The Showdown–Chills & Thrills at Caulfield

Prince of Sussex wins The Showdown

Normally, I would not attend a race meeting at Caulfield in April, but the prospect of witnessing the first running of the The Showdown was an attractive proposition, worth braving the chilly weather and the vagaries of public transport.

I was looking forward to seeing star filly Sunlight’s little sister Sisstar in the flesh and also keen to obtain the signature of Mystic Journey’s trainer Adam Trinder on my All Star Mile racebook.

 Adam Trinder was making a rare trip to the mainland from Tasmania with former Darren Weir trained mare, Twitchy Frank, who was entered into the third race, the Blue Gum Farm VOBIS Gold Distaff, a race for fillies and mares over 1400 metres.

With this in mind, I reached Caulfield in plenty of time to hang around the stalls area and catch the Tassie trainer’s attention.

Twitchy Frank, according to the racebook was supposed to be accomodated in Stall 87, but failed to arrive at that location, so we (my friend Rebecca & I) had to cruise the rest of the stalls and try and find her. As the runners for race 3 were being saddled up it wasn’t that hard to track Twitchy Frank down and attract Adam Trinder’s attention.

He obligingly signed our racebooks and also told us of his future plans for Mystic Journey, who possibly will kick off her Spring campaign in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at the end of July.  Her main target for the Spring will be the Cox Plate.

It wasn’t a wasted trip to the mainland for Adam Trinder,  as Twitchy Frank leading from the start to the finish, won the Gold Distaff by half a length from Spannerhead with River Jewel running third.

Twitchy Frank returns to scale

Spannerhead on her way to barriers 

River Jewel on her way to the barriers

As The Showdown was scheduled as Race 6, there were two races to watch before it was set to run.

The first of these, the Spendthrift Australia VOBIS 3YO Sires was a race over 1600 metres and resulted in a very impressive win by Tarwin, who raced at the tail of the field, then stormed to the finishing post to win by three quarters of a length. Wham ran second with Duke of Magnus third.

Had we just seen a future star of the turf? At least, being a gelding, he might be around for a while and not be packed off to stud after winning a few races.

Tarwin in the pre-parade ring – a handsome son of
2011 Melbourne Cup winner Americain 

Tarwin returns to scale

Wham running second

Duke of Magnus returns to scale

It was a day for favourites or second favourites to win with most of the nine race card delivering a popular victory, and such was the case in race 5, the Gold Dash, a sprint over 1100 metres.

Halvorsen was the punters second pick and he didn’t let them down winning by two lengths from Divine Mr Tycoon and Fine Dane.

Halvorsen still ahead just past the finishing post 

Prince of Sussex was the early favourite for The Showdown after impressing at his last start in Bendigo,  but the splendidly named Sartorial Splendor was the popular pick of the day. Though racing on the speed, Sartorial Splendor faded to finish fifth. 

Prince of Sussex did it harder, racing wide for most of the race, then bursting through a gap to storm home and win by 1.75 lengths from Hightail and Mishe Mokwa.

Sisstar was disappointing, certainly not as talented as her big sister so far.  She finished way back, over racing bringing about her failure to feature in the finish.

Prince of Sussex in the pre-parade ring

Sisstar in the pre-parade ring 

Hightail in the pre-parade ring

Mishe Mokwa in the pre-parade ring

The Showdown finish just past the post

Prince of Sussex returns to scale 

The afternoon was overcast and grew darker as the day progressed, which made taking photographs challenging, so I called it quits after the Showdown and headed home.

The focus of Group 1 racing switches to Morphettville this coming weekend with the Australasian Oaks and TAB Classic (formerly Robert Sangster Stakes) being the feature races.

Sunlight was nominated for the TAB Classic, but has been sent for a spell instead, which decision I applaud as she has had a hard campaign this autumn and probably needs a break.

I won’t be going to the races again until late winter/early spring, unless a special horse piques my interest

Who will win the 2012 Melbourne Cup?

As I gaze at the 2012 Melbourne Cup field and ponder the imponderables, I’m still at a loss as to who is the likely winner. Of the 24 horse field only 5 are locally bred, the rest are imports or International contestants here especially for the Cup, and thus hard to gauge.

But first here’s a snippet of Australian racing history – the field for the 1961 Melbourne Cup, scanned from my old scrapbook.

Lord Fury won that year 1½ lengths from Grant Print with my old fave Dhaulagiri 4 lengths away third. Look at the prize money, compared to today’s $6 million, a mere £20,000, which I suppose was a fair amount of money in 1961.  The fledgling TAB was operating at this time, having been opened in Victoria in March of that year. I notice that bets accepted for the 1961 Melbourne Cup had to be lodged 10 minutes before the race. A much younger Bart Cummings had a runner in the 1961 Melbourne Cup – three year old colt, Sometime, who looks to have been a handy type. He won the 1963 Caulfield Cup as well as several other prestigious races.

That was then, when the field was predominately Australian and New Zealand horses…

This year it seems the International runners will again take out the Cup. But which one? If Dunaden had not been penalised for his win in the Caulfield Cup he would have been the top pick to take out the Cup a  second time.  Despite his weight he still has a good chance, I think, as does 2010 winner Americain. After all we know they can run the distance. I’ve also got a fancy for Kelinni who made it into the Cup field at the last minute by winning the Lexus Stakes on Saturday and carries a light weight as well as the added bonus of Glen Boss in the saddle. The Cumani runner Mount Athos cannot be overlooked either, despite not racing for two months, and Red Cadeaux who was pipped at the post by Dunaden last year, and meets him with a weight advantage this year, has to be a top contender.

Of the locals Ethiopia looks the one most likely. His run in the Cox Plate was excellent and he is a genuine stayer with the Zabeel factor in his blood lines. Lights of Heaven, Zabeelionaire and Maluckyday were all sired by Zabeel so aren’t without hope. Lights of Heaven is the only mare in the race, so is one for the girls to cheer on.

And of course there is the Bart Cummings factor. Has he got the winner up his sleeve? Take your pick between Precedence and Sanagas.

As usual picking the winner of the Melbourne Cup is virtually impossible. Just hope the stars are in your favour tomorrow and that fortune deigns to  smile on your wagers.

It’s supposed to rain on and off tomorrow, in fact it’s already drizzling in Melbourne today, so the track will probably be on the soft side of dead.

Update Tuesday afternoon

Melbourne Cup Result:
1. Green Moon
2. Fiorente
3. Jakkalberry

Well, I totally overlooked Green Moon in my calculations or dismissed him out of hand after his poor performance in the Cox Plate so it was a real surprise to see him win the Melbourne Cup. Don’t ask how I fared in my flutter on the Cup, none of my fancies came anywhere. Wishing for better luck next year.

Flemington Super Saturday – Victoria Derby

Ocean Park wins the Cox Plate

We’re infected with spring carnival fever here at Cat Politics, and are keenly looking forward to more great racing action at Flemington this weekend, though only in front of the TV as opposed to being present at the track.

The feature race is the Victoria Derby a race for three year olds over 2500 metres. The result of this race is often surprising and favourites rarely win. It’s A Dundeel will start as the favourite despite being beaten last week. His breeding indicates that he will run the distance, but he’ll have to be at his best to win. His main opposition comes from Hvasstan, Super Cool, Honorius and Fiveandhalfstar.

Before the Derby however there are several other races of interest. The first of these is the Group Two Wakeful Stakes, for fillies run over 2000 metres. Dear Demi has been most consistent, running a place in her last two starts against smarter fillies Norzita (Flight Stakes) and Commanding Jewel (1000 Guineas) so is due for a win.  Her main danger is Zydeco who ran third in the 1000 Guineas and will appreciate the extra distance having the  Zabeel factor in her favour. Others in with a chance are Transonic,  Tyanna and New Zealand filly Kate.

The first of the four Group One events is the Coolmore Stud Stakes, another race for three year olds over 1200 metres. It has attracted a quality field. My top pick is super filly Snitzerland, though the hyped Nechita will start as favourite. Fire Thunderbolt who fought Snitzerland to the post in the Blue Sapphire has be a top chance, as does Hidden Warrior who I witnessed winning at Moonee Valley last week. Lankan Rupee, Sizzling and Jolie Bay could also feature in the finish.

The Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000 metres) is the last ditch chance for Melbourne Cup hopefuls to win a place in the field. Ocean Park is backing up in this after his sensational win in the Cox Plate, though he is not Melbourne Cup bound. No doubt he will start as favourite and rightly so.  Pitted against him are six other stayers, principally Alcopop who ran second to him (Ocean Park) in the Caulfield Stakes and also took out second place in the Caulfield Cup behind Dunaden. And don’t forget December Draw whose chances are enhanced when he runs at Flemington, his favourite track.  Zabeelionaire is also in with a chance and could run a place.

The final Group One race for the day is the Myer Classic (1600 metres) for mares. Now that Mosheen has been retired, having sustained an injury in the Tristarc Stakes, Streama can stake her claim to being the best mare racing at present.  She took out the Tristarc Stakes comfortably from Pear Tart and Red Tracer who are both contesting the Myer Classic as well, and will no doubt represent a serious challenge along with Secret Admirer and Oasis Bloom.

As well as the abovementioned races there is also the Lexus Stakes, like the Mackinnon Stakes a chance for unqualified horses like Geelong Cup winner Gatewood to get automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.  As the last two Melbourne Cup winners Dunaden and Americain also won the Geelong Cup before winning the big one, Gatewood would become a serious Cup contender should he make it to the field, so he has to win the Lexus to be part of it.

Saturday’s Flemington races are the start of a week of racing action, with the Melbourne Cup run on Tuesday, the Oaks on Thursday and the Emirates Stakes on Saturday week.

Update – Saturday night

What a shocking day it was for favourites! The major Group One races all resulted in upset wins by outsiders, one at least being a 50/1 shot.

The Coolmore Stud Stakes was won by Nechita (5/1), with Jolie Bay (8/1) running second and  50/1 long shot, Shamexpress, running third.

Good old Alcopop scored his first Group One win in the Mackinnon Stakes beating Glass Harmonium who ran second. Ocean Park managed to  run third.

The Derby was won by Fiveandahalfstar (21/1) followed by Super Cool (5.9/1) and Rawnaq a 90/1 shot.

And the Myer Classic was taken out by Appearance (50/1) with Soft Sand and Secret Admirer running second and third respectively.

The Melbourne Cup is the next Group One race on the agenda. I’ll post my thoughts on that in the next day or so.

The First of the Big Ones – Caulfield Cup 2012

Southern Speed winning the 2011 Caulfield Cup

Looking at the field for the 2012 Caulfield Cup, one wonders if it too is going the way of the last few years’ Melbourne Cups, with the bulk of the field being made up of International runners. Last year Adelaide mare  Southern Speed stole the show, but she has been scratched from this year’s race after drawing a bad barrier and is being saved for the Cox Plate.

A full field has accepted for the race, with the favoured International runners, Glencadam Gold, Dunaden and Americain drawing the extreme outside barriers. Local hopes December Draw, Alcopop,  and  mares Lights of Heaven and Secret Admirer fared better drawing middle gates. Whether the barriers will make any difference to the running of the race is yet to be seen.  A very hard race to pick the winner, I’m hoping one of the girls is successful, though Glencadam Gold & Dunaden will take some beating. Others to consider are the widely travelled Jakkalberry, Voila Ici if he doesn’t repeat his bad behaviour as exhibited before the Turnbull Stakes, and Zabeelionaire, a lightweight chance with the Zabeel factor.

Another race of interest on Saturday is the Group Three Norman Robinson Stakes for three year olds run over 2000 metres. Kabayan, who finally scored a black type win in the Stan Fox Stakes in late September, will start favourite. He is the class horse in the field, but will have to contend with the unbeaten Phillipi  and the well performed Hvasstan, and other staying bred contenders.

Mosheen, Streama, Pear Tart and Red Tracer face off in the Group Two Tristarc Stakes, a race over 1400 metres for mares. Mosheen re-established her credentials winning her last start, and has an edge over the other ladies, though Streama cannot be dismissed lightly, and it would be great to see Pear Tart in the picture at the finish. A trifecta perhaps?

The weather tomorrow is expected to be mild and sunny and the track most probably will be rated dead to good.

I’ll be watching it all on television, saving my presence for next week’s Cox Plate meeting.

And finally it was good to see Atlantic Jewel’s little sister, Commanding Jewel, winning the Thousand Guineas on Wednesday, a race Atlantic Jewel won the previous year.  A rare sibling coincidence in racing.

UPDATE: Saturday evening

A great win by Dunaden in the Caulfield Cup and great to see the locally bred Alcopop and Lights of Heaven running the minor places.  I had a small each way bet on Dunaden in the Cup, after tossing around several options in my head, and he came up trumps courtesy of a superb ride by Craig Williams.

I’m now regretting yet again, that I did not follow my own advice in the Tristarc Stakes, boxing Mosheen, Streama, Pear Tart & Red Tracer for a trifecta. Streama won, with Pear Tart running second and Red Tracer coming third. Mosheen, weakened after challenging Streama and finished out of the placings.

Autumn Racing Grand Finale – Sydney Cup Day

Black Caviar back this week in Adelaide gunning for her 20th successive win.

The razzle dazzle of first class racing continues this Saturday in the final race meeting for the Sydney Autumn racing carnival, and what a grand meeting it is with four splendid Group One races on the program.  The stars will be out in force – Atlantic Jewel in the All Aged Stakes, Manighar, Americain & More Joyous in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Pierro in the Champagne Stakes. In Adelaide Black Caviar will be out to make history in the Group One Sporting Bet Classic to a sell out crowd, aiming for her 20th win in succession, a modern record.  Morphettville will also feature the Group One Schweppes Oaks – more on that later.

The first Group One of the day is the Champagne Stakes, a race over 1600 metres for two year olds. The unbeaten Pierro will be trying for the triple crown of Golden Slipper, Sires Produce and Champagne – a feat rarely achieved. Dance Hero was the last to do so in 1984.

Pierro should accomplish this on his ear, barring unforeseen circumstances.  His likeliest rivals appear to be the two fillies Flying Snitzel and Dear Demi, and colts Limes and Raceway.

The All Aged Stakes (1400 metres) will be a big test for outstanding filly Atlantic Jewel. It is her first race in open company and she faces stiff competition from the likes of  Rain Affair, King Mufhasa and Ofcourseican.  If she is as freakish as we all think she is, Atlantic Jewel should win easily. It’ll be certainly an interesting race.

The hardest of the races to assess is the Sydney Cup, which is run over the same distance as the Melbourne Cup – 3200 metres. It’s a wide open race as far as likely chances go, with quite a few in the field having form over the distance.  You’ve got Efficient as top weight. I’d love to see him win, but I doubt he can, though he hasn’t been all that far away in races over shorter distances. Drunken Sailor, an International stayer who is another who remained in Australia after the Cup last year, has good recent form, running second in the Adelaide Cup in early March and finishing third behind Manighar and Americain in the BMW. Stand To Gain won this race last year at big odds, but hasn’t won anything since. Older Than Time is a good chance; she ran second in the 2011 Sydney Cup and second also to Permit recently in the Chairman's Handicap. Permit is another import and is the favourite, having two recent wins to his credit.  Also throw in Niwot,  who is not without hope.

The final Group One of the day in Sydney is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, run over 2000 metres. It has a really classy field with Manighar, Americain, More Joyous and New Zealand star Jimmy Choux in the field.  This is a test for More Joyous, backing up after her Doncaster win last week. I rather doubt she can beat Manighar or Americain, but she could easily run a place. The big question is, can Americain beat Manighar this time around. He has yet another jockey on board this time, after his disappointing second in the BMW, when ridden by Gerard Mosse. Top Aussie jockey Craig Williams has the ride this week, and that could make all the difference.  Mosse’s ride was criticised by the stewards and punters alike, after he rode Americain three wide over the 2400 metre trip. Manighar will be ridden by Damien Oliver, as his regular jockey Luke Nolen will be in Adelaide with the star mare. Also in the picture is Secret Admirer, too good to overlook, and Rekindled Interest who has been racing very well this autumn.

Empress Rock after winning Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley 23 March 2012

Moving on to Adelaide, the Group One Schweppes Oaks is a race for three year old fillies over 2000 metres.  Empress Rock (pictured above) is trained by the master Bart Cummings and is current favourite. I witnessed her winning the Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley back in March, and she did it easily. However, at her first start at Morphettville she ran fifth to Crucial, Rahveel and Crimson Lady, though it must have been a close finish as Empress Rock was only 1.6 lengths from the winner. The three abovementioned are also contesting the Oaks, along with a further twelve competitors, so  it’s anybody’s guess who will actually win.

And finally the race everyone will be watching – Black Caviar starring in the Sporting Bet Classic, a sprint over 1200 metres. Black Caviar’s closest rival out of a total of ten runners, appears to be Lone Rock the only other Group One winner in the race – she won the Goodwood last year. Apparently Black Caviar’s  race will be televised live  on Channel 7, who will interrupt the football to bring it to the people on free to air TV.

Track conditions in Sydney this weekend should be good, as there has been little rain there this week. Down here in the south, Melbourne has been shivering and wet, with a cold snap dominating the weather most of this week, so the same applies to Adelaide who experience a similar weather pattern to us. The Morphettville track will most likely be dead to slow, and hopefully not heavy.

UPDATE – Viva Les Girls

What an absolutely wonderful day of racing it was, and so good to see the three star girls, Black Caviar, Atlantic Jewel and More Joyous win their races with such ease and style.  It was also great to see Pierro take out the two year old triple crown, by winning the Champagne Stakes. He looks the real deal and uncannily like his dad Lonhro, so it will be fascinating to see how he comes back in spring.

Niwot won the Sydney Cup narrowly beating dear old Efficient who ran a terrific race. Good to see the old boy back, still with life in his legs. 

It was a fitting and spectacular finale to the Autumn racing carnival.

The Group One action will continue for another month or so in Adelaide and Brisbane, and Black Caviar, having now won twenty from twenty, and ten Group Ones, may be back in the Goodwood at Morphettville in a fortnight.

Autumn Racing – Australian Derby Day

All Too Hard – facing his toughest test to date in the Sires Produce Stakes this Saturday

What a splendid day of racing last Saturday turned out to be, with five exciting Group One races contested. The results in the main were not all that surprising – Mosheen defeated Streama as expected in the Vinery Stud Stakes, More Joyous was victorious in the Queen of the Turf, Manighar defeated Americain in the BMW, Pierro won the Slipper and good old Metal Bender snatched victory in the George Ryder Stakes. Metal Bender’s win was the only unexpected result – who would have thought that a horse could return from a long injury forced break and win a Group One on his second run back. Chris Waller must be a genius!

The excitement continues this coming Saturday at Randwick, with three Group One races on the cards – the T J Smith, Sires Produce Stakes and the Australian Derby being the feature races.

The T J Smith Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres has been won in the past by the great sprinters of the time – Apache Cat, Takeover Target and of course Black Caviar last year. There’s no Black Caviar in the field this year, nor Hay List who has been sidelined by yet another injury and may not race again. Only six acceptors were received so it’s a small field. Rain Affair seems to have the race at his mercy, but William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge may give him a run for the money, as might classy filly Hallowell Belle, formerly in Peter Moody’s stable, but now with Gai Waterhouse.

The Sires Produce Stakes is a 1400 metres race for two year olds and has unbeaten colts Pierro and All Too Hard racing against each other for the first time. Pierro of course won the Golden Slipper Stakes last week  and is backing up in this. All Too Hard, who has big sister Black Caviar to live up to, is facing his toughest race to date.  As he has won all three of his starts with consummate ease, one would like to imagine that he’ll account for Pierro just as easily.  Raceway, who finished fifth in the Golden Slipper looks the next best dressed. Yesterday’s buyer of Black Caviar’s half sister, who outlaid 2.6 million dollars for her, will no doubt be watching this race with bated breath.

The feature Group One is the Australian Derby, a race over 2400 metres for three year olds and has 12 colts (and geldings) against lone filly Silent Achiever. She beat the boys in the New Zealand Derby, so could well do a Shamrocker (who won the Derby last year) in the Australian version.  Silent Achiever ran a close third in the Rosehill Guineas behind Laser Hawk and Ocean Park, and will have to compete against them again. Also in the picture are Strike The Stars, Polish Knight, Rekindled Alliance, Ethiopia and Victoria Derby winner Sangster who has been less than inspiring so far this autumn.

Also of interest on Saturday is the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200 metres) for fillies and mares, mostly due to the return of top filly Atlantic Jewel from an injury forced break. She remains unbeaten, her last race being the Wakeful Stakes back in September last year. An indication of her talent can be demonstrated against the recent exploits of Mosheen. Atlantic Jewel beat Mosheen by 3 lengths in the 2011 Thousand Guineas. It will therefore be very interesting to see how she performs in the Sapphire Stakes. She’s up against smart mares like Mid Summer Music, Parables, Graceful Anna, Celts and Dystopia.

As the races are on Free to Air TV again this week, my Saturday afternoon is sorted nicely.

UPDATE: Sunday

What a surprising day of racing it was yesterday with several longshots taking out the feature races. Master Of Design took out the T J Smith. You certainly wouldn’t have picked him on form. Rain Affair ran second with Hallowell Belle a close third. Foxwedge ended up at the tail of the field, apparently suffering from a respiratory problem which was not identified pre race.

The match race between All Too Hard and Pierro ended with a victory for the latter, All Too Hard bungling the start and having to play catch up, thus ruining his chance of a win.  Pierro has now won five from five.

The Derby was won by Ethiopia who scored his first career win from four starts.  Will the Derby curse stymie his chances for further wins in the future? Polish Prince and Laser Hawk took  out the minor placings.

The run of the day was Atlantic Jewel emphatically declaring she was back with a stunning win in the Sapphire Stakes and remaining unbeaten from six starts. Who knows how good she really is. We’ll find out in spring I suppose, as she’s only scheduled to have one more start this autumn.

Autumn Racing – Golden Slipper 2012

RIP Pinker Pinker – died on Wednesday after an adverse reaction to medication

On Wednesday when I started writing this post, I was going to place a photo of Samaready at the top, but when I learned the shocking news of Pinker Pinker’s death, I changed it to honour the Cox Plate heroine. Pinker Pinker was scheduled to run in the Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes this coming Saturday at Rosehill, and her presence in the race would have lent additional quality to the field that includes More Joyous, Hurtle Myrtle, King’s Rose and Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican. 

Pinker Pinker, in her short career, had 18 starts for 6 wins and 5 places, many at Group level, and of course she won the Cox Plate last year. It’s very sad to read of her death; she was one of the best mares racing currently in Australia, so will be greatly missed . My condolences to her connections who must be devastated by her sudden death.

Back to the Rosehill meeting…

There are a total of five Group One races this coming Saturday, the feature race being the Golden Slipper Stakes, the richest race for two year olds in the world, run over 1200 metres.  This year’s field has 16 acceptances, with equal number fillies and colts (or geldings). Samaready is the short priced favourite as she has yet to be beaten, and judging by the way she won the Blue Diamond on a stinking hot day, she’s a tough filly. The Rosehill track this Saturday will most likely be good to firm, for a change, so the running will be true without heavy track considerations.  Top colts  Pierro, Raceway, Ashokan and Epaulette, and fillies, Driefontein, No Looking Back and Jade Marauder represent the biggest threat to the favourite.  Fillies ran the trifecta in the Blue Diamond Stakes, and could well do so again.

Before the Golden Slipper is run, there are three super Group One races on the cards, the first being Race 3, the Vinery Stud Stakes for three year old fillies, run over 2000 metres. How exciting it will be to witness top fillies Mosheen and Streama going head to head.

The BMW for stayers run over 2400 metres, has a small but select field of top stayers, Manighar and Americain most notably. In the Australia Cup, Manighar took home the bikkies, relegating Americain to third place behind Southern Speed. Americain may very well turn the tables in the BMW, having French Jockey Gerard Mosse back in the saddle. There was some criticism of Steven Arnold’s ride on Americain in the Australia Cup, so having Mosse back on board augers well for his chances. Southern Speed and Scarlett Lady are the two representatives of the female gender in the race, I doubt if they can beat the two imports, but could easily run a place. 

The Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500 metres) for fillies and mares has the aforementioned classy mares More Joyous, King’s Rose etc. More Joyous showed she was back to her best with a win in the Canterbury Stakes a fortnight ago, so she is obviously the one to beat. However, King’s Rose has a very good chance and is a very talented galloper and you can’t discount Ofcourseican, judging by her Coolmore run.  Hurtle Myrtle (wonderful name) beat More Joyous in the Myer Classic in the spring, and could surprise us all again. It’s also good to see former star filly Lights Of Heaven back racing. After an excellent three year old autumn season, wherein she won the South Australian Oaks, beating Absolutely and Southern Speed, she failed in the spring against open company, and was sent for a long break. It’ll be interesting to see how she goes in this race.

The final Group One of the day is the George Ryder Stakes, a standard WFA race over 1500 metres. It has a super field with many chances. New Zealand champion King Mufhasa is back in this, and is one of the top chances.  Ignore him at your peril. Rangirandoo, was only beaten a half head by Manighar in the Ranvet Stakes, so will be most likely in the finish again. And it’s really good to see Metal Bender back on track and not hopeless; he ran third to More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes, so is showing signs of his former brilliance.  Then there’s Woorim, Albert The Fat, Sincero, Monton who all have the talent to win, Niagara (who won last Saturday and will probably start favourite) and the other New Zealander, He’s Remarkable who is very classy may cause an upset. Sole mare Secret Admirer is class itself ; she was only beaten a head in the Coolmore Classic so may figure in the finish. It looks a very interesting race indeed.

Last week Laser Hawk won the Rosehill Guineas, and the only Aussie horse to win in Dubai was the speed queen Ortensia, the rest – Sepoy, Helmet & So You Think failed to run a place. And All Too Hard had an easy win in the Pago Pago Stakes. He was nominated for the Golden Slipper, but his connections have opted to run him next week in the Group One Sires Produce Stakes, so as not to overtax him.  A wise move, in my opinion.