Pride of Dubai– The Prince of Diamonds

Pride of Dubai parades after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes

You might as well throw away the form guide, as favourites in the Group 1 events at Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield were all rolled.

Despite the disappointing results it was an enjoyable day at the races with the weather being kinder than the week before, a pleasantly warm day with alternate cloud and sunshine.

I arrived at the track around 2.00pm, in plenty of time for Race 3, the Angus Armanasco Stakes, where last start winner Sabatini was the warm favourite and was successful again, beating Fontein Ruby by a length with Samartested running third.

Sabatini on her way to the barriers

Fontein Ruby being difficult on her way to the gates – a clerk of course eventually took her in hand

Race 3 down the straight – Fontein Ruby leads with Sabatini on the outside about to pass Samartested.

In my preview in my last post I completely overlooked Alpine Eagle in my assessment of Race 4, the Caulfield Autumn Classic. He is a South Australian colt with excellent form -  three wins from four starts – and very well bred by High Chaparral from a Zabeel mare Zephira .  He started as favourite, and running from the back of the field with an amazing burst of speed, narrowly won from Minnesinger and Firehouse Rock.

Race 4 down the straight – Firehouse Rock leads with Alpine Eagle still three lengths behind on the outside.

The first of the Group 1 races was next on the program, it being the Futurity Stakes. Dissident was the hot favourite, but he only managed to run third, rather stymieing his chances early in the race keeping up with race leader Driefontein and was flat at the finish. Smart mare Suavito swooped down the outside late and  went on to win by a length and a bit from Smokin’ Joey.

Dissident on his way to the barriers

Smokin’ Joey on his way to the barriers

Race 5 down the straight – Dissident leads with Smokin’ Joey and Suavito about to overtake him on the outside.

Suavito returns to scale after winning the Futurity Stakes

There was a great deal of interest in the next race, the Peter Young Stakes, due to the presence of 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist in the field. He’s a real good looker…

Protectionist in the mounting yard.

…however, despite starting favourite he failed to run a place, the race most probably being too short for him.

Mourinho who is in excellent form this autumn took out the race from the stalwart Happy Trails with Akzar running third.

Mourinho on his way to the barriers

Happy Trails on his way to the barriers

Akzar on his way to the barriers

Race 6 down the straight – Mourinho hits the front.

The Oakleigh Plate also ended in an upset with the speedy Shamal Wind winning her first Group 1, with the unfancied Under The Louvre running second and Fast N Rocking taking out third spot. I was hoping Earthquake, who started as favourite, would win, but she was very disappointing and finished 10th. She was wearing blinkers this time, the first time I’ve seen her do so.

Earthquake in the mounting yard

Race 7 down the straight – Shamal Wind is five lengths from the lead on the outside in  the
red silks with white hearts.

Shamal Wind’s owner, dressed in a red suit with white hearts (to match the silks), was over the moon with her win as she paraded in the mounting yard.

Shamal Wind returns to scale after winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate

The afternoon sped by and before too long it was time for the feature, the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Either it was the late afternoon sun or my camera inadvertently changed its setting, but my photos of the Blue Diamond contestants are somewhat dark.  I did however, manage to get a few good photos of the eventual winner Pride of Dubai. It was not all that surprising that he won. He had the services of top jockey Damian Browne who rode Earthquake to victory in last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes and impressed with his run in the colts Blue Diamond Prelude only narrowly losing to Of The Brave.

Fontiton, the warm favourite, was disappointing, failing to fire in the finish. Subsequently it was revealed that she was slightly lame after the race with bone chips in her off front fetlock, and will be spelled until Spring.

100/1 outsider Reemah almost stole the race, but just missed catching Pride of Dubai losing out by a neck. Lake Geneva ran third.

Pride of Dubai in the mounting yard

Blue Diamond finish – Pride of Dubai leads down the straight, Reemah in hot pursuit

I headed for home after the Blue Diamond Stakes – it had been a long afternoon. I was disappointed with the results as far as my favourites were concerned, but at least public transport was trouble free this time.

In Sydney, Contributor won the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes with Hartnell running second and He’s Your Man took third spot.

And on Friday night at Moonee Valley, Sistonic had her colours lowered, failing to run a place in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes. She engaged in a speed battle with Eloping in the early stages of the race and ran out of steam in the straight. 100/1 shot Written Dash won the bikkies.

Next Saturday it’s back to Flemington for the Group 1 Australian Guineas. Through some bizarre programming, the Group 1 Randwick Guineas will be run on the same day, splitting the fields and no doubt weakening them as well.

The Sparkle of Diamonds–Group 1 Racing at Caulfield

Blue Diamond favourite Fontiton in the mounting yard at Caulfield 14 February 2015

Caulfield Racecourse hosts the Blue Diamond Stakes meeting this Saturday with three Group 1 races on the program, the feature being the Blue Diamond Stakes.

I’ve attended Blue Diamond Stakes Day for the last three years and have no intention of missing this one. It’s always a great day of racing, even though the feature race is the second last on the card.

As it will be a long day, and forecast to be hot, I don’t want to get to Caulfield too early, despite the first two races being quite interesting and at Group 3 level, so aim to arrive in time for Race 3 – the Angus Armanesco Stakes – which is scheduled for 2.40pm.

It’s a Group 2 race for three year old fillies run over 1400 metres.  An attractive field has been assembled that includes the classy local fillies Fontein Ruby, Sabatini and Marple Miss, a visitor from Sydney with excellent form. I’m hoping Fontein Ruby, second up, can win this.  She ran a close third to Sabatini in the Kevin Hayes Stakes a fortnight ago, so could easily turn the tables on her in this race.

Race 4, the Caulfield Autumn Classic is also a Group 2 event run over 1800 metres and is for three year olds of either sex.  The field does not look all that inspiring, but youngsters like Moonovermanhattan, Magicool, Firehouse Rock  and Hong Kong Captain have a good chance to add a black type race win to their records.

The first of the Group 1 races is the Futurity Stakes and programmed as race 5. Run over 1400 metres it is a standard weight for age competition. Dissident is the obvious class horse in the field, so I doubt if any other horse in the field can beat him.  In fact it’s a pretty second rate field, excluding Dissident, with old troupers Smokin’ Joey and Mister Milton making up the number. Entirely Platinum who ran second to Dissident in the Orr Stakes, along with mares Driefontein and Suavito  seem the only other chances.

2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist is the attraction in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes, though the distance (1800 metres) may be too short for him. Even so,  Fiorente the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner won it last year, so it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that Protectionist can take the prize this year. The other main contenders are the consistent Happy Trails, in form Jacquinot Bay, and fellow import, Au Revoir, who stayed on after the Cup and won the Zipping Classic.  Real Love the WA mare was disappointing in the Orr Stakes, but on her day is pretty smart in distance races, so I’ll be interested to see how she runs on Saturday.

In contrast to the small field of the Futurity Stakes, the second Group 1 race, the Oakleigh Plate, has a full field of 18 runners.  Last year’s  Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake is one of them and with her light weight advantage could win her first race in open company. The race is run over 1100 metres, so it’s designed for speed. Other contenders with claims are Bel Sprinter who goes really well first up, Flamberge who ran a close second to Chautauqua at his last start in the Rubiton Stakes, Atmospherical who ran third on that occasion, speedy mares Shamal Wind and Vain Queen, and Lord of the Sky who recently won a barrier trial by 8 lengths, but in whom I’ve completely lost faith. He may prove me wrong on Saturday, but I’ll be barracking for Earthquake.

Anything can happen in the Blue Diamond Stakes, but over the last four years it has been won by the favourite – Earthquake (2014),  Miracles of Life (2013) Samaready (2012) & Sepoy (2011).

The hot favourite this year, and top pick on form, is Fontiton who has won the fillies Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude and can’t be faulted. She has drawn Barrier 1, either a blessing or a curse. Last year Earthquake won from Barrier 15, but Miracles of Light won from Barrier 1 the year before, thanks to clever rides by their respective jockeys. 

Fontiton’s main opposition comes from stable mate Thurlow and the colts Of The Brave, Pride of Dubai and Stoker.

On Friday night at Moonee Valley exciting filly Sistonic is racing in the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes against a field of fellow three year old fillies.  I’d love to to be there to watch her, but as the race is run at 9.15 pm it’s out of the question with the big race day at Caulfield being the more attractive proposition. However, I’ll certainly watch it online on Friday night.

Warwick Farm in Sydney hosts the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600 metres) and its field leaves the Futurity Stakes field for dead with the likes of Boban, Silent Achiever, Lucia Valentina, Contributor, Hawkspur, He’s Your Man and nine others, including Fiveandahalfstar having his second start after a long break.

Contributor who won the Apollo Stakes a fortnight ago is the hot favourite to take this race out. Chris Waller trained horses have won the  Chipping Norton for the last four years. He has 8 runners this year of whom Boban (won last year), He’s Your Man and Weary are his nominated  top chances.  Lucia Valentina has a history of being flat second up and firing third up, and as this is her second start for the autumn. Silent Achiever was a star of the Sydney autumn last year winning both the Ranvet Stakes and The BMW. She ran fifth in the Apollo Stakes, which was a bit short for her, so she could very well win or run a place.

Counting this weekend, there are only three major race meetings   remaining for the Autumn Carnival in Melbourne, so I’m making the most of it while I can.

However, the annual concert season is almost upon us, and so far have tickets for three shows, the first being renowned British singer songwriter Richard Thompson next Wednesday at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Omen Bets off: A Day for Favourites Instead

Dissident returns to scale after winning the CF Orr Stakes

It certainly was a long day at the races on Saturday, and fortunately after a wild wet and stormy night, the weather cleared to a bright and sunny afternoon and dried the track to a good racing surface.

I got to Caulfield in plenty of time to watch the second race , the Kevin Hayes Stakes and was pleased that my assessment in my last post that Afleet Esprit, Sabatini, Fontein Ruby and Royal Snitzel would be in the finish, proved spot on, with Sabatini taking the prize from Royal Snitzel with Fontein Ruby running third and Afleet Esprit fourth.

Sabatini hits the front , bursting between Fontein Ruby (outside) and Royal Snitzel (obscured)

The interval between races was 35 minutes early in the afternoon so there wasn’t long to wait for the first of the Blue Diamond Preludes to run. Fontiton was the short priced favourite for the fillies event and didn’t disappoint winning by a comfortable margin of 1¾ lengths from outsider Miss Gidget with Flamboyant Lass filling third position.

Fontiton in the mounting yard

Miss Gidget on her way to the barriers

Flamboyant Lass in the mounting yard

Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies) finish – Fontiton (blue checks) is about to pass Miss Gidget in the straight – Flamboyant Lass is a length behind.

Fontiton looks the most likely Blue Diamond winner at this stage. She’s one smart filly and her multitude of owners must consider themselves very lucky to have a share in her.

On St Valentine’s Day it was appropriate that Lankan Rupee, the horse with the heart, would be present for the occasion. He was not contesting any of the races, but there for an exhibition gallop. This was rumoured to occur between the third and fourth races.  However, the presentation for the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude went on so long that it was impossible at that time and took place after race 4.

I caught up with the love horse in his stall…

Lankan Rupee in his stall

And later watched his exhibition gallop between races four and five.

Lankan Rupee charges down the straight in an exhibition gallop.

In the colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude  Of The Brave started as favourite and he delivered, though only narrowly. In the straight he looked an easy winner, leading by several lengths, but Pride of Dubai, finishing fast on the outside almost stole the race. It ended up being a photo finish with Of The Brave getting the nod by a nose.

Of the Brave easily leads at this stage with Pride of Dubai back in the main pack (yellow silks & blue cap)

Pride of Dubai narrows the gap a moment later - Of The Brave still leads

Of The Brave parades after winning the colts Blue Diamond Prelude

Race 5 was the Group 3 Carlyon Cup run over 1600 metres. I was looking forward to seeing the Sydney horse Red Excitement but he had been scratched Saturday morning.  Jacquinot Bay was the logical favourite, but was pipped at the post by Smokin’ Joey.

Jacquinot Bay on his way to the barriers

Smokin’ Joey on his way to the starting gates

Race 5 finish – Smokin’ Joey storms down the outside to win on the line

All eyes were on classy sprinter Chautauqua in the next race, the time honoured Rubiton Stakes. Chautauqua hasn’t raced since finishing second to Terravista in the Darley Classic on Emirate Stakes Day last spring, but had won his previous two starts in sizzling fashion.

Chautauqua saddled up and ready to go in his stall before the race

Chautauqua ran at the back end of the field for most of the race and was blocked for a run in the straight. However, once clear,  he stormed down the outside to overtake Flamberge to win by a neck. Atmospherical ran third.

Chautauqua poses for the press corps after winning the Rubiton Stakes

I only had one bet all afternoon, as most of my fancies were the favourites and not worth betting on. I decided I’d have a bet on Hong Kong Captain in the next race, which happened to be the Autumn Stakes.  Profit Share was the favourite, but both he and Hong Kong Captain finished unplaced. Overlooked longshot San Nicasio was the winner with Zebulon and Firehouse Rock filling the minor places.

San Nicasio on his way to the barriers

Race 7 finish – San Nicasio leads comfortably down the straight

San Nicasio was the first of a double for Peter Moody who has been out of the winners circle recently and Dissident delivered the second.

It was late afternoon by the time the feature race of the day, the Group 1 Orr Stakes was due to start. I must admit I was somewhat wearied by then after being trackside for four hours, so it was a relief to get it over with, though worth the wait.

Dissident on his way to barriers

Dissident raced up with the speed in third or fourth spot and came down the outside in the straight to overtake the leaders Java and Entirely Platinum to go on for a solid 1½ length win. Entirely Platinum held on for second and Mourinho ran third.

Orr Stakes finish - Dissident hits the front with Mourinho on his outside and Entirely Platinum (orange silks) on the inside.

As I didn’t bet on the race I didn’t have to hang around for correct weight so headed for the station and home, weary but pleased to have  a Saturday afternoon at the races again.

My next four Saturday afternoons are covered, as the Melbourne autumn racing carnival heats up. Next weekend Flemington hosts the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, where Lankan Rupee will be contending with a classy field of pretenders to the title of top Australian sprinter. The so far unbeaten Deep Field is one of them and Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Brazen Beau is another. It promises to be a great race.

I sporadically watched the Sydney races at Caulfield when I remembered to do so, and the results were less reliable than those in Melbourne. Contributor won the Apollo Stakes and 50/1 shot Adrift stole the Light Fingers Stakes from second favourite First Seal.

I was however pleased with the result of Sydney race 3, as I’d had a bet on Haptic on my online Sportsbet account and he payed very well, boosting my ailing account to a respectable amount, plus giving me a bonus $10.00 free bet to use at my leisure.

None of the Valentine’s Day omen bets came anywhere – all finished unplaced. I didn’t hazard a wager on any of them I should add.