Happy Trails & Tribulations – Turnbull Stakes Review

Happy Trails returning to the mounting yard after winning the Turnbull Stakes

No doubt there was much to celebrate in the Happy Trails camp after the bargain basement gelding pipped the favourite, Puissance de Lune, at the post in the Turnbull Stakes. And I’m sure there was tribulation aplenty among the losers, particularly for Fiorente and Super Cool connections. I was disappointed that Super Cool was unplaced and somewhat chagrined that Puissance de Lune was once again denied his first Group One on the line.  But as they say, that’s racing.

Weatherwise, it couldn’t have been a better day for spending time at the track, with the sun blazing down all afternoon, after a rather uninspiring overcast morning. The only drawback was the strong wind buffeting the wide open spaces of Flemington racecourse.

The famous Flemington roses are not quite out, no doubt perfectly timed to bloom during the four big days of the VRC Spring Racing Carnival. However, pretty blossoming trees lined the alley that leads to the back area of the stalls…

…where I wandered as usual to catch the equine stars in their stalls or perambulating in the Parade Ring.

I was delighted to see that old favourite, Apache Cat had ventured from Living Legends to be present for the occasion. I even got to give him a pat this time.

Apache Cat hanging out in the stalls area

Whilst in the area I took a few photos of the Turnbull contestants

 
Dear Demi in her stall

Fiorente in the parade ring

Hawkspur in his stall – he has an interesting white crescent  moon on his forehead.

Hawkspur’s stablemate Royal Descent in her stall

Super Cool in the Parade Ring

Knowing how unreliable the form is betting on horses at Flemington, I refrained from wagering most of the afternoon and only outlaid on the Turnbull Stakes on my two favourites, Super Cool and Puissance de Lune, though I did watch several races before the feature event out of interest.

Race 5 was the listed Tavern Stakes for four year olds and up over 1410 metres.  It was won by Molto Bene from British General and Goldslick.

Molto Bene returns to scale after winning the Tavern Stakes

The next race on the cards was The Bart Cummings, one for stayers over 2520 metres, and of interest due to the general curiosity on how Sea Moon would go. He finally won, but lost out to an upheld protest from the rider of the second horse Araldo. Gotta Take Care ran third.

Sea Moon returns to the mounting yard after technically winning The Bart Cummings

The Edward Manifold Stakes – race 7 on the card - was the first of the Group races to be run. It’s a Group Two race for three year old fillies run over 1610 metres.  Politeness was the hot favourite, but she ended up unplaced. Se Sauver won it from Star Fashion with Solicit taking out third place – all were at double figure odds.

Se Sauver returning to scale after winning the Edward Manifold Stakes

Race 8 was the one we’d spent all afternoon waiting for, so I grabbed myself a good possie on the mounting yard fence to see the parade…

Saddlecloth no 1 – Manighar

 
Saddle cloth no 16 – Royal Descent

Saddle cloth no 14 – Dear Demi

…then moved to the side to see the field file out onto the track.

Puissance de Lune and Glen Boss

Fiorente and Nash Rawiller

Happy Trails and Dwayne Dunn

Jet Away and Daniel Moor

Silent Achiever and Stephen Arnold

Glencadam Gold and Vlad Duric

It was somewhat of a messily run race, with some horses being blocked for a run when it counted. When Puissance de Lune flashed past down the straight, those of us watching thought he had it won. But Happy Trails overtook him just before the post, and the glory was all his. Fawkner beat the rest of the field home into third place, though there was a protest raised against him from somewhere behind claiming interference.  The protest was eventually dismissed, so I could  collect my winnings on Puissance de Lune and head home.

Spending an afternoon at Flemington racecourse seems to be much more exhausting than at the other racetracks. When you consider that the straight is 1200 metres long, and you walk that distance several times during the afternoon, you probably clock up a couple of miles.

I’m still tossing up whether I’ll go to the Derby, but before that there is a fabulous race card at Caulfield next Saturday with three Group One races, featuring the Caulfield Guineas. I pre-booked a ticket a couple of months ago and saved $20.00 on the gate price, so I’ll be there with bells on.

Atlantic Jewel and It’s A Dundeel may clash again next Saturday in the Group One Caulfield Stakes. It’s A Dundeel is under an injury cloud with a hoof abscess, so he may not start. The news today was that the abscess had burst, so fingers crossed, I hope he recovers quickly.

Staying The Distance – The Turnbull Stakes

Super Cool at Caulfield 31 August 2013 prior to running in the Memsie Stakes

Coming up this Saturday are four Group One races, three at Randwick in Sydney, and one – the Turnbull Stakes – at Flemington.

You can tell it’s getting closer to the big three races, as the distance in the major races lengthens.  The Turnbull Stakes is contested over 2000 metres, and will hopefully offer some enlightenment as to likely chances in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, as well as the Cox Plate.

Thirty one horses were nominated for the Turnbull Stakes and a full field of 16 acceptances plus 4 emergencies has been assembled.  Several of my favourite black bookers are part of the field – Super Cool for one, and Puissance de Lune for another. There’s also a group of very classy Sydney horses – Hawkspur, Royal Descent, Glencadam Gold and Fiorente principally, and the usual suspects of Manighar, Happy Trails, Mr O’Ceirin and Dear Demi. One interesting runner is Jet Away, former UK stayer, now with the David Hayes stable.

I’m of course hoping that either Super Cool or Puissance de Lune will win, but whatever eventuates it is sure to be a fascinating race.

There’s quite a good support card at Flemington with 10 races in all scheduled. Fortunately the VRC has not followed Moonee Valley and Caulfield in running the feature event last, so the Turnbull Stakes will happen around 4.25pm.

At Randwick, Sydney’s spring racing carnival all happens on one day, with three Group One races on the cards.

First up you’ve got the Flight Stakes for three year old fillies run over 1600 metres.  A small field of 6 fillies will contest it. Multiple Group One winner Guelph appears to have the race at her mercy, having returned from her winter break in excellent form.  She did however lose out to Bound For Earth in her first up run in the Furious Stakes, though turned the tables on her in the Tea Rose Stakes at her last start. Arabian Gold ran third in the Tea Rose, so will probably be in the finish again, having excellent form in the autumn on slow tracks.

The Epsom Handicap is also run over 1600 metres, and is open to all comers. Looking at the form, there appear to be a number of top chances. The Chris Waller trained Boban, Riva de Lago and Sacred Falls are all sure to be in the picture somewhere. But Streama who won the George Main first up, is the one to beat. Gai Waterhouse has a high opinion of her runner Ecuador, and Rekindled Interest, who has been missing in action since running last in the 2012 Cox Plate, could have a chance judging by his close second at his first start this spring.

One for the stayers, the Metropolitan Handicap is run over 2400 metres, and has attracted a field of mostly imported stayers. Top picks are Moriarty, Julienas and Prince Cheri who all have won at their last starts.

There are any number of Group 2 and Group 3 races with really interesting fields at both race meetings, but I’m not going to analyse them here.

Of course I’ll be at Flemington on Saturday to witness the Turnbull Stakes and whatever else is happening, camera in hand to catch the atmosphere.

I’ve also entered once again in the Sky Racing’s Star Stable competition. It’s free to enter, challenging and great fun. Fingers crossed for my stable’s first round on Saturday.

The Moon & the Stars – The Underwood Stakes

Atlantic Jewel at Moonee Valley

Wow! The excitement is building as the spring racing carnival gathers momentum. Next Saturday Caulfield Race Course features the Group One Underwood Stakes. Run over 1800 metres it has attracted a 5 star field of acceptances, that includes glamour mare Atlantic Jewel aiming for her perfect 10.  Remember what a big deal it was when Black Caviar was gunning for the same number of wins in the 2011 Newmarket Handicap? No doubt if Atlantic Jewel prevails she will well and truly become the ruling star of the turf, if she is not one already.

Caulfield offers free entry on Saturday, so I’ll be there for sure. The feature race is the last on the cards again, but fortunately the most interesting races are towards the end of the day, so I’ll anticipate arriving around 2.00pm, so it won’t be such a long day as the Memsie Stakes meeting.

So, the Underwood Stakes…

My loyalties will be torn again, as along with Atlantic Jewel, other favourites Puissance de Lune and It’s A Dundeel will be contesting the race, making it a truly fascinating competition. Throw in Foreteller who pipped Puissance de Lune in the Makybe Diva Stakes, two more moons in Green Moon and Sea Moon, classy New Zealand mare Silent Achiever and old trooper Manighar and you certainly have a top class race. 

It is Atlantic Jewel’s hardest race yet. She will start as the favourite at short odds. It is rare to see horses of the calibre of Puissance de Lune and It’s A Dundeel at odds of 7/1 and 9/1 respectively, so it would be worth putting an each way wager on both, should Atlantic Jewel fall short of expectations, but I fervently hope that she prevails.

Before the feature event there are a two Group Three races and one Group Two.

The first of the Group 3 races is the Sporting Bet Sprint Series Heat 2 Stakes (1200 metres) for mares, which has a nice field of well performed runners. The Sydney mare Catkins has a good chance in this especially if the track is on the soft side. She ran a close second to Commanding Jewel in the Let’s Elope Stakes a fortnight ago. Her main rivals will be Octavia who has a good record at Caulfield, the Darren Weir trained Lake Sententia who has winning form from the autumn, and A Time For Julia who ran third in the Let’s Elope Stakes and has the Peter Moody/Luke Nolen/Caulfield factor in her favour.

The Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000 metres) has a full field (16) of stayers hoping to qualify for the Caulfield Cup. The winner of this race is guaranteed a start.  It’s a mix of locally bred stayers and imports, so it’s a hard race to call. On form, Brisbane Cup winner Quintessential looks the top pick, along with recent Heatherlie Handicap winner Ibicenco, and Pakal and Mr O’Ceirin who have run places earlier in the season. Also in with a chance is Let’s Make Adeal who ran fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

A group of talented fillies will be fighting out the Group Two Thousand Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres.  You’ve got Quezette Stakes winner Kiss A Rose, the highly regarded Gregers, The Huntress and last start winners Marianne, Politeness and Miracle to Me.

Another Group One race is featured in Sydney at Randwick. It’s the George Main Stakes run over 1600 metres. It has a top field that includes my old favourite Shoot Out who won this race last year.  He’s now seven years old so is getting on in years, but he loves Randwick and has won on the course four times.  He is however up against some really classy runners, such as Doncaster winner Sacred Falls, Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur and ATC Oaks winner Royal Descent, who are all his younger stable mates trained by Chris Waller. Also in the picture is super smart mare Streama  who could well be in the finish and Golden Rose runner up Dissident, a lightweight chance.

Familiar names have aroused my interest in the outcome of the last race on the cards at Randwick. The Shorts is a sprint over 1100 metres and has good old Hay List on his second run back from an injury enforced break. He didn’t do too badly last start, finishing fifth behind Decision Time in the Concorde Stakes, but I fear his best days are behind him, so don’t really see him winning this.  Also part of the field is Manawanui who hasn’t raced since finishing well back in the Doomben 10,000 in May. He was an extremely promising horse back in his younger days winning the 2011 Golden Rose, but he hasn’t won a race since Cox Plate day 2011.  The top pick in the race is Sessions who will most probably fight out the finish with Decision Time, Hidden Warrior and the interesting, but underrated Aeronautical.

So bring on Saturday, it’s exciting stuff. Hopefully the weather will continue to be pleasant and dry as has been case on each race day so far this spring.

Eclipse of the Moon – Makybe Diva Stakes Review

Foreteller returning to scale after narrowly winning the Makybe Diva Stakes

I must admit it was a kind of disappointing day at Flemington on Saturday, which coupled with the dire outcome of the Election, left me deflated at the end of the day.

Not one favourite won the entire race card, and even though I always try and get a bit of value for my bet even when betting favourites, none of my selections were in the money.

So on to my day at the races…

Through another fortunate coincidence of trains – who said Melbourne’s public transport doesn’t run on time – I arrived at the big track in time to witness the first race the Domain a sprint over 1000 metres for three year old fillies.  Metastasio was the favourite, but true to the results throughout the day, she was unplaced, and the prize money went to Miracle To Me.


Miracle To Me returns to scale after winning the Domain

Race 2 was one of the races I really wanted to see with new fave Cauthen being part of the field. Alas he was favourite, so the prevailing luck meant he finished well back, over racing at the beginning then dropping out, and has been since reported to have been suffering from the “thumps” (horse hiccups). Long John, who ran third to Cauthen in the HDF McNeil Stakes was avenged and won well from Weinholt and San Diego.

 
Cauthen on his way to the track from the mounting yard, looking bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Long John in the winners rug after his victory in the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes

After that I decided to go and check out the stalls area and see Puissance de Lune. He’s easily recognised by his colour and pretty face.

He was being walked in the ring at the centre of stalls area.

Puissance de Lune in the walking ring

I saw Sea Moon there as well


Sea Moon in the walking ring

I missed seeing Race 3 the Sofitel Girls’ Day Out 2000, but heard the race broadcast over the loud speakers. It was won by second favourite Desert Jeuney

Race 4 was The Sofitel and I rather fancied Cosmic Causeway. He ran fourth and the winner was long shot Shoreham, who defeated the favourite Dany The Fox by a short margin with Garud running third.

A happy Chris Symons aboard Shoreham returning to scale after winning The Sofitel

The weather, which had been quite sunny and bright had turned into spitting rain and a cold wind swept across the course, so I sought shelter under cover to consider my selection for the next race, the Group Two Danehill Stakes. I decided to go for Gregers over Safeguard, but neither choice proved a winner. Outsider Charlie Boy won the show from Kiss A Rose and Eclair Big Bang.

Charlie Boy returning to scale after winning the Danehill Stakes

Finally it was time for the feature race, the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes. Makybe Diva’s statue overlooks the famous Flemington straight, so I thought it appropriate to photograph it.

Makybe Diva Statue

Back to the race, I took photos of the leading contenders in the mounting yard.

Manighar


Masked Marvel

Mourayan


Puissance de Lune


Ethiopia

Sea Moon

Foreteller

Mr Moet

The race resulted in Foreteller pipping Puissance de Lune at the post, winning by a half head.  As I mentioned in my previous post, Foreteller has a tendency to run under the radar and score a surprising win every so often. It was disappointing that Puissance de Lune was denied his first Group One, but his run was full of merit, and Glen Boss probably let him go too soon, leaving him ripe for the picking by the fast finishing Foreteller who lunged at the finish line to take the race.

Another photo of Foreteller returning to scale after winning the Makybe Diva Stakes

I stayed for the Bobbie Lewis Quality, a sprint over 1200 metres, and - you guessed it - it was won by outsider Speediness from Temple of Boom and Albrecht, with hot favourite Rebel Dane running fourth.


Rebel Dane in the mounting yard

Speediness (green silks) leading the field back after winning the Bobbie Lewis Quality

As the theme of the race meeting was the Sofitel Girls’ Day Out, there was a fashion show going on somewhere, which I wasn’t interested in watching, and there was face painting and pony rides for the kids.

 
Ponies proceeding trackside

I didn’t stay for the last race the Let’s Elope Stakes, so I missed seeing Commanding Jewel’s return to winning form. The pretty grey Sydney mare Catkins ran second, whom I had photographed earlier in her stall.

Catkins in her stall

What is it about Flemington that seems to favour outsiders winning and causes favourites to fail? That’s twice I’ve been to Flemington where none of the favourites have won. Perhaps it’s the big spacious track, or the lack of sharp turns. Who knows?

Next week the Group One action transfers to Sydney at Rosehill with the running of the Golden Rose. In Melbourne I’ll be attending Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day at Moonee Valley, where Atlantic Jewel will be making her second appearance for the spring and gunning for her ninth win in succession. She’ll either be racing in the feature race, or the Stock Stakes for mares, both of which are 1600 metre races. Her stable mate Super Cool is also nominated, so I’m looking forward to seeing him again too.

Moon’s Rising – The Makybe Diva Stakes

Puissance de Lune – can he win his first Group 1?

It may be election day tomorrow, and though I will exercise my democratic right and place a vote for whoever (not Liberal),  my thoughts are more taken up with thoroughbred horse racing.  I’ve been bored out of my brain by the election campaign,  so I’m glad that part is done and dusted and I can settle down to hating whoever wins power, be it Rudd or Abbot.

There is a mare running tomorrow in the Let’s Elope Stakes called A Time For Julia who gets my vote as the omen bet for the day. There’s also Swing Vote and Ruud Awakening in the first at Flemington.

Racing in Melbourne this weekend is at Flemington and features the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes, run over 1600 metres. The field of 15 runners is made up of mostly imported stayers, starting their spring campaigns on their way to the big cups and include the exciting Puissance de Lune who already has a run under his belt and will start favourite. This race is Puissance de Lune’s hardest challenge yet, so it will be fascinating to see if he can prevail and thrash this mob as he thrashed his rivals in the P B Lawrence Stakes a few weeks ago.

His main rivals in the Makybe  Diva Stakes are Foreteller, who occasionally springs a surprise win, the well credentialed Sea Moon, who is a very interesting prospect having good form in the UK. I’m really attracted to Masked Marvel, simply because of his name, though his form looks iffy. This time last year I would have had Manighar as a top pick, but his form through autumn was less than inspiring, but he redeemed himself slightly when he ran second to Quintessential in the Eagle Farm Cup back in June, so he may have returned to form.

I’m looking forward to being present at Flemington for the race, utilising my season’s ticket, and will be getting there early to see the intriguing Cauthen in the second  race, the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (1400 metres). He’s up against a big field of smart three year olds, including Long John and Shamus Award who he beat at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago and will be trying to turn the tables on him in this race.

Another interesting race is the Group Two Danehill Stakes, also for three year olds and run over 1200  metres.  It has a much classier field than the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes, that include top filly Gregers, Group One J J Atkins winner Romantic Touch, Vain Stakes winner Safe Guard, Quezette Stakes winner Kiss A Rose, Black Caviar relative Scandiva and highly promising youngsters Eclair Big Bang and Polanski.

Royal Randwick in Sydney hosts an interesting race card as well this Saturday and features several Group races which I will watch on course (hopefully) due to my interest in the participants. For instance, in the Group Two Furious Stakes Guelph who won the Group One  Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes in the autumn starts her spring campaign. Also champion sprinter Hay List returns after a long absence in the Group Three Concorde Stakes and old favourite Shoot Out steps out in the Group Three Tramway Stakes.

Hopefully Melbourne’s weather will play nice and produce a mild dry afternoon, despite the forecast for showers.

Sydney Autumn Carnival Grand Final

It’s A Dundeel – can he win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes?

The heart pounding excitement of first class racing continues this coming weekend with a total of six Group One races in two states.

The Sydney autumn carnival culminates with the Sydney Cup meeting at Randwick, and Adelaide kicks off its small autumn racing carnival at Morphettville with two Group One races for fillies and mares.

Black Caviar may be gone from the racing scene, but other champion gallopers will be strutting their stuff on Saturday.

For instance, It’s A Dundeel, surely a bright new racing star, will be taking on the older horses for the first time in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000 metres). He’s up against a field of tried and true stayers/middle distance runners like Manighar , who though disappointing so far this season, could return to form, Silent Achiever, who ran an excellent second to Fiveandahalfstar in the BMW recently, and the Chris Waller trained import Reliable Man. However, I think It’s A Dundeel with his lightweight advantage should win, or at least I hope so, if he repeats his performance in the Derby.

The second of the Group One races at Randwick is the Champagne Stakes, a race for two year olds over 1600 metres.  It has some very classy youngsters, including Guelph who won the Sire Produce Stakes a fortnight ago, and Scandiva who ran second on that occasion. Also in the picture is Criterion who will appreciate the extra distance, after running sixth in the Golden Slipper last start where he was not really suited. The same goes for Fast N Rocking who ran fifth in the Golden Slipper and second to Miracles of Life in the Blue Diamond. I have been following the colt Star Wars, mostly because I like his name but also because of his breeding – Starcraft by Rose O’ War, who were star performers back in their day. Rose O’ War actually beat Sunline once. Anyway, Star Wars hasn’t done anything to write home about so far, but he has been running on heavy or slow tracks most of the time, so the addition of blinkers and a good track may make a difference. Another worthy of consideration is the Gai Waterhouse trained Equator who has won his last two starts in lesser grades.

The Sydney Cup, like the Melbourne Cup is hard to assess, run as it is over 3200 metres. It is hard to go past Kelinni who won the Listed JRA Plate last week and also ran fourth in the Melbourne Cup last year.  There are two sons of Zabeel in the field – Maluckyday who ran second to Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup and has been racing well of late, and Tremec who recently won, at long odds, the Group Two Chairman Stakes.  Niwot won the Sydney Cup last year, so we know he can run the distance, though he is getting on in years, but may be able to repeat the feat. The sole mare in the race is Aliyana Tilde who ran third to Tremec and New Zealander Blood Brotha in the Chairman Stakes.

All Too Hard resumes his interrupted autumn campaign in the Group One All Aged Stakes (1400 metres). He was scratched from the Australian Guineas back in March, due to a virus infection but has now recovered after a longish spell. This may be his last race in Australia or anywhere; it depends how he goes in this race. We have the mouth watering prospect of him up against super Sydney mare More Joyous, who has been extremely unlucky so far this season. Also sure to be competitive is Epaulette who ran second to Black Caviar in the T J Smith Stakes and Rain Affair who ran third in the race. It will be interesting to see if All Too Hard can go out a winner like his big sister. He beat Pierro last year in the Caulfield Guineas and Pierro beat More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes, so he has a really good chance if he handles the Sydney way of going.

The final race on the card at Randwick is the Listed Hall Mark Stakes (1200 metres) which is of interest to me due to the return of Manawanui to the race track. He has been out of action since September last year, when he was banned for three months due to a bleeding attack.  So he’s had a long break. He is running against a full field, many of whom are resuming after spells too. I’d be delighted if he won, but he may need the run. He might be worth a small wager at long odds. Whatever, I’ll be sure to watch the race.

At Morphettville , the first of the Group One events is the Sporting Bet Classic (aka Robert Sangster Stakes), which is sprint over 1200 metres for fillies and mares. Super filly Snitzerland is the top pick and will no doubt start as hot favourite. She has yet to win a Group One race, so this is her best chance to achieve it. The Peter Moody trained Kulgrinda appears to be her main danger. She won her first race for a while on this track two weeks ago, beating Platelet and Avoid Lightning who are also part of the field. Local mare Just Discreet also is worth considering.

The other Morphettville Group One is the Australasian Oaks (2000 metres) and has attracted a full field of hopeful fillies.  They appear pretty well matched, so it’s hard to pick the likely winner. Three New Zealand fillies have been sent across the Tasman for this race – Blanket Bay, Her To Eternity and Aurora Lights -  but they may be outclassed by Australian fillies Molto Bene and Global Balance.

Black Caviar – Win Number 24 Coming Up

Moonee Valley Racing Club has been touting the Friday night William Reid Stakes meeting as Black Caviar’s final race in Victoria and flogging off prepaid tickets left, right and centre on this basis.  However, Peter Moody yesterday intimated that Black Caviar could well race on and that her up and coming “farewell” tour of the country will not be her last.

As I have a prepaid general admission season’s ticket for MVRC I figure I should take advantage of it for the opportunity to see Black Caviar race again. After all I’m a BIG fan, so I’ll be at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Six other horses have accepted to run against the great mare in the William Reid Stakes and include another of my favourites, Karuta Queen who is now part of Peter Moody’s stable.  She has run against Black Caviar in the past (Schillaci Stakes October 2011), running second at that time. She is not expected to win on Friday night either, but could well give Black Caviar something to chase and overtake. Also part of the field are Linton and Luckygray, two greys who would probably be better over longer distances, and old Hong Kong star Good Ba Ba stretching his legs in this race.  And for some reason I feel obliged to mention Spirit of Boom, who could possibly run a place.

The William Reid Stakes is the last race on the card and scheduled for 9.55 pm to tie in with the television coverage of the first round of the AFL, i.e. Black Caviar’s race will be screened live during half time on Free To Air TV.

There will a be a hour separating the second last race and the William Reid Stakes, to what purpose I do not know, other than the aforementioned tie in with the footy. There will be a terrible scramble for taxis at the end of the night I predict, as crowds are anticipated to be at Cox Plate levels, and of course will be leaving the venue at the same time.

So when I go, I’ll adopt my Cox Plate strategy and take to the top of the straight to watch the race and also hang out in the parade ground area.  Night racing is awful for taking photos, but I’ll try to get some good snaps anyway, light permitting.

The rest of the race card is not that interesting other than the Group Two Sunline Stakes for mares, run over 1600 metres. Lights of Heaven has a good chance of winning this as she is a classy mare and has won on the track at the distance before. She’ll have to beat Spirit Song who is in great form at the moment. Also sure to be competitive are Spirit of Giselle, Bonaria, Secret Liaison and stable-mate There’s Only One.

The racing scene switches to Sydney this Saturday with a fantastic race card at Rosehill, including three Group One races. 

There’s the mouth watering prospect of Gai Waterhouse stars More Joyous and Pierro pitted against each other in the Canterbury Stakes. The field also includes Happy Trails, Moment of Change, Rain Affair, Solzhenitsen and Secret Admirer.

What a field!  More Joyous won this race last year when it was designated as Group Two, but it has been upgraded to Group One.  The field last year was arguably weaker than this year’s edition, so she may have to try extra hard this year. But she is all class, and I hope she wins, though she may be upstaged by her young stable-mate Pierro.

The Group One Coolmore Classic has a really super field of top notch fillies and mares. You’ve got Streama, Dear Demi, Steps In Time, Norzita, Flying Snitzel, Pear Tart and New Zealand mare Zurella as the top picks. It’s anybody’s guess who wins.

The first of the Group One races at Rosehill is actually the Ranvet Stakes run over 2000 metres, which also has a very classy field. Can in form, but yet to win this autumn, Fiveandahalfstar, put another Group One on his CV with a win in this? He’s weighted advantageously and could thrash his older opponents, as he and his arch rival Super Cool did in the Australian Cup. Super Cool has been sent to spell until the spring, so Fiveandahalfstar could well prevail as Super Cool only beat him in the Australian Cup by a narrow margin and they left the older horses eating their dust.

Of his older opponents, New Zealander Sangster looks the most threatening, though he is coming back in distance after winning the Auckland Cup over 3200 metres in early March.  There’s also Manighar who is an enigma at the moment after his abysmal performance in the Chipping Norton Stakes. He won the Ranvet Stakes last year, but is he the same horse now? Silent Achiever is never far away and can be almost always relied on to be in on the finish.

Last Saturday, I was delighted to see  It’s A Dundeel win the Randwick Guineas, beating Proisir for a second time. I was very taken with It’s Dundeel’s appearance (good looks) on Cox Plate day last year, so I’ve been following his progress ever since. He wore blinkers for the first time last week, and raced closer to the speed than is his usual wont, and that strategy worked a treat.

Flemington Super Saturday 2013 – Whoopie!

Early Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance de Lune returns this weekend in the Blamey Stakes

An absolutely super duper weekend of racing is in the offing and I will be at Flemington Race Course to witness most of it. Three Group One races are on the cards, two at Flemington and one at Warwick Farm in Sydney, along with some very interesting Group Two competitions.

At Flemington the first of the Group races of most interest is the Group Two Blamey Stakes over 1600 metres. Puissance de Lune will be making one of his few appearances this autumn in this race. It’s probably a bit too short for him, but according to his regular jockey, Glen Boss, he has super star written all over him. He’ll have to contend with the smart, in form, and fit, Dany The Fox, who will no doubt start as favourite. Also in the picture are Budriguez, Callanish and good old Maluckyday who ran a great race behind All Too Hard in the Futurity Stakes recently.  

The Group Two Kewney Stakes (1400 metres) is one for three year old fillies. I’m looking forward to seeing Flight Stakes winner, Norzita, in action.  She commenced her autumn campaign with a win in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes in mid February. She has some stiff competition in the Kewney from Members Joy, Meliora, Alzora and Petite Diablesse, but is the class filly in the race so should prevail.

You can tell Black Caviar is not running in the Group One  Newmarket Handicap (1200 metres), as a good (though not full) field of runners has accepted for the race. It looks to be a fascinating competition and is very hard to pick the winner.  First up you have Moment of Change who ran a good second to his stable mate Black Caviar in the Lightning Stakes. Peter Moody reckons Moment of Change is a class act, and the next best horse in his stable after the champion mare, and his race record speaks well of his chances. He’s raced 10 times, won five times and only been out of a place once. He won the Group One Sir Rupert Clark Stakes back in the spring.

However, he is up against some first class sprinters, notably the unbeaten Perth star Barakey, who was scratched at the barrier in the Oakleigh Plate, so we still don’t know how good he actually is. His fellow Perth star, Luckygray, is also in with a chance.  The West Australians at least won’t be distressed by the continuing heat wave in Melbourne; in fact they are thriving in the torrid conditions.  Others worthy of consideration are Fontelina who recently ran a close second to Hay List in a trial, classy mare Ortensia and light weighted colts Better Than Ready and Shamexpress.

The Australian Cup has a glorious reputation as a WFA race, having been won over the years by some out and out champions – Makybe Diva, Lonhro, Northerly, Saintly to name a few. So who will win it this year?

2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon is one of the top chances.  He has the services of Hong Kong based jockey Brett Prebble as his rider, and recently ran a good fourth to All Too Hard in the Futurity Stakes and will appreciate the extra distance of the Australian Cup (2000 metres). 

Another Perth star Mr Moet appears to represent his closest opposition having run second to Foreteller in the Peter Young Stakes.  Foreteller too, could repeat his Peter Young performance and the unpredictable Glass Harmonium could steal the show if he behaves himself. And you can’t totally over look the two three year old colts Fiveandahalfstar and Super Cool who are both racing extremely well at present and have a weight advantage, even though three year olds rarely win this race.

The final Group One race of the day is the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.  Run over 1600 metres, Shoot Out won it last year,so perhaps he can win it again this year. It appears to be a race where consecutive wins by the same horse is quite common. Tie The Knot won it four time in a row (1999 to 2002) and Super Impose won it twice in 1991 and 1992. Shoot Out was scratched from the Apollo Stakes due to the heavy track, so will be first up in the Chipping Norton after trialling very well, so I’m hoping he will succeed.  Half the field are his stable mates from Chris Waller’s stable.  Danleigh for one, who finished second in the Chipping Norton last year and ran third in the Apollo Stakes behind Alma’s Fury and Tougher Than Ever who are also part of the field.  Manighar makes a welcome return to the racetrack after being sidelined by injury during the spring and has a chance if he’s recovered. Gai Waterhouse has Glencadam Gold and Lazer Hawk in the running. They were both disappointing in the Apollo Stakes. Also worth a look is New Zealand mare Silent Achiever who always runs an honest race. Whatever, it will be a good race to watch.

At Flemington the track will be on the fast side and the weather hot and sunny (again!) whereas in Sydney the track is likely to be on the soft side after all the rain that has been falling in that part of the country.

I’ll be braving the relentless sunshine once again to take in the excitement of first class racing at the big track.

The Excitement Builds! Caulfield Guineas Day

Pierro – hot favourite for the Caulfield Guineas

I love this time of year – springtime in Melbourne, at the height of the Spring racing season – days of wine and roses and first class racing. Just don’t mention the weather.

We’ve had the build up, the preludes and the champions resuming; now it’s time to get serious.

The race card at Caulfield this coming Saturday boasts three Group One contests, worth the price of entry alone, plus several intriguing Group Two and Listed competitions.

The first race of interest is the Blue Sapphire Stakes, race two on the card. For three year olds and run over 1200 metres, it stars super filly Snitzerland  taking on the boys by herself. She  ran second to Pierro in the Golden Slipper back in autumn and resumed in August, accruing three straight wins since.

She is pitted against some very smart colts, Queenslander Sizzling among them. He won the Group One  T J Smith  back in June.  Then you’ve got South Australian gelding Fire Thunderbolt and local colt Lankan Rupee who have both won their only two starts by good margins.  All up it looks a great race.

Race four is the Group Two Schillaci Stakes, a sprint over 1000 metres. Black Caviar won this race last year and the year before that. With her out of the picture this year, the super consistent Buffering appears to have the race at his mercy, but the Moody/Nolen/Caulfield combo factor might favour Golden Archer.  There’s also the very much in form Sydney horse Pampelonne and Adelaide runner Stirling Grove who are also worth consideration.

The first of the Group One races is the Caulfield Stakes (2000 metres)  and would have promised a fascinating competition between Manighar and impressive New Zealander Ocean Park, but Manighar has now been withdrawn from the Spring carnival after a setback caused by some sort of arthritic condition. Ocean Park won the Underwood very convincingly from Voila Ici and December Draw and on that score appears to be the one to beat. Sincero is the next best in the race, though he has failed to win beyond 1600 metres.  Sabrage and Vatuvei have a chance if the track is on the slow side as does old Alcopop.

More Joyous is the star attraction in the Group One Toorak Handicap, and rightly so. She is the best performed horse in Australia behind Black Caviar, having now won 21 races from 28 starts, eight of which were at Group One level. She won the Toorak Handicap in 2010 carrying 58 kg (a record for a mare), but this year is obliged to tote 60 kg. She has had three runs so far this season and won them all, though arguably they were considerably easier races than this. Her closest rival is King Mufhasa who won the race last year, has a slight weight advantage over the mare and appears to be in good form, with a last start win in New Zealand . Others in contention are the lightweights Solzhenitsyn, Spirit Song and Tokukawa along with old Glass Harmonium and fellow mares Steps In Time and Yosei. I’d love More Joyous to win, but she is vulnerable with that weight.  Still, underestimate her at your peril.

If ever there was a certainty, outside Black Caviar in a race, it has to be Pierro in the Caulfield Guineas, a race for three year old colts and geldings over 1600 metres. This son of Lonhro has the potential to be as special as the aforementioned champion mare. He’s already got 8 wins under his belt, three of them at Group One level and is yet to be beaten.  Also in the field, but unlikely to beat Pierro, is Golden Rose winner Epaulette, the best of the rest. All Too Hard has been most disappointing this spring so far, but even when he was in top form he couldn’t beat Pierro in the Sires Produce Stakes back in autumn.  Fighting for a place will most likely be Ashokan, Awesome Bro and Let Go Lenni, otherwise it looks to be a one horse race.

One for the stayers, is the Group Two Herbert Power Stakes run over 2400 metres. It has a fascinating field of acceptors the majority of them being overseas contenders, the classiest of that lot being Gatewood (UK) and Shawardi (France). Local hopes rest on staying mare Exceptionally,  Excluded and the unpredictable Precedence.  Other top chances are Bianmick who won the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley at his last start and Reuben Percival who ran third in the Metropolitan last Saturday. Not an easy race to pick the winner, but worth watching for future reference Cups wise.

As it’s cold and wet in Melbourne as I write this post, it is unclear what  condition the track will be in on Saturday. Let’s hope the rain clears tomorrow, and that Saturday is warm and sunny.

UPDATE : Saturday night

What a day! Three favourites saluted and Gai’s stars bombed. More tomorrow with photos.