Cox Plate 2020

2019 Cox Plate – Lys Gracieux overtakes Castelvecchio in the straight

Despite Covid 19 restrictions being eased in Melbourne, the Cox Plate meeting will be run without public attendance. I’d love to be there at my favourite race, but I’ll just have to watch it on television as has been the case all through the Spring Racing Carnival.

The weather is forecast to be pretty dire, so I’ll probably be glad not to put up with cold and wet conditions similar to last year’s Cox Plate.

A full field of 14 runners will be contesting the event this year and a likely winner does not stand out, though there are several with the credentials to take the prize.

The last five Cox Plates were won by a mare, admittedly the great Winx being victorious in four of them with Japanese mare Lys Gracieux winning the 2019 edition.

Four mares are part of the field this year, notably Arcadia Queen and Probabeel who are last start winners and ooze class.

Of the male contingent Kolding and Russian Camelot are of the most interest, though there are question marks over both of them. Kolding has been in great form in Sydney winning the Group 1 George Main Stakes and Group 2 Hill stakes at his last two starts. Those two victories were on good tracks and his record on soft tracks is not that good. Also, the last time he raced in Melbourne, it was reported he didn’t handle the Melbourne way of going -  anti clockwise vs clockwise as in Sydney.

Russian Camelot was being hailed as a potential champion of the Spring Racing Carnival until his defeat in the Caulfield Stakes by Arcadia Queen, so with the bubble burst at least he’ll start at longer odds. He’s also drawn the widest barrier which may be either a blessing or a curse.

There are several International runners Aspetar, Magic Wand (now scratched) and Armory who all have good form in Europe. Magic Wand ran fourth in last year’s Cox Plate and won the Mackinnon Stakes on the last day of the 2019 Spring carnival.

The oldest horse in the race is Humidor (now 8 years old) and the youngest is Jameka’s little brother Grandslam, a three year old colt who, like 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award, ran third in the Caulfield Guineas at his last start.

Humidor finished a narrow second to Winx in the 2017 Cox Plate and ran third in her historic fourth in 2018. He recently won the Group 2 Feehan Stakes and  was placed behind Russian Camelot in the Underwood Stakes and ran third in the Caulfield Stakes. He loves Moonee Valley and could well spring a surprise like Fields of Omagh did in 2006.

As for Grandslam, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that he could win as Shamus Award did in 2013.

Whatever the outcome, it will be as usual fascinating to watch.

Tonight is the Group 1  Manikato Stakes where a field of 11 will be vying for Group 1 glory in the historic sprint. Top chances are Trekking, Dirty Work, Pippie and Diamond Effort.

Oh, and it’s AFL Grand Final day on Saturday, though it is being played at night so as not to clash with the Cox Plate, and in Brisbane at the Gabba.

Star Power–Super Saturday Review

Fifty Stars returns to scale after winning the Australian Cup

Travelling on public transport these days seems like taking your life in your hands what with the spread of the corona virus causing generalised panic.

Though I’m not panicking I do however feel a tad apprehensive when taking a train or tram and try to avoid sitting too close to anyone.

This was not enough to discourage me from attending Super Saturday at Flemington last weekend.

It was a pleasant day, warm and occasionally sunny, a perfect day to be out in the open air trackside.

As trains to Flemington were running all afternoon, I took my time getting there, arriving before the fourth race on the program and staying until after the Australian Cup.

The light was lovely for photography, but the inside rail was out by 8 metres making it difficult to get rail free shots even standing on my step.

Race 4 was the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy, for fillies and mares, run over 1600 metres.

Paint The Town Two, a 26/1 shot won the bickies from Bam’s On Fire and Fidelia.

Paint The Town Two & Bam’s On Fire hit the line together

Paint The Town Two on her way to the barriers

The feature races were the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, programmed as races 6 and 8.

Wild Planet was hot favourite for Race 5, the Listed March Stakes, a race over 1400 metres.  Racing on the pace in third spot, Wild Planet won easily by a length from race leader Sirius Suspect with 2019 South Australian Oaks winner Princess Jenni running third, three lengths behind.

Wild Planet overtakes Sirius Suspect as they charge to the finish line.

Wild Planet returns to scale

As the Newmarket Handicap was up next, I transferred myself and step to the mounting yard fence to watch the big screen action from Randwick where the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes was about to run. New Zealander The Bostonian won from Savatiano and Mr Sea Wolf.

It was ripper field for the Newmarket, hard to pick the winner out of 11 runners. Three year old Exceedance was the starting favourite, but another three year old colt, Bivouac, ended up the outstanding winner.

Here are some of the main runners parading in the mounting yard.

Bivouac

Exceedance

Gytrash

Loving Gaby

The Inevitable

Libertini

As is mostly the case at Flemington with sprints down the straight, it is hard to get photos of the finish if the field splits. This time they raced in a bunch down the middle of the track towards the grandstand side.

Bivouac raced near the lead then charged at the 200 mark to win by 2½ lengths from Loving Gaby. Gytrash finished third.

Glen Boss celebrates Bivouac’s win in the Newmarket Handicap

Bivouac returns to scale

Sandwiched between the Newmarket and Australian Cup was the Kewney Stakes, a Group 2 race for three year old fillies over 1400 metres. Rubisaki started as favourite and didn’t disappoint her backers winning by 1¼ lengths from Pretty Brazen and Fascino.

Rubisaki (red cap)  wins the Kewney Stakes from Pretty Brazen

Rubisaki on her way to the barriers

With the Australian Cup impending I made my way back to the mounting yard fence. The roses along the straight were blooming profusely, perfectly timed as usual for Flemington’s big Autumn finale.

Flemington roses – they have to be seen to be believed

The other Sydney Group 1 race, the Randwick Guineas was played on the big screen after the National Anthem was sung. Shadow Hero beat Microphone, and Brandenburg ran third.

Soon enough the Australian Cup field were parading in the mounting yard, then making their way to the starting gates.

Avilius – the favourite in the mounting yard

Fifty Stars

Regal Power – ran second

Southern France – Irish Import

Suzuka Devious – Japanese horse

Vow and Declare – 2019 Melbourne Cup winner – ran third

Miss Siska – the sole mare in the race

As with the Newmarket Handicap, the field for the Australian Cup raced down the centre of the straight. Fifty Stars raced wide at the back of the field then charged to win on the line, a half length in front of West Australian horse Regal Power with Vow and Declare close behind, running third.

Australian Cup finish – Fifty Stars, Regal Power & Vow and Declare in a line.

Normally, the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival would have ended last Saturday, but next Saturday at Caulfield is the All Star Mile, where a classy field has accepted to run, so it’s a bonus for us Melbourne racing fans.

Alligator Blood is the current favourite, but he faces a really tough field, several multiple Group 1 winners such as Melody Belle, Kolding and Fierce Impact will really test his mettle.

Whatever eventuates, it looks a fascinating race, not to be missed.

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.