Shooting for the Moon – another fine day at the races

Puissance de Lune posing with owners for the press corps after winning the P B Lawence Stakes

Though not a particularly profitable outing to the races, it was an interesting meeting enhanced by the remarkable win of Puissance de Lune in the feature race.

Fair weather for a change encouraged me to head off to Caulfield Racecourse for an afternoon of racing thrills.

The field for the Winslow Constructors Handicap amass behind the barrier

I arrived at the course in time for the third race, the Winslow Constructors Handicap run over 2000 metres. Ignoring my own instincts not to bet, I placed a small wager on Phantom Brewer, who failed to run a place. The Moody/Nolen/Caulfield combo resulted in a long overdue win for Hanks, who romped home at 35/1, defeating favourite Bells of Troy with Anagold running third.

Hanks after winning the Winslow Constructors Handicap

Killing time before the next race I went and checked out the stalls, hoping for a glimpse of star attraction Puissance de Lune.  Sure enough he was there and I managed to get some nice photos of him in his stall.

Puissance de Lune in his stall

He’s a very photogenic animal, with a compact powerful physique and a pretty face with gentle eyes. I took quite a few photos of him over the course of the afternoon.

The fourth race was the Group 3 Vain Stakes run over 1100 metres for three year old colts and geldings.  Safeguard nosed out the unlucky Fast N Rocking to win by the narrowest of margins, with Hill Spy filling third spot.

Safeguard returning to scale after winning the Vain Stakes

I had a small sentimental wager on Duran, but he raced very greenly and was never in the picture.

Hoping for better luck in the next race, the Quezette Stakes my fancy was Spirit of Heaven, but her stable mate Kiss A Rose took the prize with a run from last to first, stealing a victory over favourite Metastasio. Spirit of Heaven was badly held up in the straight, by a wall of horses and had no hope.

Kiss A Rose parades before the running of the Quezette Stakes

Race 6 was the feature P B Lawrence Stakes, so I returned to the stalls area to check out the scene. I snapped Puissance de Lune in his stall  being saddled up by trainer Darren Weir and Mitch Freedman his strapper, who had just had their attention distracted by one of the sizable crowd surrounding PDL’s stall, so it looks as if the shot was posed.

Trainer Darren Weir with Puissance de Lune & strapper Mitch Freedman

Back in the mounting yard the contestants were parading…

Second Effort (no. 1) and Launay (no. 2)

Puissance de Lune with Glen Boss in the saddle

The race was run a rattling pace with the lead being shared by Under The Sun and Ajeeb. Puissance de Lune dropped out to last and loped along several lengths behind the rest of the field. I was not worried as I knew he had a remarkable turn of foot. The young folks behind me were a tad concerned, one of them ringing his “lucky” bell, but as the horses flashed past it was noted that Puissance de Lune was making ground, and ridden hands and heels by Boss, sailed past Ajeeb, who was in the lead at that stage, and won easily by a length or so.

PB Lawrence finish down the straight – Puissance de Lune is about to overtake Ajeeb

Did we witness something outstanding? It’s early days yet, but Puissance de Lune looks to be extra special, a worthy replacement to fill the gap left by Black Caviar, All Too Hard, More Joyous and Pierro who have all retired. He certainly attracted a bigger crowd than expected at Caulfield and the fans gathered around his stall, though not to Black Caviar levels, were in respectable numbers.


Puissance de Lune parading after winning the P B Lawrence Stakes

Yesterday, Caulfield racecourse as part of its Back to Caulfield race day, recognised the 90th Anniversary of Legacy, so there were soldiers and machines of war on display, including a tank.


The army

 
Tank

But of course my focus was on the horses. Thanks to Puissance de Lune the day didn’t end with a total loss, as by the time the P B Lawrence Stakes was run, even though he was the favourite, his odds had risen to $3.60 with the Bookies, so I was able to recoup my losses on the previous races by placing a bet on him. You could say I was ‘over the moon’ when he won.

No More Joy – More Joyous Bows Out

 
More Joyous at Caulfield 2012

Sydney’s favourite racehorse, and superstar mare More Joyous has been retired and will be mated with Frankel, UK wonder horse, who like Black Caviar retired unbeaten.

I have followed More Joyous career since her first start way back in 2008 when she was a two year old.

Being a contemporary of Black Caviar, she was not accorded the fame and glory that was rightfully hers. She was a Stirling race mare who from 33 starts won 21 races, 10 of them at Group One level and at distances from 1100 metres to 2000 metres.

It is a pity that she goes out with a controversy; the infamous tiff between her owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse, but none of that was her fault, being an innocent beast who always strived to the best of her ability.

The autumn racing carnival was a ripper and ended with retirements  of some of the stars. All Too Hard, Pierro, Black Caviar, Glass Harmonium, Ortensia, Danleigh all have been retired along with More Joyous, and tragically grand old trooper Rangirangdoo was euthanised after breaking down in his last race two weeks ago.

The spring racing season is only a couple of months away, so we’ll have to look for new stars to obsess over. A few spring to mind already – Super Cool, Fiveandahalfstar, Miracles of Life, It’s A Dundeel – and will return in the springtime to fight out the feature races.

After Caviar – The Doncaster Mile

Pierro in action – racing this Saturday in the Doncaster Mile

The racing news recently has all been about the retirement of  Black Caviar, but racing fans can console themselves with the continuing action of the Sydney Racing Carnival, when Royal Randwick hosts the Doncaster Mile meeting with two Group One races on the cards, the Doncaster being one of them.

The other is the Australian Oaks for three year old fillies over 2400 metres.

It has a pretty evenly matched field, the early favourite being Habibi who ran third in the Vinery Stud Stakes behind Norzita. Prior to that run she won the New Zealand Derby. Fellow New Zealander More Than Sacred also has a good chance. She won the New Zealand Oaks at her last run so can run the distance. Of the local fillies Dear Demi can’t be dismissed out of hand, despite her less than inspiring performances in recent races. Then there’s Longport who ran second in the Vinery Stud Stakes and Royal Descent, who won her last start easily in weaker company, who could well take home the prize. 

The track on Saturday at Randwick will most likely be on the slow side as Sydney has received plenty of rain this week, so mudrunners are the go.

The Doncaster Mile has attracted a full field of acceptances, and a classy field it is. This race has been won by champions of the turf, such as Sunline, who won it twice. More Joyous was last year’s winner, but she is not contesting it this year. Her young stable mate Pierro will represent the Gai Waterhouse stable in the Doncaster, and he has the class to win it and could only be defeated by the weight he has to carry(57kgs) which is a bit of a burden for a three year old. Anyway, he’ll start as the favourite, and could well prevail. He has won on slow going several times, so the track condition will not trouble him. I’d really like my old favourite Shoot Out to win. He ran second last year, but this year he is top weight, but only 1kg above that of Pierro. He loves Randwick and the 1600 metres suits, and he also handles soft tracks. Other than Pierro, he may be  challenged by  lightweight filly Norzita who is in fine form at the moment, and class mares Appearance, Streama , Red Tracer and Secret Admirer. Of the boys, Lamasery and Alma's Fury look next best dressed.

There is a possibility that the Doncaster will be Pierro’s last race before retirement and All Too Hard will be having his final race Saturday week before retiring to stud. So two more stars of the turf will be missing from the scene come springtime.

I’ll be at Caulfield to farewell Black Caviar. She will be parading down the straight shortly after race 4 (about 2.10pm) with Luke in the saddle. No doubt it will be a moving occasion and hopefully I will finally get the perfect photo.

Update: Saturday Night

The heavy (10) track at Randwick caused upset wins in the two feature races. Royal Descent won the Oaks from Dear Demi and Gondokoro, and Sacred Falls won the Doncaster with Pierro running second and Norzita third. It was a good day however for Sydney trainer Chris Waller who trained both Royal Descent and Sacred Falls.

My day at Caulfield was quite something else; a deeply moving and memorable occasion, which I will expand upon tomorrow with photos.

Sydney Racing Carnival – Derby Day with Caviar

 
Black Caviar – Cox Plate Day 2011

I missed previewing Golden Slipper day last week, due to multiple distractions (renovations) destroying my concentration and desire to write. However, I did watch the splendid race card that featured five Group One races.

Despite the slow track, it was mostly a day for favourites to win. The Gai Waterhouse trained filly Overreach won the Golden Slipper, Norzita won the Vinery Stud Stakes, Fiveandahalfstar won the BMW,  Pierro won the George Ryder Stakes and Appearance was victorious in the Queen of the Turf Stakes, where the favoured More Joyous, was blocked for a run when it counted and failed to run a place.

This week, the newly (only partly) renovated Randwick racecourse features three Group One races – the Sires Produce Stakes for two year olds, the Australian Derby and the T J Smith Stakes, which will, weather permitting, star Black Caviar gunning for her 25th win in succession, and 15th at Group One level.

The first to run of the Group One races is the Sires Produce Stakes, which is run over 1400 metres. Can Overreach, who is backing up in this race, take her winning streak to four?  It seems a hard ask after the arduous Golden Slipper, but one assumes she is fit for it.  Several of her opponents are in the same boat. Guelph, Charlie Boy, Villa Verde  and Windjammer all ran in the Slipper too, and Champollion contested and won the Group Three Ballieu Handicap last Saturday as well and could represent her biggest threat. There’s also Scandiva, a relation to Black Caviar who has won her last two starts and can’t be overlooked.

The Australian Derby is the seventh race on the card, and is a test of stamina for young stayers over 2400 metres. At the beginning of this week, there was keen anticipation for a clash between Fiveandahalfstar and It’s A Dundeel, with their diverse styles of racing being pivotal to the interest – the front runner versus the swooper – but Fiveandahalfstar has been ruled out with a leg injury.

So now it looks a done deal, judging by the way It’s A Dundeel won the Rosehill Guineas - by 6 lengths – and he is understandably the hot favourite.  However, at his only run over 2400 metres in the Victoria Derby last spring, he failed to run a place,  so there is a question mark over his ability to run out the trip. His breeding (High Chaparral x Stareel (out of Zabeel) indicates he can do it and his trainer reckons he’ll win on class alone. He was only a baby when contesting the Victoria Derby (technically two years old) and at the end of a hard campaign, so there are excuses for his failure then. 

There are three other High Chaps in the Derby – High Shot, Hippopus and Kingdoms, so it would be interesting if two of them ran the trifecta, as happened when Shoot Out won the race  in 2010 against Descarado.and Monaco Consul. Might be worth a modest wager on the boxed trifecta.

At the moment Philippi looks the main threat along with Bass Straight and Hvasstan if he handles the clockwise direction of running in Sydney, which he failed to do when he contested  the Rosehill Guineas.

Sydney Racing has scheduled the T J Smith Stakes as the last race on the cards, basically forcing people who are attending only to see Black Caviar, to stay at the course till stumps, similar to Moonee Valley Racing Club’s strategy on William Reid Stakes night recently.

Well, she is a star act and worth waiting to see. Black Caviar, if she runs – Peter Moody has stated that she won’t run if the track is rated heavy – faces ten opponents this time. It must be the biggest field she has run in for quite some time.  Old rival, Hay List fronts in this too as does Sea Siren, Rain Affair and speedy relative Bel Sprinter who was sensational winning The Galaxy a few weeks ago.  Still I doubt any of them can beat the super mare, who is in top form according to Peter Moody.

As the Sydney’s weather is expected to be fine for the rest of the week, there’s every chance that the track will be rated dead to good on Saturday and Black Caviar will bag her quarter century of wins.

Update – Saturday Night

What a fantastic day of racing yet again!

The star of the show was undoubtedly It’s A Dundeel, demolishing the Derby field with a six length win. They’re calling him the “pocket rocket” as he’s only a small horse, but he has a remarkable turn of foot. Philippi ran second and Kingdoms, who led the field for most of the race, hung on for third. The High Chap trifecta didn’t happen-close though. I am feeling rather privileged to have seen him in the flesh last year. I noted at the time that he looked special.

And let’s not forget the mighty mare Black Caviar, effortlessly scoring her 25th win in succession, and breaking several more records – such as going beyond Kingston Town’s record of 14 Group One wins.

As Gerard Whateley wrote in my copy of the Black Caviar book, we are living in extraordinary times.

The Moonee Valley Spectacular – Black Caviar Wins Again

Black Caviar cruises to victory in the William Reid Stakes

Nobody could doubt my devotion to Black Caviar, after the trouble I went through to see her win her twenty fourth race in succession.

I started out from home at about 7.15pm aiming to catch the 7.20pm bus to Moonee Valley. However, as the bus passes directly by the Moonee Valley racecourse, it was held up in the crush of cars entering the course and didn’t arrive at my bus stop until 7.50pm.

So I was a bit latish getting to Moonee Valley, arriving just before the start of race 6, the Group Two Sunline Stakes. There was no time to put on a bet, but I watched the race in the Bookies ring on a small screen TV.  Spirit Song continued her good form with a win, defeating Lights of Heaven.

Before checking out the stalls area, I ventured out to the public lawn – it was packed to the rafters as expected, though I noted there was breathing space at the top of straight, where I might possibly squeeze into a space on the fence.

I then went to the stalls area, hoping for a glimpse of the star in or near her stall (Stall 54).

Her stall was heavily guarded by a group of security guys…

… and there was a horde of people crowded around the fence adjacent to the stall.

Taking photos in the lighting conditions was pretty challenging, but I did manage to shoot a few not too bad photos, e.g. the following photo of Black Caviar in the walking ring close to her stall.

Black Caviar being walked as she waits for her race to begin.

When I arrived back on the public lawn I managed to insinuate myself into a spot on the fence to watch the next race and await the main event.

The practice and patience acquired when waiting to get into concerts, held me in good stead in this case, as it was a long wait after the second last race. From where I was standing it was fairly removed from the interim entertainment, so it really was of no interest to me. My thoughts were “Get on with it already”. They showed a documentary on the big screen, featuring Black Caviar’s racing career, with interviews with Peter Moody and Luke Nolen etc. Then Darryl Braithwaite performed a few songs, which the portion of crowd closest to the action, seemed to enjoy immensely.  The girl standing next to me sang along and I thought I would have the lyrics on my brain forever. Fortunately they didn’t take, and I’ve forgotten what they were.

I was surrounded by two groups of rural folks, who had been at the course since 5.00pm and were having a wonderful time. Typical of the crowd, which as I’ve said before, is quite different to other racing crowds.

Finally the moment arrived when Black Caviar trotted onto the track to the accompaniment of rousing cheers. You don’t have to look at the screen when Black Caviar is racing to see what’s happening- the crowd reaction tells all.

She cantered up the top end and I managed to get a photo as she went past. She looks quite sleepy here, but obviously woke up in the race.

Black Caviar on her way to the barriers

And then there was the race, run at a fairly casual pace. Karuta Queen led for most of the way, Black Caviar looming right beside her. After turning into the straight, Black Caviar put the rest of the field behind her in a few strides and won comfortably from Karuta Queen with four lengths to spare. 

The crowd were delirious with happiness, having witnessed an historic moment in racing history. Black Caviar, now with 14 Group One races on her CV, equalled the record set by Kingston Town in the 1980s.

As usual, Luke Nolen guided the great mare back up the track to the top of the straight to give everyone a chance to see her, and cheer her.

Black Caviar on a victory walk after winning the William Reid Stakes

After such a star act, there was nothing to do but find a way to get home.

Unfortunately the bus to my place stops services at 8.00pm, so I had to think of an alternative method of getting home.

The queue for taxis was a mile long, so I decided to walk up to Moonee Ponds Junction and take a tram into the city.  A large crowd was waiting on the tram stop when I got there, and it took at least 15 minutes for a tram to even arrive as traffic jams, caused by people leaving the racecourse, had delayed tram services along Mt Alexander Rd. 

I made it home eventually, two hours after I left the course. What an ordeal! But worth it I suppose to see history as it happens.

As remarked before, Moonee Valley was chockers with 25,000 people crammed into the compact course – surely a record for a night meeting and most certainly at Cox Plate levels. They all would have fitted more comfortably at Flemington, but then again Moonee Valley has that special quality all its own.

Saturday’s racing at Rosehill resulted in some surprise long shot winners – Foreteller beat Fiveandahalfstar in the Ranvet Stakes, Appearance won a thriller in the Coolmore Classic, and Pierro beat More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes.  I only had one bet yesterday, on Criterion in the Todman Stakes at Rosehill. He paid $7.50 for the win and won me a tidy $75.00.

The Australian Guineas – Easy for All Too Hard

All Too Hard – Caulfield 23/2/13

Tomorrow is officially Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, and the weather today, after two weeks of 30C plus temperatures, has cooled down considerably to mark the change of seasons.

More appropriate one would think for the Melbourne Autumn racing carnival, which continues this weekend at Flemington, featuring the Group One Australian Guineas. 

It is a race for three year olds over 1600 metres and has attracted a full field of 16 youngsters willing to take on All Too Hard. He is certainly living up to his big sister’s accomplishments, so far this season being unbeaten with two Group One races on the trot. He should be able to add the Australian Guineas to his record on Saturday as he is the standout performer in the field. He has drawn Barrier 14, but that shouldn’t be a problem as he usually runs towards the middle or end of the field, then storms home late.  The best of his opposition appear to be Philippi, Sheer Talent, Force Command, Ajeeb and sole filly You’re So Good who will possibly be fighting for the minor places.

In Sydney at Rosehill the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400 metres) is the most interesting race of the day. It has a super field with triple crown winner Pierro resuming, as well as Proisir. It’s A Dundeel, Rebel Dane, Mulaazem and Sacred Falls, all very smart colts, will ensure that it is an exciting race. Gai Waterhouse insists that Pierro is better than All Too Hard, and so we all thought until All Too Hard beat Pierro in the Caulfield Guineas.  Whether the two colts will meet again in competition remains to be seen.

I will not be attending the races this weekend, but think I might go along to the Newmarket/Australian Cup meeting the following weekend. I’ve never been to it, so should at least experience the autumn super Saturday at Flemington at least once in my life.

Meanwhile, here at home, renovations are in full swing. I won’t elaborate here, but write a separate post soon.

Update Sunday:

All Too Hard was scratched from the Guineas early yesterday morning, reportedly suffering from a cold.

The race was won by Ferlax, not one of the fancied runners with filly You’re So Good running second and Sheer Talent coming third. Ferlax was having his first city run, though he had previously won his first three runs on country tracks. I must say I dismissed him as a likely chance when I looked at the form. That’s horse racing, as they say.

A Day At The Races – Cox Plate 2012

Cox Plate finish – All Too Hard leads with Ocean Park coming hard on his outside.

Yesterday dawned into a bright morning that became overcast with heavy grey clouds in the west threatening rain. But the rain held off, and even though the afternoon was cool and cloudy it stayed fine throughout.

I arrived at Moonee Valley racecourse just before the fourth race, the Telstra Phonewords Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres. Wending my way through the bookies area, I placed a bet on Hidden Warrior and found my way to the public lawn at the top of the straight to a vacant spot on the fence to watch the race. To my delight, Hidden Warrior won from Haussmann and Chosen Moment.

 
Race 4 finish from the top of the straight. Hidden Warrior leads by several lengths.

After collecting my winnings – Hidden Warrior paid very well -  I decided to go and watch the Race 5 contenders parade, being particularly interested in It’s A Dundeel. He’s a stunning looking colt by High Chaparral and has a certain presence about him.

 
It’s A Dundeel (No 1) with Viking Star (No 2) and Super Cool (No 4) on their way to the barriers.

Unfortunately It’s A Dundeel didn’t win - his first defeat in his short career. He raced at the tail of the field for most of the race, and the winner Super Cool was too flash for him in the finish. Viking Star ran third.

 
Race 5 finish from the top of the straight – Super Cool leads, with If I Could on his outside, It’s A Dundeel is in the middle and Viking Star in fourth spot.

The next race on the cards was the Drake International Moonee Valley Cup run over 2500 metres.  Killing time before the race I checked out the contestants.

Ironstein who ran third


Vatuvei the eventual winner

The Peter Moody/Luke Nolen combination resulted in a win for Vatuvei with Reuben Percival running second and Ironstein third.

Whilst in the parade area I  checked out the stalls and came across Shoot Out and Rangirandoo in adjacent stalls.

Shoot Out


Rangirangdoo

Rangirangdoo was being kitted out for the next race on the card, the Crystal Mile. I put a small wager each way on him and Solzhenitsyn and they ran second and third respectively behind Silent Achiever.


Solzhenitsyn on his way to the barriers


Silent Achiever on her way to the barriers

By this time it was about 4.35pm and the excitement was building towards the feature race. Having been on my feet all afternoon, I thought I deserved a quiet sit down, so I went to the parade ground for a rest and waited for the Cox Plate horses to parade.

Pierro was out first long before any of the other runners made it the ring. He appears to be a very well behaved and calm young fellow, as if he’d done it all many times before.


Pierro

Proisir, another of Gai Waterhouse’s runners, was all fired up and toey.

Proisir

More Joyous, who was very unlucky in the Cox Plate, having to race wide the whole trip, was the third of Gai Waterhouse’s entrants in the Plate.


More Joyous

The winner Ocean Park…

 
Ocean Park

All Too Hard was only beaten by a neck in the Cox Plate – so near yet so far, but an excellent run on his part.


All Too Hard

I had my money on Green Moon, but he was very disappointing in his run, finishing 7th.

Green Moon

Shoot Out had to be reshod before he took his place in the parade ring, and was the last horse to emerge. He ran 5th in the Cox Plate.


Shoot Out

Southern Speed ran 6th and I finally managed to get a reasonable photo of her.


Southern Speed

Unlike last year the weather stayed fine and the sun even emerged for the running of the Cox Plate.

Where I was positioned, on the fence near the top of the straight, the Cox Plate barrier is placed for the start of the race. Thus I was able to snap a photo of the start, and the first rush down the straight.

 
Horses jostle for position in the first run down the straight – More Joyous leads in this shot, Ocean Park (red cap, purple silks) is just behind with the main bunch and Linton (grey horse) after blowing the start, is being well held. Southern Speed is on his inside and Shoot Out (red and gold stripes) is on the inside of Southern Speed.

In the end Ocean Park overtook All Too Hard to win on the line with Pierro running third several lengths behind.  And another Cox Plate had been run and won.

I had an enjoyable day at the races, and managed to avoid most of the crowds, having last year figured out that the top of the straight is the place to be. I had no trouble placing bets in the Bookies Ring or finding a spot on the fence to watch the races. I didn’t win heaps, but I didn’t lose much either, keeping my bets modest. I ended up with one win, two seconds and two thirds.

Many young females were huddling under blankets and coats, their flimsy racing costumes unsuitable for the cool weather. I didn’t notice any really outrageous costumes where I was, most people in the area being sensibly garbed.

Actually the crowd didn’t appear to be as large as last year, when Black Caviar was the added attraction. However, the running of the Manikato Stakes on the Friday night before the Cox Plate may have made a difference to the numbers. Speaking of the Manikato Stakes it was great to see the very classy Sea Siren win it in style – about the only Group One victory for the girls this spring racing season.

Crowd Scene

I didn’t stay for the final race and managed to catch the second last bus home.

It’s a great day, Cox Plate day and I hope to repeat the experience for many years to come.  Francesca Cumani explains it in detail here.

More Thrills In The Offing– 2012 Cox Plate

Green Moon – A top pick for the Cox Plate.

Another superb day of racing is coming up this Saturday with Moonee Valley featuring the famous (and my favourite of the BIG three) WFA championship of the spring  - the Cox Plate.  The Cox Plate has attracted a quality field with a mix of tried and true WFA performers and young upstarts. More about that later.

Moonee Valley Racing Club have decided this year to run the Manikato Stakes the night before the Cox Plate. I remember that some years back it was the first Group One race of the Spring racing carnival in mid September, but these days racing clubs change races around at will to fit some vision they have for their club.  I don’t intend to go to Manikato Stakes night, preferring daytime racing. The daytime Cox Plate meeting has a better race card with several fascinating Group Two and Three races occurring before the big event.

The Manikato Stakes however does look to be an interesting race, with Sydney mare Sea Siren making her first appearance this spring. She won the BTC Cup/Doomben 10,000 double in the autumn, defeating Buffering in the latter by a short margin. These two will clash again in the Manikato Stakes.  Buffering is in excellent form, winning his last two starts, .and has the edge, as he’s raced and won at Moonee Valley recently, whereas Sea Siren has not raced in Melbourne ever, yet with her weight advantage Sea Siren may give Buffering a damn good run for the money. Also in with a chance are Bel Sprinter another with winning Moonee Valley form, the always competitive Satin Shoes, Hallowell Belle and Ready to Rip who ran second to Buffering in the Moir Stakes recently.

So on to Cox Plate day…

The first of the Group races is Race 4, the Group 3 Telstra Phoneworks Stakes, a race over  1200 metres for three year olds. Chosen Moment and Hidden Warrior look the top picks, the former having the benefit of Craig Williams in the saddle. It appears to be an evenly talented field with a number of chances – last start winner Cavalry Rose for one, Stars In The Sky also, and South Australian Essay Raider for another.

Things heat up in Race 5, the Group 2 Mitchelton Wines Vase, run over the Cox Plate distance of 2040 metres and also for three year olds. Unbeaten New Zealand star It’s A Dundeel is the top pick and pretty well a dead cert winner (touch wood). He’s having a practice run before tackling the Victoria Derby the following Saturday. Viking Star, If I Could and Super Cool appear to be the next best dressed and could run a place.

The Group 2 Drake International Cup (formerly the Moonee Valley Cup) is run over 2500 metres and is for stayers still trying to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. I must admit I find the field for this race a tad uninspiring. You’ve got the unpredictable Precedence again, Moudre who finished 14th in the Caulfield Cup last week, Reuben Percival. also ho hum, Ibicenco an International runner from the Luca Cumani stable, and probably the pick of the litter along with Midas Touch who has a bit of form in recent races though nothing spectacular.

Race 6 the Crystal Vase is a completely different and more classy Group 2 race run over 1600 metres. Though only 7 runners have accepted it looks to be a very interesting race. Toorak Handicap winner Solzhenitsyn is the one to beat. Good old Rangirangdoo is top weight, but on his day he is very competitive, like his recent second to his stable mate, Shoot Out, in the George Main Stakes and moreover he won this race in 2009.  The consistent Ambidexter cannot be overlooked and Tokugawa has won at Moonee Valley in the recent past.

The Cox Plate will be run slightly earlier this year, so I can relax and not rush for the bus directly after the race as I had to do last year. The change from running the race at 5.35pm to 5.15pm has something to do with the Television coverage. The interval between races will be reduced to 35 minutes as opposed to the usual 40 minutes. Suits me fine as killing time between races can be a bit boring if you’re solo and not partying.

Let us now consider the Cox Plate…

A full field of 14 runners will compete in this powerhouse competition. It looks an excellent field this year with outstanding Group One performers like More Joyous, Green Moon, Shoot Out, Ocean Park, Sincero, Rekindled Interest and Southern Speed all in the mix. Then you’ve got the top three year olds of the year, Pierro, All Too Hard and Proisir in with a lightweight chance.  I am torn between Green Moon and Ocean Park as my top fancies, and I would love it if old favourite Shoot Out scored an upset win. He ran in this race in 2010, finishing 4th behind So You Think. Gai Waterhouse is having a disappointing Melbourne spring carnival, with none of her top racehorses scoring a win so far, so I dare say she is hoping one of her three runners can win this prestigious race.

If Pierro hadn’t been beaten in the Caulfield Guineas, I would understand why he is the favourite for this race. At the moment I find it really puzzling. He has never run past 1600 metres and he has not raced in open company before. However, his grandsire Octagonal, who also failed to win the Caulfield Guineas won the Cox Plate in 1995 at the age of three. I was there that day and remember the race vividly. Also, Pierro’s sire, Lonhro, ran in the race in 2002 and 2003, running 6th and 3rd respectively. Remember Helmet last year? He was one of the favourites for the 2011 Cox Plate after winning the Caulfield Guineas and though he ran a game race, he did not feature in the finish. And he didn’t win or place in a race ever again.

The other three year olds All Too Hard and Proisir could be given just as much chance as Pierro, with All Too Hard being the better of the two, no matter what Gai Waterhouse thinks.

The weather on Saturday is expected to be around 17°C with a few showers clearing. The track should be rated good to dead and excellent for racing. I expect the crowd to be large, but as Black Caviar is not part of the action this year, maybe not as crowded as last year.

Whatever the weather and the crowd, I’m really looking forward to seeing my favourite racehorses in action and maybe getting some good photos of Shoot Out in particular.

UPDATE: Saturday night


2012 Cox Plate Start

What a fab day at the races! Full of interesting events  and not too crowded, at least where I was standing at the top of the straight. New Zealand star Ocean Park won the Cox Plate overtaking All Too Hard just before the line, with Pierro running third. It’s the first time a New Zealand horse has won the Plate since Sunline in 2001.

The other New Zealand star It’s A Dundeel, a striking and attractive colt, was beaten for the first time in his career by Super Cool.

I’ll write a fuller account of my day at the races soon, with more photos.

A Day At The Races – Caulfield Guineas Day

 
More Joyous being exercised in the walking ring an hour before her race, the Toorak Handicap.

The weather in Melbourne recently has been pretty awful, so it was pleasant to wake up yesterday morning to sunshine. And sunny in the main it was,  clouds, and a bit of drizzle, moving in later in the afternoon, thus perfect for a day at the races.

I reached Caulfield Racecourse just before the second race, the Blue Sapphire Stakes, where top filly Snitzerland was taking on the boys. She prevailed, beating Fire Thunderbolt by a ½ neck, with Lankan Rupee a ½ head third. Sizzling ran fourth, which made me wonder in retrospect why I didn’t take my own advice (in my preview) and box the first four and win a goodly sum.  However I didn’t even have a bet on this race.

 
Race two finish – Snitzerland in the centre overtaking Lankan Rupee on her inside with Fire Thunderbolt  running down the outside.

Race Three was the Thoroughbred Club Stakes for three year old fillies. I decided to back Hoss Amor, who started favourite but failed to run a place. Cavalry Rose won, beating Saturn Rock by a head, with Mareeza running into third place 1½ lengths away.


Race three finish – Cavalry Rose leads

A big crowd attended the meeting yesterday, but despite that I found it easy to find a spot on the fence to watch the action. It was a friendly and cheerful crowd – good vibes all round. I failed to take photos of outrageous costumes – and there were a few – but the ones that took the prize were two young men dressed as a cowboy and indian. The indian was tied to a tree, and I noticed the cowboy being interviewed and videotaped as I wandered past.

Race four, the Schillaci Stakes was the first of the Group races of the afternoon. Buffering was hot favourite and he won comfortably from Golden Archer with Stirling Grove running third.


Buffering heading to the barriers prior to the race

The excitement was building for the first of the Group One races the Caulfield Stakes, so after putting my money Ocean Park, I found a good spot on the fence to watch the race.  Ocean Park was one of the few favourites to win on the day, narrowly beating Alcopop by ¼ length with Sincero a nose away third.


Ocean Park returning to scale after winning the Caulfield Stakes

More Joyous started favourite and top weight in the Group One Toorak Handicap. She tried hard, but the weight she carried got the better of her, as lightweight chances Solzhenitsyn and Spirit Song surged past her and left her in their wake. Solzhenitsyn, a $10,000 bargain buy from Queensland, won narrowly from Spirit Song with Yosei running into third place. More Joyous finished fourth.


Solzhenitsyn in the mounting yard prior to the race

It is now old news that star colt Pierro was beaten by the underrated All Too Hard in the Caulfield Guineas.  After showing no signs of his earlier brilliance in his last three starts, and getting a reputation for missing the start of his races, All Too Hard who is Black Caviar’s younger half brother, surprised everyone yesterday with his gutsy win. The jury is still out on Pierro’s performance and Nash Rawiller’s ride, but it is disappointing that his reputation is now tarnished. We all love a star and he was the great white hope of  Australian racing. Still champs get beaten, and many of the greats of the turf have been beaten in the Caulfield Guineas – So You Think, Denman to name a few.

Back to the race…

I found a good spot next to the mounting yard to watch the parade and snap a few photos.

Pierro

All Too Hard


Epaulette

I did not see the finish of the race as I decided to stay near the mounting yard and my view was blocked by owners and strappers of the participants, so at first I thought Pierro had prevailed, but the news that Pierro had been beaten was soon clear.


All Too Hard sashed after winning the Caulfield Guineas

I stayed for the next race the Herbert Power Stakes which was won by French horse Shahwardi from Excluded and Exceptionally, then called it quits and caught the train home.

It was long day, enjoyable but not profitable. I only had four bets which resulted in one win and one place. The weather was lovely most of the afternoon and I even got slightly sunburnt, but we watched the Herbert Power Stakes in a light shower of rain.

The Caulfield Cup will be run next weekend, but I will not be attending that meeting. Yesterday the crowd was bearable, but I imagine it will be much more squashy next week. I intend to go to the Cox Plate the week later – it has a much more interesting race card.

PS: Click photos for larger view.