Beau & Dosh–Australia Day at Caulfield

General Beau wins the colts Blue Diamond Preview

The weather could have been better, but it was a pleasant change of scene to be back trackside at the races yesterday.

It has been almost a year since I last attended the races, so having renewed my Melbourne Racing Club Casual Membership I was able to attend yesterday’s races at Caulfield, which featured the two Blue Diamond Previews, one for the boys and one for the girls.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions on the number of spectators at the track,  one had to register to attend in advance. Being a casual member the only area option available was the Front Lawn, which suited me fine as it’s where I would choose to be normally.

There were restrictions on other areas of the track, such as the stalls, parade rings and mounting yard fence. But overall, the front lawn was a spacious area to hang  out in as there wasn’t that much of a crowd. By pretending to be media photographers we managed to get next to the fence for photo practice. I’m glad I took my stool.

My photographer friends Rebecca and George were also in attendance yesterday, so it was great to catch up with them after almost a year since we last met in person.

Last year the Blue Diamond Previews were won by  Hanseatic (colts & geldings BD Preview) and A Beautiful Night won the fillies version. Hanseatic went on to win the Blue Diamond Prelude on Orr Stakes Day, and finished second to Tagaloa in the Blue Diamond Stakes.  A Beautiful Night faded into insignificance thereafter, finishing unplaced in her next four races.

The winners yesterday were quite impressive, General Beau, after racing in third or fourth for most of the race, stormed to the finish line to win by ½ length from Extreme Warrior and Gulf of Suez.

General Beau on his way to the barriers

Extreme Warrior on his way to the barriers

The wonderfully named Dosh (Rich Enuff / Raise Up) led the fillies Blue Diamond Preview field from the start and was strong to the finish, successfully holding off challengers Tayla’s Moment and hot favourite Frost Flowers, to win by by ½ length

Dosh holds off a challenge from Frost Flowers as they approach the finish line

Dosh in the mounting yard

As previously mentioned the weather was pretty awful, rainy at first, though clearing as the afternoon progressed.

Not that it was important as I didn’t tarry long after the Blue Diamond Previews had been run, the rest of the race card being of not much interest.

Next Saturday I hope to attend Caulfield again where the feature races are the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes and Manfred Stakes. They look very interesting with potential stars of the turf such as class filly Enthaar and 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa having accepted to run.

Again the weather is forecast to be showery, but cross fingers for some sunshine as well.

The first Group 1 race of Melbourne’s Autumn Carnival is the Orr Stakes in a little over a week on 6 February, so the racing from now on will be more exciting and I’ll hopefully get to see some of it in person.

Blue Diamond Stakes Day Review

Tagaloa holds off Hanseatic to win the Blue Diamond Stakes

There has been much commentary since Saturday regarding the track bias at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, which favoured on pace runners. And indeed watching the racing action, the winners of the four races I witnessed either led from the start or were close to the leader during the race. It was a disastrous day for favourites.

I took my time getting to Caulfield arriving just before race 4, the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes for mares over 1400 metres. Pretty grey mare Greysful Glamour led from the start and was never headed, winning by over a length from Bam’s On Fire and favourite Spanish Reef.

Greysful Glamour burns down the straight with Bam’s On Fire in hot pursuit

Greysful Glamour on her way to the barriers

La Tene in the Angus Armanesco Stakes (race 5) raced mid field on the fence, then broke through to overtake the leaders to win by a nose from Lady Lupino.

La Tene & Lady Lupino fight out the finish

Race 6 was the first of the Group 1 events, the Futurity Stakes where it was expected that Kolding, Super Seth and Melody Belle would feature prominently.  The unfancied Streets of Avalon who hadn’t won for yonks,  took the lead shortly after the start and held off a challenge from Super Seth to win his first Group 1 race, and a chance to run in the All Star Mile. Kolding was a major disappointment, apparently not handling the Melbourne way of going, and finished fifth. Melody Belle ran a meritorious third.

Streets of Avalon holds off Super Seth to win the Futurity Stakes

Hanseatic was the warm favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes and was aiming to become the first horse to win the Blue Diamond Preview/Prelude and Blue Diamond Stakes since Sepoy in 2011. As was the pattern of the day he did not succeed, beaten narrowly by the 26/1 shot Tagaloa, though he tried hard to overtake him. Personal stormed from the back of the field to run third.

Tagaloa parades in the mounting yard after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes

Hanseatic playing up as he heads for the barriers

I did not stay for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.  Speedy mare Pippie led all the way to win from Zoutori and Crystal Dreamer. The trifecta paid almost $6,500.

There are only three more Saturdays of Group racing in Melbourne and next week features the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington. Mystic Journey won it last year, but this year promises to be super special with Alligator Blood and Catalyst set to resume their rivalry. They will be challenged by Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express and the highly regarded West Australian Superstorm, among others.

The weather is expected to be similar to last Saturday, mild and sunny.

Blue Diamond Stakes Day 2020

Hanseatic – favourite for the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes

The jewel in the crown of Caulfield’s autumn race program, Blue Diamond Stakes Day is always worth attending. Not only do you get to watch the babies vying for riches in the Blue Diamond Stakes, but there are two other tasty Group 1 events on the card.

This year’s Autumn racing season has so far been constantly interesting with a bunch of new and exciting horses hitting the track, as witnessed last week at Flemington. This coming Saturday there will be more of the same with a great field of acceptors in each of the feature events.

A full field of 16 runners has accepted for the Blue Diamond Stakes, comprising 7 colts and 9 fillies. Having watched the Blue Diamond Previews and Preludes I have some grasp of who are likely to be in the finish.

Of the colts, Hanseatic stands out, being the unbeaten winner of both the Colts Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude.  Can he emulate Sepoy and win the Blue Diamond Stakes as well? 

He faces stiff competition from fellow colt Rulership who he just beat in the Blue Diamond Prelude, but several very smart fillies could spoil his party, such as Magic Millions Classic winner Away Game,  A Beautiful Night,winner of the fillies BD Preview, Letzbeglam who was impressive winning the fillies BD Prelude at her last start.  Muntaseera and Arayaaf who respectively ran second in the BD Prelude and Chairman’s Stakes could also be in the finish.

The first of the Group 1 races on the program is the Futurity Stakes (1400 metres) which has a great field that includes Epsom and Golden Eagle winner Kolding, star New Zealand mare Melody Belle and Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth along with the tried and true Black Heart Bart and Cape of Good Hope.

A huge field of 18 runners will be contesting the Oakleigh Plate, a sprint over 1100 metres. I don’t think I’ll be staying at the track for it, but top chances are Bivouac, Faatinah and the three year old Anaheed and Free of Debt.

The weather tomorrow is forecast to be cool and sunny as a change from last week.

Orr Stakes Express

Alabama Express returning to scale after winning the Group 1 Orr Stakes

Due to the positively awful weather I chose not to attend the first Saturday meeting of February at Caulfield, much as I would have liked to go, so was disappointed not to see Super Seth take out the Manfred Stakes in impressive fashion. I did however watch the races on my computer, and seeing the rain bucketing down, was thankful to be home and dry.

The weather last Saturday was warm and sunny, though a stiff breeze made it somewhat less than perfect, but it was the first Group 1 meeting of the new Autumn racing season and one not to miss.

Trains thankfully were back on track, so it took less time to reach Caulfield and I arrived in plenty of time to see the first of the Blue Diamond Preludes, the Group 2 Fillies Prelude run over 1100 metres.

As the field was heading out to the starting gates, one filly, Clean Machine, ditched her jockey, Luke Nolen, and took off back to the mounting yard. She was easily caught and guided out once more without drama. I assume a slipped saddle caused her to rear as I noticed she was resaddled at the barriers.

The race itself ended in 30/1 shot Letzbeglam running away with the prize, winning by over 2 lengths from Muntaseera and Geist. Starting favourite was Fresh who finished last.

With a swish of her tail Letzbeglam takes off down the straight

It was different story in the colts and geldings  Blue Diamond Prelude with second favourite Rulership looking the winner up until the last minute when Hanseatic bolted from the tail of the field to snatch victory on the line.  Raithlin finished third.

Rulership & Raithlin fight it out down the straight

Hanseatic charges into the picture to overtake Rulership

The next three races on the card were won by favourites, the first of these being the Group 2 Autumn Stakes, a race for three year old's over 1400 metres. Microphone who won the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes last year and ran second to Kiamichi in the 2019 Golden Slipper was the class colt in the race and the natural favourite.  He looked at one stage as if he couldn’t win, but rallied and tackled the leader Banquo to win by a narrow margin. Adelaide Ace ran a close third.

Microphone about to overtake Banquo as they approach the finish line

Microphone on his way to the barriers

Race 6, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes was up next. A sprint over 1100 metres it has been won in the past by the likes of Chautauqua, Lankan Rupee, and Nature Strip last year. The favourite was three year old filly Anaheed, who romped in to win by 1¼ lengths from Bold Star and All Too Royal.

Anaheed in full flight down the straight

The feature race was of course the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes, scheduled to run as Race 8 at 4.50pm, so the Group 3 Carlyon Cup was next up.  A race over 1600 metres, Miss Siska, a half sister to Black Caviar’s great rival Hay List, was the favourite.

She delivered in spades, and after racing three wide for most of the race, won by 1¼ lengths from Odeon  and Guizot.

Miss Siska flashes down the straight

Odeon leads the rest of the field behind Miss Siska

Miss Siska on her way to the barriers

Odeon on his way to the barriers

Guizot on his way to the barriers

It had been a long afternoon so it was a relief when the Orr Stakes field finally filed out onto the track.

As my photos of some of the contenders turned out rather well here is a selection.

Avilius

Begood Toya Mother

Hey Doc

Ringerdingding

Scales of Justice

So Si Bon

Former Western Australian horse Scales of Justice started as favourite, but ended up unplaced. Hey Doc and Begood Toya Mother fought out the lead for most of the race, then were swamped by Alabama Express who had been racing handy in fourth place and sailed past to win by a neck from the fast finishing Fierce Impact and Kings Will Dream.

Alabama Express takes the lead

Alabama Express in full flight down the straight

Alabama Express was the sole three year old in the field, so he did have a weight advantage. A son of Redoute’s Choice, he emulated his sire who won the C.F. Orr Stakes at the age of three 20 years ago in 2000.

I can’t say I’ve ever taken much notice of Alabama Express and obviously the punters didn’t give him a chance as he paid a generous double figure dividend.

Next Saturday the racing is at Flemington for the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, starring Nature Strip. Also on the card is the C S Hayes Stakes which looks like it could be a doozy of a race with the exciting prospect of Alligator Blood taking on top New Zealand colt Catalyst and possibly Super Seth as well.

Back at the Track – Blue Diamond Previews

Hanseatic on his way to winning the Colts & Geldings Blue Diamond Preview

With the CF Orr Stakes, the first Group 1 of the 2020 Autumn Racing Carnival, a little less than a fortnight hence,  it was pleasant to resume my Saturday afternoons at the races.

Though not a particularly riveting meeting, I always take an interest in the early build up races to the Blue Diamond Stakes, and at Caulfield last Saturday the two Blue Diamond Previews were the must see events.

My racing photographer friends Rebecca and George, also had the same idea, so it was pleasant to catch up with them again.

Despite the transport disruptions with trains to Caulfield being replaced by buses, it didn’t take me all that long to get there, an express bus from Flinders Street reaching Caulfield in a mere 20 minutes.

So I was at the track in plenty of time to see the first of the Previews and even had time to cruise through the stalls area first.

Hanseatic was highly fancied for the boys Preview and he was being accoutred  in his stall as I passed.

Hanseatic in his stall

Also in her stall was the eventual winner of the fillies Preview, A Beautiful Night, though she looked a trifle peeved to be there.

A Beautiful Night in her stall

It being early in the autumn racing season, there wasn’t much of a crowd, so it was easy to get a spot on the fence to photograph the races. I had of course taken along my step, doubly handy as the rail was out by 6 metres.

Hanseatic was most impressive winning the Colts Blue Diamond Preview, racing wide for most of the race then taking off shortly after the turn into the straight to blitz the field and win by 2½ lengths from Glenfiddich with Fixated running third a further 2 lengths in arrears.

Hanseatic whizzes past Glenfiddich in the straight

Glenfiddich running second

Fixated on his way to the barriers

Fresh was the warm favourite for the fillies Blue Diamond Preview, but she was outrun by A Beautiful Night who led from the start to win narrowly from the fast finishing Fresh. Unstoppabelle finished third two lengths behind.

A Beautiful Night in full flight down the straight

Fresh on her way to the barriers

Unstoppabelle on her way to the barriers

I only stayed for one more race, the 1400 metre the Lamaro’s Hotel Sth Melbourne Handicap and it resulted in a wall of horses hitting the post at the same time.  Zero Doubt got the nod from Wedgetail and race favourite Wilmont Pass.

Race 5 finish – Zero Doubt is on the rail, Wedgetail is outside and Wilmont Pass is the centre

The afternoon was warm and sunny, quite a change from my last race outing on Mackinnon Stakes Day last Spring where it was somewhat inclement.

It was worth attending for the two Diamond Previews, though next week promises to be more interesting as the better performed runners start emerging to begin their Autumn campaigns. Looking at the nominations, I hope to see the likes of Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth and others such as Loving Gaby, I Am Immortal, and Sunlight’s little sister Sisstar.