Veuve, Bart, Bon et al–Underwood Stakes Day Review

Black Heart Bart wins the Underwood Stakes

Melbourne woke on Saturday to a fine and sunny day, so it was a pleasure, despite a brisk wind, to head out to Caulfield for the Underwood Stakes meeting.

My arrival at the course was just after Race 3, so I missed Royal Rapture adding a fifth straight win to his season tally, but was in plenty of time for Race 4, the Inglis Cup, a race for four year olds over 2000 metres.

The in form Pay Up Bro started as the warm favourite, but he failed to run a place, with 13/1 shot Portion Control winning narrowly from stablemate Kifaah and Hierarchal.

Down the straight in the Inglis Cup – Portion Control (inside) leads Kifaah and Hierarchal.

The first of the Group races was up next, the Group 2 fillies Thousand Guineas Prelude, so I hung around to wait for them to parade in the pre-parade ring in the stalls area and went up to the hill to photograph them heading for the barriers.

Whispering Brook – started favourite but finished 7th

Legless Veuve – the surprise winner

New Zealand filly La Luna Rossa – ran a close second

Sword of Light – ran third

Just past the winning post – Legless Veuve still ahead

The amusingly named Legless Veuve romped in at big odds, her only previous win being a lowly race at Sale. La Luna Rossa was only beaten by a half length and looked the goods as far as the Thousand Guineas is concerned.

La Luna Rossa’s stablemate Saracino was the favourite for the colts Caulfield Guineas Prelude, but he too failed to place and finished fifth, though only a length from the winner, Sacred Elixir, another New Zealander, who already had a Group 1 race win (JJ Atkins in Queensland over winter) to his credit .

Here are the major players in the mounting yard or heading to the barriers.

Sacred Elixir on his way to the barriers

Saracino on his way to the barriers

Revolving Door – second placed -  in the mounting yard

Wazzenme – third placed - in the mounting yard

 
Sydney colt Evacuation – highly fancied – finished 7th

Down the straight in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Sacred Elixir is about to overtake Revolving Door with Seaburge (4th place) just behind.

The Living Legends special guest on Saturday was Might and Power, but I failed to find him. Apparently he was being displayed in one of the children’s play areas, which I avoided like the plague.

However, in the stalls area several of the horses I was keen to see were being walked and I was delighted to get the following photo of Lucia Valentina in the walking ring.

Lucia Valentina in the walking ring

Up next on the program was the first of the Group 1 races, the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. 

Bon Aurum emulated his sire Bon Hoffa (2007 winner) and won his first Group 1 race.  He managed to hold out the popular Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad, and Fast N Rocking finished third, the best he has run for years.

Sydney horse Counterattack started as favourite, but like most of the favourites on the day, he finished well back.

Xtravagant was well behaved this time, and ran fiercely in the early stages of the race, but faded to finish at the tail of the field.  I saw him early in the afternoon in his stall and he was good as gold.

Bon Aurum on  his way to the barriers

Voodoo Lad on his way to the barriers

Fast N Rocking on his way to the barriers

Counterattack on his way to the barriers

Xtravagant in the pre-parade ring waiting to go out to the track

Just past the winning post in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Bon Aurum returns to scale

The Underwood Stakes was scheduled as the second last race on the program so it was getting on for 5.00pm when the race was run,  the light having deteriorated considerably by then.

Even so, I decided I would get photos of the field in the mounting yard and on the fence, in the gap where an emergency access gate is placed.

The hedge abutting the track at Caulfield is so high that if you were vertically challenged you would not be able to see the track. I heard a number of people complaining about this, but doubt MRC will do anything to improve the view for General Admission patrons.

The emergency access gate does not have a sign to keep clear, so I figured it was OK to stand there as I had been doing on and off throughout the afternoon, and several other persons were  taking advantage of the view as well, when Security turned up and turfed us out.  The horses engaged in the Underwood Stakes were heading to the barriers at that time, so I gave up on getting photos of them running down the straight and headed back to the hill.

Black Heart Bart proved that he had no trouble running 1800 metres and gave Darren Weir his third Group 1 victory for the season. The former Western Australian galloper has become a force to be reckoned with these days under the Weir mantle. His next assignment is the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes where he will encounter the formidable Winx.

Black Heart Bart won by 2½ lengths from He Or She with Lucia Valentina flying home for third at the speed of light.

Black Heart Bart returns to scale

He Or She (yellow silks) and Awesome Rock return to scale

Lucia Valentina returns to scale

Next weekend is chock full of sporting events – the AFL Grand Final being the main show for most of Melbourne.

There is also plenty of racing action, starting on Friday night at Moonee Valley, who will host the Group 1 Moir Stakes in which Chautauqua will be making his first appearance for spring.

Sydney’s main Spring Racing meeting is at Randwick on Saturday and includes three Group 1 races – Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan and the Flight Stakes.

And on Sunday, the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes is run at Flemington along with several other interesting races.

I may go to Moonee Valley on Friday night, depending on the weather which is forecast to be a vile cold wet day, but will definitely head to Flemington on Sunday whatever the weather.

A Hint of Spring–The Cleaner Back On Track

The Cleaner with former trainer Mick Burles after winning his second Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes

I’m so over the Melbourne winter and longing for warmer weather. There’s not much sign of it over the coming week, but perhaps August will see an improvement.

One sign however that Spring is on the way is the race meeting at Caulfield on Saturday featuring the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, which I used to regard as the first interesting race of the forthcoming Spring racing season.

This year it has attracted quite a good field that includes The Cleaner, the former tiger from Tassie who has not been at the track since running unplaced in the Cox Plate. There was some doubt that he would continue racing, with his old trainer Mick Burles being of the opinion that something was wrong with the horse. The Cleaner’s owners disagreed and sent him to Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis who also trains veteran galloper Mourinho. The Cleaner  recently won a trial by six lengths, so perhaps he is not yet a spent force.

The Bletchingly Stakes is run over 1200 metres, so it is probably a bit short for The Cleaner and he also faces stiff opposition from the likes of Mahuta who strung together six consecutive wins last Spring and is a potential star of the turf. Others with good claims are Fast ‘N’ Rocking, Charmed Harmony, Lord Of The Sky, Odyssey Moon and the sole mare Runway Star who has good form in Adelaide. 

Overall it looks a quite an interesting race, so I’m looking forward to heading off to Caulfield on Saturday to watch it.

The weather will hopefully be fine for the afternoon, though the track will be on the slow side.

I’m posting this entry early as tomorrow we have been informed by the Electricity Company that the power will be off from 8.00am to 3.15pm.

Horrors! No internet for a day. How will I cope?

Actually I’ll be able to use my iPad via 3G, so it’s not that dire, only a little slow.

Pride of Dubai– The Prince of Diamonds

Pride of Dubai parades after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes

You might as well throw away the form guide, as favourites in the Group 1 events at Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield were all rolled.

Despite the disappointing results it was an enjoyable day at the races with the weather being kinder than the week before, a pleasantly warm day with alternate cloud and sunshine.

I arrived at the track around 2.00pm, in plenty of time for Race 3, the Angus Armanasco Stakes, where last start winner Sabatini was the warm favourite and was successful again, beating Fontein Ruby by a length with Samartested running third.

Sabatini on her way to the barriers

Fontein Ruby being difficult on her way to the gates – a clerk of course eventually took her in hand

Race 3 down the straight – Fontein Ruby leads with Sabatini on the outside about to pass Samartested.

In my preview in my last post I completely overlooked Alpine Eagle in my assessment of Race 4, the Caulfield Autumn Classic. He is a South Australian colt with excellent form -  three wins from four starts – and very well bred by High Chaparral from a Zabeel mare Zephira .  He started as favourite, and running from the back of the field with an amazing burst of speed, narrowly won from Minnesinger and Firehouse Rock.

Race 4 down the straight – Firehouse Rock leads with Alpine Eagle still three lengths behind on the outside.

The first of the Group 1 races was next on the program, it being the Futurity Stakes. Dissident was the hot favourite, but he only managed to run third, rather stymieing his chances early in the race keeping up with race leader Driefontein and was flat at the finish. Smart mare Suavito swooped down the outside late and  went on to win by a length and a bit from Smokin’ Joey.

Dissident on his way to the barriers

Smokin’ Joey on his way to the barriers

Race 5 down the straight – Dissident leads with Smokin’ Joey and Suavito about to overtake him on the outside.

Suavito returns to scale after winning the Futurity Stakes

There was a great deal of interest in the next race, the Peter Young Stakes, due to the presence of 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist in the field. He’s a real good looker…

Protectionist in the mounting yard.

…however, despite starting favourite he failed to run a place, the race most probably being too short for him.

Mourinho who is in excellent form this autumn took out the race from the stalwart Happy Trails with Akzar running third.

Mourinho on his way to the barriers

Happy Trails on his way to the barriers

Akzar on his way to the barriers

Race 6 down the straight – Mourinho hits the front.

The Oakleigh Plate also ended in an upset with the speedy Shamal Wind winning her first Group 1, with the unfancied Under The Louvre running second and Fast N Rocking taking out third spot. I was hoping Earthquake, who started as favourite, would win, but she was very disappointing and finished 10th. She was wearing blinkers this time, the first time I’ve seen her do so.

Earthquake in the mounting yard

Race 7 down the straight – Shamal Wind is five lengths from the lead on the outside in  the
red silks with white hearts.

Shamal Wind’s owner, dressed in a red suit with white hearts (to match the silks), was over the moon with her win as she paraded in the mounting yard.

Shamal Wind returns to scale after winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate

The afternoon sped by and before too long it was time for the feature, the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Either it was the late afternoon sun or my camera inadvertently changed its setting, but my photos of the Blue Diamond contestants are somewhat dark.  I did however, manage to get a few good photos of the eventual winner Pride of Dubai. It was not all that surprising that he won. He had the services of top jockey Damian Browne who rode Earthquake to victory in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes and impressed with his run in the colts Blue Diamond Prelude only narrowly losing to Of The Brave.

Fontiton, the warm favourite, was disappointing, failing to fire in the finish. Subsequently it was revealed that she was slightly lame after the race with bone chips in her off front fetlock, and will be spelled until Spring.

100/1 outsider Reemah almost stole the race, but just missed catching Pride of Dubai losing out by a neck. Lake Geneva ran third.

Pride of Dubai in the mounting yard

Blue Diamond finish – Pride of Dubai leads down the straight, Reemah in hot pursuit

I headed for home after the Blue Diamond Stakes – it had been a long afternoon. I was disappointed with the results as far as my favourites were concerned, but at least public transport was trouble free this time.

In Sydney, Contributor won the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes with Hartnell running second and He’s Your Man took third spot.

And on Friday night at Moonee Valley, Sistonic had her colours lowered, failing to run a place in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes. She engaged in a speed battle with Eloping in the early stages of the race and ran out of steam in the straight. 100/1 shot Written Dash won the bikkies.

Next Saturday it’s back to Flemington for the Group 1 Australian Guineas. Through some bizarre programming, the Group 1 Randwick Guineas will be run on the same day, splitting the fields and no doubt weakening them as well.

Celebrating the Year of the Horse at Caulfield

Nayeli after winning the Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield 1/2/14

With the first Group One on the autumn racing season scheduled to run next Saturday, I thought I would get into the spirit early, so attended the race meeting at Caulfield last Saturday. The race card was quite interesting with a couple of  Group Three races on the program, these being the Chairman’s Stakes for two year olds and the Manfred Stakes for three year olds, so I made sure I arrived at the course in time to watch them.

As Melbourne Racing Club has in their dubious wisdom decided to start the races at a later time than normal, I could take my time getting there. It was a hot and sunny day, and felt much hotter than the low
30°C temperature recorded.

I arrived in plenty of time to watch the running of the Chairman’s Stakes, where the Gai Waterhouse trained filly Nayeli started as hot favourite.  She’d had one win for one start, and proved she was a cut above the other contestants winning the Chairman’s Stakes by two and half lengths from Bugatty. Her name means “I Love You” in ancient Mayan.

Bugatty in the parade ring


Nayeli on her way to the mounting yard.

Chairman’s Stakes finish, just past the winning post

Gai Waterhouse managed to get two winners last Saturday at Caulfield, as did Darren Weir, so it would have been canny to back runners by the aforementioned trainers. Alas I didn’t and my bets were all unsuccessful.

The next race (Race 5) on the cards was the Ian Miller Handicap, a race over 1600 metres for fillies and mares. I had my money on Spellrocker, who led for most of the race only to be overtaken in the straight by the Darren Weir trained Five All, followed by Text’n Hurley and Are There Any who finished second and third, relegating Spellrocker to fourth place.

Race 5 down the straight – Spellrocker (rails) is being over taken by Five All on her outside.

Race 6 was the most interesting race on the program. The Manfred Stakes is for three year olds and run over 1200 metres and this year’s edition had attracted a classy field that included Prince Harada, Fast N Rocking, and Waterhouse colt Bull Point. Prince Harada was out to emulate his sire Haradasun who won this race in 2007, and started warm favourite. He’s grown since I last saw him, and looks a magnificent specimen of horseflesh.  He was disappointing however, fading in the straight to finish fourth. Bull Point was the victor beating Worth A Ransom by 1½ lengths with The Quarterback running third.

Race 6 – just past the winning post – Bull Point leads

Prince Harada (rail) and Bull Point returning to scale

I stayed for Race 7 as I was interested in seeing highly regarded colt Lord Of The Sky who was on a winning streak up to Saturday, having won his previous three starts by good margins.  I caught up with him in his stall being saddled up for the W J Adams Stakes (1000 metres).

Lord Of The Sky in his stall – he appeared to be a placid young fellow

Lord Of The Sky started short priced favourite, but after being slow away, he never really fired and finished last. Shamal Wind lived up to her name flying like the proverbial to snatch victory on the line from General Truce with Brilliant Bisque running third.

Race 7 finish down the straight – General Truce leads, Shamal Wind is outside Brilliant Bisque (green silks, gold cap)

Unfortunately Kiss A Rose collapsed and died in the mounting yard after the race, which would have been distressing to see. But I was heading to station by that time so was spared witnessing the tragedy. The cause of her death is unknown, but Racing Victoria have said it was not heat related. 

Next Saturday's races at Caulfield kick off the Melbourne summer/autumn racing  season with the Group One C F Orr Stakes being the feature race. Equally mouth watering are the two Blue Diamond Preludes, where we will get to see the current first and second favourites for the Blue Diamond Stakes in action. Rubick who impressed in his first start a couple of weeks ago, will be facing off with the interesting Nostradamus in the colts Prelude, and Earthquake who also won her first race in style back in November last year will be starring in the fillies Prelude.

Currently the forecast for next Saturday looks dire – a hot 38°C is predicted. I sincerely hope it does not come true, but I’ll attend anyway and try and keep cool, and cross fingers for horse health and safety.