Doncaster–Derby Day at Randwick

Tarzino at Flemington – Australian Guineas Day 5/3/2016

Black type racing is over in Melbourne until spring, so it is cheering that the Sydney Championships can keep the interest alive for a few weeks yet.

And what a beauty of a race meeting it is this coming Saturday at Randwick with four Group 1 races on the cards,  involving several exciting stars of the turf.

The first of these is super star Winx, who will be endeavouring to add the prestigious Doncaster Mile to her list of Group 1 wins.

Winx reminds a lot people of the great New Zealand mare Sunline who won the Doncaster twice, and ran second in a third attempt, as well as winning two Cox Plates among many other Group 1 races, but Winx still has a long way to go before she equals Sunline’s record.

As she is only four, she has plenty of time if she stays sound. She is indubitably the most exciting racehorse in Australia at present, having won her last eight races, five of them at Group 1 kevel.

Naturally she will start as hot favourite for the Doncaster, and though it is hard to see her get beaten, other runners with a chance are Kermadec, runner up to Winx in the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Handicap winner last year, old rival First Seal, wearing blinkers for the first time, Turn Me Loose, who blew his chances last start overracing, and  Azkadellia who always runs an honest race.

As previously mentioned the race card boasts three other Group 1 races, the first being the Inglis Sires for two year olds over 1400 metres. There are no super stars in the field so it’s pretty wide open. Prime chances are Seaburge, Yankee Rose, Teleperion, Detective, Attention  and Zamzam.

The TJ Smith Stakes is a time honoured sprint and has attracted a classy field of contestants that include Chautauqua (last year’s winner) Exosphere, Terravista, Delectation, Flamberge and Fell Swoop.

Tarzino, the most promising young stayer in the country, is the top pick for the Australian Derby.  His main opposition comes from the classy Jameka, taking on the boys again, and Tally who is on a four run winning streak.

Despite Sydney having heavy rain earlier the week, the track at Randwick shouldn’t be too soggy, unlike last year, where the meeting was cancelled until the the next day due to the inclemency of the weather.

Update Sunday – The Wow Factor Again!

As anticipated, it was a fantastic day of racing at Randwick yesterday.

All the winners of the Group 1 events produced dominant performances.

Yankee Rose won the Inglis Sires by 2.5 lengths from Telperion with longshot Faraway Town running third.

Tarzino was on his wrong leg in the Australian Derby and failed to run a place. The race was won by an outsider, the New Zealand trained Tavago romping in by over three lengths. Jameka ran her usual honest race and finished second ahead of Tally in third place.

The grey speedster Chautauqua, as is his style, produced a heartstopping last to first finish in the TJ Smith Stakes, winning the race for the second time in succession.  Fell Swoop ran the race of his life and finished second ahead of the filly English.

And, wonder horse Winx, who looked in non winning position in the straight with 300 metres to go,  having raced at the tail of field for most of the race, broke through a wall of horses to score a two length victory over Happy Clapper and Azkadellia in the Doncaster Mile.

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.

How Suavito It Is– Orr Stakes Review

Suavito parades in the mounting yard after winning the Orr Stakes

The current dry spell in Melbourne meant that the track at Caulfield was good and fast, and the afternoon was hot and sunny, which certainly increased the crowd numbers at Caulfield racecourse, particularly children who were in abundance.

I arrived at Caulfield just as Race 1 was about to start. I watched it from the fence on the front lawn, but failed to get any usable photos as I didn’t notice that the Optical Image Stabiliser on my camera was turned off.

Anyway, that race resulted in longshot Falago beating favourite Tashbeeh, with Vatuvei running third.

With only 30 minutes separating races, there was not much time to wait for Race 2, the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes,  the main attraction being New Zealand filly Risque having her first start in Melbourne, or indeed Australia.

She lived up to the hype with an impressive win, coming from the back of the field to swoop on the leaders and score by half a length from Mossin’ Around and Cana.

Race 2 just past the winning post

Risque returns to scale

Mossin’ Around returns to scale

Cana returns to scale

I managed to get a nice photo of Risque later in the day in her stall…

Risque in her stall

Race 3 was the first of the Blue Diamond Preludes to be run and I grabbed a possie on the mounting yard fence to watch the fillies parade.

Samara Dancer, the winner

Concealer – ran second

Miss Nymeria – ran third

Race 3 – down the straight Samara Dancer leads

The colts version of Blue Diamond Prelude followed shortly afterwards and was won by the favourite Flying Artie, who narrowly scored over a fast finishing Star Turn with outsider China Dream running third several lengths behind the leading pair. Flying Artie did it tough, running wide through most of the race, impressing his jockey, Damien Oliver, who has now chosen him as his Blue Diamond Stakes ride over his stablemate Extreme Choice who won the weekend before with ease.

Flying Artie is about to overtake Star Turn in the straight approaching the finish line.

The most commanding win of the day was that of speedy filly Heatherly in Race 5, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, where she left the rest of the field, including Group 1 winner Politeness, in her wake, winning by almost six lengths, after leading from start to finish.

The burst mode on my camera shows Heatherly, then daylight, then the rest of the field.

Heatherly burns up the straight for a commanding win

The rest of the field in hot pursuit

Politeness, who was too far back to catch Heatherly,  ran second with Just A Bullet running third.

The afternoon whizzed by fast, so for a day billed as “relaxed racing” the 30 minute intervals between races made it seem quite frantic.

Soon enough,  there was only one more race to run before the feature.

In between races I hung around the stalls area, checking out the horses in their stalls and in the walking ring.

Suavito relaxing in the walking ring

Fawkner outside his stall

Turn Me Loose – the prettiest horse of the day, in his stall

Mourniho in the walking ring

Mahuta being saddled up for Race 6 with Darren Weir in attendance

Mahuta added another paling to the picket fence next to his name in the racebook, registering his sixth straight win from seven starts in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes.

He beat a classy field of fellow three year olds, leading practically from the start to defeat sole filly Sailing By, and Snoopy in a close finish. Tarzino flashed home from the rear of the field for an eye catching fourth.

Race 6 just past the winning post – Mahuta leads

Mahuta returns to scale

Sailing By returns to scale

Snoopy on his way to the barriers

Tarzino on his way to the barriers

The C F Orr Stakes had a full field of 18 runners, Hucklebuck included among them after all. I was hoping the beautiful Turn Me Loose would be successful, but he overraced and was overtaken in the last 100 metres by eventual winner Sauvito, Lucky Hussler and Hucklebuck, who relegated him to fourth.

Down the straight – Turn Me Loose leads with Suavito on his outside about to overtake. Lucky Hussler is third with Hucklebuck (white bridle) just in the picture.

A little over a length separated first to fifth, but it was a gutsy win by Suavito who paid a handsome $17.00 for the win. Alas I didn’t have any money on her.

Suavito parades with connections after winning the Orr Stakes

Lucky Hussler in the mounting yard

Hucklebuck in the mounting yard

As I’d been at the racecourse since 1.30 pm I headed home after the Orr Stakes, hot and somewhat tired after an active afternoon trackside.

While waiting for the Orr Stakes to begin, I did manage to watch the last stages of the Apollo Stakes, which was playing on one half of the big screen (without sound), and was pleased to see Winx live up to expectations with a comfortable win. Solicit ran second with Hauraki running third.

Next Saturday the racing action is at Flemington for the running of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning. Naturally I’ll be there with bells on, looking forward to seeing Exosphere in the feature race, among other stars of the turf.

Derby Day Review

Derby finish – Craig Newitt jubilant aboard Tarzino just past the post

While killing time waiting for the running of the 2015 Melbourne Cup, here’s a review of my day at the races last Saturday.

The weather on Derby Day started out grim and dismal with heavy clouds and occasional showers of rain, so I didn’t bother with sun screen, thinking the afternoon would be as forecast – humid and overcast with rain and a thunderstorm.

How wrong I was. I ended up sunburnt as the afternoon progressed into bright sunshine, typical of Melbourne weather – two or three seasons in one day.

I arrived at Flemington just before 12.00 pm to be greeted by hordes of partying patrons, the girls in their backless frocks and ridiculous fascinators and the guys in a variety of costumes. A group dressed as Minions clustered in a group near the Clock Tower.

Actually it wasn’t all that crowded, you could at least move around freely without stumbling over picnic blankets, though getting a drink was a lengthy affair.

Not many of the horsey stars had arrived when I headed to the stalls area, but I found Exosphere in his stall, looking handsome and relaxed.

Exosphere

Next to him was his stable mate Mogador, also a handsome devil.

Mogador

The fillies who were to compete in Race 2, the Wakeful Stakes eventually emerged to parade in the walking ring.

Ambience

Dawnie Perfect

My Poppette

Returning to the front lawn to watch the race, it was easy to get my favourite position by the walkway from the mounting yard to the track.

Mounting yard gate

The Wakeful Stakes was won easily by Ambience from Beluga Blue and Muzyka.

Ambience returns to scale after winning the Wakeful Stakes

Beluga Blue

Muzyka

Both Ambience and Muzyka will meet again with 10 other fillies on Thursday to contest the Group 1 Crown Oaks.

Race 3 was the Group 3 Guvera Stakes and Disposition was the warm favourite. He won narrowly from San Diego with Hosting three lengths back running third.

Disposition returns to scale after winning the Guvera Stakes

San Diego

Hosting

The Coolmore Stud Stakes was the first of the Group 1 races on the program as Race 4. Exosphere was short odds favourite to win, but he disappointed and ended up finishing fourth.

I got some lovely photos of him in the parade ring when he paused just in front of me to await his turn in the parade line (they parade in numerical order)

Exosphere in the parade ring

The Chris Waller trained Japonisme won at long odds, being totally overlooked in the betting.

Japonisme in the parade ring

For this race I found a really good spot tucked in front of an enclosure with a good view of the straight and winning post, where I hoped to get photos of horses returning to scale without the rail impeding the shot.

Coolmore Stud Stakes – just past the winning post

Japonisme won by 1½ lengths from Keen Array and Counter Attack.

Exosphere (inside) and Keen Array return to scale

Counter Attack returns to scale

Japonisme returns to scale

Newsflash! Just watched the Melbourne Cup and what an amazing result! Prince of Penzance did the locals proud and Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to ride a Melbourne Cup winner. Max Dynamite ran second and Criterion ran third. Prince of Penzance paid $74 (UTB) for the win. A pity I didn’t have any money on him.

Anyway back to Saturday…

We, that is my fellow photographer Rebecca and I, stayed in the same spot for the next few races in between returning to the stalls area, until we were turfed out by a security guy, who said we weren’t allowed to stand there.  God knows why, as we weren’t impeding anyone’s view, but I suppose they regarded the spot as private property – on a public lawn?

Back in the stalls several more of the main contenders had arrived, so I got some nice photos of a few of them

Contributer

West Australian Derby contender Kia Ora Koutou

Ready For Victory

A rose for Rising Romance

The Group 2 Lexus Stakes was up next so we returned trackside to observe the runners leaving the mounting yard, then went to the prime spot on the far eastern side of the course.

The handsome Excess Knowledge on his way to the barriers stalls

Excess Knowledge earned himself a spot in the Melbourne Cup with his win in the Lexus Stakes with Zanteca running second and Havana Cooler third.

Excess Knowledge returns to scale after winning the Lexus Stakes

Zanteca

Havana Cooler

The second of the four Group 1 races was up next, the Mackinnon Stakes and the French horse, Gailo Chop paid his fare to Australia by winning narrowly from Rising Romance and Contributer.

Mackinnon Stakes – just past the post

Gailo Chop returning to scale after winning the Mackinnon Stakes

Rising Romance on her way to the starting gates

Contributer on his way to the starting gates

Just after the finish of the Mackinnon Stakes we were forced to move from our prime position. Not to worry, we waited for the nearby racecourse crossing access gate to be closed, and amusedly observed various preening racegoers posing for photographs in the middle of the racecourse.

Tarzino  defied the favourites hoodoo in the Derby winning easily by two lengths from Etymology with Kia Ora Koutou six lengths behind running third.

Tarzino returns to scale after winning the Victoria Derby

Etymology

Kia Ora Katou

As I intended to go home after the running of the Myer Classic, the final Group 1 race on the program, we moved back to the stalls area to view the mares parading before the race and leaving the mounting yard for the track.

Politeness, the Myer Classic winner in the parade ring

Fenway leaving the mounting yard for the track

Azkadellia – third place runner on her way to the barriers

Royal Descent in the parade ring

Stay With Me returns to scale

Royal Descent started as favourite, and the race was expected to be a match between the classy older mare and upstart filly Stay With Me.

Neither featured in the finish.

Politeness won her first Group 1 race, and Fenway was runner up
¾ length behind her. Azkadellia grabbed third place ahead of May’s Dream.

The light by this time was getting bad for photos and I’d been at the racecourse for almost five hours, so I called it quits and headed for the station. Thankfully it only took 40 minutes to get home this time.

I’ve been writing this post all afternoon and evening, with various distractions like the Melbourne Cup making it seem like a marathon.

I’m looking forward to the Oaks meeting on Thursday as the final field has been decided and it looks a really interesting race with classy fillies like Jameka, Sacred Eye and Ambience going head to head.