Horrible Race Name–Good Race Though

Winx - Moonee Valley Cox Plate Day  2015

The time honoured George Main Stakes has been renamed the Colgate Optic White Stakes, in my opinion a totally absurd change and somewhat disrespectful to the many champion racehorses who have won the race in the past.

Anyway, it is of great interest due to the return of super mare Winx, having her second start for the spring.

She faces a very small field of five other starters that include two of her stablemates, Spirit Jim and Vanbrugh and a couple of Godolphin hopefuls in Hauraki and It’s Somewhat.  Japanese horse Tosen Stardom was an acceptor but he has been scratched after he sustained a minor injury on his trip to Sydney.  Winx of course is the short priced favourite and Hauraki is seen as her greatest threat.  It should be an easy win for Winx and, barring the unforeseen, she will achieve her 11th consecutive win.

For a change the track at Randwick shouldn’t be too soggy, as Sydney hasn’t had as much rain this week, unlike Melbourne, where it has rained solidly all week, and rural areas are flooded all over the State of Victoria.

There are no Group 1 races in Melbourne this coming weekend, but Caulfield is holding a fairly interesting meeting that features the Group 2 Naturalism Stakes, a race over 2000 metres for stayers aiming to gain automatic admission into the Caulfield Cup.

It has attracted a huge field of 16 starters plus 4 emergencies and includes staying mares Real Love, who ran second to Awesome Rock in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, Set Square who ran third on that occasion, and Jameka who will have no worries running on a heavy track.  An interesting runner is French mare Gabella who raced at Flemington last Saturday and finished a close fourth.

The favourite will no doubt be Tom Melbourne an Irish import who has a good reputation and several wins under his belt.

As I plan to get to the track later rather than early, I will miss seeing Cauthen in the first race. Now six years old he has been only lightly raced, but he has the distinction of defeating 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award and Long John, 2013 Caulfield Guineas winner  at Moonee Valley back when he was three. He hasn’t raced for two years, so it’s surprising to see him back, but the recovery from various injuries kept him off the track all that time.

Also returning from a break is Hucklebuck, 2014 Emirates Stakes winner, in Race 7 the Testa Rossa Stakes.

And Alpine Eagle is entered in a Listed 1800 metre race at Morphettville on Saturday; no doubt an attempt on the part of his connections to restore his reputation and confidence.

Hopefully the rain will hold off tomorrow, but it will most likely be overcast again, the up side of that being better lighting for photographs than bright sunlight.

And So It Came To Be–Underwood Stakes Day Review

Foreteller on his way to the barriers prior to winning the Underwood Stakes

The undoubted hero of the day at Caulfield on Saturday was Foreteller, who took out the feature race, the Underwood Stakes in fine fashion, thus adding a third Group 1 race to his CV and giving his trainer Chris Waller a two State Group 1 double with Sacred Falls winning the George Main Stakes at Randwick.

As there are nine races on the program in Melbourne throughout Spring, the races are run at 35 minute intervals, so an afternoon at the races passes fairly swiftly. Previously the interval was 40 minutes, which on occasions was a tad too long.

Arriving at the course around 1.40 pm, just after Race 3, I as usual dallied around the stalls area. Not many of the stars had arrived at that point so I headed for the public lawn and mounting yard to view the runners in Race 4, the TMB Printing Handicap, a race over 1400 metres for three year old fillies.  I decided to have a little money on Fontein Ruby who I had witnessed beating the boys at Flemington at her last start. She’s a lovely black filly, but my bet must have put a hoodoo on her chances as she ended up unplaced.

 
Fontein Ruby in the mounting yard

The winner was Thinking Of You from the Peter Moody stable, with favourite Pickin’ Time running second 2½ lengths behind and Pittsburgh Flyer scoring third place.

Thinking Of You on her way to the barriers

My luck was out all day, so I should have given up after that race.

Despite my lack of success on the punt I did manage to take some good photos. As the day was not bright – in fact it was somewhat overcast and chilly –  the light was good for photography.

Back in the stalls area Silent Achiever had arrived, so I took to the opportunity to snap a few head shots.

Silent Achiever in her stall

She was being a bit naughty, chewing on her tether, pawing the straw on the floor of her stall and kicking the back of it.

The Offer was being walked in the walking ring, so I got a photo of him as well.

The Offer in the walking ring

Back in the mounting yard the runners were assembling for the fifth race on the program, the Dalziel Racing Tile Importing Handicap, a race for mares over 1400 metres. I was most interested in seeing Spirit of Heaven, Lights of Heaven’s younger sister.

Spirit of Heaven in the mounting yard

Of course my wager on her ensured she failed to run a place. The race was won by outsider Star Fashion, from favourite Suavito with Nadeem Miss running third.

Race 5 finish down the straight – Bloomingdale Miss leads but Star Fashion (lime & yellow silks, pink cap) is about to overtake her.

There was only one more race to run before the feature, and that was the Naturalism Stakes. For stayers, it is run over 2000 metres, and the winner gets automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.

I viewed the runners in the mounting yard and on their way to the starting gates.


Let’s Make Adeal in the mounting yard

Spillway in the mounting yard

Bonfire in the mounting yard – finished third

Gris Caro the winner on his way to the barriers

Our Voodoo Prince on his way to the barriers

Entirely Platinum – finished second

Gris Caro raced up with the speed  beside Bonfire through most of the race and beat off a fast finishing Entirely Platinum to win by a nose, with Bonfire a similar short margin holding third. Spillway, who started as favourite, was blocked for a run and finished seventh.

Gris Caro, Entirely Platinum and Bonfire fight out the finish up the straight in the Naturalism Stakes

My money was on Our Voodoo Prince so naturally he came nowhere.

It was not a day for favourites at all, with only the winner of Race 9 gratifying favourites punters.

Next up was the Underwood Stakes so I made sure to stake out a spot on the fence next to the mounting yard.

Foreteller in the mounting yard

The Offer in the mounting yard

Super Cool in the mounting yard

Back on the public lawn at the fence one is given plenty of opportunities to take action shots as the horses leave the mounting yard to go to the barriers…

Happy Trails

Stipulate

Star Rolling

Lidari

Super Cool

Silent Achiever

No mare has won the Underwood Stakes since Tristarc won it way back in 1985, so the odds were against Silent Achiever from the start. Even so she started as favourite, but only managed to run fifth, though only two lengths off the winner.

For a while there watching the race, it looked like 50/1 shot Crackerjack King was going to cause a boilover. It was a very close finish with Foreteller diving through to win from Happy Trails by a nose with Crackerjack King holding on for third a length away.

Underwood Stakes finish  down the straight – Happy Trails, Crackerjack King & Foreteller & Lidari (obscured on the fence)  in a line of four, with Super Cool and Silent Achiever behind.

Foreteller’s win was popular with the crowd. He has a habit of winning Group 1 races every so often. You just have to predict which one it will be. Alas I didn’t have money on him this time, as I favoured the mare, so at least he was spared my kiss of death.

Foreteller in the winners rug after winning the Underwood Stakes.

I stayed for Race 8 as I wanted to photograph Samaready and May’s Dream. I got some lovely shots of Samaready, so it’s lucky that I did. After her failure in the Sportingbet Sprint she has been retired to stud, where she will have an appointment with All Too Hard in due course.

Samaready in the mounting yard

May’s Dream – she’s a small, pretty, lightly built mare

Shamal Wind

Forever Loved

Girl Guide – the winner

Spirits Dance

Refusing to give up after my run of losses, I threw one last dice to bet on Spirits Dance who I thought had as good a chance as any and was at good odds. For a moment I thought she would win, but she was overtaken by Girl Guide, A Time For Julia and Shamal Wind and finished fifth.

Girl Guide is a half sister to Gregers and obviously has some of her talent on the track. She was third favourite, so it wasn’t such a surprise to see her win.

Race 8 finish down the straight – Spirits Dance is leading on the fence with A Time For Julia on her outside. Girl Guide is in hot pursuit in third spot about to overtake.

After that race I called it quits and didn’t stay for the final race of the day. I did however take the opportunity to go check out Cauthen in the stalls to get a photo of him.

The handsome Cauthen in his stall

I enjoy my Saturday afternoon outings to the races. These low key Group 1 race meetings are much more pleasant than the big race days like Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup. They’re not crowded and the atmosphere is friendly and cheerful.

Attending as often as I do, you run into the same people – other keen photographers like Geo Hillis and amateurs like me, as well as regular race enthusiasts who also enjoy an afternoon at the track. So a big hello to Artie if you should chance to visit this blog – look forward to catching up when next I’m at the track. And please feel free to steal my photos for your blog, whatever it is.

The local racing action next weekend is happening on Friday night at Moonee Valley and on Sunday at Caulfield. The AFL Grand Final dominates Melbourne next Saturday, so no major race meetings are scheduled, though Sydney has racing as usual.  The Group 1 Moir Stakes is run at Moonee Valley, and the Group 1 Rupert Clark Stakes features at Caulfield. I’m still deciding if I’ll go to either meeting.

Speaking of the Sydney races, the outcomes from last Saturday saw  an old favourite of mine, Manawanui, win his first race for several years. He’s been plagued by injury problems and returned to racing after a long break on Saturday. It’s good to see  him back in the winners circle.

Earthquake, having her first run over 1400 metres, was beaten again into third place in the Tea Rose Stakes. Outsider First Seal took home the bikkies from Winx.

Junoob beat Criterion in the Hills Stakes, and as previously mentioned Sacred Falls took out the George Main Stakes from stable mate Royal Descent with 60/1 shot Laser Hawk running third.

The Thrills Continue–Racing at Caulfield & Randwick

Silent Achiever in the mounting yard at Caulfield – Memsie Stakes Day

Caulfield is offering free entry on Saturday for the Underwood Stakes meeting, so naturally I’ll sally along to take in the atmosphere of first class racing once more . And hopefully Melbourne’s weather will play nice, after this past week brought a return to winter chill.

The feature event is the aforementioned Group 1 Underwood Stakes, run over 1800 metres. Last year Atlantic Jewel and It’s A Dundeel fought out an exciting finish down the straight with It’s A Dundeel the victor by the narrowest of margins.

This year’s edition has a pretty good field as you’d expect in a Group 1 contest.  The top contenders are Silent Achiever who in my opinion is the top pick, Foreteller who always runs an honest race, Happy Trails ditto, and Star Rolling who won the PB Lawrence Stakes at  Caulfield in August. Of course I’d love old fave Super Cool, who is backing up in this race after running last week, to show some of the form that won him the Australian Cup – his last win in fact.  Lidari and The Offer also have a chance.

The support card is mildly interesting though not top class. A few of the horses I follow are engaged in a few a them.

The Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000 metres) is one for stayers hoping to win a place in the Caulfield Cup.  Top pick is the Chris Waller trained Our Voodoo Prince. His name is a clever interpretation of his breeding (out of Kingmambo x Ouija Board). Spillway has had two runs so far in his Spring campaign, running second to Star Rolling in the PB Lawrence Stakes and fourth in last week’s Makybe Diva Stakes, so he is one of the top chances and must win this to have a hope of running in the Caulfield Cup.  Bonfire has claims with close seconds in his only two runs this spring in Sydney. The most interesting runner is Zanbagh who ran second to Rising Romance in the Sydney Oaks. And when will Let’s Make Adeal make some headway? She has generally been disappointing of late.

The Group 3 Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2 Stakes (1200 metres) is run after the feature race, and looks to have attracted a really good field of smart mares. Samaready makes a welcome return to racing in this event and is the class act if she is back to her best.  It’s good to see She’s Archie’s daughter May’s Dream back on the track again. This race is too short for her, so she is not expected to win. She won the South Australian Oaks at her last start in April. Also in the field is Spirits Dance who in Autumn built up  four wins on the gallop and shouldn’t be dismissed, A Time For Julia who ran a close second to Gregers in the Cockram Stakes and Shamal Wind who has a good record first up and can fly like the proverbial over the distance. Throw in Jessie Belle and Girl Guide as place chances.

The final race on the program at Caulfield is the Le Pine Funerals Handicap and is of interest only because Cauthen is in the field. He was thrown in at the deep end at his last start in the McEwen Stakes and finished sixth. I had a look at him on that day and he has grown into an impressive looking young horse.  With his light weight and the services of top jockey Tommy Berry he may show the form that had him beating Long John and Shamus Award back in Spring last year.

In Sydney the racing card at Randwick is much better.  The Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600 metres) is the feature race of the day and has almost the same field that contested the Chelmsford Stakes on
6 September, with a few variations. Anyway you’ve got Hawkspur who won the aforementioned race by a nostril from Royal Descent who is also in the field along with Sacred Falls who ran fourth. He will appreciate the good track that is finally likely for Randwick on Saturday and is a top contender over the distance. Perhaps Lucia Valentina can repeat her incredible win in the Tramway Stakes if that effort didn’t overtax her, and maybe the spruiked sole three year old Panzer Division can give all the older horses a galloping lesson.  Also New Zealand mare Rising Romance, who won the Sydney Oaks is sure to feature somewhere.

Earthquake will be out to redeem her reputation in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400 metres). It’s obvious she is not suited to heavy tracks after her defeat at her last start in the Furious Stakes where she ran third. The winner on that occasion was Winx who will be aiming to keep her perfect unbeaten record intact in the Tea Rose.  Also in the picture are Peggy Jean and Alpha Miss.

The other interesting Group 2 race at Randwick is the Hill Stakes run over 2000 metres. After two horses were scratched, a field of six will compete for the honours. These include La Amistad, Criterion, Bagman and Moriarty. I’ll be torn between barracking for La Amistad and Criterion.

All in all it looks to be a good day of racing, and so you would expect as the spring racing season progresses.  It’s less than month to the running of the first of the big Cups – the Caulfield Cup – so my Saturday afternoons are taken care of for the next month or so.

The Love Horse Returns!

Lankan Rupee – Blue Diamond Stakes Day – 22 February 2014

This Saturday Moonee Valley Racing Club hosts the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, a Group 2 race over 1600 metres. Though there is no Group 1 action this weekend, the Moonee Valley meeting has two very interesting Group 2 races, the aforementioned Dato Tan and the McEwen Stakes.

I have been attending this meeting for over ten years; in fact for many years it was the only race meeting I went to at all.

Over the years it has changed complexion, and different races were run. Up until 2009 the Manikato Stakes was the feature race, but that is now run Cox Plate eve.  

Also up to this year  there was the W H Stock Stakes a Group 2 race for mares, but that has been moved as well to the Moir Stakes night meeting later this month.

And this year the Dato Tan race meeting has been moved back a week, which has affected the acceptances for the feature race. Normally horses contesting the Memsie Stakes would run in the Dato Tan, but now the natural progression will be to go to the Makybe Diva Stakes, formerly run on this date, but now moved forward a week.

So it’s lucky that horses of the calibre of Lankan Rupee, acknowledged as the best sprinter in the world, will be competing on Saturday, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered to attend.

Lankan Rupee will be starting his spring campaign in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes and will no doubt start hot favourite.  Dubbed the “horse with a heart”, due to the distinctive heart marking on his forehead, he is also known as the “love” horse by others. Gone are the days when you could get good odds on him, as you could in the autumn, so he’ll be at unbackable odds tomorrow.

I can’t really see him being beaten, but fighting out second place will be eight other contestants chief among them being the filly Eloping and New Zealand horse Cauthen, thrown in at the deep end for his first start in nine months. He was also nominated for the Drummond Golf Stakes, but failed to make the field.  Others with a place chance are Our Nkwazi, Angelic Light, Orujo and Unpretentious.

The Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes generally attracts an interesting field of middle distance and long distance stayers starting their spring campaigns on their way to hopefully greater glory in the big cups and the Cox Plate. As previously mentioned, I have been going to this race meeting for over 10 years and have seen the stars of the turf of the day in action. I witnessed Northerly and Sunline racing against each other for the first time in 2001 in the Feehan Stakes as the Dato Tan was known then. Northerly overcame Sunline in the straight and won by a short margin.  I also saw Makybe Diva race twice in the Dato Tan, running second each time before going on to win her second and third Melbourne Cups in 2004 and 2005.  It certainly was something to see her burning around the outside of the field from the 600 and just narrowly missing out on a win.

This year’s Dato Tan has the current Melbourne Cup favourite in the field. The Offer won the Sydney Cup by almost 4 lengths, so it’s no wonder he is favourite. He’s trained by Gai Waterhouse who also trained last year’s Dato Tan and Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente. Looking at The Offer’s form, he obviously performs best over longer distances, but as proved by Fiorente last year a genuine stayer can still win over the 1600 metres.  By all accounts he’s a really good looking horse, so I’m keen to see him in the flesh.

His main opposition comes from crowd favourite The Cleaner, a speedy front runner with fitness on his side. If you follow Astrology his name is perfect for the zodiac sign of September – Virgo. Attributes of the sign of Virgo include  a compulsive need to tidy and clean. They’re handy if you’re having a party as they’ll do most of the clearing up for you at the end of the night.

Also in the picture is Star Rolling who won the PB Lawrence Stakes at long odds a fortnight ago. However, there is a hoodoo on PB Lawrence Stakes winners, as the the last four or five winners have failed to win again through the season, e.g. Puissance de Lune last year.

Old tried and true campaigner Foreteller is part of the field, and though he has not won a race for over a year, he occasionally springs a surprise.

Others with a chance are Lidari who finished second in this race last year and Mourinho who recently won at Moonee Valley over a similar distance.

In Sydney, the Randwick race card is much more interesting than what is on offer in Melbourne, with a host of horsey stars resuming in various choice Group 2 races.

The first of these is the Furious Stakes where Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake kicks off her spring.  As usual Sydney has been wet so the track will be slow,  a condition Earthquake does not handle all that well and led to her defeat in the Golden Slipper. Still, she’s a very classy filly and wasn’t beaten by all that much in her only loss. Her greatest opponent in the Furious Stakes appears to be dual Group 1 winner Peggy Jean who has good wet form.  Alpha Miss, Winx and Memorial look the best of the rest.

The Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes is the feature race on the Randwick card and has attracted an outstanding field that include Sacred Falls, Royal Descent, Hawkspur and Criterion – all Group 1 winners with wet form. It is run over 1600 metres so suits middle distance runners and stayers.  It’s hard to pick the winner as any of the above could take home the prize.  Whatever, it is the race to watch on Saturday.

And finally for the Sydney racing scene I will make a point of watching the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400 metres) where Oaks winning mares Kirramosa and Rising Romance are in the mix along with Storm Queen Stakes winner Lucia Valentina in a big open field.  Top weight Tiger Tees will be gunning for a hat trick of wins, if he can defeat the likes of Weary and the aforementioned mares.

To finish this entry, the latest news on two former queens of the turf.

Black Caviar is expected to drop her first foal this month, an event that will no doubt be reported in the news headlines.  Will it be a colt or a filly? Check out this recent video shot at the secret location where she is waiting to give birth.

The other star mare More Joyous had her first foal (by star British horse Frankel) in early August – a chestnut filly.  There are photos of the filly here.

Spring Has Sprung–Memsie Stakes Day Review

Dissident returns to scale after winning the Memsie Stakes, an elated Ben Melham in the saddle

It was the second last day of winter and Melbourne put on a splendid bright and sunny day for the first Group 1 race of the Spring racing season, and made it a pleasure to be outside at the track.

The racing was excellent as well with exciting competitions that resulted in most cases with longshot winners.

I arrived at Caulfield at around 1.40pm, with plenty of time up my sleeve to wander around the stalls area before the fourth race.

Quite a few of the star horses had already arrived, including Boban…

Boban in his stall

…and Commanding Jewel

Commanding Jewel

And I was pleased to catch up with my old favourite Super Cool and his strapper Jade, who kindly posed with him, mentioning that he loved having his photo taken.


Super Cool & Jade

Deciding to not to have wager on Race 4, the HockingStuart Handicap, I climbed up the hill to watch the race and take pictures of the finish from that vantage point.

Race 4 – just past the post – Late Charge (blinkers)  wins ahead of Olivier (rose silks) with Precious Gem (lime & white silks) running third

The next race on the card was the Group 3 TheShark.Com.Au Stakes, a 1100 metre sprint, so I wandered to the public lawn, pausing to place a few dollars on Flamberge, who was at pretty good odds of 8/1. Vain Queen started as the favourite, but only managed to run fourth.  I was understandably delighted when Flamberge got home the winner. He financed the rest of my afternoon at the races.

I viewed the runners in the mounting yard…

Flamberge

Vain Queen

Rifleman – runner up

Hard Stride – ran third.

Race 5 finish down the straight – Flamberge takes the lead from Hard Stride

Race 6 was the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes for three year olds, and  Novel Dancer, the sole filly, was the favourite, but finished last. I decided to put my money on Tan Tat Diamond as his form didn’t look too bad and his odds were good. A mistake, as he ended up running eighth.  The very handsome Chivalry came from the back of field to overtake the leaders and won on the line narrowly from Nordic Empire with Awesome Rock a short half length third.

Chivalry just coming into the picture is about to overtake the leaders up the straight.

Chivalry parading after winning the HDF McNeil Stakes – handsome isn’t  he?

I was really looking forward to the next race, the Group 3 Cockram Stakes for mares and seeing how Commanding Jewel would fare. She’s a lovely looking mare, dark brown, almost black in colouring. Her odds were amazingly good for one of her class, so I hazarded a few dollars on her each way.

Commanding Jewel in the mounting yard

Gregers started as the favourite and was one of the few favourites to win on the day. Commanding Jewel did well running a very close third just pipped out of second place by A Time For Julia. If she hadn’t been blocked for a run when it counted, Commanding Jewel would have won.

Dear Demi in the mounting yard – she ran fifth

Gregers on her way to the barriers

Race 7 finish down the straight – Gregers is about to overtake A Time For Julia – Commanding Jewel (orange cap) is on the inside.

Memsie Stakes winner Dissident certainly flew under everyone’s radar, romping in at long odds, winning by 2½ lengths from Sweet Idea. Trained by Peter Moody, he has been rarely seen in Melbourne, doing most of his racing in Sydney, where he won the Group 1 Randwick Guineas earlier this year. The favoured Moody runner was Moment of Change who I thought was a top chance. He finished last, after racing on the speed through most of the race. What happened?

Boban was the favourite, but he was forced to race three wide throughout and only managed to come fifth. Puissance de Lune showed great improvement from his run in the PB Lawrence Stakes (where he ran sixth) finishing in third spot. Sterling mare Silent Achiever ran fourth, and Super Cool, having his first race in almost a year, and not really expected to win, finished second last.

Here are some photos of the main contestants in the mounting yard

Boban

Dissident

Happy Trails

Messene

Moment of Change

Puissance de Lune

Silent Achiever

Super Cool

Sweet Idea

Memsie finish down the straight – Dissident is drawing away from Sweet Idea

I didn’t hang around after the Memsie Stakes, deciding not to stay and watch the last race. It was getting on for 5.00pm and the cats at home would be getting anxious for their dinner, as Talya insists on being fed at 4.00pm.

Next week the local racing action is at Moonee Valley and offers some star attractions such as Lankan Rupee kicking off his spring campaign in the Group 2 McEwan Stakes, and current Melbourne Cup favourite and Sydney Cup winner The Offer running in the feature race, the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Also likely to be at Moonee Valley on Saturday is New Zealand colt (now 4 years old) Cauthen who has the distinction of beating 2013 Caulfield Guineas winner Long John and 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award on this course at this time last year. He’s been missing in action for almost a year, having suffered an injury that sidelined him during the interval.