Coolangatta Lightning

Coolangatta winning the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning

Her name may be the same as the Gold Coast town, but three year old filly, Coolangatta, was the heroine of Melbourne after her determined win in the feature race at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.

This was my first outing to the racetrack since the Spring Racing Carnival, and I chose well, as the afternoon was sunny but not overly hot after a cool change on Friday brought a welcome end  to the three day heat wave.

Obliged by the Flemington Racecourse train timetable, I arrived at the track in time to witness Race 3, the Talindert Stakes for two year old contenders, run over over 1100 metres. In the past this race has been won by classy youngsters, such as All Too Hard in 2012.

Flemington wasn’t crowded by any means, so it was easy to get around, so I headed directly to my favourite spot on the Western Front Lawn to get some photo practice before the main event later in the day.

Maharba started as the favourite and won the race by a length from Hell Queen with Tacito running third.

Maharba wins the Talindert Stakes

I decided  that I didn’t mind missing Race 4, the Asian Racing Federation Trophy, so made my way to the stalls area to get photos of the main contenders in the feature Black Caviar Lightning.

Nature Strip – favourite for the Lightning

Coolangatta

I Wish I Win

Race 5 was the more interesting Tony Bourke Memorial, usually run as the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes over 1400 metres and for fillies and mares.

Annavisto who won the race last year, started as the warm favourite was victorious again , leading from the start to win by over three lengths from Wrote to Arataki with Excelida running third.

Annavisto crosses the finish line unopposed

Annavisto returns to scale

Wrote to Arataki on her way to the barriers

As the Black Caviar Lightning was scheduled as as Race 7, there was still one more race to run before the feature. This was the  Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes for three year old colts and geldings and also run over 1400 metres

A large field of 14 starters were contesting the event with the favourite being Bank Maur. He ended up unplaced with victory going to Elliptical who narrowly won from Holymanz and Maximillius.

A wall of horses crosses the finish line in the CS Hayes – Elliptical is the widest in red silks

Elliptical on his way to the barriers

Holymanz on his way to the barriers

A pretty good field had accepted for the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning and included Nature Strip, acknowledged as the world’s top sprinter.  He naturally was the hot favourite, but was disappointing, failing to run a place. The sole three year old filly Coolangatta, taking advantage of her weight advantage, and skilfully steered by top Jockey Jamie Kah, won the prize from the fast finishing I Wish I Win with Bella Nipotina filling third place, just ahead of September Run.

It  was a surprise result, but Coolangatta is no slouch as a race horse having won the 2022 Magic Millions 2yo Classic and also the Group 1 Moir Stakes last year. It will be interesting to see how she performs in the future.

Bella Nipotina and Coolangatta return to scale side by side

Coolangatta returns to scale

I Wish I Win returns to scale

Nature Strip returns to scale

The run of the race was no doubt I Wish I Win, who ran from last at the speed of lightning to narrowly miss out on winning.

He’s also one to watch for in the future.

I called it  quits after that and headed home, glad to have witnessed yet another exciting running of the Black Caviar Lightning and seeing Nature Strip once more. He’s now 8 years old and in the twilight of his illustrious career, so there won’t be many more chances to see him in action in the future.

The Great Horse Day – Caviar Back on the Menu

Black Caviar returns to scale after winning the 2012 Lightning Stakes

I was already keenly anticipating the Black Caviar Lightning meeting at Flemington, but the icing on the cake was the announcement on Tuesday that the great lady herself, none other than Black Caviar, will be present in the flesh for the occasion.

Black Caviar won the Lightning Stakes three times – 2011, 2012 and 2013 – and the race was renamed in her honour in 2013, so it’s thrilling that she will be there to parade before the race. She is having a break from motherhood this year, hence her appearance at Flemington on Saturday. She will be accompanied by all her connections – owners, Peter Moody, Luke Nolen and former strappers Donna and Patrick. It is most unusual for a retired mare to be brought back to the scene of their great victories - I certainly can’t think of another.

Anyway I look forward to seeing her again having last set eyes on her at her farewell back in April 2013.

The 2020 Black Caviar Lightning has only attracted a small field of seven runners, but include the exciting Nature Strip, dual Everest winner Redzel and 2019 Manikato Stakes winner Loving Gaby, who are the top contenders.

The race, however, that has every horse racing fan’s heart pounding is the CS Hayes Stakes, where top three year olds  Alligator Blood and Catalyst will be facing off for the first time. Super Seth is bypassing this race to run against the older horses in the Futurity Stakes on Blue Diamond Stakes Day.

Alligator Blood  - Caulfield 29/9/19

Alligator Blood has attracted a wide following and is now the most popular racehorse in Australia. He has won 8 of his 9 starts, his only loss coming from Super Seth in the Caulfield Guineas last Spring. He is related to Black Caviar being sired by her half brother All Too Hard.

 Catalyst has won 6 of his 7 starts and is regarded as New Zealand’s top three year old.  The only others with a chance in the race are Dalasan, Yourdeel and Soul Patch.

My intention is to get to Flemington by Race 3, the Talindert Stakes, a race for two year olds over 1100 metres. All Too Hard had his first start in this race back in 2012 and won. The top chance is smart filly Mildred this year, though the field also includes a close relation to Black Caviar, colt Ole Kirk, whose dam is Black Caviar’s full sister, having his first start.

Unfortunately the weather does not look promising with rain forecast to fall during the afternoon.  It will however be on the cool side as compensation.

Group 1 Glory – Orr Stakes

 
Black Heart Bart – winner of 2017 Orr Stakes

Finally the Melbourne Group 1 racing season kicks off this coming Saturday and a wonderful race card featuring the Group 1 Orr Stakes offers plenty to interest the dedicated racing fan.

The Orr Stakes is scheduled as Race 8, so it’s going to be a long afternoon in the sun at Caulfield Racecourse.

Fortunately there are a plethora of interesting races before the feature event, starting with the two Blue Diamond Preludes as race 2 and 3.

The fillies Prelude is run first and is classed as a Group 2, whereas the colts version is Group 3, even though the prize money and distance (1100 metres) is identical.

A great field of 13 fillies have accepted for the girls race, headed by the more experienced Oohood and Crossing The Abbey who ran second and third to Lady Horseowner in the Blue Diamond Preview. Other top chances on form are Al Naifa, Pure Elation and Downloads, the latter two also contesting the BD Preview.  I’m interested in seeing Angel, the half sister to 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles of Life, who won her only start in a maiden race in Geelong in early January. Can Angel emulate her big sister and  win in the Blue Diamond?

Fourteen colts will be contesting the boys Blue Diamond Prelude, the main chances being Ollivander and Run Naan along with Written By, Plague Stone and Native Soldier. Four in the field are having their first start, so who knows what chance they have.

Race 4 is the Carlyon Cup for middle distance/stayers run over 1600 metres. It’s not that interesting as races go, so I won’t preview it, however Race 5, the Kevin Hayes Stakes sees the return of smart fillies Shoals and Tulip to the track. Shoals won the Group 1 Myer Classic at Flemington  at her last start in Spring last year so is the class filly in the field.

The Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, a sprint over 1100 metres, has a top field and remarkably the barrier draw matched each horse’s saddlecloth number – a rarity. Whether the  field will finish in that order remains to be seen.

Horse number 1 is Rich Charm who has an excellent chance of winning, having been successful at Caulfield on three previous occasions, the most recently on Caulfield Cup day where he won a Listed sprint.

He will however have to beat classy colt Merchant Navy who won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at his last start.  Others with a chance are Super Cash, Prezado and mystery New Zealand colt Ardrossan, now with the Mick Price stable,  having his first start in Australia.

The Orr Stakes is worth the wait having attracted a really interesting field with six Group 1 winners out of thirteen runners.  One of the main chances is Hartnell, cursed during the Spring racing carnival, winning only one race. At his best he’s too good to overlook. Then there’s Tosen Stardom, the former Japanese galloper who won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Emirates Stakes in Spring and the other Japanese horse Brave Smash who ran third in The Everest. 

Several mares have won the Orr Stakes in recent times, Suavito in 2016 and Black Caviar in 2012, and any of the four mares in the field could be a serious contender, particulary Single Gaze who always runs an honest race and Shillelagh who won the Cantala Stakes in Spring.

The last three year old to win the race was Black Caviar’s little brother All Too Hard in 2013. Whether Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss can repeat this feat is doubtful, but his weight advantage could be useful.

In Winx news, she will now kick off her autumn in the Chipping Norton Stakes on 3 March, due to a careless riding suspension incurred by her regular jockey  Hugh Bowman that prevented him riding the champion mare in the Apollo Stakes on 17 February. For one dizzying moment there was talk of running Winx in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, but alas for us Melbourne fans, the Chipping Norton option was decided upon.

And it was pleasing to read that Gingernuts, who sustained a serious injury on Emirates Stakes Day last year, has now returned to New Zealand in good condition, where, even if he never races again, he will  be cherished to the end of his days.

The Speed of Light(ning)

Flying Artie – Derby Day Flemington 2016

Flemington hosts a super race meeting this coming Saturday, which despite a gloomy weather forecast, promises many thrills, in particular the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, a 1000 metre dash down the Flemington straight.

I’ve attended the last five Lightning Stakes meetings, the first two in 2012 and 2013 featuring Black Caviar. The race is now named in her honour - after all she won it three times.

Last year it was won by the grey flash Chautauqua and the year before, the “horse with a heart”, Lankan Rupee, was the victor. Many stars of the Australian turf have won this race over the years – Fastnet Rock, Miss Andretti, Takeover Target, Apache Cat etc.

This year has attracted an intriguing field with several of the younger sprinting brigade such as three year old colts Flying Artie and Star Turn challenging older sprinters Flamberge and Terravista and The Quarterback and all those in between.

Also in the field is speedy mare Heatherly who may well give the boys a run for the money.

Owing to the train timetable, I’ll be obliged to get to Flemington around 1.30pm, which means a fairly long afternoon at the track with the Lightning Stakes scheduled to run at 4.45pm.

Luckily there are several quite interesting races to watch while waiting for the main event. Firstly the Talindert Stakes for two year old Blue Diamond hopefuls. I witnessed Black Caviar’s little brother All Too Hard win the Talindert Stakes back in 2012 at his first start. Interestingly, several  (four) of his progeny are contesting this year’s race, and one or other of them may well win it.

The Group 3 Vanity Stakes for three year old fillies run over 1400 metres and the colts equivalent the C S Hayes Stakes run after it, have both attracted classy fields. The Vanity has Legless Veuve who recently beat the boys in the Manfred Stakes, up against Crown Oaks runner up Harlow Gold and the amusingly named Nurse Kitchen who won a race at big odds on Cox Plate Day last year.

As for the C S Hayes, it’s good to see Hey Doc return to the track. He’s already had one run this season in the Manfred Stakes where he finished third and will probably start as favourite. He’s up against smart colts Seaburge, Morton’s Fork and Inside Agent.

Apparently, according to the VRC website, there will be ten Living Legends present at Flemington on Saturday. They could make a race field themselves if they weren’t in retirement.  They’ll include former Hong Kong stars Silent Witness and Bullish Luck. And who else?

Anyway, I’m looking forward to getting back to Flemington and a pleasant afternoon in the open air among the famous roses.

Iron Horse–Chautauqua Strikes in the Lightning

Chautauqua parades in the mounting yard after winning the Black Caviar Lightning

Personally, I prefer Melbourne’s summer/autumn racing season to the overhyped spring carnival. For a start the race meetings are not overcrowded and secondly the silliness of the spring carnival is not as glaringly obvious. 

The Melbourne autumn racing carnival may be the poor cousin to the spring carnival as far as the media is concerned, but the racing action is just as thrilling as was observed on Saturday afternoon at Flemington.

Having attended the excellent Dave Rawlings Machine concert the night before, I was feeling a tad bleary as I set out for Flemington, but once arrived that wore off and I was keen to see the two year olds strut their stuff in the Talindert Stakes.

In 2012 I witnessed All Too Hard win the Talindert at his first start, and we know how good he turned out to be.

So you wonder, as you watch the young things parading, which of them could be future stars of the turf. 

I was interested in seeing two of the fillies in the race, the first, Conscious, being one of the first crop of So You Think’s progeny to hit the track. The other, Clockwork Orange, is the daughter of multiple Group 1 winning mare Private Steer. They were both having their first start. As you can see in the photos below they are lovely looking fillies.

Conscious

Clockwork Orange

Clockwork Orange started as favourite but only managed to run sixth.

Conscious did better, running 1.5 lengths second to Weatherly, over three lengths in front of third placed Jackson.

Weatherly & Conscious on the grandstand side of the track run first and second.

Weatherly returns to scale after winning the Talindert Stakes

Race 3 was the Auckland Racing Club Trophy, a sprint over 1000 metres.

It was won by the favourite Estaminet, with Scratchy Lass and Afleet Esprit running second and third.

Estaminet wins the Auckland Racing Club Trophy

You certainly get plenty of exercise at Flemington, as the walk to and from the prime photo spot just past the winning post to the stalls extends almost the length of the straight.

In the stalls several of the main contenders for the Group events had already arrived, as had the Living Legends representatives, Bullish Luck and Silent Witness.

Bullish Luck in the pre-parade ring

Silent Witness in his stall

Speaking of legends, there was a special ceremony on Saturday afternoon for the late Red Cadeaux whose ashes are buried in the stalls area near where he was stabled.

Unfortunately he died from complications after suffering an injury on Melbourne Cup  Day last year. If he had survived he would have joined the old boys at Living Legends.

A plaque has been installed on a bench near where he is buried.

Red Cadeaux Plaque in Stalls Area

Back trackside, Race 4, the Japan Racing Association Trophy (2000 metres) was about to start.

This was also won by race favourite, Pemberley, from Word of Mouth and Falago.

Pemberley on his way to the starting gates

Word of Mouth (no 7) and Renew on their way to the starting gates

Falago on his way to the barriers

Race 4 finish – Pemberley wins easily by 2.8 lengths to Word of Mouth

Tramping back once again to the stalls area, I was keen to get photos of the feature contenders…

 
Chautauqua – BC Lightning

Bon Aurum – CS Hayes Stakes

Delectation – BC Lightning

Japonisme – BC Lightning

Exosphere – BC Lightning

Perfect Reflection – Vanity Stakes

Sacred Star – Vanity Stakes

Terravista – BC Lightning

Race 5, was the first of the feature races, the Group 3 Vanity Stakes for three year old fillies over 1400 metres.

Unbeaten Western Australian filly Perfect Reflection started as favourite but both she and Jameka were upstaged by Don’t Doubt  Mama.

Don’t Doubt Mama wins the Vanity Stakes from Egypt and Perfect Reflection

Don’t Doubt Mama returns to scale

Egypt returns to scale

Perfect Reflection returns to scale

Jameka who ran fourth returns to scale

The C.S. Hayes Stakes was next up. Also graded as Group 3, it is one for the colts and is run over 1400 metres as well.

The Darren Weir trained Palentino was the warm favourite and he did indeed win, before losing out to an upheld protest by the rider of second placed Tivaci for interference. Tivaci’s stablemate Tulsa ran third.

Palentino (wide white blaze) technically wins the CS Hayes

Palentino on his way to the barriers

Tivaci on his way to the barriers

Last year on Lightning Stakes day, a storm passed through just before the feature race. Appropriately lightning flashed and a smattering of rain fell on Flemington.

Not so this year, as the afternoon was sunny with a cool southerly wind keeping the temperature at a comfortable level.

I was fortunate enough to personally witness Black Caviar win two of her three Lightning Stakes, so it was almost a blast from the past to see her colours decorating the finishing post.

Finishing post detail with Black Caviar sign

Her walk of fame was back on the public lawn with two extra posters, showing her with her first two foals.

This year’s edition of the Black Caviar Lightning was just as exciting as you’d expect. Chautauqua’s connections must have nerves of steel to be able to watch their champion sprinter compete, as he races at the back of the field then nail bitingly launches his brilliant finishing burst at the last minute. He looked in a no win situation with only 50 metres to go, but somehow overtook Terravista and Japonisme, who were fighting out the finish, to win by a nostril.

Only six started in the race, Kinglike being scratched early in the morning. After leaving the barriers Terravista, Delectation, Japonisme and Chautauqua headed for the outside grandstand side of the track, leaving Va Pensiero and Exosphere running a separate race on the inside.  Exosphere didn’t look at all comfortable and was all over the place. His trainer blames the track bias for his failure to place, but his jockey admitted that he made the wrong call as far as the horse was concerned and stated that he would have performed better with the bunch on the grandstand side; ie having horses to race against.

I doubt if we’ll see Exosphere in Melbourne again, especially not at Flemington.

Lightning Stakes finish – POV distorts the actual finishing order which was Chautauqua, Terravista (orange silks) Japonisme (pink silks) & Exosphere (blue silks)

Chautauqua returns to scale

Terravista returns to scale

Japonisme returns to scale

Exosphere returns to scale

As the trains departing Flemington for the city did not start to run until 4.45 pm I decided to stay and watch Race 8, the Ascot Racecourse Trophy, mostly because Divan was in it. 

He ran a great race, doing it tough racing wide throughout to run second to the favoured Dan Zephyr over the unsuitable distance of 1400 metres.

Divan in the mounting yard

Dan Zephyr in the mounting yard

The trip home by train was without incident and avoided the crowds streaming into the city for White Night. I was home in 40 minutes, the trains coinciding neatly at Southern Cross Station.

I managed to either hear or watch the feature Sydney races.  The Silver Slipper Stakes was won by Astern from Defcon with Mount Panorama running third. First Seal signalled that she had returned fighting fit, when she won the Millie Fox Stakes. Catkins lacked her usual zip and finished last. It looks like she may be retired. Telepathic ran second with I’ve Got The Looks taking third place. And Press Statement easily won the Hobartville Stakes from Le Romain and Montaigne.

Next Saturday I’ll be heading back to Caulfield for the Blue Diamond Stakes meeting, which has three Group 1 races on the program, the aforementioned Blue Diamond Stakes, plus the Oakleigh Plate and Futurity Stakes.