant to catch up with them again.

Despite the transport disruptions with trains to Caulfield being replaced by buses, it didn’t take me all that long to get there, an express bus from Flinders Street reaching Caulfield in a mere 20 minutes.

So I was at the track in plenty of time to see the first of the Previews and even had time to cruise through the stalls area first.

Hanseatic was highly fancied for the boys Preview and he was being accoutred  in his stall as I passed.

Hanseatic in his stall

Also in her stall was the eventual winner of the fillies Preview, A Beautiful Night, though she looked a trifle peeved to be there.

A Beautiful Night in her stall

It being early in the autumn racing season, there wasn’t much of a crowd, so it was easy to get a spot on the fence to photograph the races. I had of course taken along my step, doubly handy as the rail was out by 6 metres.

Hanseatic was most impressive winning the Colts Blue Diamond Preview, racing wide for most of the race then taking off shortly after the turn into the straight to blitz the field and win by 2½ lengths from Glenfiddich with Fixated running third a further 2 lengths in arrears.

Hanseatic whizzes past Glenfiddich in the straight

Glenfiddich running second

Fixated on his way to the barriers

Fresh was the warm favourite for the fillies Blue Diamond Preview, but she was outrun by A Beautiful Night who led from the start to win narrowly from the fast finishing Fresh. Unstoppabelle finished third two lengths behind.

A Beautiful Night in full flight down the straight

Fresh on her way to the barriers

Unstoppabelle on her way to the barriers

I only stayed for one more race, the 1400 metre the Lamaro’s Hotel Sth Melbourne Handicap and it resulted in a wall of horses hitting the post at the same time.  Zero Doubt got the nod from Wedgetail and race favourite Wilmont Pass.

Race 5 finish – Zero Doubt is on the rail, Wedgetail is outside and Wilmont Pass is the centre

The afternoon was warm and sunny, quite a change from my last race outing on Mackinnon Stakes Day last Spring where it was somewhat inclement.

It was worth attending for the two Diamond Previews, though next week promises to be more interesting as the better performed runners start emerging to begin their Autumn campaigns. Looking at the nominations, I hope to see the likes of Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth and others such as Loving Gaby, I Am Immortal, and Sunlight’s little sister Sisstar.