The Brightside of Life

Mr Brightside wins the Feehan Stakes

Last Saturday dawned overcast, threatening rain, not  a promising prospect for an afternoon at the races at Moonee Valley.

However all turned out well, as a fine sunny afternoon eventuated that had everyone smiling at the track.

In the past for well over twenty years I have been attending the Feehan Stakes meeting at Moonee Valley and have witnessed some champions of the turf  in action, such as Sunline and Northerly. in 2001, Makybe Diva in 2004 and 2005, Apache Cat in 2006, among many others over the years.

I wouldn’t say that the 2022 meeting was up  to the quality of those of the past, but was of interest none the less.

The Group 2 Feehan Stakes was scheduled as Race 4 on the program, so that also encouraged me to attend as it wouldn’t be a long afternoon trackside.

Winx Statue (detail) near the main entrance to the track

My aim was to arrive in time to see the feature race, but I reached Moonee Valley in time to watch Race 3, the Inglis Ready2Race Sale October 11 Plate,  and get some photo practice before the main event.

A race for three year old colts and geldings it resulted in an all the way win for race favourite Shalaman, who defeated Meridius and Millane.

Shalaman burns up the straight to win Race 3

As there was a bit of time before the Feehan Stakes, I decided to check out the stalls area and see if I could find the grey flash, Chautauqua who was present as a special equine guest.

He was easy to find and being paraded in the stalls, attracting a small crowd of fans. He famously decided to end his racing career by refusing to jump from the gates on several occasions, but previously was a scintillating sprinter who specialised in nail biting last to first finishes.

Chautauqua in the stalls

The Feehan Stakes had attracted only  a small field of five contenders, and Mr Brightside was the warm favourite. He won convincingly by over four lengths from Inspirational Girl and Spanish Mission.

 
Inspirational Girl and Spanish Mission fill the placings

Next  to run was the equally interesting Group 2 McEwen Stakes, a sprint over 1000 metres which had a good field that included classy sprinters In The Congo, The Inferno and three year old speed machine Coolangatta who started the hot favourite.

All were outclassed by Rothfire who won narrowly  from Zoustyle and Coolangatta.

Rothfire (pink checks)  about to overtake Zoustyle as they thunder up the straight

Rothfire on his way to the barriers

As it was still early in the afternoon I stayed for the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, a 1200 metre race for three year old fillies.

I’mlovin’ya was the fancied runner, but Godolphin filly Troach ended up the winner, beating Lady Laguna and relegating I’mlovin’ya to third place.

Troach (blue silks) fights out the finish with Lady Laguna

By this time it had grown quite chilly and as usual the shadow of the Grandstand was encroaching on the track, so I called it quits for the afternoon.

Before I left, a couple of young blokes wanted their photo taken, so here they are – Cannon and H.

It was pleasant to be back at the Valley and quite a contrast to the last time I had attended on All Star Mile Day in March 2021 where the rain bucketed down all afternoon.

Home Boy Victory – Underwood Stakes Day at Caulfield

Underwood Stakes finish – Homesman wins from Tosen Basil & Humidor

Due to the AFL Grand Final being contested on Saturday, the Melbourne race meeting at Caulfield was held on Sunday, and the fine sunny day was perfect for a trackside outing.

Admittedly I had over dressed (for warmth) so I spent the afternoon feeling uncomfortably hot, which I suppose is a change from being uncomfortably cold.

The feature race on Sunday was the Group 1 Underwood Stakes, a race over 1800 metres for horses hopeful of gaining a ballot free entry into the Caulfield Cup. Last year New Zealand mare Bonneval was the winner, and she was among the field of contestants.

I arrived at Caulfield around 1.20pm in time to watch Race 3 , the Inglis Cup run over 2000 metres. Sydney visitor Prized Icon started as favourite, but he finished unplaced, the winner being the Darren Weir trained Bondeiger, the second winner of five who saluted for the canny trainer on Sunday.  Legale finished second and Octabello third.

Inglis Cup result – Bondeiger (orange & black checks) is the winner

Prized Icon & Bondeiger on their way to the barriers

I didn’t take half as many photos as I normally would, not bothering to get images of the horses returning to scale. I was distracted as well by the possibility of getting Chris Waller’s signature on a couple of Winx racebooks I had taken along on the chance that he would be at Caulfield on Sunday.

There was a couple from Ballarat who were waiting for Chris Waller as well, to get his signature on the wonderful painting the husband had done of the star mare.

Ian Drever with his painting of Winx

Anyway, they had a long wait as Chris Waller’s plane from Sydney had been delayed (no surprise there) and he was expected later in the afternoon, turning up just before the feature event.

We all (the Drevers, friend Rebecca & I ) got our stuff signed. I was delighted to see that Chris had added a small note under his signature in my copy of the Golden Slipper Day racebook.

Chris Waller signature in Golden Slipper racebook

The races were being run 30 minutes apart so the afternoon flashed by quite fast.

Race 4 resulted in another Darren Weir trained winner in Gray Shadow who defeated Fragonard by a length with Miss Leonidis running third and Race 5, another sprint over 1200 metres, resulted in the Godolphin owned Trekking winning comfortably from former Japanese sprinter Kemono with long shot Heart of a Lion running third.

Trekking winning the Testa Rossa Stakes (race 5)

Races 6 and 7 were the Guineas Preludes, Group 3 races over 1400 metres, one for the colts and the other for the fillies.

The colts Prelude was the first to jump, and the race favourite was Long Leaf who was outclassed again by the Darren Weir trained Native Soldier who relished being back at Caulfield after failing to place at his last start at Flemington. Tavisan ran second, relegating Long Leaf to third.

Native Soldier

Tavisan

Long Leaf

Hot favourite for the fillies Guineas Prelude was the so far unbeaten Smart Melody. She added another picket to the fence against her name in the form guide, now having won five in succession. She beat Thrillster with a length to spare and El Dorado Dreaming was another length behind in third place.

Smart Melody in full flight

El Dorado Dreaming

Half an hour later the Underwood Stakes field was ready to start. As previously mentioned the Lloyd Williams owned Homesman won the bickies and earned himself a place in the Caulfield Cup. Bonneval finished last and has been reportedly retired, having failed to fire in her two starts this season.

Homesman on his way to the barriers

Tosen Basil on his way to the barriers

Humidor on his way to the barriers

Bonneval on her way to the barriers

I headed home after the Underwood. It had been a moderately interesting afternoon of racing, though not a patch on the Sydney races on Saturday, where three Group 1 contests were run.  Hartnell demonstrated that he was not a spent force by winning the Epsom Handicap carrying top weight, defeating the classy Chris Waller runners D’Argento and Unforgotten.

Oohood finally broke through for a well deserved win in the Group 1 Flight Stakes, with the Chris Waller trained Fiesta running a close second and long shot Nakeeta Jane third.

Chris Waller trained stayers Patrick Erin and Brimham Rocks ran the quinella in the Group 1 Metropolitan.

On Friday night Moonee Valley kicked off its Night Racing Season and featured the Group 1 Moir Stakes which was won by South Australian mare Viddora. Hot favourite Nature Strip was unplaced as was Houtzen, and the former has now been sent for spell and is out of contention for The Everest. Brave Smash and Spright filled the minor places.

Chautauqua was another attraction on Friday night where he was scheduled to undertake a barrier trial to lift the ban on his racing again. He failed to jump and has now been retired.  He was a super sprinter who provided race followers with many wow moments with his nailbiting last to first style of racing.  I’ve heard that he will be farewelled at Flemington next Saturday, where of course I’ll be present to witness Winx gunning for her 28th successive win in the Turnbull Stakes.

The Grey Flash Chautauqua at Caulfield – February 2017

Intimations of Spring – Bletchingly Stakes

Vega Magic – 2017 Memsie Stakes

Psyching myself up for the start of the 2018 Spring racing season, I’ve decided to go to Caulfield this coming Saturday for the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, the last Group race of the 2017/2018 racing year.

Named for champion sire Bletchingly (Kingston Town’s dad),  it’s a dandy race over 1200 metres and this year has attracted a good field of contestants that include Group 1 winners Black Heart Bart and Vega Magic.

The aforementioned are naturally the class horses in the field with Vega Magic likely to start as favourite.  The race is a little short for Black Heart Bart, but others such as Voodoo Lad who won the Group 3 John Monash Stakes at his last start a fortnight ago is likely to be in the finish. Three year old Jukebox ran third in the John Monash after starting favourite, but may have improved on that run, though is not well advantaged at the weights.

The most interesting race of the day is in fact being run at Morphettville where super filly Sunlight is kicking off her spring season in the Listed Lightning Stakes and faces stiff competition from spruiked new sprinter Nature Strip, who has strung together a couple of wins at Flemington recently and is rock hard fit. It looks a fascinating race with these two classy contenders and it’s a toss up which of them will win the bikkies. I’m hoping Sunlight prevails. Astrologically she has the perfect name for the time of year, the dominant zodiac sign being Leo, who is ruled by the sun.

The weather tomorrow in Melbourne is expected to be mild and sunny, so it will be pleasant to be outside for a change and get some photography practice.

With Winx’s first race of Spring only three weeks away,  it won’t be long before the good horses all return to the fray. Winx had her first trial last Monday and looked good despite not winning or even trying to win .  Chautauqua was in the same trial but refused to leave the gates, so his future is uncertain. He did successfully leave the gates a few weeks earlier in a trial at Flemington, so he’s obviously a horse with a will of his own. His connections are understandably puzzled by his attitude as by all reports he is physically fine, though getting on in years.

Doncaster– Derby Day 2018

Kementari – Doncaster Favourite photographed at Rosehill 24/3/18

The first Saturday of Sydney Racing’s  pompously named The Championships takes place this weekend at Randwick racetrack and features four Group 1 races -  the time honoured Doncaster Mile and  Australian Derby as well the Inglis Sires and T J Smith Stakes.

There’s something for everyone in the schedule with the Inglis Sires being a race for two year olds over 1400 metres, the Derby, a 2400 metres race for three year old stayers, the Doncaster a top class 1600 metres competition for middle distance runners, and the T J Smith a sprint over 1200 metres.

The first of the Group 1 events to run is the Inglis Sires and has attracted a field of 12 colts/geldings and 3 fillies. I’m interested in seeing how Encryption performs and whether he can emulate his ancestors and take home the Group 1 prize. His dam Guelph won the Sires in 2013, his granddam Camarilla in 2007 and his grand sire Octagonal won it in 1995. So it would be fitting if Encryption could do the family proud.

He’ll have to beat classy fillies Oohood and Seabrook, the former in particular who ran third in the Blue Diamond Stakes and second in the Golden Slipper at her last start and surely deserves a win.

The Australian Derby has been won over the past three years by New Zealand invaders  - Jon Snow (2017) Tavago (2016) and Mongolian Khan (2015) so it’s quite likely that Kiwis will take home the prize this year.

There are 7 New Zealanders in this year’s  Derby with the Murray Baker trained New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance being the pick of them. He’s one of the few runners to have won over the distance. Victoria Derby winner Ace High has been a tad disappointing so far this autumn, but he is proven over 2400 metres so has to be the best of the locals, along with Levendi, and Tangled and Furore who ran second and third in the Rosehill Guineas.

Redzel, who narrowly lost to Redkirk Warrior in the Lightning Stakes, is the top pick for the TJ Smith Stakes. Chautauqua won the race the last three years in succession, but is not part of the field, after he refused to leave the barriers in several trials recently, and has subsequently been sent for a long spell.

Despite Chautauqua’s absence it looks a classy field with mares, In Her Time, Global Glamour and English being Redzel’s main rivals. Also in with a chance is Brave Smash and Trapeze Artist, both with good recent form.

Happy Clapper, Humidor and Kementari are the three top chances in the Doncaster Mile, though one of the other runners such as Tosen Stardom, Lanciato or Prized Icon could steal the show. The last three year old to win the Doncaster was Triple Honour in 2008, so can the beautiful Kementari, with a generous weight advantage over the older horses, succeed ten years later?

It looks a great day of racing, run on a good track, which I shall watch at home with interest. 

*Update Saturday Evening*

As expected is was an interesting race meeting with one sensational result, when 100/1 shot El Dorado Dreaming took out the Inglis Sires, winning by a nose from the favourite Oohood, with 50/1 shot Outrageous finishing third.

Ace High, fighting out a thrilling finish in the Derby, was defeated by a nose by Levendi with Tangled several lengths behind running third.

Redzel was rolled in the TJ Smith by the three year old Trapeze Artist. In Her Time ran third.

And the Doncaster was won by the tough Happy Clapper from Comin’ Through and Arbeitsam.

So my analysis above was not all that out except for the Inglis Sires.

Melbourne Spring Racing Finale–Emirates Stakes Day Review

Emirates Stakes finish – Damian Lane celebrates Tosen Stardom’s win

For a change, the weather in Melbourne last Saturday was more Summer than capricious Spring, with blue skies and sunshine the whole day – hot in fact.

Arriving at Flemington around 1.45pm I headed directly to the stalls area to get some photos of the leading runners in the two Group 1 events.

The first horse I came across was none other than old Living Legend Might and Power, having a day out at the races. A crowd of admirers surrounded him outside his  stall, feeding him carroty treats and giving him a pat.

He seemed to be enjoying himself enormously, and looked remarkably well for his age. He’s now 24 years old.

Might and Power

Also present was the grey flash Chautauqua…

Chautauqua in his stall

and his great rival Terravista.

Terravista

New sprinters on the block, Everest winner Redzel, as well as Redkirk Warrior and Impending were also out and about

Redzel

Redkirk Warrior

The handsome Impending

Considering the drama that occurred when the field for the feature Emirates Stakes was headiing out to the starting gates, with Gingernuts unfortunately suffering an injury in transit, I’m glad I got a nice photo of him in the stalls area early in the afternoon. He reportedly suffered a pastern fracture, which his jockey Michael Dee felt as it happened. He pulled Gingernuts up and dismounted instantly. The injury is not considered life threatening, but Gingernuts will be out of action for a very long time.

Gingernuts

The crowds were not half as bad as Derby Day, so it wasn’t all that tedious to walk to the access gate east of the winning post – the favourite spot for Rebecca & I to snap photos.

From there we watched race 5, the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a consolation prize for stayers who missed running in the Melbourne Cup.  It had a good field  that included 2016 Geelong Cup  & 2017 Bendigo Cup winner Qewy and Vengeur Masque who won the 2017 Geelong Cup and finished a close second to Cismontane in the Lexus Stakes.

After winning $100.00 on Vengeur Masque in the Geelong Cup, he’s now promoted to a personal favourite, so I was pleased that he proved his credentials as a fine stayer in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, leading from the start ot the finish. Grey Lion challenged in the straight, but Vengeur Masque stuck to his guns and prevailed by ¾ lengths. Wheal Leisure finished third.

First time past the post in the QE Stakes – Vengeur Masque leads with Grey Lion tailing him

QE Stakes finish – Vengeur Masque wins from Grey Lion

Qewy started as favourite but finished sixth. He has since been retired.

Vengeur Masque returns to scale

Grey Lion

Qewy returns to scale

First Lady of Racing, Gai Waterhouse had a wonderful Melbourne Spring Carnival, training five Group winners, Pinot in the Group 1 Oaks being her top result. So it looks as if we shall have to take Gai’s runners seriously again.

Savapinkski enhanced Gai’s reputation by winning the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes, race 6 on the program on Saturday, leading all the way in 2000 metre race to win by almost three lengths from Payroll with Token of Love running third another length behind.

Savapinski wins the Matriarch Stakes

Savapinski on her way to the barriers

Payroll returns to scale

Token of Love on her way to the barriers

It was too hot to stay on the public lawn between races, and it got boring watching the Winning Post patrons on the opposite side of the track, to and froing from one side of the track to the other, so Bec and I headed for one of the scarce shaded areas behind us. I’d never been to the Boags Deck, so we decided to investigate. There were a couple of guys providing musical entertainment up there and a shaded area, so we lingered there until it was time for the first of the Group 1 events.

Musicians

As the horses paraded in the mounting yard prior to the running of the Darley Classic sprint, the official photographers clustered in front of us to get a good vantage point for horses running along the outside rail. Flemington sprints are problematical for photographers due to the tendency of the field to split into two sections, one lot on the inside rail and the rest on the grandstand side.

Along with the photographers on the rail, the security guards also plonked themselves in such a way as to block the view of the finish.

So it’s no wonder that my photos of the Darley Classic finish are pathetic, and don’t picture the winner Redzel, who raced along the outer rail. Terravista ran second and Impending was third. Chautauqua ended up running fourth.

Darley Classic finish

Redzel returns to scale

Terravista returns to scale

Impending returns to scale

It was getting on to 5.00 pm when the feature Group 1 Emirates Stakes was run. The pesky security guys were again blocking the view…

So Si Bon in the background & security guy

But by shooting between the gaps I managed to get photos of the main contenders, including Gingernuts before his unfortunate break down.

Gingernuts on his way to the barriers, shortly before his injury

Gingernuts breaks down – Clerks of Course attend the stricken horse

On course Vet bandages Gingernuts leg

It’s very fortunate that jockey Michael Dee realised that something was wrong, and that the injury happened before the race start and not during the race. Gingernuts was eventually led into a veterinary ambulance and taken off to horse hospital at Werribee.  The latest on his condition has him recovering well from surgery to have screws inserted in the fractured area.

This incident delayed the start of the Emirates Stakes by 10 minutes, but eventually they were off and running.

Gailo Chop lead the field for most of the race with Cliff’s Edge and Folkswood on the pace as well, but as the field turned for home it was anyone’s guess who the winner would be. Tosen Stardom was blocked for a run, but found a gap close to finish line and stormed to victory, winning by 1½ lengths from Happy Clapper, also swooping from the back of the field, with It’s Somewhat running third.

Tosen Stardom on his way to the barriers

Happy Clapper on his way to the barriers

It’s Somewhat on his way to the barriers

And so ended the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival for this year.

Overall the racing action has been quite interesting this year as compared to last year, even though there were many long odds winners upsetting the favourites.

Highlights of the season:

Winx  - in every one of her starts this Spring she has been astounding and kept her winning sequence intact through thick and thin,  and has now at 22 straight wins and is drawing closer to Black Caviar’s record of 25. She also created history by matching Kingston Town’s Cox Plate Treble and I’m glad I was there to witness it.

Bonneval – looked to be a potential star of the spring in her first two runs in Melbourne, winning the Group 2  Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and  Group 1 Underwood Stakes, the first mare to win either of these races in many years. Unfortunately she fell under an injury cloud before the Caulfield Cup, which probably accounts for her poor performance in that race.

Ace High – a promising young stayer who took home two Group 1 trophys this season, the Spring Champion Stakes and Victoria Derby.

Rekindling – although I thought the Melbourne Cup field was boring, I was very pleased that Rekindling won the race. Technically only three years of age, he became the first 3yo to win the big race since Skipton in 1941.

Disappointments:

Royal Symphony – a beautiful looking colt, Royal Symphony started his Spring campaign early in July winning his first four starts. Bad luck dogged him thereafter and he ran fourth in his other three starts in the Spring, the last being the Cox Plate, where he had a torrid run monstered by Happy Clapper all the way.

Russian Revolution – looked as if he would be a force to be reckoned with in his first race this spring where he impressively won the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, then failed to place in the Group 1 Moir Stakes, whereupon he was sent for spell.

Chautauqua – competed in four races this Spring, but failed to place in any of them. Is he a spent force?

I hardly had a bet this Spring,  and except for Caulfield Cup day where I had my money on Bonneval and Jon Snow, my other two wagers were very successful and my Sportsbet Account ended up with more funds than it started with.