A Trio of Group 1 Events–Moonee Valley & Rosehill

Sheidel after winning the Oakleigh Plate – February 2017

Melbourne’s Autumn Group 1 racing season comes to a close this Friday night at Moonee Valley which features the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at its final night meeting of the autumn.

The race was won last year by Flamberge when he was trained by Peter Moody, who bowed out of racing on the same night.

Flamberge is now with the Darren Weir stable and is back in an attempt to win the race a second time in succession. He goes well fresh and with luck could succeed.

A rather good field of sprinters will be trying to deny him that victory, chief among them Rebel Dane, Sheidel, Hooked, Silent Sedition and three year old colt Star Turn.

Also of interest at Moonee Valley are races 4 and 6, the former being the the final heat of the Inglis 55 Second Challenge where Petits Filous is making a return to the track, after almost a year missing in action due to injury.

Race 6 is the Group 2 Sunline Stakes, a race for fillies and mares over 1600 metres.  Class acts among the acceptances are First Seal, Rising Romance and star filly I Am A Star who will probably start as favourite.

Rosehill on Saturday features two choice Group 1 races, the BMW a race for stayers over 2400 metres, and the Vinery Stud Stakes, one for three year old fillies, over 2000 metres.

The BMW has mustered a really interesting field of stayers, all with a good chance of winning. The leading contenders include the 2017 Australian Cup trifecta, Humidor, Jameka and Exospheric, along with  2016 Australian Derby winner Tavago who won the Sky High Stakes at his last outing at big odds, Ranvet Stakes winner Our Ivanhowe who loves heavy tracks, and tough staying filly Lasqueti Spirit who may run the rest of the field ragged with her ability to maintain top speed over a distance.

With a number of equally matched fillies in the field, the Vinery Stud Stakes also makes it hard to single out a winner. In contention are New Zealand filly La Bella Diosa who won the Surround Stakes on a heavy track, then finished last in the Coolmore Classic, Chris Waller trained Foxplay and Dawn Wall, both in winning form, and Melbourne based fillies Harlow Gold and Montoya’s Secret, each of them having good staying bloodlines.

The Rosehill track will be heavy again, but the Moonee Valley track will be good, despite a bit of rain falling this week in Melbourne.

Update Saturday Afternoon – The Girls Have It!

Interesting results all round after a night and a day of Group 1 racing.

The William Reid Stakes was won by the unfancied mare, Silent Sedition, who defeated Hellbent and Star Turn, giving female jockey Katelyn Mallyon her first Group 1 win.

I Am A Star won the Sunline Stakes by 3¼ lengths from French Emotion and First Seal. She’s a super filly who will surely go on to better things.

The BMW was won in spectacular fashion by the wonderful Jameka who beat Humidor by 6½ lengths with Exospheric running third – the same trifecta result (with first and second reversed) as the Australian Cup.

Melbourne based fillies dominated the Vinery Stud Stakes with Montoya’s Secret, Nurse Kitchen and Harlow Gold running the first three places.

Next week the racing action is at Randwick for Doncaster/ Derby Day – a great race meeting every year, featuring four Group 1 races.

RIP Boban & The Championships Week 2

Boban parades after winning the Memsie Stakes – 29 August 2015

Five time Group 1 winner Boban died in a freak paddock accident on Sunday night, and thus passed a sterling middle distance runner. He was recently retired from racing after bleeding in the 2016 Futurity Stakes, so unfortunately he didn’t get much time to enjoy it.

His last win was at the end of August last year, when he took out the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Previous to that he won the 2015 Group 1 Doomben 10,000,  2014 Chipping Norton Stakes and the 2013 Emirates Stakes and Epsom Stakes.

My condolences to his connections.

The so called Championships continue this Saturday at Randwick with four Group 1 races on the card.

Winx originally was set to target the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but commendably her connections have decided to give her a spell after her gruelling run in the Doncaster Mile. We can therefore look forward to seeing her again in the Spring as she’ll be aimed at winning the Cox Plate for a second time. It would be nice if she came to Melbourne early and contested one or two races before the Cox Plate.

With Winx out, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is fairly wide open with a number of horses capable of winning the 2000 metre race.

For Criterion, it his last race before retiring to stud, so no doubt his owners will be hoping he goes out on a high note. He’s got the credentials having won the race on a bog track last year.

Preferment has won his last two starts, the Group 1 Australian Cup and The BMW by narrow margins, so is sure to be in the finish here and could well win. He has the Chris Waller/ Hugh Bowman factor in his favour as well.

The imported Irish stayer The United States has finally settled and won his first Group 1 when taking out the Ranvet Stakes at his last start. He is the current favourite, so if he handles soft tracks (of which he has little experience) he is a top chance.

Of the others, Happy Clapper who ran second to Winx in the Doncaster Mile and would have won if she had not competed, has to be a goer if he can manage the short back up. And then there’s Hauraki who has run second to The United States and Winx at his last two starts.

If the track is heavy Lucia Valentina has to be a good chance at good odds.

The first of the Group 1 races scheduled is the Australasian Oaks  run over 2400 metres, in which Jameka is backing up after running second in the ATC Derby last week. Back against her own sex she is the top pick if she has recovered.  Her main rivals are Vinery Stud Stakes winner Single Gaze, runnerup Valley Girl and third placed Happy Hannah.

The Sydney Cup is run over the same distance as the Melbourne Cup (3200 metres) but has not the same status, despite the prize money being quite generous. It looks as if it could result in another Chris Waller Group 1 trifecta, with top chances Who Shot Thebarman, Grand Marshall and Libran belonging to his stable. 

Formerly called The Queen of Turf Stakes, the Coolmore Legacy Stakes is a Group 1 race for mares and fillies over 1600 metres. Suavito, who has drawn the carpark is the class mare in the race.  Fellow Melbourne mares Badawiya and Azkadellia and Sydney mares Zanbagh, Heavens Above, Vergara and Lady Le Fay are her main rivals.

Also of interest due to the presence of Petits Filous is the Group 2 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint. She has certainly been thrown in the deep end as her rivals are quite classy, with runners like Japonisme, Kinglike, Stellar Collision, Hellbent and Ghisoni in the field. 

As I write, the track condition at Randwick is reported to be a soft 6, which is defined as: moist but not a badly affected track, though after a few races that may change for the better or worse. 

Update Saturday Night – The Italian Girls Star

It was another great day of racing at Randwick this afternoon, with some sensational results, with very few favourites saluting.

The only favourite to win a Group 1 was Azkadellia in the Queen of the Turf Stakes, beating long odds Heavens Above by a couple of lengths with Noble Protector running third.

The Oaks was won by the fiesty New Zealand filly Sofia Rosa with outsiders Ambience and Believe running second and third. Jameka who was too far back early in the race, was left flat footed in the straight and finished fourth.

The Lloyd Williams owned import Gallante won the Sydney Cup from Libran and Grand Marshall.

I was delighted to see Lucia Valentina take out the feature event, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes; not that I took my own advice and had any money on her.  The United States finished second and Happy Clapper ran third. Lucia Valentina raced at the tail end of the field and when making her move in the straight, almost fell, then was blocked for a run. When she had a clear run, she whooshed down the outside to score by over two lengths. A remarkable performance.

The two Italian girls are of course Sofia Rosa and Lucia Valentina who are both owned by the business man Lib Petagna, who certainly had a good day at Randwick.

Black Hearts, Easter Bunnies & Buffering

Black Heart Bart – Caulfield 26/3/16

My Saturday afternoon plans were disrupted, so I arrived much later at Caulfield than I had anticipated. This was due to the unexpected visit from an old friend whom I had not seen for about 15 years. We go back a long way, to when we were both eight or nine at boarding school in Mansfield. We reconnected in 2001, and have mostly kept in touch with Christmas greetings every year.

I really could not, nor did I wish to, curtail her visit, so I got to Caulfield an hour later than planned, totally missing Petits Filous race, which she won fairly easily. She had already left the course when I arrived, so I failed to even get a photo of her.

However, I was compensated by seeing former West Australian Black Heart Bart winning Race 7, the Group 3 Victoria Handicap.

He’s pretty boy with an almost white heart marking on his forehead.

Black Heart Bart in the mounting yard

Caulfield Racecourse was all abuzz with Easter cheer, and very noisy, what with a covers band, and some kind of children’s entertainment competing for attention with the usual racing broadcasts. Kids were everywhere and there was a fair crowd in attendance. There was also an easter egg hunt for the kids and for adults, which I was not in the least interested in contesting.

I only stayed for two races and also took the opportunity to watch the two Group 1 races in Sydney on the big screen.

As Jameka was scratched from the Vinery Stud Stakes, it was a wide open affair and was won by 30/1 shot Side Gaze, with NZ filly Valley Girl running second and Happy Hannah, who only got into the field because Jameka was scratched, running third.

Preferment won the BMW from stablemates Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshall, another Group 1 trifecta for the Chris Waller stable.

Anyway, back to Caulfield and race 6, which was the Catanach Jewellers Handicap, a race over 1800 metres.

The amusingly named Ungrateful Ellen started as favourite and beat Mildura Cup winner Gingerboy by a short margin. Himalaya Dream was third.

Ungrateful Ellen in the pre parade ring

Gingerboy in the pre parade ring

Himalaya Dream on his way to the barriers

Race 6 down the straight – Himalaya Dream leads with Gingerboy & Ungrateful Ellen about to overtake him

As previously mentioned, Black Heart Bart won race 7, the Victoria Handicap carrying top weight. He beat home Charmed Harmony who set the pace and Eclair Choice.

Charmed Harmony in the mounting yard

Eclair Choice in the mounting yard

Black Heart Bart in the winners rug posing for photos

Before heading home, I checked out the stalls area to see if Last Typhoon (Typhoon Tracy’s only foal) had arrived. He was there, with a group of women admiring him. I assume one or other of them was his owner. They got the strapper to bring him out for a pat, which of course I took advantage of myself. He’s a friendly young horse, obviously sweet natured. He was then taken off for a walk, which where I snapped the following photo.

Last Typhoon in the walking ring

He had no luck in his race and finished a distant 12th.

On Saturday night, tough old Australian sprinter Buffering won the Al Quoz Sprint from a top class field. He’s now 8 years old, but appears to be getting even better with age. He’s one of the last sprinters still around who raced against Black Caviar in her heyday.

And on Thursday night at Moonee Valley, Peter Moody ended his training career on a high note, when Flamberge won the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, by a nose from Holler, with Japonisme running third closely behind.

It will be strange not seeing Peter Moody at the track as he’s always been there every time I’ve attended. He’s a top bloke and deserves his place in racing history for the way he handled the great Black Caviar’s career.

Racing in Melbourne is pretty uninteresting from now on, so I doubt I’ll attend many races until the spring. I’ll miss my Saturday afternoons at the track, but no doubt will find other things to blog about.

For a start, I have two concerts to attend this week, the first Jason Isbell tomorrow night at the Melbourne Recital Centre, and the lovely Eilen Jewell will be playing at Thornbury Theatre on Wednesday.

I was going to see Frazey Ford at Caravan Music Club on Friday, but the person I was going with cannot attend, so I’m giving it a miss.

Welcome Back Little Rascals–Easter Racing

Petits Filous at Flemington 15/9/15

Even though it’s Easter, there is plenty of racing action this weekend, at Moonee Valley Thursday night, and at Caulfield and Rosehill on Saturday.

The feature race at Moonee Valley is the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, where a good field of 12 sprinters will be vieing for the prize. Top chances are Lucky Hussler who won the race last year, Holler who took out the Australia Stakes earlier this year at Moonee Valley over the same distance, and Japonisme who ran third in the Lightning Stakes and won the Coolmore Classic last spring.  And you really can’t overlook recent Group 1 sprint winners Flamberge and The Quarterback, though they have no form at Moonee Valley.

I don’t intend to go to the Moonee Valley meeting, but I’m looking forward to heading out to Caulfield on Saturday for their Easter Cup meeting, ostensibly to see Petits Filous in race 4.

She has not graced a racetrack since running unsuccessfully in the Moir Stakes last spring, after previously winning her first four starts by impressive margins.

As race 4 , the Jack Elliott Handicap (1100 metres), is as the race title says, a handicap, she has been weighted according to her rating, at an  imposte of 60kg giving her rivals a big weight advantage. Her opposition however is fairly weak, so she will possibly win.

I’m also keen to get a look at the sole offspring of the late Typhoon Tracy, who is entered in the last race at Caulfield on Saturday. A colt by Street Cry named Last Typhoon, he has raced seven times for two wins on rural tracks. This is his first race in the big smoke, so who knows how he will fare.  His mum was a great favourite of mine, so I hope he can do her proud.

The Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes and The BMW are the feature races at Rosehill on Saturday, so I’ll hopefully get to watch them at Caulfield.

Jameka is the top pick in the Vinery Stud Stakes, a race for three year old staying fillies over 2000 metres. She appears to be a class above her rivals, though Risque and Stay With Me may give her a run for the money. Others with a chance are NZ fillies Capella and Valley Girl.

The BMW is run over 2400 metres, so a field of 10 tried and true stayers will be contesting it. Preferment looks to be the one to beat, but trying hard will be Mongolian Khan, at his favourite distance, Arab Dawn an attractive British import, Who Shot Thebarman, Rising Romance and three year old Montaigne.

Too Hard for Petits Filous–Moonee Valley & Flemington Review

Moir Stakes finish – Buffering wins it for a third time

It was a bumper weekend of racing, despite the AFL Grand Final dominating the news in Melbourne, and by the end of it I was quite exhausted.

Not that I went to all three meetings over the weekend, but Friday night and Sunday certainly provided plenty of exercise,tramping around the courses. Top that with Daylight Savings Time beginning on Sunday, I felt somewhat jet lagged as a result.

However, I’ve finally sorted my photographs, so here’s a brief rundown of the racing action at Moonee Valley and Flemington.

Taking good photos at night meetings with my serviceable, but not professional camera, is nigh on  impossible. I took along the Canon G16 and it did a good job in the stalls area, but was terrible for action shots.


Buffering in his stall Friday night

Petits Filous in her stall Friday night

I got to Moonee Valley in time for the running of Race 3, the Group 2 Stocks Stakes for mares over 1600 metres and watched it from the fence on the public lawn.

It was won by the unfancied Fenway  from May’s Dream and Scratchy Bottom.


May’s Dream (no 2) and Scratchy Bottom (no 3) on their way to the barriers

Fenway rugged after winning the Group 2 Stocks Stakes

As there was quite crowd of drunken football fans at the meeting, I decided to check out another side of the course which is close to the winning post and found it an excellent spot for taking photos, and much quieter and more civilised than the public lawn.

A pity it was night time, it would be a good spot in daylight.


View of Moonee Valley from right hand side of main building

The fourth race was the 55 Second Challenge, a speed test over 955 metres and Reldas was the winner, running 55.05 seconds.


Reldas returns to scale after winning the Jeep 55 Second Challenge Heat 2

The Stutt Stakes and the JRA Cup followed before the feature race and they resulted in Sovereign Nation beating Get The Picture and Gredington in the Stutt Stakes, and Escado coming in at big odds in the JRA Cup ahead of Magnapal and Velox.


Escado returns to scale after winning the JRA Cup

Buffering proved that old timers can still cut the mustard, winning the Moir Stakes by half a length from Ball Of Muscle with Angelic Light running third. Buffering led, as was expected, for most of race and had enough in the tank to kick away and hold off the swoopers to the line. Petits Filous raced close to the pace for most of the race, but faded to finish 10th, the hard track (a firm 2) being not to her liking, according to her trainer. She will be spelled until the autumn.

Bright sunshine was the lighting challenge at Flemington on Sunday, which can be as much as a problem as fluoro at night meetings. I have noticed in the past that on really bright days, the LCD screen turns black and you can’t see what you’re shooting. To solve this problem I purchased a sunshade for the G16 and tried it out on Sunday. Thankfully it worked.

I was obliged to get to Flemington fairly early as trains to the racecourse ceased operating at 12.40pm, so it was a long afternoon. Luckily there was plenty of exciting racing action, so the time sped by very fast.

Just missing Race 2 on program, I was in plenty of time to watch the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes where top sprinter Chautauqua was the main attraction and naturally the hot favourite.

It was a really interesting race. For a while there it almost seemed as if Chautauqua couldn’t win, boxed in by other horses on all sides as they sped down the straight. He managed to find an opening at the last minute and ended up winning by a length from Delectation with Knoydart running third.

Stunning!


Chautauqua rugged after winning the Gilgai Stakes

The next race on the card was the Listed UCI Stakes for Derby bound three year olds, run over 1800 metres.  Ayers Rock, whose trainer declares is going to win the Victoria Derby, won the prize at very long odds, beating race favourite, Tivaci, and Akaashef by a length or so.  Ayers Rock was ridden by Darren Gauci, who as a young jockey back in the 1980s was a household name, but is overshadowed these days by the current crop of star jockeys.


Ayers Rock returns to scale after winning the UCI Stakes a happy Darren Gauci in the saddle

Race 5 was the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes for three year old fillies and I must say Badawiya looked good winning the race by two lengths from nearest rival Sacred Eye with My Poppette a further three lengths away in third spot.

Badawiya returns to scale after winning the Edward Manifold Stakes

It was particularly appropriate that Let’s Make Adeal won The Bart Cummings, a race named in late great trainer’s honour, run over 2520 metres.  The winner gets automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup, so Let’s Make Adeal will get the chance to emulate her grand dam Let’s Elope who won the Cup in 1991 for Bart Cummings.


Sign in Bart Cummings Walk of Fame for Let’s Elope

Our Ivanhowe and Hawkspur took out the minor places.

The barriers for the race are set up just by the Clock Tower, so I had a rare chance to snap a photo of the barriers from the back.


Starting gates for The Bart Cummings

Let’s Make Adeal heads to the track

It is quite rare for Victorian Derby winners to return the next Spring and win a major race. One of them who did was Efficient who won the 2006 Victorian Derby and the 2007 Melbourne Cup. He was present at Flemington on Sunday to lead the Turnbull Stakes field out, but I caught up with him in his stall soon after I arrived at the track.


Efficient in his stall – finally a nice head shot


Efficient parading in the mounting yard

Last year, the Chris Waller trained Preferment won the Victorian Derby and he returned to Flemington for the first time since then on Sunday and took out the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, beating his stalwart stable mate Royal Descent by a nose. Last year’s Oaks winner Set Square ran third. It was an appropriate win for Preferment considering that his sire, the great Zabeel passed away last week.


Royal Descent returns to scale after the Turnbull Stakes


Preferment rugged after winning the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes

It had been a long but enjoyable day in the sunshine, so I called it quits after the Turnbull Stakes as the trains had started running again to take race patrons back to the city.

Sydney had their big race day on Saturday, and I listened to the meeting on radio, as Racing NSW’s video coverage was not working on my computer.  Amazingly, favourites won in eight of the nine races on the program. The Group 1 races resulted in wins for Winx in the Epsom, Speak Fondly in the Flight Stakes, and Magic Hurricane won The Metropolitan.

Next Saturday is Caulfield Guineas Day at Caulfield with four Group 1 races on the program.
Lankan Rupee will be making his first appearance for the Spring in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes.
His great rivals, Chautauqua and Terravista have already kicked off their Spring campaigns with wins, so hopefully Lankan Rupee can do likewise. No doubt they’re all fated to meet in Darley Classic on Emirates Stakes Day if not sooner.

I’ll try and preview Caulfield Guineas Day before week’s end.

Petits Filous Gunning for Group One Glory

Petits Filous at Moonee Valley 1/8/15

Tonight Moonee Valley Racecourse hosts their first Group 1 race meeting of the season.

The feature race is the Moir Stakes a Group 1 sprint over 1000 metres. It has attracted a quality field of sprinters and includes Buffering who won the race last year beating Lankan Rupee and Rebel Dane. He also won the race in 2012.  He’s been off the scene for almost a year recovering from an injury and this is his first start for the 2015 Spring.

Also in the field is unbeaten filly Petits Filous facing the hardest test so far in her brief career.  Can she win?  Considering her tactical speed it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that she will add another picket to her fence of wins.  If she does so, we’ll know that she really is something special.

Her main competition possibly comes from fellow filly Fontiton who won her first three races in fine fashion including the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude, before failing in the Blue Diamond Stakes. She has been out of action with an injury since then, so it will be interesting to see how she performs first up, thrown in at the deep end in a Group 1 race. 

Angelic Light, who has the distinction of defeating Lankan Rupee in Spring last year, is also worth consideration, as is old Buffering who will most likely lead and may take some catching.

The support races at Moonee Valley are top notch with the Group 2 Stocks Stakes for mares over 1600 metres being a race worth watching, so too the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, also over 1600 metres for three year olds, and the Group 3  JRA Cup run at the Cox Plate distance of 2040 metres that was won by The Cleaner last year.

In Sydney, race fans who have no interest in the AFL Grand Final, can spend Saturday watching three Group 1 events and a quality support card at Randwick Racecourse.

The first of the Group 1 races is the Epsom Handicap run over 1600 metres. Top picks are Lucia Valentina, Sadler’s Lake, Winx, Entirely Platinum, Ecuador and Silver Ball.

The Group 1 Flight Stakes, also a 1600 metres competition, is for three year old fillies. Speak Fondly, who ran second to Exosphere in the Golden Rose has to be the top pick along with Pearls who won the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes. Others with a chance are Flamboyant Lass and Kimberley Star, whose recent form has been good.

The Metropolitan is third of the Group 1 races at Randwick and is for stayers, run over 2400 metres. It appears to have an open field with no real standouts, the best form horses being Magic Hurricane, Beyond Thankful, Orbec, Chance To Dance and Maurus.

The Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres) at Flemington on Sunday is the final of the Group 1 races of the weekend.  Amazingly four Oaks winners are part of the field – Rising Romance, Gust of Wind, Set Square and Royal Descent.  Of these the one with the best chance of winning is Rising Romance who finished second to Fawkner in the Makybe Diva Stakes and you can never dismiss the ever reliable Royal Descent who rarely misses a place.

Also in the field are the usual suspects, Happy Trails, Alpine Eagle, Volkstok’n’barrell and Weary, plus Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and Who Shot thebarman who won a couple of races at Flemington last Spring and ran third in the Melbourne Cup. However,  BMW winner, Hartnell, is probably the one to beat, though Alpine Eagle is currently the favourite.

Moonee Valley beckons tonight, even though I’m not that keen on night racing, but my interest in Petits Filous insists that I put up with the hassle of getting home and attend.

With fine weather across Australia over the weekend, the tracks will be good, even in Sydney.

I’m also looking forward to returning to Flemington on Sunday. As an added bonus 2007 Melbourne Cup winner, and one of my old favourites, Efficient ,will be the Living Legends representative for the day. He won the Turnbull Stakes in 2009.

Back to Caulfield Again–Underwood Stakes Day

2014 Underwood Stakes finish – Foreteller hits the front

Saturday is expected to be warm and sunny, perfect in fact for another fine afternoon of racing as the Spring Racing Carnival, literally and figuratively, heats up.

There are two Group 1 races on the program – Underwood Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes – plus two Group 2 Guineas Preludes, one for the boys, the other for the fillies.

The fillies Thousand Guineas Prelude is scheduled as Race 5. It is run over 1400 metres and has a fabulous field of classy fillies. The main contenders are Pasadena Girl, Stay With Me, Jameka, Miss Gunpowder and Alaskan Rose. The first three above ran the trifecta at Moonee Valley in early September  in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, with Stay With Me being the victor on that occasion,though Pasadena Girl’s run was the most eye catching.  Miss Gunpowder ran third to Petits Filous in the Quezette Stakes, then won her next race at Morphettville in her home state. Alaskan Rose is unbeaten in two starts and is highly regarded. It looks to be a doozy of a race.

Race 6 is the colts and geldings Guineas Prelude run over the same distance. It’s time for pretty boy Ready For Victory to live up to his name, after running second and third in his first two starts this season behind Gold Symphony on the first occasion and Kinglike in the second. Neither of these colts are entered for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, so Ready For Victory has a very good chance of winning this time. However he’ll have to beat the Chris Waller trained Metallic Crown  who has two wins under his hat so far this season, and the Ciaran Maher trained Bon Aurum, also a last start winner . New Zealand colt Dal Cielo, trained by the wily Murray Baker, Snoopy who was unlucky in his start and Tulsa, could also feature in the finish.

The first of the Group 1 races on the program is the Underwood Stakes run over 1800 metres. Last year it was won by Foreteller from Happy Trails and the year before was the memorable duel between Atlantic Jewel and It’s A Dundeel with the latter being the victor.

It’s always a great race and a fab field has been assembled this year.  Fawkner is the top pick, if he can defy the Makybe Diva Stakes hoodoo and beat The Cleaner, who has drawn Barrier 1 which will enable him to take the lead without expending any energy. Who knows, the Longford Lion could leave them all in his wake, and at least assure an honestly run race. 

Contributer failed to impress at his last start running fifth behind The Cleaner in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Perhaps he didn’t enjoy the tight Moonee Valley track, but could show his true colours at Caulfield. Whatever, dismiss him at your peril. The same goes for Dibayani who has run third behind The Cleaner in his last two starts.

Four year olds have a good record in this race and both Mongolian Khan and Volkstok’n’barrell are in that age bracket and have as good a chance as any in the field, though the Khan would prefer it longer. I’m interested to see how they go.

The Group 1  Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is now incorporated in the program of Underwood Stakes day, previously being run on the Sunday after the AFL Grand Final. It makes more sense to run it with the Underwood Stakes and adds to the quality of the meeting.

It is run over 1400 metres and has a super field of middle distance runners.  As we’re now in the sign of Libra (ruled by Venus), you would think that Charmed Harmony is the perfect name for the Astrological season.  He has won his last four races leading boldly from start to finish, but faces much tougher opposition in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes with classy gallopers like Disposition, Cosmic Endeavour, Rich Enuff, Amicus, Strawberry Boy and Under The Louvre all being in the picture. The Venus influence could spread to Amicus and Amorino  with their names reflecting the Latin for love (amor).

In Sydney, everyone’s favourite race mare, Catkins, is having her second start for the season in the Golden Pendant in which she ran second to Arabian Gold last year. That mare is also in the field, as is Amanpour who relegated Catkins to second place twice in the autumn.  Cross fingers for Catkins to beat them this time round.

The Equinox on September 23, as well as heralding the warmer weather, also marks a royal birth. Black Caviar delivered her second foal on the night of the Equinox, a colt by Sebring.

There are some lovely photos of the new foal here.

The Cups King & The Sport of Kings–Makybe Stakes Day Review

Display of Bart Cummings’ 12 Melbourne Cups at Flemington

On Saturday morning there was a memorial service for Bart Cummings at Flemington Racecourse to honour the man and the mark he left on the history of Australian horseracing. It was an appropriate venue at which to hold the service considering the great trainer’s record of winning 12 Melbourne Cups.

The service was held mid morning, so I missed it, but was I pleased to get the service booklet that was handed out at entrance gate - a little slice of history to add to my collection of racing memorabilia.

Along with the above display of his cups, there was a walk of fame with signs detailing all twelve of Bart Cummings Melbourne Cup wins.

Signpost 1 – Light Fingers – winner of the 1965 Melbourne Cup

Also present for the occasion was Living Legend Rogan Josh who won the Melbourne Cup  for Bart in 1999.

Rogan Josh parading in the mounting yard wearing a rug with Bart Cummings racing colours.

The trains were running pretty much in sync so I reached Flemington with plenty of time on hand to watch the first race, the Cap D’Antibes Stakes where the focus of interest was on unbeaten filly Petits Filous having her first run on the big track.

Petits Filous took to Flemington as if she’d been running there all her life and won in spectacular fashion, letting loose a devastating sprint in the straight and winning by 2.25 lengths being eased to the line.  Super Cash was the runner up with Take Pride running third.

Petits Filous in the mounting yard

Super Cash in the mounting yard

Take Pride in the mounting yard

Petits Filous returns to scale after winning the Cap D’Antibes Stakes

I missed watching the second race, having run into an acquaintance in the stalls area. We chatted as the race was run and observed Black Vanquish  being frisky the walking ring.

Black Vanquish in the walking ring being difficult

I made it back trackside for the third race, the Pin & Win Stakes, a listed race for three year olds run over 1400 metres. I had a few dollars each way on Snoopy, but he had a hard race, where he was blocked for a run and also bumped in the process, which forced him back in the field. That pretty much describes my luck on the punt Saturday, no winners at all.

The race was won by another Ciaran Maher horse, Bon Aurum at big odds with Lizard Island running second and El Greco taking third.

Bon Aurum returns to scale after winning the Pin & Win Stakes

As not many of the feature race runners had arrived in the stalls area, I decided to check out the newly opened Heritage Centre…

Heritage Centre entrance

There were quite a few photographic displays, but in pride of place and lit up like the Holy Grail was the 1965 Melbourne Cup won by Light Fingers.

Light Fingers’ Cup

I also watched a short video on a wrap around screen on the history of the Melbourne Cup, narrated by Les Carlyon. It was quite moving and I must admit it made me misty eyed with sentiment.

Just near the top part of the Stalls area is Carbine’s stall, preserved for posterity.

Carbine’s Stall exterior

I’ve walked past it many times but never gone inside.

This time I did, and viewed the display around the walls which details Carbine’s racing career and influence as a sire on Australian thoroughbred breeding. Carbine won the 1890 Melbourne Cup.

Part of the Carbine display inside his old stall

The field for Race 4, the Group 2 Danehill Stakes was assembling in the mounting yard when I made my way back to the front lawn.

Headwater

Ready For Victory

Black Vanquish

Raphael’s Cat

Kinglike

Ready for Victory started as the favourite, but he only managed to run third, being caught on the inside behind a tiring Black Vanquish. Kinglike swept down the outside to overtake Raphael’s Cat, who had seized the lead, to win by 1.25 lengths.

Kinglike returns to scale after winning the Danehill Stakes

Returning to the stalls area I discovered that most of horses I wished to photograph had finally arrived.

Here’s some shots of the leading Makybe Diva Stakes contenders.

Boban

Fawkner

Mongolian Khan

Weary

Also, old Rogan Josh was hanging around outside his stall with a crowd of admirers giving him a pat and taking photos.

Rogan Josh posing for a snap

All this dallying almost made me miss Race 5 The Sofitel.

It was won by former Western Australian star Disposition for his new stable (Lee & Anthony Freedman), his first victory since coming from the West.

Disposition returns to scale after winning The Sofitel

Akavaroun ran second with Pressing filling third place.

Having been on my feet for most of the afternoon, I decided it was time to go and get a drink and have a short rest. Whilst buying a beer  in the bar, the Sheraco Stakes (in Sydney) was being broadcast on the screen and I was delighted to see Catkins win it for a second time. A big cheer greeted her win. She won by a good margin from Echo Girl with Bounding running third. James McDonald, who rode Catkins, declared after the race that she was his favourite mare and that he’d marry her if she were human.

Anyway it was getting on for the next race, the Bobbie Lewis Quality. Rich Enuff was at very good odds despite being favourite, so I invested a few dollars each way on him.

I had photographed him in his stall earlier…

Rich Enuff in his stall

…but only saw the mounting yard assembly from a distance, being engaged in conversation with the same acquaintance I chatted to earlier, who also had his money on the favourite.

The race was won by the underrated Churchill Dancer from Under The Louvre and Gregers.

Rich Enuff had every opportunity, but finished sixth. Where to now?

Churchill Dancer returns to scale after winning the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

By the time the Makybe Diva Stakes was run, I’d been at the course for four hours.

The time slipped by swiftly so it didn’t feel that long and I’d not felt bored at any time.

There’s always a heightened excitement prior to a major race and I love the atmosphere it generates.

Here are some of the contenders in the mounting yard.

Alpine Eagle – finished 6th

Boban – finished 4th

Entirely Platinum – finished 3rd

Happy Trails – finished 5th

Rising Romance – finished 2nd

Weary – finished 9th

Mongolian Khan – finished 7th

Fawkner – the winner

The race resulted in a blanket finish with six or seven horses strung out across the expansive Flemington track, with Fawkner winning by a neck from Rising Romance with Entirely Platinum a further neck behind in third place. Less than a length separated the first six across the line.

I stayed for Race 8 , the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes which was won by 2014 Thousand Guineas winner Amicus, who emphatically signalled that she was back in contention for further Group glory. Precious Gem and May’s Dream filled the minor places.

Amicus returns to scale after winning the Let’s Elope Stakes

It had been a long day trackside. The weather was generally fine, except for a sprinkle of rain around midday; and I enjoyed the wide open spaces of Flemington getting plenty of exercise as a result. My few bets were all disastrous, seemingly putting the kiss of death on my selections. Hopefully my luck will change soon.

I missed watching the Golden Rose at the track, so watched the replay online when I got home. It was won by Exosphere from Speak Fondly and Sebring Sun.

Next week the racing is again at Caulfield, a low key meeting with the feature race being the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes.