Diamonds For Daumier

Daumier parades in the mounting yard after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes

A colt may have won the prized Blue Diamond Stakes, but the fairer sex took out the other two Group 1 races on Saturday at Caulfield.

The weather forecast was for an overcast day, but it turned out to be hot and sunny with a fast track, whilst in Sydney it looked very gloomy and inclement and the track was rated  a heavy 10.

As the main races I wanted to see were later in the day, I took my time getting to Caulfield and arrived a half hour before the running of Race 4.

This was the Angus Amanasco Stakes, a Group 2 race for three year old fillies, run over 1400 metres.  A field of blue blood fillies had accepted to run, including Argentia (Frankel –Princess  Coup ), Yearning (Snitzel - Rising Romance) and  Mokulua (Redoute’s Choice – Dear Demi). I remember the aforementioned fillies dams racing several years ago and winning prestigious races.

Argentia started as favourite, but was outgunned by Lavish Girl  who led from the start.  Argentia was blocked for a run, stuck on the inside rail,  so by the time she managed  to break clear Lavish Girl had too much of a lead to beat. Yearning finished third.

Lavish Girl maintains her lead to the finishing post

Argentia in hot pursuit of Lavish Girl

Yearning (black & gold) overtaking back markers up the straight

Our usual spot on the fence was occupied by a corporate event, so Rebecca and I had to settle slightly further from the winning post than we normally would.

Race 5 was the Peter Young Stakes, another Group 2 race, this time over 1800 metres.

The highly recognisable Cascadian was the favourite and proved his superior class by winning by half a length from Yonkers and Emissary.

Cascadian (blue) about to pass Yonkers, Emissary is behind them

Cascadian on his way to the barriers

Yonkers on his way to the barriers

Emissary on his way to the barriers

The first Group 1 of the day was the Futurity Stakes and set to run next up.

Tofane who won the Orr Stakes recently was favourite for the race, but she only managed to run third. Sierra Sue, who raced close to the pace in fourth spot, broke through to take the lead up the straight and won by over a length from Mo’unga bolting from mid field to run second.

Sierra Sue hits the front from race leader Turaath with Tofane in pursuit

Sierra Sue parades in the mounting yard after winning the Futurity Stakes

Naturally the Blue Diamond Stakes was the feature Group 1 race of the afternoon, but before that was run we watched the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes from Sydney  on the big screen. Wonder mare Verry Elleegant demonstrated that she had returned to her fighting best with a thrilling win, after disappointing at her first start a few weeks ago in the Apollo Stakes.

Saturday was the tenth year that I have attended the Blue Diamond meeting; my first time in 2012 I recall being a sizzling 40°C, and the feature race was won by Samaready. Also running that day was 2011 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Sepoy in the Oakleigh Plate,  2011 Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker in the Futurity Stakes and 2011 Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed in the Peter Young Stakes. I must say there were  more stars of the turf at that meeting 10 years ago than there were at this year’s edition.

Anyway the 2022 Blue Diamond was a puzzler with a pretty even field with no standouts. Jacquinot started favourite. It resulted in a win for Daumier who beat Revolutionary Miss by a short margin and Jacquinot ended up in third place.

Daumier, Revolutionary Miss & Jacquinot  in a line of three overtake race leader Semillion as they charge to the finish line.

We stayed on for the final Group 1 of the day, which was the Oakleigh Plate. I was keen to see unbeaten mare Marabi, who seems to have come from nowhere into prominence. She is a very lightly raced five year old mare having only contested seven races, but she has won them all by a good margin.

Such was the case in the Oakleigh Plate, Marabi winning easily from Away Game and Oxley Road to register her first Group 1 victory. It will be interesting seeing how she goes in her next race.

Marabi streets ahead of her rivals up the straight

Marabi parades in the mounting yard after winning the Oakleigh Plate

And so ended another Blue Diamond Stakes extravaganza. Next year it will be run at Sandown while the Caulfield track is upgraded, so I doubt if I will attend.

There are only three Saturday meetings remaining in the Melbourne Autumn Carnival, all at Flemington. I have tickets for all three and am looking forward to seeing the Australian Guineas next Saturday.

The world may be heading for world war three with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unsettling the world order, but at least there are still enjoyable outings to be had in the meantime, before hell breaks loose.

Tough Call - The 2015 Cox Plate

Top of the straight in the 2014 Cox Plate

It seems that the Cox Plate is going the way of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, with classy International racehorses making up a fair portion of the field.

Last year’s Cox Plate was won by the Aiden O”Brien trained Adelaide. It was a sensational win where Adelaide sustained a long wide swooping run to win on the line from the locally bred Fawkner and Silent Achiever.

Silent Achiever has retired to the breeding barn, but Fawkner is back for another go, along with the usual stalwart middle distance locals Criterion, Happy Trials and The Cleaner who all ran in the 2014 Cox Plate.  Mourinho missed out on a start last year, but has made the field this time round.

New faces include the Chris Waller contingent Kermadec, Preferment, and Winx the sole mare in the field, and Godolphin pair Complacent and Hartnell.

And then there are the Internationals, Arod, Highland Reel and Gailo Chop.

It’s a really tough race to assess as any one of the 14 entrants could win. In fact I haven’t a clue as to who the likely winner will be, though I have favourites whom I hope will win.

The Cleaner drew barrier 14 in last year’s Cox Plate, and didn’t gain his preferred leading position until the winning post (first time through), but this year he has barrier 2, where he’ll be able to take the lead without burning up too much energy. It would be great if he could sustain his run unopposed, but I doubt he’ll be given the chance. Whatever, he’ll keep the race honest.

Criterion is my top pick of the locals. He has drawn a good gate and will probably race mid field as he did last year, and inspires confidence after he won the Caulfield Stakes at his last start.

Mourinho is always underrated, but he has won at Moonee Valley in the past and he won his first Group 1 race when taking out the Underwood Stakes recently.

Fawkner who already has a Group 1 win (Makybe Diva Stakes) this season, ran a close second to Mourinho in the Underwood Stakes, which had him as early favourite for the Cox Plate, was uncomfortable on the hard track at his last start in the Caulfield Stakes, which lowered his colours somewhat. The track tomorrow will be softer for him. He was only just beaten by Adelaide last year, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him in the finish.

The last mare to win the Cox Plate was Pinker Pinker in 2011. Chris Waller regards Winx as a potential super star and is his top pick of his three Cox Plate runners.  She won the Group 1 Epsom by two and half lengths, and also won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. This will be the first time she has raced in Melbourne and at Moonee Valley no less. Who knows she may love the Valley, and be well and truly in the finish with her extraordinary turn of foot.

I fear however that the International entrants will steal the prize again. Arod and Highland Reel are the two most likely to take the Plate. Highland Reel is the current favourite in fact.

After writing the above I am no wiser as to who will win. You might as well stick a pin the form guide, it’s as good a method as any.

The Manikato Stakes on Friday night looks easier to suss, with Chautauqua being the standout runner.  He faces an excellent field that includes old warrior Buffering, arch rival Terravista, the revamped Rebel Dane, and smart sprinting mares Srikandi and Alpha Miss.

Everyone is saying that the 2015 Cox Plate is the classiest we’ve seen for years, so I’m glad I’ll be at the track to witness it.

The weather is expected to be mild and sunny, so no doubt the meeting will be as crowded as usual. Hopefully I can find a good spot to see the action and take photos.

Spring is in the air despite the rotten weather

RIP Typhoon Tracy

The spring racing season is gathering pace judging by the race card at Caulfield this coming Saturday, where three races have caught my attention; so much so I might venture out that way this weekend to take in the action.

But before considering the up and coming races, I feel I must comment on the tragic death of Typhoon Tracy earlier this week. She died, after delivering her first foal, from a suspected ruptured broad ligament. The foal, a colt by Street Cry, survived and is by all accounts doing well – there are some lovely photos of him on Peter Moody’s twitter - and he looks just like his mum. Tracy’s death is very sad news for those of us who followed her career until her retirement in 2011 after winning the Orr Stakes for a second time. She was one of my favourite racehorses at the time and she retired with six group one wins under her belt and as 2010 Horse of the Year.  I was looking forward to seeing her children race in the future, but now who knows if her foal, if he survives, will hit the racetrack. I like to think of her running around in horse heaven, part of a herd of class mares along with Sunline, Hot Danish and Pinker Pinker etc.

Other news of a disappointing kind, is that Atlantic Jewel will miss the spring season due to a tendon injury and Manawanui could well miss it as well, having performed under par during recent hit outs. And of course Black Caviar will not be seen this spring either, though there is a faint chance she will return in autumn next year if she is not retired.

So on to the racing card at Caulfield…

Races 3 and 4 are 1100 metre sprints for three year olds, the first being the Listed Vain Stakes for colts and geldings. The Travelling Man is one of the field of nine contestants. He ran third to Planet Voyage in his first run for the season, leading for most of the race to tire at the end. Planet Voyage is also running in the Vain Stakes and will most likely start favourite. Other chances are South Australian gelding Psychic Mick and Underestimation, who both have good form from autumn.

The Quezette Stakes is the fillies equivalent of the Vain Stakes and the exciting Samaready will be starting off her spring campaign in this.  She won the Blue Diamond Stakes then ran third in the Golden Slipper, before being spelled, so it will be interesting to see if she returns in winning form. Her main competition appears to come from Elite Elle, who is yet to be beaten after three starts, the last on heavy going and Ephemera, one of Peter Moody’s stable with Luke Nolen in the saddle.

The Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (formerly the Liston Stakes)  is the feature race of the meeting, and has attracted a classy field of middle distance runners. Heart of Dreams is one, Rekindled Interest is another, as is last start winner Ready To Rip. But interest will be focussed on Western Australian, Luckygray, who has been going great guns on his home turf with 10 wins from 13 starts. Also of interest is Seville, an European import and Zamorar who has only been narrowly beaten in his last three starts though expectations in each case were high. I have never seen Heart of Dreams in the flesh, though I have been following him for years, so am looking forward to seeing him live and maybe getting a good photo.

There’s also a nice mare’s race – the Group Three Cockram Stakes - following the PB Lawrence Stakes with the likes of Yosei, Glows, Lucky Penny and Le Societe among the chances.

In Sydney, All Too Hard will be kicking off his spring campaign in the San Domenico Stakes, a Group Three race over 1100 metres for three year olds. He faces a small but select field of five other runners, which include Driefontein and Snitzerland who was a close second to Pierro in the Golden Slipper Stakes in the autumn.

The weather in Melbourne has been cold and wet in the main over the past week or so, so the Caulfield track will most likely be rated on the slow side, especially as tomorrow’s weather prediction is for more rain. However it is likely to clear on Saturday, so a pleasant day at the races is not without hope and the light should be good for photographs.

Autumn Racing – Golden Slipper 2012

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

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

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

Back to the Rosehill meeting…

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Hot Day of Racing at Caulfield

Sepoy parading before the Oakleigh Plate

Gee, it was so hot on Saturday – a real sizzler -  that staying out for an extended length of time in the sun was impossible.

I also realised that taking photos in such conditions was less than perfect. The intense glare of the sun emphasised shadows, so most of my photographs of the day are darkish despite the bright background. There’s not much you can do to compensate, as all the professional photographers say that the best light occurs during the morning and late afternoon.

Arriving at the track shortly after the third race, my friend M and I went and had a look at the stalls.  They are in a shaded area, and those horses waiting for their races to come up were being walked around.

Stalls area

Sepoy was recognisable as one of those promenading. He’s a beautiful looking colt, a bright chestnut with a white diamond on his forehead. Also a real good looker, was The Travelling Man, a splendid bay colt with a very pretty head and a So You Think untrimmed forelock. He was my pick for the Blue Diamond, but alas he ran 6th.

The Travelling Man

Then it was time for the 4th race, the Angus Amanasco Stakes, a Group Two race for three year old fillies over 1400 metres.  Soft Sand was the favourite, but she lost out to Shopaholic who defeated Mosheen at her last outing and proved she wasn’t a one hit wonder.

The first Group One of the card was next – the Futurity Stakes where King Mufhasa started favourite and didn’t disappoint, winning narrowly from Pinker Pinker with Adamantium 1.8 lengths in third spot.

Pinker Pinker on her way to the barriers

King Mufhasa posing for the press corps after winning the Futurity Stakes

As it was so hot, we divided our time between hanging on the fence, taking photos at the Mounting Yard,  then retreating to the air conditioned comfort of the Norman Robinson Building.

Sepoy naturally was the favourite for the Oakleigh Plate and he had to lug the top weight of 58 kgs, which in the end defeated him. He lead most of the way, but the weight told on him during the final stages and he was overtaken by outsiders Woorim, Elite Falls and Facile Tigre who finished in that order. The trifecta must have paid a fortune! It’s a pity Sepoy could not have gone out a winner in his last run in Australia, but we can look forward to him competing in Dubai and England.

Favourites don’t often win the Blue Diamond Stakes, but for two years in a row, the favourite has proved the winner -  Sepoy won last year and this year smart filly Samaready took home the diamond. In fact it was a fillies trifecta, with No Looking Back running second and Armed for Action taking out third spot.

Samaready returning to scale, a triumphant Craig Newitt on her back

We stayed for the 8th race the Peter Young Stakes and watched the field in the mounting yard. I finally got a good photo of old Efficient, who because of his light colouring photographed OK...


Efficient parading in the mounting yard

…no so Southern Speed with her dark colouring


Southern Speed in the mounting yard

Imported stayers Lucas Cranach, Illo and Manighar ran first, second, third with Glass Harmonium (another import) in fourth spot. Southern Speed came fifth, but she can redeem herself I’m sure later in the season. 

In Sydney, Rain Affair took out his 9th win in succession in the Apollo Stakes. Shoot Out has shown that he has returned in great form, as he finished second. As the races get longer, he’ll hopefully be back in the winner’s circle again.

It was a pleasant day at the races, despite the extreme heat, but I think I will give attendance a miss for a while and watch the races in the comfort of my own home.

Besides, the music festival season is almost upon us, and the first of the concerts I have booked for, is next Saturday night with Ryan Adams solo. Only five more sleeps – can hardly wait.