My Thoughts for Two Guineas

Shamus Award – winner of the 2014 Australian Guineas

The title of this post is a reflection on the unusual situation where two Group 1 Guineas races for three year olds are being run on the same day, these being the Randwick Guineas in Sydney and the Australian Guineas at Flemington tomorrow.  One rather wonders who was responsible for the programming, but it all smacks of the tedious rivalry between Sydney’s racing authorities and Melbourne’s.

Both races are over the same distance of 1600 metres, but the Randwick Guineas offers better prize money ($60,000 more).  A very small, but classy field of six contestants will start in the Randwick Guineas. Top chances are Hallowed Crown, Sweynesse and Shooting To Win, who will probably run the trifecta.

The Australian Guineas, by contrast, despite attracting a capacity field, has not the same depth of class. Alpine Eagle who impressed with his Autumn Classic win at Caulfield last Saturday has to be a top chance. Then there’s  Wandjina who recently won the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington at his last start and can’t be overlooked. The interesting runner is Admiral, a Tasmanian galloper who beat The Cleaner at his last start. He’s had twelve starts for nine wins in his home state, and could well steal the prize from the mainlanders.  Kermadec was originally entered into the Randwick Guineas, but was scratched from that to run in this. He ran a close third to Hallowed Crown and Sweynesse in the Hobartville Stakes at his last start so is also likely to be in the finish.

There are the two fillies – Fontein Ruby and Sweet And Speedy – who may cause a boilover. Several fillies have won this race in the past – Miss Finland, Shamrocker and Mosheen, for example.

The Flemington support card is not half as interesting as that at Randwick, where the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes is also on the program and has a really interesting field that includes the bonny grey mare Catkins trying again for her first Group 1 victory.  Whether she’ll succeed is another matter, as she faces a pretty classy field that includes Sacred Falls, Royal Descent, Criterion, Hooked and Cosmic Endeavour.  Whatever, I’ll be barracking for Catkins.

Another of my favourite mares, Miracles of Life resumes at Randwick in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes. At her second last start in Spring she dead heated with Bel Sprinter in the Caulfield Sprint. Also part of the field is Rubick, resuming after a break and Mossfun, the 2014 Golden Slipper winner.

Sort of Golden Slipper Preludes, the Group 2 Riesling Stakes and Todman Stakes kick off the Randwick program. Last year these two races were at Rosehill – I was there to watch them with Earthquake and Ghibellines being the respective winners.

The Riesling Stakes has smart fillies Fireworks, Ottoman and Stay With Me as the main contenders, whereas the Todman Stakes’ top chances are Headwater and Vancouver, both with big wraps on them, in what will be an interesting race to watch.

I’ll be heading out to Flemington for another afternoon at the races. Living Legends Apache Cat, who won the Australian Guineas in 2006 and Bullish Luck, a former Hong Kong champion racehorse will be there to add interest to the day.

The weather here in Melbourne is cool and overcast at present and is expected to be the same tomorrow; pleasant weather for the races and taking photographs.

Oaks Day & the Carnival Finale

Kirramosa in the winner’s rug after the Crown Oaks

Oaks Day at Flemington is touted as being one for the girls, and certainly attracted quite a number of the fair sex, dressed in their finery and extravagant headgear, but it seemed to me there were as many blokes present as women.

I must have been the roughest dressed lady at the track – a sparrow among the peacocks - as I have no interest in fashion and wouldn’t be seen dead in a fascinator.  So I went in my usual jeans and t-shirt and sensible shoes. I’m not there for the fashion, I’m only there for the horses.

This was the first time I have attended the Oaks meeting, and I must admit I enjoyed it. Perhaps backing a winner in my first of  two bets on the day gave it that extra sparkle. Anyway, it wasn’t as crowded as it was on Derby Day so it was easier to move around and it certainly was colourful. The ladies below – tatts and all -  sitting on the public lawn, are a veritable rainbow.

I got to Flemington just before Race 3 and watched from my usual spot on the fence by the path to the mounting yard. It was the Heritage Stakes, a 1200 metre race for three year old fillies. It was won by 10/1 shot Melrose Place, with the equally long odds Sense of Hite and Fare Well running the minor places.

Melrose Place returns to scale after winning the Heritage Stakes

I was really interested in the next race, the Group 3 G H Mumm Stakes, because Dystopia, a Sydney mare I have been following for years, was making a rare appearance in Melbourne.  She’s part of the Chris Waller stable, and gave Chris Waller his third win of the day with her victory in the Mumm Stakes.  His other winners were Marmelo in the first race, and Multilateral in the second.  Myself, I was delighted that Dystopia won as I’d bet on her at fairly good odds. Shamal Wind ran second with She Can Skate taking third place.

Dystopia returns to scale after winning the Mumm Stakes

The final race in the Subzero Challenge was the next on the cards, and old Subzero led the large field of grey horses out to the mounting yard. This was the race where the winner’s strapper got king hit by a stable hand (I have since read it was a domestic matter). I did not witness the incident, but I did photograph the winning horse Black Cash returning to scale.

Black Cash returning to scale after winning the Subzero Challenge

Race 6 was the feature race of the day. The Crown Oaks is a race for staying fillies run over 2500 metres.  Dear Demi won it last year and previous winners have also been the top fillies of their time – Miss Finland, Samantha Miss and  Mosheen for example.  This year the favourite was Wakeful Stakes winner Kirramosa. I must admit I had not heard of her before as she has done most her racing in Sydney.

I decided to reinvest my winnings on Dystopia in a boxed first 4 of Kirramosa, May’s Dream, Solicit and Zanbach.  May’s Dream let me down and surprisingly finished out of the first four. Curses! I should have boxed them for a trifecta instead, as Kirramosa prevailed, narrowly winning from Zanbach and Solicit.

Kirramosa on her way to the track

The rest of the race card wasn’t all that interesting, so I headed home after the Oaks, pretty happy with my afternoon at the track.

I will return to Flemington tomorrow for the finale of the Melbourne Spring racing carnival. Emirate Stakes Day features two Group 1 events, and several interesting Group 2 & 3 races.

The first of the Group 1 races is the VRC Sprint Classic. It was known for years as the Patinack Farm Classic, but as Patinack  is no longer the sponsor,  the name has been changed. It’s run over 1200 metres and has been won by champion sprinters, most notably by Black Caviar in 2010 and 2011.

This year’s edition has a crack field that includes Hong Kong star Lucky Nine, Buffering, Epaulette, Sessions and Rebel Dane. Buffering finally won his first Group 1 in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in late October, narrowly beating Lucky Nine with Sessions running third. Lucky Nine didn’t really handle the tight corners at Moonee Valley, so will appreciate the long straight at Flemington and will most probably turn the tables on Buffering this time.  Buffering has had two previous attempts at winning this race and finished 8th last year, and 2nd in 2011 behind Black Caviar. He may have a hope of beating Lucky Nine if the track degrades to slow. Currently that is unlikely as there has been not enough rain in Melbourne today to really affect the ground.

The other Group 1 race is the Emirates Stakes, which is run over 1600 metres. It has resulted in some long shots winning in past years. The underrated Happy Trails won it last year, and Albert The Fat the year before and famously the 100/1 shot Tears I Cry in 2007.

The Chris Waller trained Boban will start as favourite, and rightfully so, looking at the picket fence of wins next to his name on the form guide. Also in with a chance is his stablemate and Doncaster winner Sacred Falls, and Toorak Handicap winner Solzhenitsyn, and last start winners Smokin Joey, Toydini, Spurtonic and Mouro. Old favourite Linton also has a chance if he can repeat his Stradbroke Handicap performance. And for Country Music fans, there is a New Zealand horse called Nashville who appears to have excellent form in his home country. Overall it looks to be a doozy of a race.

Of interest is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a Group 3 race over 2600 metres. Puissance de Lune won it in spectacular fashion last year, which catapulted him into early Melbourne Cup favouritism.  This race is a sort of consolation prize for stayers who didn’t make it into the Melbourne Cup. So you’ve got Precedence, who just missed out, despite winning the Moonee Valley Cup and Kelinni who ran 4th in the 2012 Cup, as well as Shoreham, Sertorius and Forgotten Voice.

The most interesting runner however, is Makybe Diva’s little three quarter sister La Amistad, who will be trying to emulate her famous sister who won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2002 before going on to win the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Melbourne Cups. La Amistad has been very lightly raced, and now four years old has only run five times on country tracks, for two wins, a second and third.

So the grand finale of Melbourne’s spring racing carnival should see it out in fine fashion, race wise I mean. I’ve been getting good value out of my Flemington season’s ticket, which fortunately covers me for the 2014 summer/autumn racing season. I’m rather regretting now that I didn’t go to the Melbourne Cup, but perhaps I’ll make it next year.

Flemington Super Saturday – Victoria Derby

Ocean Park wins the Cox Plate

We’re infected with spring carnival fever here at Cat Politics, and are keenly looking forward to more great racing action at Flemington this weekend, though only in front of the TV as opposed to being present at the track.

The feature race is the Victoria Derby a race for three year olds over 2500 metres. The result of this race is often surprising and favourites rarely win. It’s A Dundeel will start as the favourite despite being beaten last week. His breeding indicates that he will run the distance, but he’ll have to be at his best to win. His main opposition comes from Hvasstan, Super Cool, Honorius and Fiveandhalfstar.

Before the Derby however there are several other races of interest. The first of these is the Group Two Wakeful Stakes, for fillies run over 2000 metres. Dear Demi has been most consistent, running a place in her last two starts against smarter fillies Norzita (Flight Stakes) and Commanding Jewel (1000 Guineas) so is due for a win.  Her main danger is Zydeco who ran third in the 1000 Guineas and will appreciate the extra distance having the  Zabeel factor in her favour. Others in with a chance are Transonic,  Tyanna and New Zealand filly Kate.

The first of the four Group One events is the Coolmore Stud Stakes, another race for three year olds over 1200 metres. It has attracted a quality field. My top pick is super filly Snitzerland, though the hyped Nechita will start as favourite. Fire Thunderbolt who fought Snitzerland to the post in the Blue Sapphire has be a top chance, as does Hidden Warrior who I witnessed winning at Moonee Valley last week. Lankan Rupee, Sizzling and Jolie Bay could also feature in the finish.

The Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000 metres) is the last ditch chance for Melbourne Cup hopefuls to win a place in the field. Ocean Park is backing up in this after his sensational win in the Cox Plate, though he is not Melbourne Cup bound. No doubt he will start as favourite and rightly so.  Pitted against him are six other stayers, principally Alcopop who ran second to him (Ocean Park) in the Caulfield Stakes and also took out second place in the Caulfield Cup behind Dunaden. And don’t forget December Draw whose chances are enhanced when he runs at Flemington, his favourite track.  Zabeelionaire is also in with a chance and could run a place.

The final Group One race for the day is the Myer Classic (1600 metres) for mares. Now that Mosheen has been retired, having sustained an injury in the Tristarc Stakes, Streama can stake her claim to being the best mare racing at present.  She took out the Tristarc Stakes comfortably from Pear Tart and Red Tracer who are both contesting the Myer Classic as well, and will no doubt represent a serious challenge along with Secret Admirer and Oasis Bloom.

As well as the abovementioned races there is also the Lexus Stakes, like the Mackinnon Stakes a chance for unqualified horses like Geelong Cup winner Gatewood to get automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.  As the last two Melbourne Cup winners Dunaden and Americain also won the Geelong Cup before winning the big one, Gatewood would become a serious Cup contender should he make it to the field, so he has to win the Lexus to be part of it.

Saturday’s Flemington races are the start of a week of racing action, with the Melbourne Cup run on Tuesday, the Oaks on Thursday and the Emirates Stakes on Saturday week.

Update – Saturday night

What a shocking day it was for favourites! The major Group One races all resulted in upset wins by outsiders, one at least being a 50/1 shot.

The Coolmore Stud Stakes was won by Nechita (5/1), with Jolie Bay (8/1) running second and  50/1 long shot, Shamexpress, running third.

Good old Alcopop scored his first Group One win in the Mackinnon Stakes beating Glass Harmonium who ran second. Ocean Park managed to  run third.

The Derby was won by Fiveandahalfstar (21/1) followed by Super Cool (5.9/1) and Rawnaq a 90/1 shot.

And the Myer Classic was taken out by Appearance (50/1) with Soft Sand and Secret Admirer running second and third respectively.

The Melbourne Cup is the next Group One race on the agenda. I’ll post my thoughts on that in the next day or so.

The First of the Big Ones – Caulfield Cup 2012

Southern Speed winning the 2011 Caulfield Cup

Looking at the field for the 2012 Caulfield Cup, one wonders if it too is going the way of the last few years’ Melbourne Cups, with the bulk of the field being made up of International runners. Last year Adelaide mare  Southern Speed stole the show, but she has been scratched from this year’s race after drawing a bad barrier and is being saved for the Cox Plate.

A full field has accepted for the race, with the favoured International runners, Glencadam Gold, Dunaden and Americain drawing the extreme outside barriers. Local hopes December Draw, Alcopop,  and  mares Lights of Heaven and Secret Admirer fared better drawing middle gates. Whether the barriers will make any difference to the running of the race is yet to be seen.  A very hard race to pick the winner, I’m hoping one of the girls is successful, though Glencadam Gold & Dunaden will take some beating. Others to consider are the widely travelled Jakkalberry, Voila Ici if he doesn’t repeat his bad behaviour as exhibited before the Turnbull Stakes, and Zabeelionaire, a lightweight chance with the Zabeel factor.

Another race of interest on Saturday is the Group Three Norman Robinson Stakes for three year olds run over 2000 metres. Kabayan, who finally scored a black type win in the Stan Fox Stakes in late September, will start favourite. He is the class horse in the field, but will have to contend with the unbeaten Phillipi  and the well performed Hvasstan, and other staying bred contenders.

Mosheen, Streama, Pear Tart and Red Tracer face off in the Group Two Tristarc Stakes, a race over 1400 metres for mares. Mosheen re-established her credentials winning her last start, and has an edge over the other ladies, though Streama cannot be dismissed lightly, and it would be great to see Pear Tart in the picture at the finish. A trifecta perhaps?

The weather tomorrow is expected to be mild and sunny and the track most probably will be rated dead to good.

I’ll be watching it all on television, saving my presence for next week’s Cox Plate meeting.

And finally it was good to see Atlantic Jewel’s little sister, Commanding Jewel, winning the Thousand Guineas on Wednesday, a race Atlantic Jewel won the previous year.  A rare sibling coincidence in racing.

UPDATE: Saturday evening

A great win by Dunaden in the Caulfield Cup and great to see the locally bred Alcopop and Lights of Heaven running the minor places.  I had a small each way bet on Dunaden in the Cup, after tossing around several options in my head, and he came up trumps courtesy of a superb ride by Craig Williams.

I’m now regretting yet again, that I did not follow my own advice in the Tristarc Stakes, boxing Mosheen, Streama, Pear Tart & Red Tracer for a trifecta. Streama won, with Pear Tart running second and Red Tracer coming third. Mosheen, weakened after challenging Streama and finished out of the placings.

Spring Racing in full swing

Rekindled Interest – Moonee Valley 15/9/12

A splendid program of racing is on the cards this weekend, with a total of five Group One races plus a number of interesting Group Two and Three competitions.

At Flemington, a good pointer to the cups and Cox Plate, the Turnbull Stakes is the feature race.  Run over 2000 metres the Turnbull Stakes  has been won by some seriously good horses – Let’s Elope, Sunline, Makybe Diva, Vo Rogue etc etc. December Draw won it last year, carrying a light weight, before being sidelined with an injury. He’s in the field this time and demonstrated he was getting back to his best, running third in the Underwood a fortnight ago. Voila Ici, the horse that accompanied Black Caviar back to Australia after her Ascot jaunt, could steal the show. He ran second  in the Underwood, narrowly beaten by impressive New Zealander Ocean Park, who is not in the Turnbull field, .  Other top chances are Linton who will appreciate the extra distance after beginning his spring campaign in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and running fourth, and his stablemate Winchester an US import. The winner of that race, Happy Trails cannot be dismissed out of hand, nor can Green Moon who ran second to him. Rekindled Interest managed to run third in the Dato Tan, a race he won in 2011.  It’s a tough race to call, as most of the field has potential, like Australian Derby winner Ethiopia, and the consistent Southern Speed who beat Manighar in the Makybe Diva Stakes and finished fourth in the Underwood.

Mosheen will be contesting the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1410 metres). Worth watching to see if she has recovered her form.

On to Sydney for the Epsom Stakes meeting…

The first of the Group One races is the Spring Champion Stakes a 2000 metre race for three year olds. It seems to be a race between the Gai Waterhouse trained  Proisir and New Zealander  It’s A Dundeel, rather favouring the latter who is a son of High Chaparral and a Zabeel mare. He is unbeaten in four starts, just as Proisir is over three. Throw in Honorius, Lunar Rise and Lazer Flash as possible challengers  for the minor placings.

The Flight Stakes for three year old fillies is the next on the card. Run over  1600 metres, Dear Demi will probably start as the favourite.  Longport, Norzita and Jade Marauder fought out the finish in the Tea Rose Stakes so must be considered good chances, so too the Waterhouse trained Urban Groove who has won her only two starts, albeit in weaker company.

Can Shoot Out win the Epsom Handicap?  There’s every chance that he can. It’s run over 1600 metres and on his favourite track and he appears to have resumed in fine form, winning the Group One George Main Stakes first up. Quite an achievement! His stable mate, consistent old trooper Rangirangdoo who ran second on that occasion is running in this as well. Can Chris Waller score the quinella again?  Secret Admirer ran third in the George Main and is once more a serious contender and likely to run a place.  Whether the likes of Ambidexter and Rolling Pin, who are in great form, are up to the class of the aforementioned is yet to be seen.  For some reason Fat Al is favoured – the Waterhouse factor, no doubt – but he has been a bit disappointing of late.

The Metropolitan, a race for stayers trying to qualify for the Melbourne Cup is run over 2400 metres. Efficient was top weight, but  it was announced yesterday that he was being retired, due to injuring his leg once more. Sorry to see him go, as I have fond memories of his 2007 Melbourne Cup win, but I am glad as well that the old boy will now lead a peaceful life in the paddock -  a five star paddock according to Nick Williams -  with his old friend Zipping.

So who are the main chances in The Metropolitan?  Well, Lamasery is the top pick followed by Glencadam Gold who is in great form. Other chances are Stout Hearted, Kelinni and Buxted who all have good form over the distance.

The final race on the cards at Randwick is the Group Two Premiere Stakes and it has attracted a super field.  You’ve got Rain Affair, Streama  and Satin Shoes for a start, and I’m really pleased to see Pear Tart back on the track. She was impressive during the Queensland winter carnival winning the Queensland Guineas and the Tatts Tiara, so I’m really interested to see how she goes in this race.

So that takes care of my Saturday afternoon entertainment.  More interesting than usual as I’ve entered once more in  Sky Racing’s Star Stable competition and also a similar one on Sportal.  Neither are as good as the original Super Stable  competition on Racing & Sports, but they do offer monetary rewards, rather just fame and glory.

Update:  Saturday night

As expected it was a fantastic day of racing. The major races were taken out by Green Moon (Turnbull), It’s A Dundeel (Spring Champion), Norzita (Flight Stakes), Fat Al (Epsom) & Glencadam Gold (Metropolitan).

Mosheen demonstrated that she was back on track winning the Blazer Stakes, but Pear Tart was unsuccessful in the Premiere Stakes.

Another big Saturday is coming up next weekend with the Caulfield Guineas meeting, starring Pierro & More Joyous, and no doubt several others.

In The Interim…

I have indeed been slack in posting of late. Blame the renovations as they distracted me more than I thought possible and made me disinclined to write.

Anyway the renovations are long completed, all the furniture moved back in and the boxes unpacked.  The new floor is a 100% on the old one – polished boards vs carpet looks far better and is easier to clean.

Here’s a before and after photo of the living room.

The old fire place is gone and a new flame fire gas heater has replaced it.

A large ornate Art Nouveau dresser used to dominate the right hand wall of the living room, but now it stands in the spare (aka computer)room, along with my sweet little escritoire and an antique oak chair I souvenired  from a flat I rented in the 1960s, when the building was about to be demolished. These three items of furniture appear to go together nicely.

Actually, I’d forgotten what the escritoire looked like, as it had been hidden in the bedroom for years, covered with B’s clothes. So it was a surprise to rediscover it and find it a pleasing and pretty piece.

Art Nouveau Dresser


Chair and escritoire.

So the computer room is a mix of old and new – antique furniture with metal filing cabinets and a computer of course.

Willy the cat coped well with the renovations, hardly stirring a whisker at the turmoil and noise. These days he’s become more sedate in his habits, spending the bulk of the day asleep on the bed or on my lap  (if I let him) pestering me until he gets his way.  Today, while eating his  breakfast he was monstered by a mob of Indian Mynahs, forced by the birds to abandon his plate and flee, and yesterday he caught sight of the feisty young Piccolo in the back yard and slunk back inside, reluctant to tackle her head on.

Here’s a photo I shot of him yesterday evening.

Willy

Despite not writing my usual previews of the Spring racing, I have been following them closely and have attended a few race meetings.  First I went to Caulfield on a soggy day in August for the PB Lawrence Stakes and did manage to get a photo of Heart of Dreams, who has since been retired.

Heart of Dreams

In September I attended Dato Chin Nam Stakes day at Moonee Valley and was interested to see that Linton’s coat has lightened considerably. Here are two photos of him, one taken in February 2010 after he won the Alister Clark Stakes, the other taken this September.

Linton  - February 2010	Linton – September 2012

Most of the horses I planned to follow this spring have resumed  quite a few with wins. More Joyous, now 6 years old, has accounted for her opposition easily in two runs back.

Shoot Out started his Spring campaign in the Group One George Main Stakes with a striking win. He will be contesting the Group One Epsom Handicap this coming Saturday and could well be successful again. He’s the last of the High Chaparral boys of 2010, the others, Descarado, Monaco Consul and So You Think all having retired to stud. 

Star colt Pierro has had two runs this season and won them both. He raced at Moonee Valley last Friday night in the Bill Stutt Stakes. He handled the track as if he’d been racing there for seasons, and blitzed the rest of the field with his stunning turn of foot, winning by 5 lengths. I contemplated going to the meeting, specifically to see Pierro, but the miserable weather put me off. I might attend Caulfield Guineas day in mid October, which is next on Pierro’s agenda. He has now won all eight of his starts and is yet to be beaten.

All Too Hard has been very disappointing this spring, failing to gain a place in his last two runs. Also Mosheen has failed to fire so far, perhaps not fully recovered from a throat operation she underwent mid year. And Manawanui has been banned from racing for three months after bleeding in his first run back.

The good news is that Black Caviar will return to the racetrack next autumn, all going well.

There are five Group One races scheduled this coming Saturday which will no doubt give some early pointers to likely winners of the BIG three – Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

And lastly, I’m currently reading (for the second time) Michael Chabon’s new novel Telegraph Avenue, a wonderfully written exuberant novel set in the Berkeley/Oakbank area of California that covers such arcane subjects as 1960s/70s black music, jazz, funk, and blaxploitation movies. The novel is centred around a second hand vinyl record store called Brokebank Records, run by two friends Archy Stalling and Nat Jaffe, which is under threat from a projected giant multimedia development called Dogpile to be built close by.

Telegraph Avenue is replete with dazzling prose and colourful, likeable characters, one of which is a parrot. There is also a cameo appearance by Barack Obama and a 12 page sentence that is quite extraordinary to read. No wonder I felt like reading the book twice in succession.

More Caviar Anyone?

Black Caviar is aiming for her 21st victory this weekend

Yes, Black Caviar is back on the Australian racing menu this weekend, when she will be contesting the Group One Goodwood over 1200 metres at Morphettville, and gunning for her 21st win, and 11th Group One.  It will be her final appearance on an Australian racetrack prior to travelling overseas to compete at Royal Ascot.  However, she may very well be back on her home tracks in spring, having been pencilled in for the Manikato Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic.

She doesn’t face much competition from the other eight runners in the Goodwood, none of them having won at Group One level.  The best of them appear to be Outlandish Lad, We’re Gonna Rock, Catapulted and Go The Knuckle.

It is remarkable how Black Caviar has captured the heart of the nation. Every time she races, the nation stops to watch. One AFL football game on the weekend will start half an hour early, so as to be over by the time Black Caviar races.  This is to enable the teams and spectators time to get to the track to watch living history.

The other major race on Saturday is the BTC Cup, a Group One sprint over 1200 metres at Doomben racecourse in Queensland.

Black Caviar won the race last year, but a quality field has accepted to the tune of  fifteen runners. Buffering is the current favourite, but having drawn an outside barrier, will possibly be vulnerable. Galaxy winner Temple of Boom is a major threat, along with the similarly named Spirit of Boom, Neeson and super smart mare Beaded. Fillies Elite Falls, Satin Shoes and Sea Siren may challenge as well.

Females have dominated racing this year – Black Caviar (naturally), More Joyous, Mosheen, Atlantic Jewel and Shez Sinsational who won the Group Two Hollindale Stakes last Saturday, narrowly from fellow mare Lights Of Heaven. Thus it wouldn’t be all that surprising if one of the female contestants in BTC Cup took home the prize.

Vale Vo Rogue & Northerly

Two former champions of the Aussie turf passed away this week. The great bare hoof frontrunner, Vo Rogue, died on Monday at the age of 28 and Sunline conqueror, and dual Cox Plate winner, Northerly was euthanased on Wednesday after suffering a severe bout of colic. He was 15 and enjoyed some of his retirement years at Living Legends, before returning to his owner’s Western Australian property. All very sad for those of us who remember their exploits, but they’ll both live on in our memories.

I saw Northerly race once in the flesh in the 2001 Feehan Stakes, where he raced against and defeated Sunline for the first time. I admit my heart was with Sunline that day, but it was a great race nonetheless. I still have the race book from the day with a photo of Sunline on the cover.

Update Saturday

It was astounding to watch Black Caviar cruise to her 21st victory this afternoon. She barely got into second gear the whole trip, and Luke Nolen hardly shifted in the saddle, as she cantered to the line, a length and a half clear from We’re Gonna Rock with Sterling Grove trailing three lengths behind in third spot. It struck me as one of her most arrogant wins – why bust your guts if you can win at a canter.

And I was right about the female dominance of the sport. Three year old filly Sea Siren took out the BTC Cup, with old trooper Scenic Blast running a game second and Beaded taking third spot.

Autumn Racing – The Doncaster Mile

Shoot Out  is running in the Doncaster Mile this Saturday

Another great day of racing at Randwick is on this Saturday, if it’s not cancelled due to track conditions. Sydney has experienced very heavy rain most of this week – over 100mm, so if the race meeting goes ahead, the track will be most likely rated slow to heavy.

That’s nothing new for Sydney autumn racing, in fact the past two weekends of good tracks is out of the ordinary.

Anyway, there are three Group One races this weekend, the feature being the Doncaster Mile. A full field of twenty plus emergencies was accepted when fields were finalised on Wednesday, but already there have been three scratchings and More Joyous will not start if the track is heavy. So that leaves us with the mud runners and sundry other hopefuls. It’s a hard race to pick the winner, with so many factors to consider. I’m hoping Shoot Out, who has  slow track form, can add the Doncaster to his CV. He’s been kept fresh for this, is not badly weighted and has drawn a reasonable barrier midfield. He also loves the Randwick track His stablemate, Rangirandoo, represents his biggest threat, though class mares Secret Admirer, Hurtle Myrtle and Absolutely, have very good chances. Sacred Choice, a mare who thrived on bog tracks, won the race last year, though she has now been retired.  Sincero and the lightweight three year olds Fast Clip and Niagara could sneak a place or even cause an upset. And if More Joyous does run, Gai Waterhouse reckons she’ll win, though she tried and failed last year in similar conditions.

The Australian Oaks has a small field dominated by the classy Streama, who like the rest of the field has not run over the distance of 2400 metres. She was only narrowly beaten by super filly Mosheen last start, thus is the one to beat. New Zealand filly Full Of Spirit, who has won her last two outings, is a major threat and Aliyana Tilde who ran third in the Vinery Stud behind Mosheen and Streama could very well place again.

The third Group One of the day is The Galaxy, a sprint over 1100 metres.  It’s another race with no stand out performer and many chances. Nobby Snip has won his last three starts, so is a top consideration. Satin Shoes has been mixing it with the best, but her wet form is suspect, though Lady’s Angel loves a bog track and finished third behind Atlantic Jewell last start, so could easily win this one. There’s also Bel Sprinter, Winter King, Zaratone , Elite Falls and Title who all have claims to group one glory in this wide open race.

The good news this week is that Black Caviar will return to the races next Saturday 28th April in the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes  (now called Sportingbet Classic) in Adelaide, aiming for her 20th win in succession. She will also run in the Group One Goodwood two weeks later, before heading to Royal Ascot to take on the world.

UPDATE – Sunday

Well, Gai was right. More Joyous won the Doncaster Mile. Shoot Out ran a great race and was a close second, with outsider Yosei running third. Not a totally surprising result after all. In the end the track was a dead 5, after being rated a heavy 8 in the morning.

Streama was spectacular winning the Oaks, coming from an impossible position to overtake Aliyana Tilde and Thy who were fighting it down the straight, where they finished second and third respectively.

The only long shot Group One winner was Temple of Boom in the Galaxy, who pipped Nobby Snip at the post. Ladys Angel ran third.

Autumn Racing – Australian Derby Day

All Too Hard – facing his toughest test to date in the Sires Produce Stakes this Saturday

What a splendid day of racing last Saturday turned out to be, with five exciting Group One races contested. The results in the main were not all that surprising – Mosheen defeated Streama as expected in the Vinery Stud Stakes, More Joyous was victorious in the Queen of the Turf, Manighar defeated Americain in the BMW, Pierro won the Slipper and good old Metal Bender snatched victory in the George Ryder Stakes. Metal Bender’s win was the only unexpected result – who would have thought that a horse could return from a long injury forced break and win a Group One on his second run back. Chris Waller must be a genius!

The excitement continues this coming Saturday at Randwick, with three Group One races on the cards – the T J Smith, Sires Produce Stakes and the Australian Derby being the feature races.

The T J Smith Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres has been won in the past by the great sprinters of the time – Apache Cat, Takeover Target and of course Black Caviar last year. There’s no Black Caviar in the field this year, nor Hay List who has been sidelined by yet another injury and may not race again. Only six acceptors were received so it’s a small field. Rain Affair seems to have the race at his mercy, but William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge may give him a run for the money, as might classy filly Hallowell Belle, formerly in Peter Moody’s stable, but now with Gai Waterhouse.

The Sires Produce Stakes is a 1400 metres race for two year olds and has unbeaten colts Pierro and All Too Hard racing against each other for the first time. Pierro of course won the Golden Slipper Stakes last week  and is backing up in this. All Too Hard, who has big sister Black Caviar to live up to, is facing his toughest race to date.  As he has won all three of his starts with consummate ease, one would like to imagine that he’ll account for Pierro just as easily.  Raceway, who finished fifth in the Golden Slipper looks the next best dressed. Yesterday’s buyer of Black Caviar’s half sister, who outlaid 2.6 million dollars for her, will no doubt be watching this race with bated breath.

The feature Group One is the Australian Derby, a race over 2400 metres for three year olds and has 12 colts (and geldings) against lone filly Silent Achiever. She beat the boys in the New Zealand Derby, so could well do a Shamrocker (who won the Derby last year) in the Australian version.  Silent Achiever ran a close third in the Rosehill Guineas behind Laser Hawk and Ocean Park, and will have to compete against them again. Also in the picture are Strike The Stars, Polish Knight, Rekindled Alliance, Ethiopia and Victoria Derby winner Sangster who has been less than inspiring so far this autumn.

Also of interest on Saturday is the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200 metres) for fillies and mares, mostly due to the return of top filly Atlantic Jewel from an injury forced break. She remains unbeaten, her last race being the Wakeful Stakes back in September last year. An indication of her talent can be demonstrated against the recent exploits of Mosheen. Atlantic Jewel beat Mosheen by 3 lengths in the 2011 Thousand Guineas. It will therefore be very interesting to see how she performs in the Sapphire Stakes. She’s up against smart mares like Mid Summer Music, Parables, Graceful Anna, Celts and Dystopia.

As the races are on Free to Air TV again this week, my Saturday afternoon is sorted nicely.

UPDATE: Sunday

What a surprising day of racing it was yesterday with several longshots taking out the feature races. Master Of Design took out the T J Smith. You certainly wouldn’t have picked him on form. Rain Affair ran second with Hallowell Belle a close third. Foxwedge ended up at the tail of the field, apparently suffering from a respiratory problem which was not identified pre race.

The match race between All Too Hard and Pierro ended with a victory for the latter, All Too Hard bungling the start and having to play catch up, thus ruining his chance of a win.  Pierro has now won five from five.

The Derby was won by Ethiopia who scored his first career win from four starts.  Will the Derby curse stymie his chances for further wins in the future? Polish Prince and Laser Hawk took  out the minor placings.

The run of the day was Atlantic Jewel emphatically declaring she was back with a stunning win in the Sapphire Stakes and remaining unbeaten from six starts. Who knows how good she really is. We’ll find out in spring I suppose, as she’s only scheduled to have one more start this autumn.

Autumn Racing – Golden Slipper 2012

RIP Pinker Pinker – died on Wednesday after an adverse reaction to medication

On Wednesday when I started writing this post, I was going to place a photo of Samaready at the top, but when I learned the shocking news of Pinker Pinker’s death, I changed it to honour the Cox Plate heroine. Pinker Pinker was scheduled to run in the Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes this coming Saturday at Rosehill, and her presence in the race would have lent additional quality to the field that includes More Joyous, Hurtle Myrtle, King’s Rose and Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican. 

Pinker Pinker, in her short career, had 18 starts for 6 wins and 5 places, many at Group level, and of course she won the Cox Plate last year. It’s very sad to read of her death; she was one of the best mares racing currently in Australia, so will be greatly missed . My condolences to her connections who must be devastated by her sudden death.

Back to the Rosehill meeting…

There are a total of five Group One races this coming Saturday, the feature race being the Golden Slipper Stakes, the richest race for two year olds in the world, run over 1200 metres.  This year’s field has 16 acceptances, with equal number fillies and colts (or geldings). Samaready is the short priced favourite as she has yet to be beaten, and judging by the way she won the Blue Diamond on a stinking hot day, she’s a tough filly. The Rosehill track this Saturday will most likely be good to firm, for a change, so the running will be true without heavy track considerations.  Top colts  Pierro, Raceway, Ashokan and Epaulette, and fillies, Driefontein, No Looking Back and Jade Marauder represent the biggest threat to the favourite.  Fillies ran the trifecta in the Blue Diamond Stakes, and could well do so again.

Before the Golden Slipper is run, there are three super Group One races on the cards, the first being Race 3, the Vinery Stud Stakes for three year old fillies, run over 2000 metres. How exciting it will be to witness top fillies Mosheen and Streama going head to head.

The BMW for stayers run over 2400 metres, has a small but select field of top stayers, Manighar and Americain most notably. In the Australia Cup, Manighar took home the bikkies, relegating Americain to third place behind Southern Speed. Americain may very well turn the tables in the BMW, having French Jockey Gerard Mosse back in the saddle. There was some criticism of Steven Arnold’s ride on Americain in the Australia Cup, so having Mosse back on board augers well for his chances. Southern Speed and Scarlett Lady are the two representatives of the female gender in the race, I doubt if they can beat the two imports, but could easily run a place. 

The Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500 metres) for fillies and mares has the aforementioned classy mares More Joyous, King’s Rose etc. More Joyous showed she was back to her best with a win in the Canterbury Stakes a fortnight ago, so she is obviously the one to beat. However, King’s Rose has a very good chance and is a very talented galloper and you can’t discount Ofcourseican, judging by her Coolmore run.  Hurtle Myrtle (wonderful name) beat More Joyous in the Myer Classic in the spring, and could surprise us all again. It’s also good to see former star filly Lights Of Heaven back racing. After an excellent three year old autumn season, wherein she won the South Australian Oaks, beating Absolutely and Southern Speed, she failed in the spring against open company, and was sent for a long break. It’ll be interesting to see how she goes in this race.

The final Group One of the day is the George Ryder Stakes, a standard WFA race over 1500 metres. It has a super field with many chances. New Zealand champion King Mufhasa is back in this, and is one of the top chances.  Ignore him at your peril. Rangirandoo, was only beaten a half head by Manighar in the Ranvet Stakes, so will be most likely in the finish again. And it’s really good to see Metal Bender back on track and not hopeless; he ran third to More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes, so is showing signs of his former brilliance.  Then there’s Woorim, Albert The Fat, Sincero, Monton who all have the talent to win, Niagara (who won last Saturday and will probably start favourite) and the other New Zealander, He’s Remarkable who is very classy may cause an upset. Sole mare Secret Admirer is class itself ; she was only beaten a head in the Coolmore Classic so may figure in the finish. It looks a very interesting race indeed.

Last week Laser Hawk won the Rosehill Guineas, and the only Aussie horse to win in Dubai was the speed queen Ortensia, the rest – Sepoy, Helmet & So You Think failed to run a place. And All Too Hard had an easy win in the Pago Pago Stakes. He was nominated for the Golden Slipper, but his connections have opted to run him next week in the Group One Sires Produce Stakes, so as not to overtax him.  A wise move, in my opinion.

Autumn Racing Carnival continues…

Foxwedge after winning the William Reid Stakes – it was night time so photo is a bit murky

I haven’t had much time to write about racing, but I have certainly not lost my interest in it. I didn’t have time to post about last week’s feature races, but did attend the last night meeting for the season at Moonee Valley last Friday to witness the running of the William Reid Stakes. Hay List was the short priced favourite, but he was overtaken just before the post by three year old colt Foxwedge. Hay List had been suffering from a bruised heel most of the week, but had been passed as fit to run, so it is possible that he was still affected by that injury as he didn’t show his characteristic blistering sprint. 

In Sydney last Saturday, More Joyous made a welcome return to the track with a win in the Group 2 Canterbury Stakes, and it was also pleasing to see Metal Bender resume after a long injury induced break, running a solid third place behind More Joyous.

The feature Group One races were exciting nail biters, both with very close finishes, with Manighar & Rangirangdoo fighting out the finish of the Ranvet Stakes. Manighar won by a nose, and Shoot Out ran a close third.  And long shot, Ofcourseican narrowly won the Coolmore Classic from Secret Admirer and King’s Rose.

Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready remains unbeaten, winning her debut race, the Group Two Reisling Stakes, in Sydney last weekend. She’s hot favourite for the Golden Slipper and is the most likely of all the aspirants, to take out that race. If she does, it will be the second year in a row for the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper double to be won by the same horse. This was accomplished by Sepoy last year.

Well, that was last week.

This coming Saturday, Rosehill hosts the feature Group One Rosehill Guineas. It’s a race for three year old stayers over 2000 metres and has an intriguing field. Super filly Mosheen has beaten the boys in the other recent Guineas (Australian & Randwick), but her place this time as the sole female contestant, is taken by top New Zealand filly Silent Achiever, who has won five out of seven races, the last three in succession, and has never been unplaced. She is the logical favourite, however she has drawn a wide barrier, and is racing for the first time in Australia. Locals who may threaten her are Doctor Doom, who is a Group One winner over the distance, albeit at Randwick, Laser Hawk who ran third in the Randwick Guineas, Said Com who ran second on that occasion and Strike The Stars who ran second to Mosheen in the Australian Guineas. The Peter Moody trained Highly Recommended is also a good chance, having recently won the Alister Clark Stakes and fellow Melbourne runner Proliferate who has a slight claims. Possibly the best competition for Silent Achiever will come from fellow New Zealanders Ocean Park and Rock ‘N’ Pop, and if he returns to form, 2011 Victoria Derby winner Sangster.

Black Caviar’s little half brother All Too Hard is having his third race on Saturday in the Group Two Pago Pago Stakes (1200 metres). Can he remain unbeaten? He certainly looks as if he will keep his record intact, judging by the way he’s won his previous races. It’s too early to call him a star of the turf, but he is worth following.

The Group Two Challenge Stakes (1100 metres) sees Rain Affair back on his home turf. He didn’t handle the straight at Flemington, when contesting the Newmarket Handicap, but  he should be back in the winners stall in this race. That is if he can beat the highly regarded Bel Sprinter who was waylaid by a minor injury to his leg and was out of action for a month. Also in the picture is the speedy filly Satin Shoes, who narrowly missed winning the Euclase Stakes in Adelaide on Labour Day and Elite Falls, the other class filly in the race, who ran second to Woorim in the Oakleigh Plate.

On Saturday evening, the eyes & ears of Aussie racing fans will be focussing on the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan. Several Australian horses are competing in various races;  Sepoy in the Golden Shaheen (1200 metres) against the likes of Rocket Man, Singapore’s top sprinter, Helmet in the UAE Derby (1900 metres) and dual Cox Plate winner So You Think  in the Dubai World Cup (2000 metres).  Here’s wishing them all the best of luck.

Sydney Racing Carnival kicks off with the Randwick Guineas

Manawanui – favourite for the Randwick Guineas – photo by Paul Rovere from The Age

There is no scheduled race meeting in Melbourne tomorrow, though there is a rather nice card at Moonee Valley tonight, which I shan’t be considering here.

I’ll be concentrating instead on the feature race at Randwick in Sydney tomorrow, the Group One Randwick Guineas, a race for three year olds over 1600 metres.  Manawanui is the current favourite, and deservedly so, as he technically won his last race, the Hobartville Stakes, only to lose out to an upheld protest. His biggest rival is  Mosheen, the only filly in the race, but what a super filly she is. She thrashed the boys in the Australian Guineas at her last outing and could well do it again. I’m really torn between the two of them and am reluctant to pick one above the other. 

However, it may not all go the favourites’ way as Hobartville Stakes eventual winner Wild And Proud from the Gai Waterhouse stable, could put up a fight, as might his unbeaten stable mate Lazer Hawk. Also worth consideration is Strike The Stars who has good, though not winning, form against Mosheen, running second to her in the Australian Guineas, albeit three lengths behind her.

The Peter Moody runner Moment of Change with the doughty Luke Nolen in the saddle is another in with a chance. He finished third behind Manawanui & Wild And Proud in the Hobartville. And then there’s  Ocean Park who has come from New Zealand with good form and Doctor Doom who won the Group One Spring Champion Stakes back in October last year.  Whatever eventuates, it looks a must watch race.

Lightning Strike – Black Caviar wins again

Black Caviar returns to scale after winning the Lightning Stakes

This is the first chance I have had to report on my day at the races last Saturday, other stuff like website updates occupying my time for the past few days.

Flemington was very easy to get to via two trains and the station is directly outside the racetrack. It’s the biggest racetrack in Melbourne, and the famous straight is certainly a very long one.  It was good to be back there after an hiatus of 40 or so years, and give it a look over in relatively uncrowded conditions. But I must admit, having over the past month attended all three of Melbourne’s race tracks, Caulfield is now my favourite.

Why? Well, at Flemington you can’t take photographs from the fence, of horses running down the straight because there is a rail impeding the view, whereas at both Caulfield and Moonee Valley the track fences are low enough to afford an excellent view.

So, at Flemington on Saturday, I could only get good photos of the horses from the chute leading into the mounting yard or of the mounting yard itself. Still it gives one a different viewpoint, so expect to see most of my photos in this post depicting winners returning to scale, or in the mounting yard.

I arrived at the track just in time to watch the first race, the Talindert Stakes where Black Caviar’s little half brother All Too Hard emulated his big sister by winning by a couple of lengths from At The Tap and Timely Truce.

 
All Too Hard returning to scale after winning the Talindert Stakes

After that I went in search of the Cheer Squad area and found it easily. It was tucked up against the mounting yard, a prime position as usual.

It was a hot and sunny day and the cheer squad area offered no shade, so I was glad that I had slathered myself with sun screen before setting out, so I didn’t end up sunburnt at all.

Race 2 was the Gurner’s Lane Handicap run over 2000 metres. It was won by long shot Cheviot Beach, with Prizum and Persian Star filling the minor placings.

Cheviot Beach after winning the Gurner’s Lane Handicap

Under The Hat won the next race, from Chasse and Over Quota

Under The Hat

The first Group race of the day was race 4 the Group 3 Vanity Stakes for 3 year old fillies. Mosheen was the obvious pick and started as short odds favourite. She’s a very pretty, dainty little thing…

Mosheen in the mounting yard

…but alas, was pipped at the post by Shopaholic.

Shopaholic

Helmet was the hot favourite in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes, but was beaten into fifth place, the race being taken out by That’s The One.

Helmet in the mounting yard

That’s The One

And then it was the build up to the Lightning Stakes. The course by this time was pretty crowded, but as Flemington is such a big course, it wasn’t squashy. The usual array of Black Caviar flags, signs and apparel were all over the place.

Apache Cat and Silent Witness paraded before the rest of the field came out, Apache Cat being his usual ratbag self trying to graze on the turf, and throwing a wobbly later on. He is quite a character.

Apache Cat parading

All the others were perfectly behaved.  Hay List was one of the first out, and as the race proved, is back to his best. He certainly challenged Black Caviar, sticking with her to the end and only being defeated by 1¾ lengths.


Hay List in the mounting yard

The race was a bobby dazzler, run at a cracking pace and Black Caviar prevailed as mentioned before, bringing up her 19th win in succession and 9th Group One. She was only .03 of a second off the course record set by Special in 1988. As an aside, I remember Special very well. She was a very special mare, who ran and won races whilst she was with foal, I recall. That sort of thing wouldn’t happen these days.

Black Caviar after winning the Lightning Stakes

Black Caviar has been nominated for the Group One Futurity Stakes next Saturday. Apparently she recovered remarkably well from her energetic Lightning run, so Peter Moody is considering running her three weeks in a row.  Whether this eventuates is yet to be decided. If so, the Cheer Squad will be back at Caulfield next weekend, where the feature race is the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes.

Speaking of the Blue Diamond Stakes, I went along today to the Barrier Draw, which took place in the City Square. The Black Caviar Cheer Squad were invited to attend for some media event. Only a few turned up, and it fizzled.

However, it was quite an entertaining event notwithstanding, with a sausage sizzle, a photo booth where you could get a photo of yourself with a virtual Black Caviar, giveaways, like a Black Caviar poster, free admittance tickets to Caulfield next Saturday and a raffle for a diamond and sapphire necklace.

The Carlton & United Breweries wagon, drawn by four Clydesdales was there as well and was an impressive sight. The huge placid beasts are quite a contrast to the streamlined thoroughbred racehorses.

 

Update Wednesday

Black Caviar was not among the acceptances for the Futurity Stakes. Peter Moody has decided to send her for a break, in preparation for her eventual trip to Royal Ascot in June. She will probably have one more run in Australia prior to that, in Adelaide or Brisbane.

Melbourne has certainly been spoiled, having had the opportunity of seeing her run her last 6 races in this city, though many people have travelled from interstate to experience the thrill of being part of the Black Caviar phenomenon.

Despite her non appearance at Caulfield next Saturday, I still may attend as Sepoy will be having his last run in Australia in the Oakleigh Plate and I’d like to be there for that, and of course the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Flash – Black Caviar To Star in the Lightning Stakes

Black Caviar back again this weekend in the Lightning Stakes

Well I was going to break up the horse racing entries with other stuff, but here we are at week’s end, and I didn’t get an opportunity to go the Mad Square Exhibition at the National Gallery despite my best intentions. That will have to wait until next week.

Tomorrow however, Basement Discs are hosting their first in store performance for 2012 -  The Orbweavers, a young, well regarded Melbourne band who have been described as having “a delicate and subtle sound” and are inspired by the natural world - so I’ll attempt to review the mini show tomorrow afternoon.

In the meantime, there’s the autumn racing carnival to consider, with another Group One on the cards at Flemington this Saturday. It’s the Lightning Stakes a sprint down the famous straight over 1000 metres.  Peter Moody has decided that Black Caviar , rather than having a gallop in the morning, might as well do it in company in the afternoon; and incidentally set her up for her 19th win in as many starts.  Back after a long break, after suffering a life threatening leg infection, Hay List returns to do combat with the Queen for the fourth time. She beat him by 3.3 lengths in last year’s Lightning Stakes and is likely to do so again this time.

There are those that say, that coming back in distance makes Black Caviar vulnerable, but I don’t agree. She’s a once in a lifetime racehorse and those sorts of racehorses can do remarkable things.

Not that any other of seven horses in the Lightning Stakes field, are likely to threaten BC, there are some interesting runners, Foxwedge for instance, who was one of the outstanding three year olds in the spring, being competitive against the likes of Sepoy and Manawanui.

The rest of the card at Flemington looks better than normal. In the first race Black Caviar’s little half brother All Too Hard will be having his first start in the Talindert Stakes, so it will be interesting to see how he performs.

Super filly Mosheen, who won the Manfred Stakes in fine fashion last start will no doubt start favourite in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes, a race for three year old fillies over 1410 metres. Her main opponents – at a quick glance - seem to be Shopaholic, Great Dame and Notice Received.

Helmet makes a welcome return to the track in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes, for three year old colts and geldings, also run over 1410 metres. He is the top pick, but solid performers like Instinction Sabrage, Decircles and That’s The One may give him a run for the money.

Sydney racing at Warwick Farm on Saturday looks just as interesting. Gai Waterhouse has a couple of her Golden Slipper hopefuls running, Driefontein (the controversial winner of the 2yo Magic Millions Classic) in the Widden Classic and  Raceway in the Canonbury Stakes.

Manawanui makes a welcome return to the racetrack in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200 metres) though he’s up against some smart young fellows, like the unbeaten Peter Moody trained Moment of Change, Hot Snitzel, King Saul, Rekindled Alliance, Doctor Doom (though this race may be a bit short for him) and Darci Be Good.

The Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes the three year old fillies equivalent of the Royal Sovereign Stakes has a super field that includes Karuta Queen, Streama, Hallowell Belle and Al’s Magic Miss among others.

So lots of excitement all round promised for this Saturday in both Melbourne and Sydney.

I’ll be going to Flemington to take part once again in the Black Caviar Cheer Squad. It is 40 or so years since I was last there, so I’m looking forward to exploring another of Melbourne’s racetracks. The Squad will be accommodated in a prime spot near the mounting yard next to the track, so more photo opportunities abound. Apache Cat and Silent Witness will also be on display, so I shall be sure to pay the old boys a visit.

The weather will most likely be fairly warm and humid, but it isn’t expected to rain.