Super Saturday at Rosehill

Signage at Rosehill Racecourse

Last year at this time I went to Sydney for Mystic Medusa’s Astrological New Year dinner, and whilst there attended the Ranvet Stakes meeting at Rosehill on the Saturday afternoon.

This year I’ll be home in Melbourne, but will be watching with keen interest the tremendous race card at Rosehill Racecourse.

The meeting last year was relatively low key, with only two Group 1 races, but NSW racing has rearranged their autumn program, so that this year several Group 1 races which used to be run later in the season, have been rescheduled and added more glitz to the third Saturday in March.

The feature race this year is the Golden Slipper Stakes, the richest race for two year olds in the world. Last year it was run on a bog track and fillies filled the first seven places with Mossfun defeating Earthquake and Bring Me The Maid.

Mossfun at Rosehill 22 March 2014

It appears this year’s version of the Slipper will be dominated by the colts, the Gai Waterhouse trained Vancouver in particular. His 3½ length win in the Todman Stakes recently was spectacular. However he has drawn the extreme outside barrier, which gives his rivals a slight chance of beating him. Furnaces and Headwater ran second and third in the Todman Stakes, so have to have a chance, but Exosphere who won his last start by 4 lengths is probably Vancouver’s main rival. I rather fancy Haptic who is yet to be beaten, but wonder if he has the same class as the favourite.

Fillies have won the last two Golden Slippers  (Mossfun 2014 & Overreach 2013) and the girls with a chance this year are Fireworks, Ottoman, English, Reemah and Lake Geneva (the latter two ran second and third in the Blue Diamond).

The Golden Slipper is scheduled as Race 7, but the first of the Group 1 races will  be the Ranvet Stakes, run over 2000 metres as Race 4.   Silent Achiever won it last year pipping the Queen’s horse Carlton House at the post. It would be great if she could win it a second time and she has good chance if she can beat the in form Contributor who has won his two starts this autumn and is the hot favourite. The Ranvet has a really intriguing field with stayers from Hong Kong (Dominant), Japan (Tosen Stardom) and New Zealand (Fast Dragon) here especially for the Sydney Championships, plus familiar  locals like He’s Your Man and Lucia Valentina.

Race 5 is the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas also run over 2000 metres, but for three year olds. 

Randwick Guineas winner Hallowed Crown is the one to beat. Trying to do so will be the unbeaten New Zealand Derby winner Mongolian Khan, Victorian Derby winner Preferment and runners up in the aforementioned races  - Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ Derby) and Sweynesse (Randwick Guineas).

As opposed to the small field for the Rosehill Guineas (7 runners), the Group 1 Galaxy has attracted a full field of 14 starters.  It is a sprint over 1100 metres and I’m delighted to see Miracles of Life and Rubick in the field.  Deep Field who had his colours lowered in the Lightning Stakes, and was further humiliated at his last start where he was beaten by the lowly Target In Sight, is also one of the contenders, as are the smart Sweet Idea, Avoid Lightning and Melbourne mare Chloe in Paris who has won her last three starts. I’m hoping little Miracles of Life can add some more Group 1  glory to her CV.

The final Group 1 race on the program is the George Ryder Stakes (1500 metres) which has attracted a full field of middle distance runners, many of them winners at Group 1 level. Super mare Cosmic Endeavour who won the Canterbury Stakes at her last start, will no doubt start as favourite. Other familiar names in the mix are Sacred Falls, Criterion, Moriarty, Weary and Royal Descent. Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win and Kermadec, the unsuccessful favourite in the Australian Guineas, have bypassed the Rosehill Guineas to run in this and could easily be in the finish.  There are also two Japanese horses, World Ace and Real Impact who it is unwise to ignore completely.

The weather in Sydney is supposed to be cloudy with little rain, and the track is reported today as being good surface wise.

Update Sunday:

My speculations on the likely outcomes of the five Group 1 races were fairly accurate, even if I do not specify tips.

The Ranvet Stakes was won by Contributer – no surprise – with the Japanese horse Tosen Stardom running second and Lucia Valentina  taking out third.

Volkstok’n’barrell stormed home to win the Rosehill Guineas from Preferment and Hallowed Crown.

Sweet Idea won her first Group 1 in the Galaxy at long odds with Kuro running second and Miracles of Life doing well, after a pretty torrid run, to run third.

The favourite Vancouver confirmed the wraps around him with a stunning win in the Golden Slipper with the filly English giving Gai Waterhouse the Golden Slipper quinella. Lake Geneva ran third.

Finally, Japanese horse Real Impact held on narrowly  to win the George Ryder Stakes from Criterion. Three year old Kermadec ran third.

My Thoughts for Two Guineas

Shamus Award – winner of the 2014 Australian Guineas

The title of this post is a reflection on the unusual situation where two Group 1 Guineas races for three year olds are being run on the same day, these being the Randwick Guineas in Sydney and the Australian Guineas at Flemington tomorrow.  One rather wonders who was responsible for the programming, but it all smacks of the tedious rivalry between Sydney’s racing authorities and Melbourne’s.

Both races are over the same distance of 1600 metres, but the Randwick Guineas offers better prize money ($60,000 more).  A very small, but classy field of six contestants will start in the Randwick Guineas. Top chances are Hallowed Crown, Sweynesse and Shooting To Win, who will probably run the trifecta.

The Australian Guineas, by contrast, despite attracting a capacity field, has not the same depth of class. Alpine Eagle who impressed with his Autumn Classic win at Caulfield last Saturday has to be a top chance. Then there’s  Wandjina who recently won the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington at his last start and can’t be overlooked. The interesting runner is Admiral, a Tasmanian galloper who beat The Cleaner at his last start. He’s had twelve starts for nine wins in his home state, and could well steal the prize from the mainlanders.  Kermadec was originally entered into the Randwick Guineas, but was scratched from that to run in this. He ran a close third to Hallowed Crown and Sweynesse in the Hobartville Stakes at his last start so is also likely to be in the finish.

There are the two fillies – Fontein Ruby and Sweet And Speedy – who may cause a boilover. Several fillies have won this race in the past – Miss Finland, Shamrocker and Mosheen, for example.

The Flemington support card is not half as interesting as that at Randwick, where the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes is also on the program and has a really interesting field that includes the bonny grey mare Catkins trying again for her first Group 1 victory.  Whether she’ll succeed is another matter, as she faces a pretty classy field that includes Sacred Falls, Royal Descent, Criterion, Hooked and Cosmic Endeavour.  Whatever, I’ll be barracking for Catkins.

Another of my favourite mares, Miracles of Life resumes at Randwick in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes. At her second last start in Spring she dead heated with Bel Sprinter in the Caulfield Sprint. Also part of the field is Rubick, resuming after a break and Mossfun, the 2014 Golden Slipper winner.

Sort of Golden Slipper Preludes, the Group 2 Riesling Stakes and Todman Stakes kick off the Randwick program. Last year these two races were at Rosehill – I was there to watch them with Earthquake and Ghibellines being the respective winners.

The Riesling Stakes has smart fillies Fireworks, Ottoman and Stay With Me as the main contenders, whereas the Todman Stakes’ top chances are Headwater and Vancouver, both with big wraps on them, in what will be an interesting race to watch.

I’ll be heading out to Flemington for another afternoon at the races. Living Legends Apache Cat, who won the Australian Guineas in 2006 and Bullish Luck, a former Hong Kong champion racehorse will be there to add interest to the day.

The weather here in Melbourne is cool and overcast at present and is expected to be the same tomorrow; pleasant weather for the races and taking photographs.

The Roses Will Be Blooming - Derby Day 2014

Flemington Roses

The 2014 Spring Racing Carnival has only a little over a week to run, and then it will be all over for another year.

But to take it out in grand fashion, Flemington hosts four days of spectacular racing excitement, the first of these being Derby Day on Saturday.

Last year I attended Derby Day for the first time, and despite the crowds found it quite enjoyable, so I intend to brave it for a second time and get some value from my Flemington season’s ticket.

How can I resist, when such a fantastic racing card is programmed, with many of my black book horses scheduled to run. There are  four Group 1 races – Coolmore Stud Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Victoria Derby & Myer Classic – and all the other races are at either Group 2 or Group 3 level.

The first race is at 11.30am, but as it’s going to be a long day I don’t intend to arrive at the track until slightly later, in time for the first of the Group 1 races, the Coolmore Stud Stakes, scheduled at 1.30pm.

And what a great field it has! A race for three year olds over 1200 metres it has the cream of this year’s 3yo crop in the field, such as Rich Enuff, Scissor Kick, Rubick, Earthquake, Eloping, Brazen Beau and Kuro as the main contenders. Who to choose?  Rich Enuff will no doubt start as favourite, but I’d like to see Rubick or Earthquake take the prize. At least they’ll probably be at good odds for a change. Whatever, it looks a doozy of a race.

The Coolmore Stud Stakes is followed by the Group 3 Lexus Stakes  (2500 metres) and is for stayers hoping to gain entrance into the Melbourne Cup.  Top contenders are Geelong Cup winner Caravan Rolls On, Big Memory who won the Herbert Power Stakes,  Lord Van Percy and Marksmanship, aspiring Internationals, and well connected mares La Amistad (Makybe Diva’s half sister) and Let’s Make Adeal (Let’s Elope’s granddaughter).

Next up is the second of the Group 1 races, the Mackinnon Stakes, run over 2000 metres. It has a super field as well, with a number of the usual suspects aiming for more Group 1 glory – Happy Trails, Foreteller, Moriarty, Hawkspur, Brambles and Criterion – all seen recently running in either the Caulfield Cup or the Cox Plate. Also in the picture is Rising Romance who ran second to Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup and Sydney stayer, He’s Your Man, who won the Epsom Stakes at his last start.  Last year the race was won by International visitor Side Glance who is scratched due to lameness this year. However there are two mystery British horses – Farraaj and Amralah – who could steal it this year. I’ll be barracking for Rising Romance who deserves a win after running a close second at her last two starts.

The Victoria Derby has always been a real puzzle of a race, with any of the field likely to take out the prize. Gai Waterhouse has great confidence in her entry Hampton Court who is the favourite after he won the Spring Champion Stakes in emphatic fashion at his last start. However, favourites have a bad record in the Derby and it has mostly been won by an outsider or secondary favourites. So who else has a chance? For a start there’s Moonovermanhattan who won The Vase at Moonee Valley last Saturday, and Atmosphere who ran second  (whom I fancy a lot), Royal Standing who I just noticed is a half brother to Super Cool, and the other “cool” customer Magicool, who beat Atmosphere earlier in the season at Flemington in an 1800 metre race.

The final Group 1 race is the Myer Classic for fillies and mares, run over 1600 metres. Red Tracer beat her stable mate Catkins last year in this. Red Tracer is no longer on the scene having been retired to stud, but Catkins is still around and is part of the excellent field. Top pick is Sweet Idea who won the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at her last start with Girl Guide running second and Catkins third. The favourite however is May’s Dream who is yet to win a race this spring, but is due for a win. Also in with a good chance is Star Fashion who has won her last two races and Forever Loved who has winning form at Flemington.

A sprint over 1200 metres, the Group 2  tab.com.au Stakes is the last race on program and is worth sticking around for, due to the presence of boom Sydney horse Deep Field in the field. He is unbeaten in four starts and broke a course record at one of his latest outings at Canterbury. Trying to ruin his party will be the rejuvenated Bel Sprinter who dead heated with Miracles of Life in the Caulfield Sprint earlier this month and Adamantium who loves the Flemington straight.

The weather is expected to be somewhat damp tomorrow in Melbourne. Even though today is a hot 30°C, a change is forecast to pass through overnight. If it is wet, at least it might deter the party goers from spreading their blankets all over the public lawn, and maybe even discourage them from attending at all.  I live in hope.

Déjà Vu or Back to Form–Caulfield Guineas Day Review

Shooting To Win does a circuit of the mounting yard after winning the Caulfield Guineas

As I expected, it was a very long afternoon at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, but as the racing was first class and full of interest it passed quite quickly.

I got to Caulfield rather earlier than I anticipated and was able to watch the first race from the hill above the parade ring. It was a race for two year olds having their first start and is appropriately called the Debutant Stakes.

Here’s a photo of the finish just past the winning post, with Of The Brave winning by a comfortable margin. He’s by Starspangledbanner out of Runaway Jesse and is a half brother to the talented filly, Eloping.

Race 1 finish – Of The Brave wins the Debutant Stakes

Of The Brave returns to scale

Whilst I was in the neighbourhood of the stalls, I naturally checked out the horses who had already arrived. These included several of the International stayers here for the Cups.

German horse Protectionist in his stall

English horse Renew in his stall

Also already present was 2014 Blue Diamond winner Earthquake…

Earthquake in her stall

…and 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach.

Overreach in her stall

As race 2, the Thoroughbred Club Stakes was the next race on the agenda, I made my way to the public lawn to see if I could squeeze in on the fence. Festive race goers had spread their blankets all over the place, and seemed more interested in eating and drinking than watching the races, so it was easy to get a spot on the fence.

As Earthquake started at really short odds, and would have been my pick had I decided to back her, I didn’t bother with a bet, and watched the fillies file out onto the track.

Earthquake – back in the winners circle

Tawteen – ran second

More Radiant – third

Earthquake proved that she was not a spent force. Racing on the speed just outside race leader Tawteen, she managed to overhaul  her in the straight to win by a length with More Radiant running third.

Earthquake and Tawteen fight out the finish in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes

Earthquake in winners rug

With that race done and dusted I ambled back to the stalls area for some tranquil horse watching, which is much more to my taste than watching the raucous partying patrons

Various contenders for the Group 1 races to come were parading, most notably the eventual Caulfield Stakes winner, Fawkner.

Fawkner in the walking ring

Commanding Jewel was also being walked…

Commanding Jewel in the walking ring

…and Rubick was waiting patiently in his stall…

Rubick in his stall

Race 3 was the Weekend Hussler Stakes, so I decided to watch it from the hill.

Race 3 finish just past the post – Hosting the winner is on the far left  in the striped red & white silks.

Hosting was one of the few back markers to win on the day, as most of the winners raced on the pace.  Taddei Tondo ran second with Tango’s Daughter third.

Hosting returns to scale after winning the Weekend Hussler Stakes

Hosting’s win was the second of three consecutive wins for jockey Kerrin McEvoy (he was also Earthquake’s jockey).

Kerrin rode Rubick to victory in the next race, the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes.

For that race I made my way back to the public lawn, pausing in the Bookies area to place my first bet of the day on Rubick, who was at reasonably good odds of $4.50 to win.

Overreach started as the favourite, but was outsprinted by Rubick who led through most of the race, and won by a length from Platelet who rocketed into second place, relegating Overreach to third spot.

I took some photos of the contestants as they passed by on their way to the barriers.

Rubick

Platelet

Iconic

Schillaci Stakes finish – Rubick leads with Overreach outside Platelet.

I was delighted with Rubick’s win, as it’s always encouraging to have one’s first bet a winner.  His win, and Earthquake’s before that, reminded me of the first time I saw these two youngsters on Orr Stakes day in February winning their respective Blue Diamond preludes – kind of Deja Vu.

The Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes was the next race on the program and I was interested to see how the Internationals would perform in their first try on Australian racetracks.

They are a handsome bunch, beautifully turned out, with manes plaited as was the case with Lord Van Percy.

Lord Van Percy

The winner of the race was imported French horse Big Memory who held off a determined Signoff and fast finishing Let’s Make Adeal to win by a half a length. It almost looked like Let’s Make Adeal was going to win, but she ran out of time at the finish. It was however her best run for ages. I had my money (for a win) on Sangster and Protectionist, but they finished out of the places, Protectionist finishing a close fourth.

Herbert Power Stakes finish – Big Memory leads with Signoff (green cap) and Let’s Make Adeal (pink & green stripes) just behind

As the races during Spring are now 35 minutes apart it was not long to wait for the first of the Group 1 races on the program. The quality packed field of the Caulfield Stakes came out onto the track as I regained my position on the fence, after placing a bet on Fawkner who was at good odds of $5.50.

Criterion who finished second

Dissident who bled and won’t be seen again this spring finished unplaced

Foreteller finished 8th

Side Glance – race leader who finished third

Fawkner – the winner

Sacred Falls – finished fourth

It was a beautifully judged ride by Nick Hall on Fawkner to take out the Caulfield Stakes. Fawkner raced up on the pace in third spot on the fence for most of the race and peeled out in the straight to take the lead from Side Glance. Criterion raced from mid field to steal second place, and Sacred Falls came from last to finish fourth.

Caulfield Stakes finish down the straight – Fawkner overtakes Side Glance on his inside, with Criterion (yellow silks) making headway.

Fawkner in the winners rug posing for the press.

Fawkner’s next assignment is the Cox Plate. He won the Caulfield Cup last year, but will not compete in it this year. He is the new favourite for the Cox Plate, since the previous favourite, Dissident, had an unfortunate bleeding attack during the Caulfield Stakes that has ruled him out of the rest of the spring carnival. 

This post is turning into a marathon effort, but by the time the second of the Group 1 events, the Toorak Handicap, I had been at the course for almost four hours, with another hour to go before heading home.

The Toorak Handicap was won by Trust In A Gust, his third win in succession, with Speediness running second and rank outsider Desert Jeuney filling third spot. I had a small win bet on both Commanding Jewel (at great odds of $11.00) and Arabian Gold. Neither managed to place.

Toorak Handicap down the straight – Trust In A Gust hits the front.

Trust In Gust parades after winning the Toorak Handicap

I will admit that by the end of the Toorak Handicap, I was feeling a tad wearied and wondering if I had the stamina to last till the Caulfield Guineas.

The crowds had thinned by the time the Thousand Guineas got underway.  My bet for this was Afleet Esprit who had won her last three races over shorter distances. Perhaps the 1600 metres was beyond her, for she finished second last. The Group 1 glory went to Amicus who beat Traveston Girl with Sabatini running third. The favourite Lumosty finished eighth after being slow to start and racing at the back end of the field for the majority of the race.  The three place getters raced on the speed, typical of the pattern of racing on the day.

Thousand Guineas finish – Amicus leads with Traveston Girl on her inside and Sabatini on her outside with Bring Me The Maid behind her.

Amicus parading after the Thousand Guineas in the winners rug

Fortunately it was a pleasant afternoon weatherwise, warm and slightly overcast, so excellent for photographs.

And finally, after a long day at the track, the feature race time was nigh.

Here are some of the main contenders on their way to the starting gates. Rich Enuff went the other way round, so I failed to get a photograph of him.

Almalad

Chivalry

Shooting To Win

Kumaon

It was a race in the end between the top Melbourne colt and the top Sydney colt, with Rich Enuff and Shooting to Win fighting out the finish down the straight several lengths in front of the rest.

Shooting To Win prevailed and won by a neck to Rich Enuff who was far from disgraced. It was shades of Redoute’s Choice and Testa Rossa way back in 1999 who fought out a similar battle down the straight with Redoute’s Choice being the victor by a similar margin.

Caulfield Guineas down the straight - Rich Enuff & Shooting To Win fight out the finish.

Outsider Wandjina ran third.

Shooting to Win is led back to scale after his victory in the Caulfield Guineas

As  I didn’t have a bet on the race, my fancy being Rich Enuff who started short priced favourite, I didn’t linger much longer at the racetrack and headed for the station and home, with almost as much money as I started out with, my two winning bets covering the losses with a bit extra to buy a drink and a race book.

Next Saturday is the Caulfield Cup, but I am not attending it, saving myself for the Cox Plate the following weekend and the Flemington carnival thereafter.

I am however going to a few concerts next week – Lindi Ortega at the Toff In Town on Sunday evening and Ryan Bingham at Northcote Social Club on Tuesday night, both of which shows I’m keenly looking forward to.

Spring Fever–Caulfield Guineas Day

Caulfield Guineas favourite Rich Enuff – Flemington 13/9/14

With only a little over a week till the running of the first of the big cups, the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne Racing Club presents a wonderful day of racing this coming Saturday at Caulfield Racecourse.

Caulfield Guineas Day is in fact a better race day than the Caulfield Cup meeting, with a total of four Group 1 races on the program as opposed to the sole Group 1 on Caulfield Cup day. Added to the attraction of Caulfield Guineas Day, there is a super support card with the majority of races being at Group level.

My aim is to arrive at the racecourse early enough to watch the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200 metres) where Blue Diamond Stakes winner Earthquake will be making her first Spring appearance in Melbourne. She has been disappointing so far this spring, running third at her last two starts at Randwick, but perhaps she’ll appreciate running the Melbourne way, on the track where she has scored two victories.

Up against her are eight other fillies, the most threatening being Tawteen, Silversands, More Radiant and Igritte.

Interestingly, Rubick who was regarded as the top colt in Autumn and started as second favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes where he finished fourth, makes his first appearance on the racetrack since that race in the Group 2 Schillaci  Stakes, a sprint over 1000 metres.

He faces a small field of classy sprinters that include Gregers, Platelet and 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach, also returning after a long break.

Melbourne will get its first chance to see Hong Kong star Dan Excel, out here for the Cox Plate, in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes, a handicap race over 1400 metres. He’s been handicapped to carry a whopping 63.5 kilos giving nine kilos to the majority of the field, so it’s unlikely that he’s in it to win it, but more likely to familiarise him to Australian race tracks.

Various Caulfield and Melbourne Cup bound imports and International horses have been entered in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes, a race over 2400 metres, so it will be worth watching to see how they fare.  There’s the German horse Protectionist, the British Lord Van Percy and Renew, up against locals like Sangster, Let’s Make Adeal and Albonetti, and seasoned  imports that include Bonfire, Masked Marvel, Signoff and Big Memory.   

The first of the Group 1 races is the Caulfield Stakes, run over 2000 metres. It has attracted a first class field with no less than 10 Group 1 winners in a field of 12 starters.  The pundits are calling it a Cox Plate preview and it is quite likely that the eventual Cox Plate winner is in the field, if you discount The Cleaner, whose next race is that Group 1 event.

Last year the Caulfield Stakes was won by Atlantic Jewel with Foreteller and Super Cool running second and third.  It turned out to be her last race as she sustained an injury shortly after that, which resulted in her not running in the Cox Plate and being retired.

So who will win this year’s edition?  It’s an evenly matched field, but the top picks are Dissident if he can run 2000 metres, Fawkner who certainly can, and who finished a very close second to Dissident in the Makybe Diva Stakes, Foreteller of course, and Happy Trails who had a torrid run in the Turnbull and usually manages to win at least one major race over the Spring carnival. You’ve also got Dear Demi who is in great form,  Victoria Derby winner Criterion and Sacred Falls, the dual Doncaster winner, who won the Group 1 George Main Stakes at his last start. Take your pick!

It’s going to be a looong day as the four Group 1 races are being run consecutively from 3.55pm, the feature race being scheduled at 5.40pm.

The Group 1 Toorak Handicap follows the Caulfield Stakes. It is a 1600 metre race and has attracted a fantastic field of contestants. You’ve got English horse Guest of Honour as top weight, having his first run on Australian racetracks, and Commanding Jewel, Trust In A Gust who beat Dissident in the Rupert Clark Stakes, top Sydney mare Arabian Gold, New Zealand mare Recite, and other good performers like Speediness, Bull Point, Solicit and Atlante. 

Since 1998 the Thousand Guineas was run mid week, but this year has been added to the Caulfield Guineas day program. It’s the fillies equivalent of the Caulfield Guineas and is also a Group 1 race over 1600 metres.

It has top class fillies like Bring Me The Maid, Go Indy Go and Afleet Esprit who are best chances. It’s lucky Flight Stakes winner First Seal is staying in Sydney to contest the boys in the Spring Champion Stakes, so the abovementioned fillies have their chance for Group 1 glory.  Also in the picture are Lumosty and Amicus who have been placed in shorter races recently and could likely feature in the finish.

The Caulfield Guineas is seen as a match race between Sydney and Melbourne’s top colts. Rich Enuff heads the Melbourne brigade and looks the genuine article, being unbeaten in his three runs this spring. Also batting for Melbourne are Merion and Chivalry. The Sydney team have Almalad and Shooting To Win, and are both last start winners.  Then you’ve got Queenslander Looks Like The Cat, who has run second to Rich Enuff at his last two starts, and New Zealand colt Our Vespa who already has a Group 1 win (in NZ) under his belt. I’ll be cheering for Rich Enuff.

Sydney’s sole Group 1 this weekend is the Spring Champion Stakes run over 2000 metres. Top pick is the so far unbeaten Sweynesse who is certain to start favourite. Flight Stakes winner First Seal appears to be his only serious opposition, but others like Panzer Division, Valentia and Hampton Court could mount a challenge to the favourites and steal the prize.

The weather in both Melbourne and Sydney is expected to be fine this weekend so the racing will be on good tracks. 

Myself, I’m looking forward to attending yet a another superb race meeting.

Who will be the feted stars this Saturday?

Intimations of Spring & the State of Cat Politics

Lord of the Sky – potential star of the turf – photographed in February 2014

This Saturday Caulfield Racecourse hosts the Bletchingly Stakes, a Group 3 sprint over 1200 metres. It is also the last Group race of the racing year, but I always see it as a harbinger of the new Spring racing season.

I miss going to the races, so even though the Bletchingly Stakes meeting is not all that interesting overall, I mean to venture to Caulfield to see young potential star Lord of the Sky race in the feature event. At his last outing he won the Sir John Monash Stakes by 4 lengths from Le Bonsir and Riziz, so he will no doubt start as hot favourite. Le Bonsir is also part of the Bletchingly field and may mount a challenge this time, that is if he can beat Nearest To Pin who narrowly beat him a fortnight ago. Others with a chance are Ready To Rip who won this race in 2012 and in form filly Thiamandi.

The first Group 1 race of the new spring season, the Memsie Stakes, is only a month away, so I don’t really expect any truly interesting competitions before then, though Puissance de Lune, who has been off the scene since suffering an injury in the 2013 Cox Plate, is expected to resume in the P B Lawrence Stakes in mid August. He won the race last year – his only win for the season as it turned out. 

I’m really looking forward to the return of Lankan Rupee, now dubbed the world’s best sprinter. He is to resume in the Group 2 McEwan Stakes in early September at Moonee Valley on Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes day, which I will surely attend as I have done for the past 10 years or so. As Lankan Rupee’s schedule includes two night meetings at Moonee Valley, I’ll miss seeing him run in them as I dislike night racing, but hopefully I’ll catch him in the Patinack Farm Classic on Emirates Stakes Day on the last day of the Flemington racing carnival .

I have not resubscribed to the Moonee Valley season ticket this year, as I found I hardly used it last season, but I have renewed my season ticket for Flemington and look forward to attending the major race days at that hallowed course, perhaps even the Melbourne Cup.

Many of the Group 1 stars of the autumn and last spring will be missing this year – It’s A Dundeel, Fiorente, Shamus Award etc. all being retired to stud – but several other old favourites will be resuming such as Super Cool and Commanding Jewel, along with new favourites like Earthquake, La Armistad, Rubick, May’s Dream to name a few. And who knows what new stars of the turf will emerge over the coming months. That’s the good thing about horse racing, there’s always the chance of something new to capture one’s fancy.

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To finish this entry here are some recent photos of the resident cats.

Talya – such a pretty girl

Willy – the handsome one

The cats are not getting on any better than the last time I reported, but at least they don’t fight.  It being winter, they have been spending much more time inside wanting to sit on their human slaves laps.  No sooner do you sit down than a cat is clambering onto your lap or there’s one sitting in front of the computer trying to attract your attention.

Willy is the bane of visitors, hauling his bulk onto their knees. He weighs a good 8kg, so it’s a burden one must bear, and a snappy one at that, as he’s always been a bit of biter -  more a nipper really as he doesn’t bite hard enough to break the skin.

Winter starts to wear on a body at this time of year so I can’t wait for spring and warmer weather to arrive and the resumption of Group 1 racing of course.

Did the Earth Move? Blue Diamond Stakes Review

Earthquake returns to scale after her stunning win in the Blue Diamond Stakes

As expected it was a wonderful day of racing at Caulfield on Saturday. The weather was kind and the racing action was first class throughout the afternoon.

As the meeting was programmed to start later in the day, I took my time getting to the track, arriving just before 3.00pm in time to hear Race 3, the Angus Armanesco Stakes  being broadcast. It was won by Spirits Dance who surprisingly didn’t start favourite, despite having won her last three races.  The beaten brigade were Marianne and Metaphorical.

I decided to visit the stalls area first, hoping to catch a glimpse of Fiorente and sure enough he was there, being walked by his strapper in the walking ring.

 
Fiorente in the walking ring

He certainly is a head turner, a magnificent looking horse as I’ve remarked before and as people standing near me exclaimed in wonder.

When the next race was about to start, I decided to head to the lawn and watch it from the fence. It was the Group 2 Autumn Classic, a race for three year olds over 1800 metres. 

Autumn Classic finish down the straight – Vilanova (blue & white)  is about to overtake Alpha Beat.

The Chris Waller trained Vilanova, who started a big odds, was the winner, storming home from the tail of the field to win from Countersnip and Alpha Beat.

Despite being only a Group 2 race, the Peter Young Stakes was one of the most highly anticipated of the day, due to the resumption of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente. Also part of the field was 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and sundry other stayers beginning their autumn campaigns.

I watched them parade in the mounting yard…

Fiorente

Green Moon

 
Foreteller

Let’s Make Adeal – Let’s Elope’s granddaughter

Fiorente started as warm favourite and he won narrowly from Mourayan  after a gritty run down the straight where he appeared to have no chance. Star Rolling who led for most of the race managed to hang on for third place.

 
Fiorente back in the mounting yard after winning the Peter Young Stakes

The first of the Group 1 races was the next race on the program, that is the Futurity Stakes.  The three year old challenger Bull Point started as favourite, but it was Moment of Change who led from start to finish and was victorious, adding a third Group 1 win to his CV and his second in as many starts.  Unfortunately Polanski was injured during the race and his future racing career is in doubt.  Sertorius flew from the back of the field to run second, with old Pinwheel hanging on for third. Bull Point was outclassed by the older gallopers and finished fourth.

Moment of Change returns to scale after winning the Futurity Stakes

By this time it was getting on for late afternoon and the Blue Diamond Stakes was up next, scheduled to start at 5.10pm.

I watched the field assembling in the mounting yard.

Chivalry – finished 8th

Earthquake – the winner!

Nostradamus – finished 7th

Rubick – finished 4th

Nayeli – finished 15th

We were all expecting a fierce contest down the straight between top filly Earthquake and top colt Rubick, but that didn’t happen.  Rubick was up with the leaders for most of the race, but jockey Damian Browne bided his time on Earthquake and let her go in the straight where she effortlessly sailed past all and sundry to score a soft 1½ length win from Jabali. Long shot Cornrow ran third. I said I thought Earthquake was special when I saw her win the Blue Diamond Prelude, so I’m delighted she confirmed my first impression.

The final Group 1 of the day was the Oakleigh Plate and at first I decided I wouldn’t stay for it, but changed my mind.  I’m glad I did as I got to see potential sprinting super star Lankan Rupee winning his first Group 1 race, and fourth run in sequence. He’s a really pretty horse with an unusual, perfect, heart marking on his forehead.

Lankan Rupee in the mounting yard – note the heart on his forehead

He of course was favourite after he’d blitzed his rivals in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes in early February.  This was his hardest assignment to date and he passed with flying colours, beating the huge field comfortably.

Good old Spirit of Boom ran second and second favourite Knoydart finished third.

Lankan Rupee returns to scale after winning the Oakleigh Plate

I called it quits after the Oakleigh Plate even though there was one more race to go. The trains coincided nicely on the way home and I made it by 7.00pm.

It was a long, but enjoyable day at the races. The course was not all that crowded, so it was easy to watch the races, buy a drink or put on a bet. Some bookies were offering a 10% bonus on winning bets as part of a deal with Racing Victoria, but alas all my bets were unsuccessful. I didn’t follow my own advice and foolishly went for likely long shots.

There are only three more Group 1 race meetings to go in the Melbourne Autumn racing carnival. Next week the action is at Flemington for the running of the Australian Guineas.  I’ll be there of course - with bells on.

In Sydney, Boban disappointed in the Apollo Stakes but Appearance starred again scoring another sensational win. Guelph finished out of the placings in the Light Fingers Stakes, and didn’t show any of her characteristic dash. Hopefully it was just an off day for her, for we do need equine heroes to make up for Black Caviar.