The Cups King & The Sport of Kings–Makybe Stakes Day Review

Display of Bart Cummings’ 12 Melbourne Cups at Flemington

On Saturday morning there was a memorial service for Bart Cummings at Flemington Racecourse to honour the man and the mark he left on the history of Australian horseracing. It was an appropriate venue at which to hold the service considering the great trainer’s record of winning 12 Melbourne Cups.

The service was held mid morning, so I missed it, but was I pleased to get the service booklet that was handed out at entrance gate - a little slice of history to add to my collection of racing memorabilia.

Along with the above display of his cups, there was a walk of fame with signs detailing all twelve of Bart Cummings Melbourne Cup wins.

Signpost 1 – Light Fingers – winner of the 1965 Melbourne Cup

Also present for the occasion was Living Legend Rogan Josh who won the Melbourne Cup  for Bart in 1999.

Rogan Josh parading in the mounting yard wearing a rug with Bart Cummings racing colours.

The trains were running pretty much in sync so I reached Flemington with plenty of time on hand to watch the first race, the Cap D’Antibes Stakes where the focus of interest was on unbeaten filly Petits Filous having her first run on the big track.

Petits Filous took to Flemington as if she’d been running there all her life and won in spectacular fashion, letting loose a devastating sprint in the straight and winning by 2.25 lengths being eased to the line.  Super Cash was the runner up with Take Pride running third.

Petits Filous in the mounting yard

Super Cash in the mounting yard

Take Pride in the mounting yard

Petits Filous returns to scale after winning the Cap D’Antibes Stakes

I missed watching the second race, having run into an acquaintance in the stalls area. We chatted as the race was run and observed Black Vanquish  being frisky the walking ring.

Black Vanquish in the walking ring being difficult

I made it back trackside for the third race, the Pin & Win Stakes, a listed race for three year olds run over 1400 metres. I had a few dollars each way on Snoopy, but he had a hard race, where he was blocked for a run and also bumped in the process, which forced him back in the field. That pretty much describes my luck on the punt Saturday, no winners at all.

The race was won by another Ciaran Maher horse, Bon Aurum at big odds with Lizard Island running second and El Greco taking third.

Bon Aurum returns to scale after winning the Pin & Win Stakes

As not many of the feature race runners had arrived in the stalls area, I decided to check out the newly opened Heritage Centre…

Heritage Centre entrance

There were quite a few photographic displays, but in pride of place and lit up like the Holy Grail was the 1965 Melbourne Cup won by Light Fingers.

Light Fingers’ Cup

I also watched a short video on a wrap around screen on the history of the Melbourne Cup, narrated by Les Carlyon. It was quite moving and I must admit it made me misty eyed with sentiment.

Just near the top part of the Stalls area is Carbine’s stall, preserved for posterity.

Carbine’s Stall exterior

I’ve walked past it many times but never gone inside.

This time I did, and viewed the display around the walls which details Carbine’s racing career and influence as a sire on Australian thoroughbred breeding. Carbine won the 1890 Melbourne Cup.

Part of the Carbine display inside his old stall

The field for Race 4, the Group 2 Danehill Stakes was assembling in the mounting yard when I made my way back to the front lawn.

Headwater

Ready For Victory

Black Vanquish

Raphael’s Cat

Kinglike

Ready for Victory started as the favourite, but he only managed to run third, being caught on the inside behind a tiring Black Vanquish. Kinglike swept down the outside to overtake Raphael’s Cat, who had seized the lead, to win by 1.25 lengths.

Kinglike returns to scale after winning the Danehill Stakes

Returning to the stalls area I discovered that most of horses I wished to photograph had finally arrived.

Here’s some shots of the leading Makybe Diva Stakes contenders.

Boban

Fawkner

Mongolian Khan

Weary

Also, old Rogan Josh was hanging around outside his stall with a crowd of admirers giving him a pat and taking photos.

Rogan Josh posing for a snap

All this dallying almost made me miss Race 5 The Sofitel.

It was won by former Western Australian star Disposition for his new stable (Lee & Anthony Freedman), his first victory since coming from the West.

Disposition returns to scale after winning The Sofitel

Akavaroun ran second with Pressing filling third place.

Having been on my feet for most of the afternoon, I decided it was time to go and get a drink and have a short rest. Whilst buying a beer  in the bar, the Sheraco Stakes (in Sydney) was being broadcast on the screen and I was delighted to see Catkins win it for a second time. A big cheer greeted her win. She won by a good margin from Echo Girl with Bounding running third. James McDonald, who rode Catkins, declared after the race that she was his favourite mare and that he’d marry her if she were human.

Anyway it was getting on for the next race, the Bobbie Lewis Quality. Rich Enuff was at very good odds despite being favourite, so I invested a few dollars each way on him.

I had photographed him in his stall earlier…

Rich Enuff in his stall

…but only saw the mounting yard assembly from a distance, being engaged in conversation with the same acquaintance I chatted to earlier, who also had his money on the favourite.

The race was won by the underrated Churchill Dancer from Under The Louvre and Gregers.

Rich Enuff had every opportunity, but finished sixth. Where to now?

Churchill Dancer returns to scale after winning the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

By the time the Makybe Diva Stakes was run, I’d been at the course for four hours.

The time slipped by swiftly so it didn’t feel that long and I’d not felt bored at any time.

There’s always a heightened excitement prior to a major race and I love the atmosphere it generates.

Here are some of the contenders in the mounting yard.

Alpine Eagle – finished 6th

Boban – finished 4th

Entirely Platinum – finished 3rd

Happy Trails – finished 5th

Rising Romance – finished 2nd

Weary – finished 9th

Mongolian Khan – finished 7th

Fawkner – the winner

The race resulted in a blanket finish with six or seven horses strung out across the expansive Flemington track, with Fawkner winning by a neck from Rising Romance with Entirely Platinum a further neck behind in third place. Less than a length separated the first six across the line.

I stayed for Race 8 , the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes which was won by 2014 Thousand Guineas winner Amicus, who emphatically signalled that she was back in contention for further Group glory. Precious Gem and May’s Dream filled the minor places.

Amicus returns to scale after winning the Let’s Elope Stakes

It had been a long day trackside. The weather was generally fine, except for a sprinkle of rain around midday; and I enjoyed the wide open spaces of Flemington getting plenty of exercise as a result. My few bets were all disastrous, seemingly putting the kiss of death on my selections. Hopefully my luck will change soon.

I missed watching the Golden Rose at the track, so watched the replay online when I got home. It was won by Exosphere from Speak Fondly and Sebring Sun.

Next week the racing is again at Caulfield, a low key meeting with the feature race being the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes.

They’re Racing at Flemington–Makybe Diva Stakes Day

Fawkner – Cox Plate Day 2014

A super race meeting is coming up this Saturday and it is Flemington’s turn to host the first of its Spring meetings.

The feature race is the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600 metres) and a full field of smart middle distance runners and stayers has accepted.

Several are having their first outing to the racetrack (other than trials) for the spring. Notable among them are 2013 Caulfield Cup and 2014 Caulfield Stakes winner Fawkner, Australian Derby winner Mongolian Khan, Australian Guineas runner up Alpine Eagle, and ATC Oaks winner Gust of Wind.

They will be racing against others who already have a run under their belt, such as Boban who will be aiming to emulate Dissident’s effort of last year by winning the Memsie Stakes/Makybe Diva Stakes double. He could well accomplish this as he showed two weeks ago that he had returned to form and will no doubt be the favourite.

Fawkner ran second in this race last year, so is a good chance to go one better this year, and Entirely Platinum, whom I tend to overlook, and was runner up in the Memsie Stakes and could prevail this time around.

Apparently there is a bit of a hoodoo, similar to the curse on the PB Lawrence Stakes,  in regard to the Makybe Diva Stakes, where winners of the race tend not to win anything else during the season. There are exceptions of course but they are rare.

I’m really keen to lay eyes on Mongolian Khan for the first time and see the handsome Alpine Eagle and poster boy Volkstok’n’barrell again.

I’ll have to get to Flemington early, as Petits Filous is racing in the first race of the program and I really wouldn’t miss her for the world. She is racing against a field of 14 fellow fillies and there are a few that could give her a run for the money – My Poppette and Strykum are her main threats.

It is going to a long day, so it’s fortunate that the race card is interesting with three Group 2 events as well as the Makybe Diva Stakes.

For instance, Race 4, the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200 metres) has a super field of three year olds, mostly colts and geldings with one filly.

You’ve got Headwater, the Silver Slipper Stakes winner,  Ready For Victory who just missed out on winning the McNeill Stakes, and the exciting Black Vanquish who is resuming after showing considerable promise in the autumn. 

The sole filly is none other than Reemah who was runner up in the Blue Diamond Stakes behind Pride of Dubai and has one win under her belt this spring.

Also in with a chance are recent winners Well Sprung, Kinglike, Brockoff and Puritan.

There are two other Group 2 races, the second these being Race 6, the Bobbie Lewis Quality over 1200 metres.  It has attracted a quality field  with Group 1 William Reid Stakes winner, Lucky Hussler being the top pick.

Rich Enuff will be aiming to redeem his loss to Bounding in The Heath recently. That was run on a soft track, but with Saturday forecast to be warm and sunny, the track will be very good and he could fly.

Others worthy of consideration are Riziz, Gregers, Jabali and Setinum.

The Let’s Elope Stakes, scheduled to run after the Makybe Diva Stakes is worth hanging around for. It is a Group 2 race for mares over 1400 metres. Classy mares like Cosmic Endeavour, Amicus, Vezalay, Tawteen, Noble Protector, Fenway and Madam Gangster are all in the field. A super race is in store, but I’ll be hoping Cosmic Endeavour can show her true colours this time.

In Sydney at Rosehill the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes is the feature race. There are nine starters and the top picks are Exosphere (who won the Run To The Rose recently) Press Statement (winner of the Group 1 JJ Atkins in winter), and sole filly Speak Fondly who is backing up this Saturday after winning the Group 2 Furious Stakes last weekend.

Catkins also resumes this Saturday at Rosehill in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes, which she won first up last year. However she will have to beat Bounding who thrashed Rich Enuff  by 4 lengths at her last start.

As previously mentioned the weather in both Melbourne and Sydney will be fine and warm; an indication that Spring has finally come. Both Rosehill and Flemington will have good rated tracks, and I fully expect the racing to be first class across the board.