Champions Stakes Day at Flemington

As the sign above the gate to the Mounting Yard proclaimed, it was Champion’s Stakes Day at Flemington, the last day of the Flemington Melbourne Cup mini carnival, so forth I went last Saturday to catch the action.

There were three Group 1 races on the card, a sprint – the Champions Sprint, a race over 1600 metres dubbed the Champions Mile and the Champions Stakes, run over 2000 metres.

Quality fields had accepted on the day, making it worth attending.

I was particularly interested in seeing Imperatriz, the super New Zealand mare, running in the sprint.

It was a coolish kind of day, a chill wind spoiling the afternoon somewhat despite the bright sunshine.

As the Group 1 races were scheduled for mid to late afternoon, I took my time getting to Flemington, arriving around 2.00 pm, just before the running of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

I watched the race from a distance and noted that Muramasa was the winner with Ladies Man running second ahead of Duke de Sessa.

From there I made my way up to the stalls area to see who had arrived and came across several of the Group 1  runners, such as Imperatriz.

Imperatriz

Zaaki

Alligator Blood

Pride of Jenni

Espiona

It was a well patronised race meeting, but not that hard to get through the crowd of scantily dressed girls to my preferred spot on the fence, from where I managed some photo practice in Race 5, the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes, where a field of mares were set to run the 2000 metres.

Deny Knowledge led from the start to the finish and won narrowly from Osmose and Amokura.

Deny Knowledge prevails over Osmose and Amokura

The next race was the first of the Group 1  events, this being the Champions Sprint where Imperatriz won her fifth Group 1 in succession, defeating a classy field. Buenes Noches ran second ahead of In Secret and Espiona finished fourth.

As the field raced down the centre of the track fairly close to the outer rail it is always difficult to get clear photos of the finish. Fortunately I clicked at the right time and snapped Imperatriz in shot.

Imperatriz wins the Champions Sprint

Imperatriz returns to scale

The next two races resulted in unexpected long shot winners, the Champions Mile being won by Pride of Jenni who led from the start and was never challenged. Mr Brightside finished second ahead of Alligator Blood.

Pride of Jenni zooms up the straight to win the Champions Mile

The placegetters – Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood & Fangirl

The Chris Waller trained Atishu triumphed in the Champions Stakes, easily beating Duais by almost two lengths with Young Werther running third.

Atishu wins the Champions Stakes

Atishu on her way to the barriers

Duais on her way to the barriers

Young Werther on his way to the barriers

I didn’t stay for the final race, heading home directly after the Champions Stakes.

Next week Caulfield host the final Melbourne Group 1 races of the Spring Racing season, the Thousand Guineas and the Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Secret Girl Power–Super Saturday Review

In Secret wins the 2023 Newmarket Handicap

When I set out to catch a train to Flemington, I was hoping to get there in time to watch Race 3,  the Group 2, Kewney Stakes, but I missed it. It was won by Revolutionary Miss.

Rather than head for my usual spot on the western lawn, I decided to check out the stalls area first and get some photos of the Newmarket Handicap contenders, though I only came across a few.

I Wish I Win – the Newmarket starting favourite

Last year’s Newmarket winner Roch ’N’ Horse

2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare was also present, set to run in the Australian Cup Prelude later in the afternoon.

Vow and Declare

Whilst I was dilly dallying in the stalls area, I missed getting back  to my usual spot to photograph the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes. I did however manage to watch the field charging down the straight and noticed the two riderless horses, though mercifully missed the falls that resulted in jockeys Craig Williams and Jamie Kah being transported to hospital. Both horses, Flyball and Dubenenko, were alright thank goodness.

This alarming incident delayed proceedings for the rest of the afternoon, so the next race, the Group 2  Matron Stakes was run half an hour after its scheduled start.

By the rime it was run I had managed to get to my favourite spot and was able to get photos of the action.

Sirileo Miss wins the Matron Stakes

Sirileo Miss led from start and won by over three lengths from Excelida and Barb Raider.

Sirileo Miss on her way to the barriers

Excelida (checks) and Barb Raider fill the placings

It was a pleasant sunny day trackside, so not that onerous to kill time between the rescheduled races, and there wasn’t much of crowd present either.

Next up was the Australian Cup Prelude, run over 2000 metres.

Right You Are started as favourite and prevailed, holding off Vow and Declare to win by over a length. Emissary ran third.

Right You Are wins the Australian Cup Prelude from Vow and Declare

Right You Are on his way to barriers

Vow and Declare on his way to the barriers

Emissary on his way to the barriers

The feature Newmarket Handicap was next up. It had attracted a super field of classy sprinters. I Wish I Win started as favourite, but sole three year old filly In Secret thrashed the field to win convincingly from Lofty Strike with I Wish I Win running third.

Luckily, In Secret raced down the centre of the track, so I was able to get some good photos of her winning the race.

Another shot of In Secret winning the Newmarket Handicap

Lofty Strike runs second

In Secret returns to scale

By this time, what with the delay caused by the falls in Race 4, it was after 5.00pm, so I called it quits and headed for the station and home.

It’s interesting that the two recent Flemington Group 1 sprint races were won by three year old fillies, no doubt in part due to the light weight they were allotted to carry.

Next Saturday I’m heading to Moonee Valley for the running of the All Star Mile, but I will be returning to Flemington for Australian Cup Day  on 25th March.

Derby Day 2022

Derby finish – Manzoice (blue silks) n his way to winning the Victoria Derby

The last time I attended the Derby meeting was in 2019 and the weather was shocking – heavy rain and a heavy track. The feature event was won by Warning at big odds.

This year the weather was not as bad, though throughout the afternoon rain showers had the attendees running for cover several times.

My arrival at Flemington coincided with the running of the third race, the Group 3  Rising Fast Stakes , but sad to say I missed it, being held up entering the course,. This was due to the newfangled mobile ticketing that I was obliged to accept when paying for my ticket on Ticketmaster. The trouble was that the ticket would not open in the Ticketmaster App on my phone at Flemington – quelle horreur!

All was not lost as I managed to get a printed ticket at the Ticketmaster booth at the entrance and could eventually enter.

The race had been run and won – I was pleased to note – by Argentia.

Argentia returns to scale in the mounting yard after winning the Rising Fast Stakes

I’ve been to many Derby Days in the past and they’ve all been jam packed. This year there were not as many people, no doubt due to the iffy weather. There were no patrons spread out on the grass, which made it easy to get around.

I ended up spending most the afternoon close to my favourite spot just past the clock tower on the public lawn

The atmosphere was predominantly cheerful and friendly.

Race 4 was the Group 2 Wakeful Stake, for three year old fillies run over 2000 metres.

Star jockey James McDonald rode four winners at Flemington on Saturday and the winner of the Wakeful Stakes, Zennzella, was the second of them.

She and Pavitra fought out the finish  down the straight with Zennzella prevailing by a narrow margin. As Time Goes By ran third, two lengths behind.

Zennzella (blue spots) and Pavitra hit the line together

Zennzella on her way to the barriers

Pavitra returns to scale

As Time Goes By on her way to the barriers

Run over 1400 metres, the Group 3 Linlithgow Stakes resulted in another win for James McDonald who rode Old Flame to victory over Poland and Ironclad in the rain.

Old Flame defeats Poland at the finishing post

The first of the Group 1 events was up next. This was the Coolmore Stud Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres.

Again James McDonald was successful aboard blueblood Godolphin filly In Secret, who registered an impressive 2  length win over C’est Magique and Buenes Noches.

In Secret wins the Coolmore Stud Stakes

In Secret returns to scale

The feature race of the day was of course the Victoria Derby, a race for young stayers over 2500 metres.

James McDonald’s mount Sharp ‘n Smart started as favourite, but he was upstaged by the Chris Waller trained Manzoice who came in at big odds and caused a boilover result. Nothing new there, as the Victoria Derby often ends up in a long shot winner. 100/1 shot Aberfeldie Boy ran third.

Manzoice returns to scale

A race over 1600 metres, the Empire Rose Stakes was the final Group 1 event of the afternoon. The last time I saw it 2019 star New Zealand mare Melody Belle won it in torrential rain.

In this year’s edition, Icebath ran from the back of the large field,  sneaking along the rail to seize the lead close to the finish line and hold on to win narrowly from Mirra Vision with Excelida running third.

Icebath wins the Empire Rose Stakes

Icebath dumped her rider, Craig Williams, shortly after the finish, but registered a long overdue first Group 1 victory.

I headed for the station and home after the Empire Rose Stakes, having enjoyed a pleasant, if rather damp afternoon at the races.

Tomorrow is the Melbourne Cup.  I haven’t a clue as to who the winner will be, but am glad I will not be there to witness it. The weather is predicted to be miserable – cold and wet.

I will however be returning to Flemington next Saturday for Champion Stakes Day, and hope my mobile ticket works this time.