Super Saturday at Flemington

Chautauqua returns to scale after winning the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning

The grey flash, Chautauqua returns to the scene of his latest victory, to attempt the Lightning/Newmarket double at Flemington this coming Saturday. He is the top weight on 58kg and has drawn the outside barrier, but he is the one to beat, and will probably start as favourite. 

Ten other horses will be trying to one up him, the most threatening being the Chris Waller contingent Delectation and Japonisme. Terravista is missing from the field, so that’s one less to worry about. Last year the Newmarket Handicap was won by the lightweighted three year old Brazen Beau who relegated Chautuaqua to second, so that gives Japonisme, sole filly Secret Agenda, Counter Attack and Keen Array all a chance.  A new name in the eastern states racing scene is Black Heart Bart (great name!), another West Australian galloper now trained by Darren Weir,who will be having his first start in the east in the Newmarket. 

As well as the Newmarket Handicap, Flemington hosts the Group 1 Australian Cup a race over 2000 metres for middle distance runners and stayers.

Old campaigner, Happy Trails is pitted against the younger brigade, the top picks being Bow Creek and Preferment along with mares, Rising Romance, Suavito and Fenway. It has been a long time since a mare has won the Australian Cup, Makybe Diva being the last in 2005, but the above girls have been holding their own against the boys, so one of them could steal the show.

Mourinho was an acceptor for the Australian  Cup, but he was scratched today having succumbed to an old tendon injury, which signifies the end of his racing career.

There is a fine support card at Flemington that includes the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes, Blamey Stakes and Kewney Stakes, but I’m not going to preview them here.

And at Rosehill the feature race is the Group 1 Coolmore Classic, a race for fillies and mares over 1500 metres. Unbeaten filly Ghisoni is the current favourite, but she’ll have to beat classy mares like Lucia Valentina, Politeness, Solicit, Amicus, Zanbagh and Azkadellia.

We have been experiencing a late summer heat wave here in Melbourne over the past two weeks, though yesterday it rained practically all day – welcome after the long dry spell – but today, Friday it’s back to being sunny and humid, so the Flemington track shouldn’t be affected all that much.

Tomorrow is forecast to be mild and overcast with a chance of rain in the afternoon.  Those conditions suit me fine, as I intend to soak up the racing action with the last Group 1 race meet for Melbourne’s autumn racing season. Australian Cup Day is always enjoyable, not overcrowded like the spring carnival and generally pretty laid back.

Extreme Choice Shines in the Blue Diamond

Extreme Choice parades in the mounting yard after winning the 2016 Blue Diamond Stakes

Last Saturday, Melbourne woke to a mild sunny day that was perfect for attending the first class race meeting at Caulfield, where three excellent Group 1 competions delivered on their promise of thrilling racing action.

As planned, I arrived at Caulfield Racecourse about 20 minutes before Race 3, the Angus Armanesco Stakes was scheduled to start and watched the fillies parade in the mounting yard…

Catch A Fire

Mossin’ Around

Pasadena Girl

Egypt

… then found a good postition on the fence to observe the race.

Pasadena Girl started as favourite, and performed really well, running third to runaway longshot winner Catch A Fire, who beat Mossin’ Around by over two lengths.

Down the straight in the Angus Armanesco Stakes - Catch A Fire leads the rest of the field.

Catch A Fire’s saddlecloth number was 8, and remarkably horses wearing saddlecloth number 8 won four of the nine races on the program.

As Mahuta had been scratched from the Autumn Classic (race 4) the new race favourite was Tally (number 8 saddlecloth) who justified his support by easily winning the race from Flying Light and Top Ravine.

I watched this race from the other side of the stalls area. The prime spot on the hill above the stalls area was fenced off to restrict the area to young members. What a waste of a useful space! There were more security personnel than young members so it was observed.

Race 4  finish just past the winning post – Tally (blue silks) leads

Tally on his way to the barriers

Flying Light on his way to the barriers

Top Ravine returns to scale

Whilst in the stalls area, and as there were a wealth of horsey stars in attendance, I cruised through to see them.

Extreme Choice in his stall – as good as gold

Flying Artie next door

Zamzam smooching with her strapper

Fell Swoop – ear muffed to keep him calm

Flamberge

Mourinho with his devoted strapper

Suavito

Fawkner

The United States

The beautiful Turn Me Loose – photos don’t do him justice

Back trackside, Race 5, the Peter Young Stakes was about to begin.

Irish import Bow Creek, whom I’ve overlooked despite other pundits having a high opinion of him, started as favourite, and finally delivered on his promise with a convincing win in the 1800 metre race. Fenway finished second. Good old Mourinho who was kicked by Fenway before the start of the Orr Stakes, and passed fit to race, and finished second last,  ran third in the Peter Young Stakes, which he won last year.

Bow Creek on his way to the barriers

Fenway on her way to the barriers

Fawkner on his way to the barriers

Happy Trails on his way to the barriers

Mourinho on his way to the barriers

Fawkner finished a distant third last after a torrid run six horses wide. He may be a spent force, so it wouldn’t surprise if he was retired. Happy Trails fared slightly better finishing seventh. Bow Creek was outstanding, as he missed the start and had to make up ground, then was held up by a wall of horses, but after finding a gap he exploded away to win by 1½ lengths.

Peter Young Stakes finish – Bow Creek breaks through.

The first of the Group 1 races, the Futurity Stakes was up next, and with its classy field was the best race of the afternoon.

As it was a 1400 metres race, I went back to the spot on the other side of the stalls area.

The race lived up to its promise, with Turn Me Loose the popular winner.  This time he raced back in third or fourth spot instead of leading, and surged late to grab Suavito (third) and Stratum Star (second) to win by ¾ length. Hucklebuck overraced in the earlier part of the race and ended up uncharacteristically leading, then faded to finish eigth. Unfortunately Boban bled from both nostrils and is banned from racing, so that is the last we’ll see of him, which is a pity as he was great horse on his day.

Boban

Stratum Star

Hucklebuck & Stratum Star

Politeness

Scissor Kick

Suavito

The United States

Turn Me Loose

Futurity Stakes – just past the winning post -  head on shot

For the Blue Diamond Stakes I returned to the public lawn and grabbed a good spot early to see the young things head out to the track.

The late afternoon sunlight was glaring and bad for photos, so the few I took are darkish.

However, I got a good photo of the finish down the straight where Extreme Choice is several lengths ahead of his stablemate Flying Artie, and the rest of the field is out of the frame. The filly Zamzam finished third six lengths behind the leading pair.

 
Extreme Choice burns up the straight with Flying Artie in hot pursuit.

Extreme Choice in the winners rug in the mounting yard

Extreme Choice does look special. Only a small horse, he has a calm temperament and is yet to lose a race. He’s now favourite for the Golden Slipper Stakes, which he could well win too.

I stayed at the course for the final Group 1 race, the Oakleigh Plate, and decided to have a small wager on both Fell Swoop and Heatherly. Top weight Flamberge, who has a good first up record and has won at Group 1 level before, was unfavoured in the betting. He started at 30/1 and won by a nose from Fell Swoop who was held up in the straight and couldn’t quite catch the Flamberge. Heatherly, who was prominent throughout and led for most of the race hung on for third.

Oakleigh Plate finish down the straight – Flamberge (yellow silks) is about to overtake Heatherly (red cap) with Fell Swoop charging down the outside

Flamberge parades after winning the Oakleigh Plate

After collecting my winnings on Heatherly and Fell Swoop for a small profit, I headed for the station and home.

The afternoon at Caulfield sped by very fast even though the interval between races was back to its usual 40 minutes. 

Thank goodness MRC have finally come to their senses and not run the feature event as the second last last race on the card.

I did get to watch the Chipping Norton Stakes on the big screen while waiting for the Blue Diamond Stakes to start. Winx enhanced her claims to being the best horse in Australia with an easy win from Dibayani and Hauraki.

Next Saturday the action is at Flemington for the Group 1 Australian Guineas meeting, whilst Randwick hosts the rival Randwick Guineas and the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes.

Here in Melbourne we at least get the first chance to see star New Zealand colt Xtravagant in the flesh.

The Thrill Continues–Blue Diamond Stakes Day

Pride of Dubai on his way to winning the 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes

There are only three more Saturdays of Group 1 racing in Melbourne, before the focus shifts to the “Championships” in Sydney (as they call their autumn racing carnival).

This coming Saturday, Caulfield Racecourse hosts the 2016 Blue Diamond Stakes, which is supported by two other classy Group 1 races for older gallopers – the 1400 metres Futurity Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate, a sprint over 1100 metres. There are also a number of Group 2 races on the program.

As usual, it’s hard to predict the Blue Diamond winner, as it tends to be a messy race with 16 two year old contenders in the field.  This year there are nine colts/geldings and seven fillies contesting the race. Mick Price trained colts Extreme Choice and Flying Artie are the top picks. Unfortunately they’ve both drawn wide gates which gives other hopefuls a chance, such as Hell Of An Effort, Star Turn and fillies Samara Dancer and Concealer, to name a few of the better performed runners.

The Blue Diamond Stakes is scheduled as Race 7 at the latter end of the afternoon, so I’m going to take my time getting to the course, most probably just before Race 3 the Angus Armanesco Stakes, a Group 2 race for three year old fillies over 1400 metres.

Pasadena Girl is top weight. She hasn’t been seen since spring, where she was slightly disappointing. But then again, she had the misfortune to encounter superior fillies Stay With Me and/or Jameka in most of the races she contested.  She has a good chance of winning the Armanesco Stakes if she can hold out against the likes of Egypt, who ran second to Don’t Doubt Mama last week in the Vanity Stakes, or Mossin’ Around and Cana who ran second and third to smart New Zealand Filly Risque in the Kevin Hayes Stakes.

Race 4, the Caulfield Autumn Classic  is another Group 2 race for three year olds, this time run over 1800 metres.

Mahuta who has won his last 7 races and has been racing since October 2015 with very little break in between, is still the top chance in the Autumn Classic if he can run the distance.  Others who might threaten are Flying Light, Ayers Rock (who has won over 1800 metres) Hardern and Tally.

The Group 2 Peter Young Stakes is also run over 1800 metres and is a standard weight for age race for older runners.  Last year it was won by Mourinho who is again in the field, along with old stalwarts Fawkner and Happy Trails. Geelong Cup winner Almoonqith is also in the field along with Group 1 winning mares Rising Romance and Fenway.

The first scheduled of the Group 1 races is the Futurity Stakes, run over 1400 metres. Orr Stakes heroine Suavito won this race last year, and has a good chance of winning it a second time, facing the same horses she beat in the Orr Stakes – Turn Me Loose, Hucklebuck, Rebel Dane, Boban, Stratum Star, Trust In A Gust, Entirely Platinum - with the added talents of Politeness and Scissor Kick, thrown in for good measure.

It looks a ripper race as Suavito will most certainly be challenged by several of the above runners.

The Oakleigh Plate is the final Group 1 race of the day, scheduled after the Blue Diamond Stakes. This year’s edition has attracted a huge field of 18 runners. I’m delighted to see Canberra sprinter Fell Swoop is part of the field, having his toughest test to date.  He’s up against some smart ones in Bounding, Gregers, Heatherly, Headwater and Keen Array.  Heatherly will most likely start as favourite after her stunning five & a half length win in the Rubiton Stakes at her last start caught everyone’s eye.

Sydney racing is at Randwick and the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600 metres)  is the feature race.  Star mare Winx is part of the field and will most likely win it, the bulk of the field being stayers resuming.  It’s good to see that Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan is part of the field. He was very sick with a colic attack which prevented him contesting the Melbourne Cup, but has recovered well by all accounts.

How Suavito It Is– Orr Stakes Review

Suavito parades in the mounting yard after winning the Orr Stakes

The current dry spell in Melbourne meant that the track at Caulfield was good and fast, and the afternoon was hot and sunny, which certainly increased the crowd numbers at Caulfield racecourse, particularly children who were in abundance.

I arrived at Caulfield just as Race 1 was about to start. I watched it from the fence on the front lawn, but failed to get any usable photos as I didn’t notice that the Optical Image Stabiliser on my camera was turned off.

Anyway, that race resulted in longshot Falago beating favourite Tashbeeh, with Vatuvei running third.

With only 30 minutes separating races, there was not much time to wait for Race 2, the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes,  the main attraction being New Zealand filly Risque having her first start in Melbourne, or indeed Australia.

She lived up to the hype with an impressive win, coming from the back of the field to swoop on the leaders and score by half a length from Mossin’ Around and Cana.

Race 2 just past the winning post

Risque returns to scale

Mossin’ Around returns to scale

Cana returns to scale

I managed to get a nice photo of Risque later in the day in her stall…

Risque in her stall

Race 3 was the first of the Blue Diamond Preludes to be run and I grabbed a possie on the mounting yard fence to watch the fillies parade.

Samara Dancer, the winner

Concealer – ran second

Miss Nymeria – ran third

Race 3 – down the straight Samara Dancer leads

The colts version of Blue Diamond Prelude followed shortly afterwards and was won by the favourite Flying Artie, who narrowly scored over a fast finishing Star Turn with outsider China Dream running third several lengths behind the leading pair. Flying Artie did it tough, running wide through most of the race, impressing his jockey, Damien Oliver, who has now chosen him as his Blue Diamond Stakes ride over his stablemate Extreme Choice who won the weekend before with ease.

Flying Artie is about to overtake Star Turn in the straight approaching the finish line.

The most commanding win of the day was that of speedy filly Heatherly in Race 5, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, where she left the rest of the field, including Group 1 winner Politeness, in her wake, winning by almost six lengths, after leading from start to finish.

The burst mode on my camera shows Heatherly, then daylight, then the rest of the field.

Heatherly burns up the straight for a commanding win

The rest of the field in hot pursuit

Politeness, who was too far back to catch Heatherly,  ran second with Just A Bullet running third.

The afternoon whizzed by fast, so for a day billed as “relaxed racing” the 30 minute intervals between races made it seem quite frantic.

Soon enough,  there was only one more race to run before the feature.

In between races I hung around the stalls area, checking out the horses in their stalls and in the walking ring.

Suavito relaxing in the walking ring

Fawkner outside his stall

Turn Me Loose – the prettiest horse of the day, in his stall

Mourniho in the walking ring

Mahuta being saddled up for Race 6 with Darren Weir in attendance

Mahuta added another paling to the picket fence next to his name in the racebook, registering his sixth straight win from seven starts in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes.

He beat a classy field of fellow three year olds, leading practically from the start to defeat sole filly Sailing By, and Snoopy in a close finish. Tarzino flashed home from the rear of the field for an eye catching fourth.

Race 6 just past the winning post – Mahuta leads

Mahuta returns to scale

Sailing By returns to scale

Snoopy on his way to the barriers

Tarzino on his way to the barriers

The C F Orr Stakes had a full field of 18 runners, Hucklebuck included among them after all. I was hoping the beautiful Turn Me Loose would be successful, but he overraced and was overtaken in the last 100 metres by eventual winner Sauvito, Lucky Hussler and Hucklebuck, who relegated him to fourth.

Down the straight – Turn Me Loose leads with Suavito on his outside about to overtake. Lucky Hussler is third with Hucklebuck (white bridle) just in the picture.

A little over a length separated first to fifth, but it was a gutsy win by Suavito who paid a handsome $17.00 for the win. Alas I didn’t have any money on her.

Suavito parades with connections after winning the Orr Stakes

Lucky Hussler in the mounting yard

Hucklebuck in the mounting yard

As I’d been at the racecourse since 1.30 pm I headed home after the Orr Stakes, hot and somewhat tired after an active afternoon trackside.

While waiting for the Orr Stakes to begin, I did manage to watch the last stages of the Apollo Stakes, which was playing on one half of the big screen (without sound), and was pleased to see Winx live up to expectations with a comfortable win. Solicit ran second with Hauraki running third.

Next Saturday the racing action is at Flemington for the running of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning. Naturally I’ll be there with bells on, looking forward to seeing Exosphere in the feature race, among other stars of the turf.