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.

The First Group 1 of Autumn – Orr Stakes Review

Manuel – Orr Stakes winner returning to the stalls after the  presentation

In startling contrast to the last race meeting at Caulfield, last Saturday was cool and overcast as opposed to searingly hot and sunny, which was a welcome respite and made it much more pleasant to spend an afternoon at the races.

I arrived at Caulfield fairly early in the afternoon in time to watch the third race on the program. This was the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes, a race for mares over 1200 metres. The favourite was Princess of Queens and she didn’t disappoint, winning by a narrow margin from Fuhryk and I Am A Star.

Bellmaine Stakes just past the post 

Princess of Queens strolls back to scale

In Race 4, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, there was great interest in seeing how Nature Strip would fare in the 1100 metre race. He was one of the former Darren Weir horses racing on Saturday. He is now with Chris Waller, whom I’m sure would have been pleased with the speedster’s performance in the Rubiton Stakes. Nature Strip blitzed the field, leading from start to finish and winning by 3½ lengths from Jungle Edge, with Thermal Current running third a further 2 lengths behind.

Nature Strip corners like a greyhound just past the post

Nature Strip returns to scale

Jungle Edge returns to scale

Thermal Current returns to scale

The colts and geldings Blue Diamond Prelude was the first  to run and was up next.  Blue Diamond Preview winner I Am Immortal started as favourite and prevailed, again leading from go to whoa to narrowly defeat Shotmaker and Hawker Hurricane.  He is the first colt to accomplish the Preview/Prelude double since Sepoy in 2011. Whether he can go on to emulate Sepoy and take out the Blue Diamond Stakes is yet to be seen.

I Am Immortal still ahead after the post

I Am Immortal returns to scale

I Am Immortal – head shot returning to the stalls after the presentation

In the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude, it was expected that previously impressive fillies Catch Me and Brooklyn Hustle would be prominent and fight out the finish, but neither featured and ended up out of the places.

Godolphin filly Lyre won the bickies at big odds from Vinicunca (also at big odds) and Athiri.

Just past the post in the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude – the first three home- Lyre (blue silks, white cap) Vinicunca (inside) & Athiri (blue silks, blue cap)

Lyre returns to the stalls after the presentation still in her winners rug

As far as the actual Blue Diamond Stakes goes the picture is somewhat unclear after the fillies Prelude. The great white hope for a filly to win is now Loving Gaby – a big strong girl who could well take the prize.

Regarding Brooklyn Hustle, the early favourite for the Blue Diamond, she could still be in the picture. She’s a lovely looking filly, quite the head turner, being a bright chestnut with blonde mane and tail, rather reminiscent of Miracles of Life, the 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes winner. I managed to get a lovely photo of her as she was being walked in the stalls area.

Brooklyn Hustle

There was only one more race to run before the feature Group 1 event, and that was the Group 2 Autumn Stakes, a race for three year olds over 1400 metres.  Hawkshot, a handsome son of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner, Fiorente, ran a similar race to former stablemate Nature Strip, leading from the start to win by 3½ lengths from Dealmaker with Ringerdingding running third,

Hawkshot in the pre-parade ring

Hawkshot returns to scale

Dealmaker on his way to the barriers

Ringerdingding on his way to the barriers

Another who ran and won setting the pace was the long odds surprise winner of the feature Group 1 Orr Stakes – Manuel trained by Tony McEvoy. Kementari was the hot favourite for the race, but as seems to always be the case, he was relegated to second place, dead heating with Land of Plenty.

Orr Stakes just past the post – Manuel still has a good lead.

Manuel on his way to the barriers

Kementari on his way to the barriers

Land of Plenty on his way to the barriers

Much as I would have liked to, I didn’t stay for the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes as it was getting late. It was won by Avilius, who is now favourite for the Australian Cup.

It remained overcast most of the afternoon,  challenging for properly exposed photos, but it only rained briefly shortly before the Orr Stakes. I had dressed for wet weather, and expected to be overly warm. A brisk breeze kept it cool, so I was never uncomfortable.

The absence of Darren Weir was noticeable, but his former horses performed very well for their new stables.

Next weekend the Melbourne racing moves to Flemington which features the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, wherein super filly Sunlight will hopefully shine. In Sydney at Randwick, the mighty Winx will be kicking off her final campaign in the Group 2  Apollo Stakes – a must watch race.  Go Winx!

Catch Me! I Am Immortal – Blue Diamond Previews

Shortly after the finish of the fillies Blue Diamond Preview – first three home Catch Me (green silks) Jedastar (blue silks) & Shih Tzou (blue cap)

The first Group 1 race of Melbourne’s Autumn Racing Carnival is less than a fortnight hence, so I decided last Saturday to psych myself up and head to the races at Caulfield.

It wasn’t a terribly interesting meeting other than the two Blue Diamond Previews, where one is afforded an early opportunity to see  Blue Diamond bound babes in action.  Several winners of the Previews have gone on to win the Blue Diamond Stakes, most recently Sepoy (2011), Reward For Effort (2009) and Miracles of Life (2013).

I did not make a long day of it, arriving at Caulfield in time to watch Race 3, which was the Le Pines Funerals Handicap run over 1400 metres. The Hawkes trained Groundbreak started as favourite but finished out of the placings. Critical Thinking, a son of So You Think, led from the start and held on to win narrowly over Simply Invincible and Indian Thunder.

Just past the post – Critical Thinking still leads

The first of the Previews to run was the colts edition and I Am Immortal started as favourite even though this was his first start, though he had impressed recently in a trial at Pakenham.  He also led from the start and held on to win by a length from second favourite Microphone with Alburq running third another length behind.

I managed to get photos of most of the field in the pre-parade ring, and the standout good looker was Brazen Brando who looked the spitting image of his sire Brazen Beau, also a stunner. He ran fourth, racing from the rear of the field with an impressive turn of foot.

Brazen Brando in the pre-parade ring

I Am Immortal in the pre-parade ring

Shortly after the finish, I Am Immortal still leads Microphone

I Am Immortal returns to scale

In the fillies Blue Diamond Preview, Catch Me’s win was the more impressive and hard won, as she ran three wide for most of the race, then broke through to defeat race favourite, and leader, Jedastar by a length, with Shih Tzou following for a narrow third.

Catch Me returns to scale

Interestingly both Catch Me and I Am Immortal were sired by I Am Invincible. Whether either are good enough to win the Blue Diamond is yet to be seen.

I called it quits after the fillies Preview and headed home, the heat of day putting me off staying longer.

Next Saturday’s race card at Caulfield looks somewhat more interesting with a possible clash between classy speedsters, the handsome chestnuts, Written By and Nature Strip in the
Listed W J Adams Handicap, and Victoria Derby winner Extra Brut is nominated for the feature Group 3 Manfred Stakes.

The equine stars are emerging at last as the racing scene builds up to Group 1 action.

And of course there’s Winx, who will kick off her final season of racing in the Apollo Stakes on February 16.

I’ve been contemplating going to see her in Sydney again for the last time and tossing up between Golden Slipper day and Queen Elizabeth Stakes day. Golden Slipper day, at Rosehill, where Winx, all going to plan, will be running in the George Ryder Stakes, has won out.  I would prefer to go to Rosehill rather than Randwick – it’s better for photos.  Anyway, my flight to Sydney is booked, as is accommodation, so I can’t change my mind.

Hot and Sticky at Caulfield – Blue Diamond Previews Review

Lady Horseowner returns to scale after winning the fillies Preview

Despite the temperature being in the low 30°s, the humidity factor made it feel close to 40° when standing out in the sun, so I didn’t stay all afternoon at Caulfield Racecourse yesterday.

I arrived in time for the first race in fact and stayed for the following three races, before calling it quits and heading home.

Race 1 was the Cape Grim Beef Plate, a handicap run over 2000 metres, so I decided to watch it from the public lawn and test the new lens from that position.

Pretty Punk (red cap) & The Chairman (purple cap) burn down the straight

The winner Night’s Watch came wide from the back of the field  to narrowly beat The Chairman on the line. Pretty Punk  ended up in fourth place being overtaken by Golden Mane.

Taking photos in bright sunlight has its drawbacks, resulting in high contrast images, so overall the new lens handled it better than expected.

For the Blue Diamond Previews I moved to my normal spot above the stalls area. I’ve always found the lighting to be better in that position.

There were flattened Marquees lying all around, which is worrying in relation to upcoming feature race days.

Will the Hill be off limits?

In the pre parade ring the colts were were being perambulated around half the enclosure, avoiding a medical emergency in the centre, where reportedly a strapper had been kicked in the face by a horse before Race 1.

I hope the strapper is alright, as he/she was attended for well over an hour before being stretchered out of the ring.

Long Leaf kept his unbeaten run of wins intact with a gutsy victory in the colts Blue Diamond Preview, beating Ollivander with Run Naan, who was hampered by the erratic Robe De Fete. scrambling into third place.

Just past the post – Long Leaf  is still ahead

Long Leaf returns to scale

Run Naan, Ollivander & Bold Type return to scale

In my last post I mentioned four fillies as chances to win the fillies Blue Diamond Preview, and I’m pleased to note that they finished as the first four, with Lady Horseowner defeating Crossing The Abbey, with Oohood and Downloads running third and fourth respectively.

Just past the post – Lady Horseowner still leads

Crossing the Abbey returns to scale

Oohood returns to scale

Downloads returns to scale

Whether Long Leaf or Lady Horseowner will go on to win the Blue Diamond Stakes remains to be seen. The last colt to win the Blue Diamond Preview/Blue Diamond double was Sepoy in 2011, and the last filly to complete it was Miracles of Life in 2013.

I stayed for race 4, the Blue Diamond Gala Dinner Plate, a race for three year old fillies run over 1100 metres.

It resulted in Holy Seal, who led throughout, defeating tote favourite Smart Coupe with Lady Magnus running third.

Race 4 – just past the post

Holy Seal returns to scale

Smart Coupe returns to scale

Lady Magnus returns to scale

As the new lens has a much wider focal range than my regular Nikon lens, it seemed to cope better with the bright light and the rail being out by six metres, so I’m glad I tried it out in situ so to speak.

They’re racing at Caulfield for the next two Saturdays, so I might go to the next meeting, depending on who is running and how hot it will be.