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!

In the Mood for Romance – Turnbull Stakes Day Review

Gold Trip wins the 2023 Turnbull Stakes

Though it was not the most exciting race meeting, I decided to attend Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington last Saturday, ostensibly to see the hyped Hong Kong runner Romantic Warrior.

I also wanted to remember my photographer friend George who had  passed away suddenly on 3rd October 2023.

He was an amiable soul with a mischievous sense of humour – one of the good guys - and an excellent photographer who will be greatly  missed.

You can check out his horse racing photos on this Facebook page.

I’m sure if George was still with us he would have attended the Turnbull Stakes, as he was always interested in the unusual or quirky side of the sport and would probably have attended to see Romantic Warrior.

Anyway, back to my afternoon at the races, I arrived at the track around 2.00 pm and headed to the stalls area to see if I could get a photo of Romantic Warrior. He wasn’t in his stall (no 86), but I caught sight of him walking around the parade ring, and noted that he looked a classy animal.

In the Stall 87, was the English horse West Wind Blows.

West Wind Blows

I hung around a bit and eventually Romantic Warrior was brought back to his stall.

Romantic Warrior

After visiting the stalls area I headed back trackside to practice photography on Race 5, the Danehill Stakes, a Group 2 event run over 1,000 metres.

Archo Nacho was the starting favourite, but he finished unplaced, a narrow victory going to 3 year old filly Stretan Angel who outgunned second favourite I Am Unstoppable.

Stretan Angel wins the Danehill Stakes

I Am Unstoppable

The afternoon was overcast for the main and the rail was out by 9 metres, so I’m surprised my photos turned out better than I imagined they would.

Race 6. the Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes was one for the mares and run over 1400 metres.  American mare Princess Grace was the favourite, but she was beaten by Life Lessons, and Wrote to Arataki ran third, the first three home all racing on the pace.

Life Lessons wins the Rose of Kingston Stakes from Princess Grace

Life Lessons on her way to the barriers

Princess Grace on her way to the barriers

Wrote to Arataki on her way to the barriers

The Bart Cummings, a race over 2520 metres, was of interest due to the winner being exempt from ballot for the Melbourne Cup.

A huge field of 16 runners were competing in the event, with First Immortal being the starting favourite, but he was relegated to second by the winner Future History. Serpentine finished third.

Future History wins the Bart Cummings from First Immortal

Future History returns to scale

The feature Group 1 race, the Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres) was the next to run. It has been won in the past by first class horses, notably by  Winx in 2017 and 2018. Verry Elleegant won in 2020. Last year Smokin’ Romans won the money.

This year’s edition had a classy field and Romantic Warrior was the warm favourite. However, last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Gold Trip, who raced towards the back of the field zoomed up the straight and outclassed all and sundry to win by 1.75 metres from West Wind Blows and Soulcombe. Romantic Warrior managed to run fourth, his colours somewhat lowered.

Gold Trip on his way to the barriers

West Wind Blows on his way to the barriers

Soulcombe on his way to the barriers

Romantic Warrior on his way to the barriers – thankfully a reasonable photo

With the Turnbull Stakes done and dusted I headed home, not staying for the Gilgai Stakes which was won by Star Patrol.

Next Saturday is Caulfield Guineas Day which features three Group 1 races – Caulfield Guineas, Toorak Handicap (starring Amelia’s Jewel) and the Might and Power – a much more interesting race meeting than last Saturday’s offerings.

Queens of the Turf – Makybe Diva Stakes Day

Makybe Diva Statue at Flemington

When I read that Makybe Diva, three time Melbourne Cup winner, was to make a special appearance at Flemington, how could I not attend.

Fortunately there were no public transport disruptions last Saturday, so I arrived at Flemington shortly after 1.00 pm, in time for Race 3, The Sofitel, a race over 1400 metres.

This resulted in a win for Kalino who narrowly beat Umgawa and Detonator Jack.

The Sofitel finish – Kalino is the widest in purple silks

With time in hand I decided to tramp up to the stalls area for a look at Makybe Diva who was in Stall number 1.

A big crowd of admirers surrounded her stall, but I managed to get a few photos, including one of her with Glen Boss who rode her in all three of her Melbourne Cup victories from 2003 to 2005.

Glen Boss is obviously delighted to see Makybe Diva again

Makybe Diva in the stalls area

There was display on the public lawn close to her statue of symbols of her three Melbourne Cups.

Makybe Diva’s Cups Display

All this dilly dallying in the stalls caused me to miss Race 4, the Poseidon Stakes, but I had returned to my usual spot for Race 5, the Exford Plate, which was won by Griff from Surprise Coming and King of Fighters.

Griff (no 8) is the widest with Surprise Coming in yellow silks

The feature race of the day was of course the Makybe Diva Stakes, scheduled as Race 7, so there was still one more race to run before it occurred. Luckily, the weather on Saturday was fine and sunny, so it was pleasant to bask in the sun after the chill winter we had recently experienced.

This was the Cap D’Antibes Stakes, a sprint over 1100 metres that had attracted a largish field of 19 runners.

Shesallshenanigans (a mouthful of a name) was the victor at big odds, beating Stretan Angel and Skirt The Law to the post.

Shesallshenanigans (foreground)  wins the Cap D’Antibes Stakes.

Finally it was time for the Makybe Diva Stakes and the result was pretty much as predicted by the experts with Mr Brightside, tongue lolling out, winning the bickies from Alligator Blood with Osipenko running third and Princess Grace fourth.

Mr Brightside wins the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes from Alligator Blood

Mr Brightside on his way to the barriers

Alligator Blood on his way to the barriers

Osipenko on his way to the barriers

Princess Grace on her way to the barriers

Mr Brightside celebrates with his connections in the mounting yard

Mr Brightside has won his last five races and is one of the shining lights of the Spring racing season.

Another bright light of this Spring is undoubtedly Amelia’s Jewel who contested and won the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Amelia’s Jewel was bred in West Australia and has had ten starts for eight wins and two seconds.

The Let’s Elope Stakes was her first start in Melbourne and she passed the test with flying colours, doing it easily after drawing the widest gate, winning by over a length from Life Lessons and El Patroness.

Amelia’s Jewel parading in the mounting yard

Amelia’s Jewel on her way to the barriers

Amelia’s Jewel overtaking Life Lessons & El Patroness

Amelia’s Jewel returns to scale after winning the Let’s Elope Stakes

I’m pleased that I was there to see her in the flesh and hope I get to see her race again later in the Spring. There is some talk of her tackling the Cox Plate.

It was pleasant being back at the big track. The roses were not yet in bloom; no doubt timed as always to reappear in stunning arrays during the Melbourne Cup  Carnival.

Next Saturday I plan to head to Caulfield for the running of the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.