Spotlight on the Spring Racing Carnival–Super Saturday

Puissance de Lune – Makybe Diva Stakes day 13/9/14

With the AFL season over, Melbourne’s sporting focus shifts to the Spring racing carnival as the build up to the big event on the first Tuesday in November gathers pace.

This Saturday Flemington hosts the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes on its hallowed turf along with an interesting card of support races.

In Sydney at Randwick, they have their Spring racing carnival all happening on one day, with three Group 1 races – the Epsom Handicap, Flight Stakes and The Metropolitan to run this Saturday.

Tomorrow is expected to be fine and sunny, so I’ll be off at the races again to take in the sights and sound of first class racing.

I hope to arrive at Flemington in time to witness Race 3, the Group 3 Bart Cummings, a race for stayers over 2520 metres. Last year it was won by Sea Moon, but he lost out on a protest to Araldo. He’ll be kicking off his spring cups campaign in this race again.  Up against him is the Chris Waller trained Who Shot Thebarman who won his first start at Flemington a few weeks ago and appears the top contender. Also in with a chance are Ibicenco, Ethiopia and Marksmanship.

The next race of interest on the program is Race 5 , the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes run over 1200 metres. Chautauqua is the top pick after he comfortably won the Bobby Lewis Quality at Flemington at his last start, beating Temple of Boom, who is obviously the next best. The Moody trained Il Cavallo, Gai Waterhouse trained Longma and New Zealand mare Bounding all have a chance as well.

Another Group 2 race, the Edward Manifold Stakes for fillies run over 1600 metres looks to be a worth watching. With top filly Thinking Of You scratched from the field to run in the Flight Stakes in Sydney, the race is wide open and up for grabs to smart fillies like Veuvelicious, Fontein Ruby, Pittsburgh Flyer, Golconda and Maastricht.

Race 7 is the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres) and has attracted a full field of 16 runners, plus emergencies. Last year’s win ner was the reliable and generally overlooked Happy Trails who pipped Puissance de Lune at the post. Both of these horses are in it again along with regulars Green Moon, Super Cool, Hawkspur and Silent Achiever. The current  favourite is Lucia Valentina, but she is currently under an injury cloud so may not start.  It’s a difficult race to assess as quite a few of the contestants have the form and ability to win. I’m hoping Super Cool can take the prize. His trainer Mark Kavanagh intimated as much to me when I briefly spoke to him at Caulfield the last time I was there, and had the opportunity to ask about Super Cool’s chances in the Underwood Stakes.

I will probably linger at the course for Race 8, the Blazer Stakes, another Group 2 race, this time for mares, run over 1400 metres. Bonaria, Politeness, May’s Dream and Suavito are the top chances.

On to the Group 1 races at Randwick..

The first of these to run is the Epsom Stakes (1600 metres).  Top miler Boban has been disappointing so far this Spring, but he may appreciate being back at the scene of his victory in this race last year, so I’m not giving up on him yet.  His stable mates Royal Descent and He’s Your Man are  his top rivals, along with Toydini and Laser Hawk. It’s another hard race to pick the winner.

A small field of 7 fillies will contest the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600 metres) and include Winx, First Seal and Thinking Of You as the top three chances. This race has been won by top class fillies like More Joyous, Samantha Miss, Sunline and Guelph to name a few, so which filly will add her name to the winners list? Beats me.

The Metropolitan is a Group 1 race for stayers run over 2400 metres. It’s another conundrum of a race with a large field of 16 contenders. I rather fancy La Amistad in this as it’s up to her favoured distance.  For some reason Spillway is the favourite though I can’t work out why, as at his recent starts he hasn’t been all that eye catching.  Junoob won his start in the Group 2 Hill Stakes, narrowly beating Criterion and Bagman, so has to have chance of scoring again. Kingdoms, a High Chaparral boy also has the credentials to win.

The tracks at both Flemington and Randwick will be in good shape, so wet form need not be considered this time for either meeting.

I’m also keenly looking forward to Sky Racing’s Star Stable competition, which starts this weekend. I’ve picked my stable and many of my selections are racing tomorrow, so I’ll be interested to see how they fare.

A Great Conundrum – The Melbourne Cup

Fiorente – Can he win Gai Waterhouse her first Melbourne Cup?

Trying to find the winner of the Melbourne Cup these days is an impossible task.  I have not come anywhere near in the past few years, so am pretty pessimistic about my ability to do so this year. However, I’ll give it a go and name my fancies.

Of the field of 24 runners, only 5 of them are locally bred. Of course I would love for one of them to win the race and three of them have the Zabeel factor that has produced Melbourne Cup winners for many years. The most likely of the five locals is Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner.  Fawkner is by Reset who was sired by the great Zabeel, so he has the breeding to run the trip. I also think his name is somewhat of an omen in that it evokes Guy Fawkes for me, and tomorrow, Cup Day, is the 5th November, known in the old days as Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Day.

Another local with the Zabeel factor is tough mare Dear Demi. Her sire Dehere is generally regarded as a producer of sprinters, but her dam Shirley is by Zabeel. Dear Demi has been in great form this spring and is a good lightweight chance if she can run the distance.

Ethiopia is the other runner with the Zabeel factor, but he is given little chance as his form has been uninspiring for over a year. He hasn’t won anything since taking out the ATC Australian Derby in 2012.

The other two locals are my favourite Super Cool, who has been somewhat disappointing this spring and failed Caulfield Cup favourite Hawkspur.

Lloyd Williams has entered six of his horses in the Cup. Including Fawkner, there is also Sea Moon, last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon, Masked Marvel, Seville and Mourayan. With the concentration of numbers, and considering his record in the race, you’d think one or other of his contenders would be in the finish. Green Moon won with 54.5kg on his back last year, but this year carries 3 extra kilograms. There is some doubt as to whether Sea Moon can run 3200 metres, as he only just won over 2400 metres in the Herbert Power Stakes at his last start. Mourayan can certainly run the distance, having won the Sydney Cup earlier this year, but he is getting on in years and has tried and failed in the Melbourne Cup before. As for Masked Marvel, the jury is still out as to his class, despite his winning the St Leger Stakes in 2011. I love his name though. Lastly, Seville won the Metropolitan in early October and has been nominated by the Williams clan as their top pick.

If you were going to bet on a horse due to his looks, you couldn’t go past Fiorente. He ran second in the Melbourne Cup last year, and is probably the top pick on form to take out the race this year, having been very competitive this spring, winning the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and running third in the Cox Plate. I’ll certainly have a little something on him tomorrow.

Of the International entries, it’s hard to gauge their form against Australian conditions, but Brown Panther is highly regarded as is Dandino who ran second in the 2013 Caulfield Cup.  The two mares Verema and Voleuse de Coeurs will no doubt be attractive betting propositions for the girls and with a weight advantage could well feature, or even win. It has been quite a while since a mare took out the Cup; Makybe Diva was the last mare to win in 2005, famously her third consecutive Melbourne Cup.

To sum up:
Who I’d like to win: Fawkner, Super Cool, Dear Demi or Voleuse de Coeurs

Who I think will win: It’s between Fiorente and Fawkner

Who will win: ?

Astrologically, the moon in Sagittarius at the time of the running of the Melbourne Cup, might provide a clue. The sign Sagittarius is associated with horses, so one of the “Moons” may prevail. It would be an uncanny coincidence if this were the case.

Finally a snippet from the past – 50 years ago – the 1963 Melbourne Cup field. Notice that the Cup was run on the 5th November that year as well.

Gatum Gatum won from Ilumquh and Grand Print

How they finished…

With that, I wish readers of this blog the best of luck in  picking the winner of the 2013 Melbourne Cup.

Update: Tuesday Afternoon

Melbourne Cup Result

1. Fiorente – Yay!
2. Red Cadeaux – second again!
3. Mount Athos – not really surprising

Dazzling Jewel Wins Again – Caulfield Guineas Day Review

I Won! Atlantic Jewel celebrates her easy win in the Caulfield Stakes

There were girls dressed to the nines, sailors in sailor suits, young swanks posing as extras from the Great Gatsby movie, and the usual range of punters, drunks, kids and hoi polloi of the racing world.

The perfect sunny day drew them all to Caulfield racetrack to try their luck on Caulfield Guineas Day.

I arrived at the track just as the runners in the second race were being loaded into the barriers, and made it to a position on the fence towards the top of the straight to watch the race.  Warm favourite, Queensland filly Missy Longstocking, won it easily.

 
Missy Longstocking gains the lead before powering to win comfortably from Anatina and Bulbula

The Blue Sapphire Stakes was next up, so I grabbed a spot on the very limited fence space around the mounting yard to watch the parade. This was one of the races I was keen to see due to the presence of glamour filly Miracles of Life.

Miracles of Life – forelock all over the place.

She had a bad hair day – even worse in fact, as she was discovered to have bled internally after the race and will be out of action for the rest of the spring. It goes without saying that she didn’t win, being blocked for a run in the straight and having no hope of catching the winner Lion of Belfort, let alone Safeguard who came second.

Safeguard on his way to the barriers

Blue Sapphire finish – Villa Verde (grey) leads Safeguard, with Lion of Belfort (white blinkers) just behind and ready to pounce. Miracles of Life is on the fence behind a wall of horses.

Arriving so early at the course, meant a long day hanging around for the main races, which were scheduled in the late afternoon. It was quite warm and crowded, though not oppressively so, but there were shady places to relax in peace.

The most interesting race was of course Race 6 the Caulfield Stakes, starring Atlantic Jewel with co stars Super Cool and Foreteller. Green Moon didn’t run, being scratched on Saturday morning due to an elevated temperature. So Atlantic Jewel only had to contend with four other rivals.

I watched the parade in the mounting yard, arriving in good time to find a spot on the fence.

Atlantic Jewel in the mounting yard

 
Foreteller in the mounting yard

Super Cool in the mounting yard

The race was run in a casual fashion. Led by Spacecraft, they raced in single file until the 800 mark, when Atlantic Jewel started to make her move. Super Cool joined her briefly at the lead, but she powered away down the straight to win easily by four lengths from Foreteller with Super Cool running third.

Any doubts as to her ability to run 2000 metres were certainly quashed and she is now hot favourite for the Cox Plate over It’s A Dundeel.  Whether he would have beaten her on Saturday, we’ll never know, but they meet again in the  Cox Plate, which is promising to be a doozy.

Atlantic Jewel returns to scale to face a barrage of press photographers.

Atlantic Jewel in the winners rug, obligingly turning her head in my direction for this photo.

The Group Two Herbert Power Stakes was the next race of interest for me. This race gains the winner automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.

This year’s edition was taken out by Sea Moon, a win where he could keep the prize money after losing out in the Bart Cummings in a protest.

First time down the straight – Oasis Bloom leads with Sea Moon on her outside.

Sea Moon, head high, takes the lead in the final run down the straight

Oasis Bloom held on for second and Simenon (no 2 saddlecloth) ran third.

For the last two races I decided to take up a different position to watch the action.

At the far end of the stalls area there is a raised area overlooking the racetrack just past the finishing post. I basically went up there because I couldn’t be bothered returning to the public lawn and fighting my way through the crowds. It turned out to be an OK spot for taking photos of the runners as they proceeded to the barriers, and returned after the race.

So I watched the Group One Toorak Handicap up there and snapped the following photos of the contestants.

Solzhenitsyn – the winner on his way to the barriers

Speediness on his way to the barriers


Luckygray on his way to the barriers

Linton on his way to the barriers

Solzhenitsyn won the race for a second time in succession. French horse Trevieres came second and old Blackie ran third. I was disappointed that Linton failed to run a place.

Past the post – Solzhenitsyn leads the charge


Solzhenitsyn returns to scale, his jockey being interviewed by a Channel 7 representative.

Finally, it was time for the feature event, the Caulfield Guineas, at the ridiculous hour of 5.45pm. It had been rather tiresome trying to kill the five hours I had been at the track, so I gritted my teeth and stayed for the event, watching it from the hill above the stalls.

 
Divine Calling – he ran second

The highly fancied Eclair Big Bang – unplaced

My favourite – Prince Harada – unplaced

The winner – Long John

 
Shamus Award – third place

Past the post – Long John leads with Divine Calling a length or two behind.

As I wasn’t inclined to bet on the race, I didn’t have to wait around for correct weight, or collect winnings, so I made my way home post haste. Fortunately the trains were again running like clockwork, so it only took a little over 30 minutes to get home.

I’m going back to Caulfield this Wednesday for the Group One Thousand Guineas, for which I booked a ticket some months ago. The race will be run mid afternoon, so it won’t be as tiring as Saturday. And the added attraction is that It’s A Dundeel will gallop between races three and four. I’m also looking forward to seeing Guelph run in the main event; she is regarded as the best three year old filly of the season.

Happy Trails & Tribulations – Turnbull Stakes Review

Happy Trails returning to the mounting yard after winning the Turnbull Stakes

No doubt there was much to celebrate in the Happy Trails camp after the bargain basement gelding pipped the favourite, Puissance de Lune, at the post in the Turnbull Stakes. And I’m sure there was tribulation aplenty among the losers, particularly for Fiorente and Super Cool connections. I was disappointed that Super Cool was unplaced and somewhat chagrined that Puissance de Lune was once again denied his first Group One on the line.  But as they say, that’s racing.

Weatherwise, it couldn’t have been a better day for spending time at the track, with the sun blazing down all afternoon, after a rather uninspiring overcast morning. The only drawback was the strong wind buffeting the wide open spaces of Flemington racecourse.

The famous Flemington roses are not quite out, no doubt perfectly timed to bloom during the four big days of the VRC Spring Racing Carnival. However, pretty blossoming trees lined the alley that leads to the back area of the stalls…

…where I wandered as usual to catch the equine stars in their stalls or perambulating in the Parade Ring.

I was delighted to see that old favourite, Apache Cat had ventured from Living Legends to be present for the occasion. I even got to give him a pat this time.

Apache Cat hanging out in the stalls area

Whilst in the area I took a few photos of the Turnbull contestants

 
Dear Demi in her stall

Fiorente in the parade ring

Hawkspur in his stall – he has an interesting white crescent  moon on his forehead.

Hawkspur’s stablemate Royal Descent in her stall

Super Cool in the Parade Ring

Knowing how unreliable the form is betting on horses at Flemington, I refrained from wagering most of the afternoon and only outlaid on the Turnbull Stakes on my two favourites, Super Cool and Puissance de Lune, though I did watch several races before the feature event out of interest.

Race 5 was the listed Tavern Stakes for four year olds and up over 1410 metres.  It was won by Molto Bene from British General and Goldslick.

Molto Bene returns to scale after winning the Tavern Stakes

The next race on the cards was The Bart Cummings, one for stayers over 2520 metres, and of interest due to the general curiosity on how Sea Moon would go. He finally won, but lost out to an upheld protest from the rider of the second horse Araldo. Gotta Take Care ran third.

Sea Moon returns to the mounting yard after technically winning The Bart Cummings

The Edward Manifold Stakes – race 7 on the card - was the first of the Group races to be run. It’s a Group Two race for three year old fillies run over 1610 metres.  Politeness was the hot favourite, but she ended up unplaced. Se Sauver won it from Star Fashion with Solicit taking out third place – all were at double figure odds.

Se Sauver returning to scale after winning the Edward Manifold Stakes

Race 8 was the one we’d spent all afternoon waiting for, so I grabbed myself a good possie on the mounting yard fence to see the parade…

Saddlecloth no 1 – Manighar

 
Saddle cloth no 16 – Royal Descent

Saddle cloth no 14 – Dear Demi

…then moved to the side to see the field file out onto the track.

Puissance de Lune and Glen Boss

Fiorente and Nash Rawiller

Happy Trails and Dwayne Dunn

Jet Away and Daniel Moor

Silent Achiever and Stephen Arnold

Glencadam Gold and Vlad Duric

It was somewhat of a messily run race, with some horses being blocked for a run when it counted. When Puissance de Lune flashed past down the straight, those of us watching thought he had it won. But Happy Trails overtook him just before the post, and the glory was all his. Fawkner beat the rest of the field home into third place, though there was a protest raised against him from somewhere behind claiming interference.  The protest was eventually dismissed, so I could  collect my winnings on Puissance de Lune and head home.

Spending an afternoon at Flemington racecourse seems to be much more exhausting than at the other racetracks. When you consider that the straight is 1200 metres long, and you walk that distance several times during the afternoon, you probably clock up a couple of miles.

I’m still tossing up whether I’ll go to the Derby, but before that there is a fabulous race card at Caulfield next Saturday with three Group One races, featuring the Caulfield Guineas. I pre-booked a ticket a couple of months ago and saved $20.00 on the gate price, so I’ll be there with bells on.

Atlantic Jewel and It’s A Dundeel may clash again next Saturday in the Group One Caulfield Stakes. It’s A Dundeel is under an injury cloud with a hoof abscess, so he may not start. The news today was that the abscess had burst, so fingers crossed, I hope he recovers quickly.

Dundeel Steals Jewel’s Glory – Underwood Stakes Day Review

It’s A Dundeel in the walking ring at Caulfield

The track at Caulfield on Saturday was rated a slow 6, which in terms of surface give indicates a mildly rain affected track, so wet form was not really a factor all day, though by the feature race the track must have been somewhat the worse for wear.

Not that it really affected the outcome of the Underwood Stakes, as both It’s A Dundeel and Atlantic Jewel, not known as wet trackers, fought out a thrilling finish down the straight.

Fortunately the weather was fine all afternoon, slightly overcast, but pleasant for spending a few hours trackside. I arrived at Caulfield at about 1.30 pm in time to watch the running of Race 4, the Inglis Bonus Handicap (1700 metres). It was won by Rockford from Epic Saga with Le Mans running third.

Race 4 finish – Rockford takes the lead in the straight

The first of the Group races was up next and I wanted to get some photos of Catkins.

Here she is in the parade ring…

Catkins in the parade ring before her race

…and on her way to starting gates.

Catkins on her way to the barriers before winning the Sporting Bet Sprint Heat 2 Stakes

Catkins scored a narrow win from Hi Belle and Flash of Doubt. I had a small wager on her so was delighted when she won. She appears to be thriving in Melbourne, normally being based in Sydney as part of Chris Waller’s stable. Her silks are the famous cerise of the Inglis family, who are indeed her owners.

I spent the greater part of the afternoon out near the stalls area, as there was a fairly large crowd in attendance yesterday, and it was peaceful and quiet with only the horses and few interested onlookers. There was however a large gathering outside Atlantic Jewel’s stall…

Crowd outside Atlantic Jewel’s stall.

I waited until she taken for a walk in the ring, before taking photos of her.

Atlantic Jewel in the walking ring

Other contenders for the feature race were also being perambulated at the same time.

Manighar – something of a handful for his strapper

Puissance de Lune – feeling frisky

Sea Moon

It’s A Dundeel

It’s A Dundeel is a surprisingly small neat horse - no wonder he’s been nicknamed the “pocket rocket”. He certainly proved his class in the Underwood Stakes. He has never won in Melbourne before or in open company, and is the first horse to beat Atlantic Jewel, so he’s something special.  I keenly look forward to his next start.

So on to the race…

It was an unusually run race from the start. Atlantic Jewel took up the lead from Dear Demi with It’s A Dundeel uncharacteristically just behind them. He’s normally a back marker, but his jockey James McDonald made a snap decision to keep pace with the star mare and for quite a way through the race Atlantic Jewel and It’s A Dundeel raced side by side.  Down the straight they raced together, the mare slightly ahead until just before the finish line where It’s A Dundeel pounced to win by a nose. It was a thrilling contest, a classic race finish that promises more riveting action when they meet again.  Atlantic Jewel had the hardest contest of her career and acquitted herself admirably. It’s a pity it could not have been a dead heat.  Dear Demi ran third. Puissance de Lune was too far back to challenge, but ran the fastest time in the last 600ms to come from near last into sixth place.  Interestingly, the five front runners – Atlantic Jewel, Dear Demi, It’s A Dundeel, Happy Trails and Manighar – all finished more or less in that order. Perhaps the track was affected after all, as the back markers made no progress in the straight.

It’s A Dundeel in the winners rug after the Underwood Stakes

In Sydney, the George Main Stakes was taken out by Streama, from Royal Descent with Veyron running third.

Though there are two Group One races coming up next weekend, the Schweppes Stakes on Friday night at Moonee Valley and the Rupert Clark Stakes on Sunday at Caulfield, I probably will not go to either. I don’t want to become jaded with live racing, so will save myself for the Turnbull Stakes meeting at Flemington the following weekend.