Heady Brew–Australian Guineas Review

Palentino, hot & sweaty in the mounting yard after winning the 2016 Australian Guineas

We woke to an overcast sticky morning in Melbourne on Saturday and those conditiions prevailed for the rest of the day.

That suited me fine, as the lighting for photography was excellent -  not too bright or too dark.

I arrived at Flemington Racecourse earlier than anticipated, in time to watch  Race 2, the Listed  3AW News Talk Sport Stakes, a race over 1000 metres for two year olds.

It ended up with Selenia winning from Alter Call and Creativity.

Selenia returns to scale after winning Race 2

The Flemington roses were rampantly in bloom, particularly in the stalls area, where rose hedges surround the bird cage walking ring and the stalls. The bushes were so high that it was difficult to get clear shots of horses in their stalls and many a photographer looked as if they had been playing with feisty kittens after being in the area.

Living Legend Brew was the first horse I came across as I entered the lower stalls area and his kindly attendants brought him out for a pat. What a thrill!

Brew outside his stall

He’s a big boy, but gentle and friendly and I was delighted to meet him. I still recall vividly his Melbourne Cup victory in 2000 . That year my astrological analysis of the field led me to decide that a strong Cancerian influence was the main aspect of the day.  Brew’s name, signifying domestic duties, was spot on for Cancer.  It also helped that he had the breeding of a Melbourne Cup winner – Sir Tristram from Horlicks -  a blue blood indeed.

He started from Gate 24, and his saddle cloth number was 24 as well which made him a light weight chance. A very young Kieran McEvoy was his jockey.

Brew, sporting a yellow rose in his bridle

Whilst in the area I cruised through to see which Guineas contenders had already arrived.

The Darren Weir contingent were in Stalls 12 to 22, though not necessarily in the same stalls allocated in the race book.


Mahuta

Palentino

Perfect Reflection

Along with the three year olds, former Western Australian mare Real Love was there as well. She was favourite for Roy Higgins Quality scheduled as Race 4.

Real Love

Back track side, Race 3 was about to start, so I made my way to the prime spot just past the winning post to get action shots of the finish and the field returning to scale.

The Mrs Mac’s Bakery Sprint, for fillies and mares, is run over 1100 metres, and last start winner Estaminet started as favourite, but failed to fire, finishing well back in the field.  New Zealand filly Miss Seton Sands, having her first start in Australia, narrowly won over Exclusive Lass and Hijack Hussy.

Race 3 finish – please note camera angle looks as if Exclusive Lass is the winner.

Estaminet returns to scale

Miss Seton Sands returns to scale

Exclusive Lass returns to scale

Hijack Hussy returns to scale

The stalls area at Flemington is in two sections, the front stalls being easily accessible from just outside Carbine’s stall, but you have to walk down Crabapple Lane to access the back section.

More Guineas contenders were stabled there, including hyped New Zealand colt Xtravagant, who had quite a crowd of interested spectators outside his stall.

Xtravagant in his stall

Close by was Tarzino along with the other Mick Price runners, whom I failed to get photos of, or couldn’t identify.

Tarzino in his stall

Vanbrugh

Bon Aurum – very pretty

Jameka in her stall

Back  in the front stalls was Divan who was entered in the last race on the program, which I didn’t stay to watch.

He was being rather naughty in his stall, pawing the ground and tossing his head around, which I remarked to his strapper, who said that at home he was a lamb, but he got excited coming to the races.

Blue blood Divan – a handsome fellow

Back trackside the Roy Higgins Quality was the next race to run, and Real Love was the warm favourite.

She didn’t disappoint, finally winning her first race in the East after running a place in her last two starts.

Real Love wins the Roy Higgins Quality from Dandy Gent – Black Jag ran third three lengths behind.

Real Love returns to scale

After tramping back and forth from the stalls to the upper public lawn several times I felt like a break, so went a bought a drink and watched the Canterbury Stakes from Sydney on the big screen.  Holler, who was underestimated in the betting, won from First Seal with Kermadec running third.

The earlier Todman Stakes resulted in a boilover as well, when the Gai Watherhouse trained Kiss and Make Up rolled the highly touted short priced favourite, Capitalist.

Brew was parading around the mounting yard as I waited for the Canterbury Stakes to screen and grazing on the centre lawn whilst the Living Legends chief vet posed for photos with him.

Brew in the mounting yard

Only two more races were scheduled before the feature, and they were only of interest in helping the time pass.

There wasn’t much of a crowd, certainly not a spring racing levels, and the kids were kept well out of the way in the Kids’ Zone and entertained in various ways. I saw Peanuts characters wandering around and posing for photos.

Charlie & Lucy

Snoopy posing for photos outside the Phar Lap Club (Kids’ Zone)

Race 5 was the Group 3 TAB Rewards Stakes an open handicap over 1400 metres. It resulted in Red Bomber beating Burning Front and Puccini. It was Red Bomber’s first win in a year.

Race 5 finish – Red Bomber on the outside beats Burning Front (orange silks) and Puccini (inside)

Red Bomber on his way to the barriers

Burning Front on his way to the barriers

Puccini on his way to the barriers

In Race 6, the ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap, race favourite Malaguerra romped in by almost two lengths from Grane and Thermal Current.

Malaguerra wins the ATA/ Bob Hoysted Handicap

Malaguerra returns to scale

Grane returns to scale

Thermal Current returns to scale

The Randwick Guineas was scheduled to run 15 minutes before the Australian Guineas, so I wandered back towards the mounting yard to get a better view of the big screen to watch it.  Le Romain caused an upset, beating  hot favourite Press Statement, who was blocked for a run and couldn’t catch him in the straight.  Rank outsider Gold Ambition ran third.

A similar scenario occured in the Australian Guineas where Xtravagant was the hot favourite, but failed to run a place. He burst from the gates at lightning speed and led for most of the race. He was overtaken in the straight by a mass of horses and Palentino pushed through at the last minute to win from Tarzino and the filly Risque.

As happened when he won, then lost, the CS Hayes Stakes, there was a protest against him from second place, Tarzino’s jockey, alleging interference, but this time the protest was dismissed. A collective groan rose up when the protest siren was sounded – not again!

Australian Guineas finish

Palentino returns to scale

Tarzino on his way to the barriers

Xtravagant on his way to the barriers

Xtravagant has returned to New Zealand, his colours lowered considerably. 

Flemington roses – a plethora of brilliant colour all along the straight

I went home after the Guineas, not staying for the Frances Tressady Stakes or the Antler Luggage Trophy, where Divan ran second again to runaway long shot Tom Melbourne.

It’s back to Flemington next Saturday for Super Saturday which features the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and the Group 1 Australian Cup, always a fabulous day of racing with  a quality support card.

The final Group 1 of the Melbourne Autumn racing carnival is the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on 25 March, which I may attend, even though it’s a night meeting.

Black Caviar Lightning–Brilliance in the Offing

Chautauqua – Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington 2015

I can hardly wait for next Saturday’s race meeting at Flemington, which looks to be a whizz banger, with the feature race being the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, a sprint over 1000 metres.

Named of course, these days,  in honour of the great unbeaten mare; she was the only horse to win the Lightning Stakes (as it was then known)  three years in succession 2011 - 2013. 

Since that time it has been won by Snitzerland in 2014 and by Lankan Rupee last year. He’s out of action until the spring recovering from an operation.

An elite field of seven competitors will contest it, all of them returning from a spell over summer and kicking off their autumn campaigns.

Chief among the contenders is the mighty grey speedster Chautauqua who was a main player in the spring carnival, winning three of his four starts before going down narrowly to Delectation on a heavy track in the Darley Classic on Emirates Stakes Day.

Delectation is also part of the field as is Chautauqua’s old rival Terravista.

Then you have young guns Exosphere, a stunning looking son of the Black Flash, Lonhro, and Japonisme who won the Group 1
Coolmore Classic at his last start, where Exosphere finished fourth on his first run down the Flemington straight.

It has rained this week, though not enough to affect the track which will most likely be rated as Good, so that will suit Chautauqua down to the ground (so to speak).

The support card is nothing to sneer at either with even the listed two year old race, the Talindert Stakes, being fascinating. The first of So You Think’s progeny that I will have seen is one of the runners – a filly  named Conscious who is having her first start.  Also a daughter of former champion mare Private Steer called Clockwork Orange is another in the field worth seeing.

Crown Oaks winner Jameka resumes in the Group 3 Vanity, a race for three year old fillies over 1400 metres.  She’s up against star Western Australian filly Perfect Reflection who won the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic at her last start. She’s unbeaten in five starts in her home State, so it will be interesting to see how she goes at her first start in the East.

Also in the field are Sacred Eye and Don’t Doubt Mama, familiar names from the Spring carnival.

The boys version of the Vanity is the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes, also run over 1400 metres. These races are sort of Australian Guineas preludes.

Top runners in the C S Hayes are Gold Symphony who won the Group 3 Vain Stakes and McNeill  Stakes in spring, Bon Aurum, who won the Group 3 Guineas Prelude. Palentino, Tulsa, Tivaci, River Wild and Ready For Victory all have a chance as well.

I intend to getting to Flemington by 12.30pm to watch the Talindert Stakes, then may stay for the Ascot Racecourse Trophy, which has Divan in the field. I last saw him on Emirates Stakes day where he won a 2000 metre  race in weaker company.  He’s probably having a practice run as he’ll mostly be aimed for the big staying races of spring, and  the 1400 metres of this race is not his best distance.

The Sydney racing action will be at Rosehill this Saturday, the feature races being the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes, Millie Fox Stakes and the Hobartville Stakes.

For Golden Slipper bound two year olds. the Silver Slipper Stakes is run over 1100 metres. Seven youngsters have accepted, and the best of them appears to be Defcon who was scratched from the colts Blue Diamond Prelude last Saturday and Astern.  It’s not a strong field, so any horse could win.

Everyone’s favourite grey mare Catkins makes her first appearance for the autumn in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300 metres), a race she won last year. Also resuming after an injury induced break is the highly regarded First Seal who has the distinction of defeating Winx twice in their younger days and is a Group 1 winner. Catkins has a great first up record, so could very likely win the Millie Fox for a second time.  Of the rest, I’ve Got The Looks, Telepathic, Press Report and Ballet Society could run a place.

Caulfield Guineas winner, Press Statement returns to the fray in the Hobartville Stakes, a race for three year olds over 1400 metres. He faces tough competition from Vanbrugh, his stablemate, who won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at his last start. Others with claims are Etymology who ran second to Tarzino in the Victorian Derby, Dal Cielo, Shards and Montaigne.

Cult New Zealand horse Hasselhoof will be out to redeem his reputation in the Listed Parramatta Cup, after running unplaced at his first start in Australia a couple of weeks ago. The race is worth watching to see if he succeeds.

Racing Victoria has abandoned the 30 minute interval between races for weekend meetings, though will continue the trial during the weekday meetings. Sydney has come to party and agreed to do likewise.

Saturday has the Melbourne White Night light show on in the evening, so I’ll certainly not make the same mistake as last year by trying to catch a tram home, which took me hours. I’ll stick to trains this time.

Carnival Finale–Emirates Stakes Day

Mounting Yard Gate for Emirates Stakes Day

A light shower of rain passed through last Saturday morning, but the afternoon was  lovely, mild and slightly overcast with good light for photography.

The public lawn at Flemington was still very damp from Thursday’s downpour, but that didn’t discourage patrons from spreading themselves all over it. Ankle biters were in abundance, Emirate Stakes Day being traditionally a family day, but it wasn’t overcrowded and it was easy to wend through the crowd or get a drink.

I arrived early at Flemington, keen to watch Divan run in the second race on the program. I’ve been following him for over year, though he is very lightly raced, only starting seven times. He’s regally bred being by Zabeel out of champion New Zealand mare Seachange. At his last outing he ran second to the Gai Waterhouse trained The Offer in the Bendigo Cup (2400 metres).

He was coming back in distance for the Starlight Children’s Plate to 2000 metres and accounted for his opposition, easily winning by a length from Velox and Have Plenty. He looks a promising young stayer and hopefully will be back in autumn for a few races, though his owner Lloyd Williams is hoping to get him qualified for the 2016 Melbourne Cup.

Divan winning the Starlight Children’s Plate

Divan returns to scale after winning the Starlight Children’s Plate

Velox in the mounting yard

Have Plenty in the mounting yard

The program for Emirate Stakes Day was much classier than that of the Oaks and race 3 was the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (formerly the Queen Elizabeth Stakes) run over 2600 metres, a sort of consolation prize for stayers who didn’t qualify for the Melbourne Cup field.

A small field of 8  horses were contesting it and British galloper Secret Number started as favourite.

However, Darren Weir, the Melbourne Cup winning trainer’s roll continued with Dandino taking the prize. He was to win another in race 4, when Michelle Payne guided home 7/1 shot Palentino to  register a good win.

Darren Weir near Dandino’s Stall

Dandino won by almost 2 lengths from Secret Number with Don Doremo running third.

Dandino on his way to the barriers

Secret Number

Don Doremo

Queen’s Cup finish – Dandino, Secret Number & Don Doremo

As previously mentioned, the Darren Weir trained Palentino won race 4, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts Stakes (1400 metres) from Demonstrate and race favourite Ngarimu.

Palentino ridden by Michelle Payne returns to scale after winning the Resorts Stakes

Race 4 finish – Palentino wins easily

It’s a fair hike from the winning post to the stalls area, so you get plenty of exercise if you want to take photos. I must have tramped back and forth at least six times over the course of the afternoon. 

Here are some of the contenders for the two Group 1 races photographed in their stalls.

Arod – Emirates Stakes

Bow Creek – Emirates Stakes

Moriarty – Emirates Stakes

Turn Me Loose  - Emirates Stakes

Politeness – Emirates Stakes

Boban – Darley Classic

Buffering – Darley Classic

Chautauqua – Darley Classic

Delectation – Darley Classic

Flamberge – Darley Classic

Terravista – Darley Classic

Lucia Valentina – Matriarch Stakes

Back trackside, Race 5, the Antler Luggage Handicap (1600 metres) was the next race on the program, after which there wasn’t long to wait for the first of the Group 1 events, the Darley Classic.

Rhythm To Spare won the Antler Luggage Handicap from Defiant Angel and Setinum.

Race 5 finish – Rhythm To Spare on his way to winning the Antler Luggage  Handicap

 
Rhythm To Spare returns to scale

Defiant Angel

Setinum

Chautauqua was understandably hot favourite to take out the Group 1 Darley Classic, but the heavy track inhibited his powerful sprint and Delectation from the Chris Waller stable pipped him at the post. Last year’s winner, Terravista, managed to run third with old Buffering hanging on for fourth.

The photo of the finish is taken from an odd viewpoint as the field was spread out across the track, so no clear winner is evident. However it’s a dramatic shot that I’m quite pleased with.

Darley Classic finish – Delectation (foreground) Chautauqua (far right) Terravista and Buffering behind.

Delectation returns to scale

Chautauqua

Terravista

Buffering

The Group 1 Emirates Stakes was up next and my top pick was the young New Zealand stallion Turn Me Loose, trained by Caulfield Cup winning trainer Murray Baker. I’d been impressed with Turn Me Loose’s  win in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day where he led from start to finish.

He did the same in the Emirates Stakes and hung on to win narrowly over the fast finishing Politeness. Outsider, Rock Sturdy ran third.

Emirates Stakes finish – horses spread across the track

Turn Me Loose returns to scale after winning the Emirates Stakes

Politeness playing up as she is guided to the starting gates

Rock Sturdy on his way to the starting gates

I stayed for Race 8, the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes as I was keen to see Lucia Valentina in action and hoping that she would win. She hadn’t won a race since winning the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes last spring.

The Matriarch Stakes is a race for mares over 2000 metres, and it was the easiest race she had contested for over a year, her latest runs being in top class events.

Her class prevailed and the heavy going suited her.  She won by a length from Manageress with Casino Dancer taking third place.

Matriarch Stakes finish – Lucia Valentina is the widest  runner in the picture

Lucia Valentina on her way to the barriers

Manageress returns to scale

Casino Dancer on her way to the barriers

And so ended what turned out to be a fantastic Spring Racing Carnival.

It all started fairly quietly back in August with a variety of horses winning the major Group 1 events. The only horse to win more than one Group 1 race was Winx, whose Cox Plate victory was the highlight of the season. Her other Group 1 win was the Epsom Stakes at Randwick, another spectacular performance.

Other highlights:

Chautauqua’s three wins this spring in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley in September, the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at Caulfield and the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in October.

Mongolian Khan’s Caulfield Cup, Prince of Penzance and Michelle Payne’s Melbourne Cup,  Jameka’s Crown Oaks, and Turn Me Loose in the Emirates Stakes.

Remarkably the three big events of the season were all won by locally (including New Zealand) bred horses and the much hyped Internationals and Imports were generally missing in action. Perhaps Australia’s staying stocks are not that bad after all and certainly New Zealand bred stayers are still a force to be reckoned with.

There is quite an interesting meeting at Sandown this coming Saturday, but I am not inclined to attend, content to watch it from home.

After that Perth has a brief Spring Racing carnival featuring three excellent Group 1 races, then it’s Christmas and the horse racing dead season until late January when it all sparks up again with the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.

There are however the Gold Coast Magic Millions two and three year old races in January which are generally pretty interesting in light of the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond Stakes.

I won’t know what to do with myself on Saturday afternoons from now on, but no doubt I’ll find something else to write about; music and books for instance.

As for the punt this racing season, I hardly had a bet so my racing outings were all pretty cheap. My sole good win was on the Caulfield Cup with a bonus bet on my online Sportsbet account.