Champions Stakes Day at Flemington

As the sign above the gate to the Mounting Yard proclaimed, it was Champion’s Stakes Day at Flemington, the last day of the Flemington Melbourne Cup mini carnival, so forth I went last Saturday to catch the action.

There were three Group 1 races on the card, a sprint – the Champions Sprint, a race over 1600 metres dubbed the Champions Mile and the Champions Stakes, run over 2000 metres.

Quality fields had accepted on the day, making it worth attending.

I was particularly interested in seeing Imperatriz, the super New Zealand mare, running in the sprint.

It was a coolish kind of day, a chill wind spoiling the afternoon somewhat despite the bright sunshine.

As the Group 1 races were scheduled for mid to late afternoon, I took my time getting to Flemington, arriving around 2.00 pm, just before the running of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

I watched the race from a distance and noted that Muramasa was the winner with Ladies Man running second ahead of Duke de Sessa.

From there I made my way up to the stalls area to see who had arrived and came across several of the Group 1  runners, such as Imperatriz.

Imperatriz

Zaaki

Alligator Blood

Pride of Jenni

Espiona

It was a well patronised race meeting, but not that hard to get through the crowd of scantily dressed girls to my preferred spot on the fence, from where I managed some photo practice in Race 5, the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes, where a field of mares were set to run the 2000 metres.

Deny Knowledge led from the start to the finish and won narrowly from Osmose and Amokura.

Deny Knowledge prevails over Osmose and Amokura

The next race was the first of the Group 1  events, this being the Champions Sprint where Imperatriz won her fifth Group 1 in succession, defeating a classy field. Buenes Noches ran second ahead of In Secret and Espiona finished fourth.

As the field raced down the centre of the track fairly close to the outer rail it is always difficult to get clear photos of the finish. Fortunately I clicked at the right time and snapped Imperatriz in shot.

Imperatriz wins the Champions Sprint

Imperatriz returns to scale

The next two races resulted in unexpected long shot winners, the Champions Mile being won by Pride of Jenni who led from the start and was never challenged. Mr Brightside finished second ahead of Alligator Blood.

Pride of Jenni zooms up the straight to win the Champions Mile

The placegetters – Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood & Fangirl

The Chris Waller trained Atishu triumphed in the Champions Stakes, easily beating Duais by almost two lengths with Young Werther running third.

Atishu wins the Champions Stakes

Atishu on her way to the barriers

Duais on her way to the barriers

Young Werther on his way to the barriers

I didn’t stay for the final race, heading home directly after the Champions Stakes.

Next week Caulfield host the final Melbourne Group 1 races of the Spring Racing season, the Thousand Guineas and the Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Rocket Man – Victoria Derby Review

Riff Rocket wins the 2023 Victoria Derby

It wasn’t what you would call a first class race meeting, but as Derby Day at Flemington kicks off the Melbourne Cup mini carnival I decided to attend.

The weather was fine and mostly sunny with light winds, so it was a pleasant day to be outdoors and soak up some Vitamin D along with the racing action.

As trains to the track were running all afternoon I had no trouble getting to Flemington and arrived just before Race 3, which happened to be the Group 3 Furphy Sprint, run over 1100 metres.

Either I’m out of the loop, or perhaps just jaded as far as horse racing is concerned, but few of the contenders for the Furphy Sprint were familiar to me.

Queen of The Ball won the race from Hypothetical and Dancing Alone quite easily.

Queen of The Ball wins the Furphy Sprint

Next up was the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes over 1200 metres, which resulted in a narrow win for Spacewalk from Crosshaven with Najem Suhail running third.

On a side note, Rising Fast who won the 1954 Melbourne Cup was a first class racehorse who also won the Caulfield Cup in 1954 and 1955,  as well as the 1954 Cox Plate, and is the first racehorse I was ever aware of back in 1954 at the tender age of seven when living in the bush. 

 
Newspaper photo of Rising Fast from my old racehorse scrap book

Spacewalk and Crosshaven fight out the Rising Fast Stakes finish

Race 5 was the rather more interesting Group 2 Wakeful Stakes, a race over 2000 metres for fillies, where Amazonian Lass, leading from the start, hung on for a close win from Zardozi.

Amazonian Lass (yellow) wins the Wakeful Stakes from Zardozi

Derby Day included three Group 1 races, the first of these being the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Run over 1200 metres,  it is a race for three year olds and the 2023 edition resulted in a win for Sydney colt Ozzmosis who raced on the pace throughout to win by over a length from I’m Unstoppable with 2023 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo running third.

Ozzmosis (white) overtaking I’m Unstoppable and Shinzo to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes

Unlike Caulfield who schedule the feature races towards the end of the program, Flemington run theirs mid afternoon. so the Victoria Derby was up next at the reasonable time of 4.20 pm.

Riff Rocket started as the short odds favourite and raced in the back end of the field. He stormed home to win narrowly from Apulia and Sunsets in a photo finish.

Riff Rocket wins the Victoria Derby 

I didn’t stay for the third Group 1, the Empire Rose Stakes which was won by Pride of Jenni who led from start to finish. Atishu ran second and Life lessons third.

Attending Derby Day has put me off going to the Melbourne Cup that I was contemplating doing. I’d forgotten how tedious Spring racing crowds can be, even though Derby Day was not as crowded as some I’ve been to.

Besides, the weather on Melbourne Cup day is forecast to be pretty awful.

I managed to catch the train back to Flinders Street in no time at all and was glad to sit down on a seat that was not a plastic fold out stool.

Last year I thought Champions Stakes Day  a superior meeting to Derby Day,  so will probably attend it next Saturday and hope for classier fields than those on offer last Saturday.

The Stars of the Turf– Champion Stakes Day Review

Sign above Mounting Yard Gate at Flemington 5/10/22

Melbourne racing’s answer to Sydney, Champion Stakes Day, used to be called Emirates Stakes Day, and featured two Group 1 races – the Mackinnon Stakes and Darley Sprint Classic. It was also known as family day and was, and still is, the final race day of Flemington’s Melbourne Cup mini carnival. Generally it was a pleasant afternoon at the races and less crowded than Derby Day.

This year, however Racing Victoria launched a new concept race meeting that actually was better than Derby Day last weekend. It featured three Group 1 events, a sprint over 1200 metres, a mile race over 1600 metres and a middle distance competition over 2000 metres and had attracted quality fields in each.  What’s not to love in keen contests between class horses such as Nature Strip versus Giga Kick in the Champions Sprint, Anamoe versus Zaaki in the Champions Stakes and Alligator Blood versus Private Eye in the Champions Mile

The day dawned dry with a promise of sunshine, so it was a pleasure to set out for the big track and soak up the Group 1 action along with Vitamin D.

As trains to Flemington were running all afternoon at regular intervals, I took my time getting to the track and arrived as Race 3, the Amanda Elliot was in the process of running.

I had no trouble using my mobile ticket this time, having saved it to my phone for easy access.

The horses were returning to scale as I made it out onto the public lawn, so was was able to snap the winner, Magic Time heading for the mounting yard after the race.

Magic Time returns to scale after winning the Amanda Elliott

As there was plenty of time in hand until the next race, I decided to head to the stalls and see who had arrived. Most of the horses I was interested in were present, so for a change I got some stalls shots.

Anamoe

Zaaki

Nature Strip

Giga Kick

Whilst I was cruising around the stalls I missed Race 4, the Queens Cup, so failed to get a photo of the highly regarded Irish import Soulcombe who won it by over two lengths from Luncies and Captain Envious.

The next race was the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes, run over 2000 metres for mares, so I headed for my favourite spot just past the winning post and there I stayed for the rest of the afternoon.

The Chris Waller trained Atishu was the winner by two lengths from Steinem with Tokorangi running third.

Atishu wins the Matriarch Stakes

Atishu on her way to the barriers

Steinem on her way to the barriers

The next three races were the Group 1 Champions events, starting off with the Champions Sprint.

Nature Strip naturally started as the hot favourite, but this time he was outgunned by 20/1 shot Roch ‘N’ Horse who won by a narrow margin. Baller finished third.

Jockey Jamie Mott celebrates Roch ‘N’ Horse’s victory in the Champion’s Sprint

Roch ‘N’ Horse obviously has an affinity with the Flemington straight as she won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap there in Autumn.

Nature Strip returns to scale

Baller returns to scale

Favourites were rolled in the next two races as well.

In the Champions Mile, Alligator Blood, racing on the pace held on to win by half a length from Tuvalu and Mr Brightside. Favourite Private Eye finished seventh.

Alligator Blood wins the Champions Mile from Tuvalu

Alligator Blood on his way to the barriers

Tuvalu on his way to the barriers

Mr Brightside returns to scale

It was good to see Alligator Blood back in winning circles after undergoing treatment for a back problem, and  after all the controversy of his ownership, which at one time banned him from racing in Melbourne.

Last year Zaaki took out the Mackinnon Stakes as the Champions Stakes used to be known, and he repeated the feat  this year, leading from the start to the finish to win narrowly from stablemate Mo’unga with outsider Hezashocka relegated to third after a successful protest from Nash Rawiller, Mo’unga’s jockey. Anamoe started as firm favourite, but finished fourth.

When heading out for the barriers, Zaaki unseated his jockey Jamie Kah, but she quickly remounted and all was well.

Zaaki unseats Jamie Kah on his way to the barriers

Zaaki resumes heading for the barriers

Zaaki wins the Champions Stakes

Mo’unga (white cap) and Hezashocka vie for second place

Mo’unga on his way to the barriers

Hezashocka on his way to the barriers

Zaaki returns to scale

There was one more race on the card but I did not stay for it, heading to the station and home after the Champions Stakes.

It had been a fine afternoon of first class racing action, and despite the crowds, which were larger than Derby Day, I was pleased to be in attendance after missing it for two years due to Covid restrictions.

So from now on my Saturday afternoons will be free, though I may attend the Zipping Classic meeting at Caulfield a few weeks hence.