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 – 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.

Go Black Caviar Go!

Despite being thoroughly distracted by the impending renovations on the home front, I have followed closely Black Caviar’s preparations for her shot at fame and glory in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot tonight (12.45 am our time).

By all accounts she is fighting fit, and even though the track will most likely be on a softer side than she is used to, she should win; we in Australia fondly hope so.

I don’t think I’ll stay up and watch the race, or even go to the party being thrown by Racing Victoria tonight at Federation Square, much as I’d like to. But sense has overruled the adventurous side of my nature. It would be bloody cold standing outside at midnight in the city, and then there’s the problem of getting home…

Anyway, let’s hope our star racehorse shows the world her best shot with a glorious victory.

The last Group One for 2011/12 racing season was run this afternoon. I’m delighted that my fancied runner Pear Tart was successful.  The race was the Tatts Tiara for fillies and mares over 1400 metres and had a large field of 18 runners.  A pity I didn’t have any money on Pear Tart, as she paid handsome odds.  Skyerush ran second with Gai’s Choice filling third spot. The favourites were unplaced.

UPDATE – Sunday

Thank goodness that Black Caviar won the Golden Jubilee Stakes, albeit by a whisker. Of course we would have liked her to win by many lengths as is her wont, but she did her best, notwithstanding the puzzling riding tactics of Luke Nolen. So it’s now 22 wins from as many starts.

There has been talk of retiring Black Caviar, but I truly hope she will continue to delight her adoring Aussie  fans for another season or two.