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?

The Sun, The Stars & Romance of Racing

Lucia Valentina rugged after winning the Turnbull Stakes

Astrologically it’s not all that surprising that Lucia Valentina won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes last Saturday. The current zodiac sign is Libra and some of its attributes are love, romance and partnerships, its ruling planet being Venus, goddess of Love.

I made a note of last Saturday’s winners, and several of them could be said to have Venusian names. Lucia Valentina is one as is Blazer Stakes winner Forever Loved. In Sydney, He’s Your Man and Brazen Beau both won their respective races and Rising Romance narrowly lost out on winning the Craven Plate to Moriarty, whose name is almost the antithesis to Venus, being Sherlock Holmes arch enemy and more associated with Scorpio.

Though I am a believer in the power of Astrology, I don’t really put much faith in choosing winners based on the zodiac sign active at the time of year. But it is quite interesting to note what names the winners of races bear in relation to the astrological aspects, and surprisingly there are always a few horses who fit the bill.

Enough on Astrology, and on to my day at the races.

It was a splendid warm and sunny day on Saturday – t-shirts and sandals weather – so it was a pleasure to be outdoors at the beautiful Flemington racecourse even though the roses are not yet in bloom.

Arriving just after the running of Race 2, the UCI Stakes which was won by Magicool a half brother to Super Cool, who wears the same silks as his older brother, I headed as usual to the stalls area to see who had already arrived.

Living Legends Efficient and Zipping were parading in the walking ring as I got there, both former winners of the Turnbull Stakes – Efficient won it in 2009 and Zipping won in 2010.

Efficient

Zipping

Also walking around were several contenders for the feature race…

Happy Trails

Silent Achiever

The Offer

And others were waiting in their stalls…

Puissance de Lune

Let’s Make Adeal

As it was almost time for Race 3, the Group 3 Bart Cummings, I hastened back to the public lawn to watch it run.

The starting gates for this 2520 metre race are placed just in front of the mounting yard, but I failed to get a photo of the start as a couple of owners (presumably) blocked my view.

The race was won by Who Shot Thebarman by 2½ lengths from Marksmanship with Anudjawun running third. I did not have a bet on this race, in fact I only bet on three races all afternoon, for a win and a third place.

Who Shot Thebarman returns to scale after winning the Bart Cummings

I was pleased Who Shot Thebarman won as he was one of my Star Stable horses, so scored me points in the competition.

My Star Stable did very well on Saturday with a few of them winning the major races – He’s Your Man (Epsom Handicap), Lucia Valentina (Turnbull Stakes)

Back at Flemington, the next race on the cards was the Vintage Stakes, a 1400 metre race for three year olds.

The Darren Weir trained Stratum Star was the winner, with Manhattan Avenue and Kapset filling the minor places.

Stratum Star returns to scale after winning the Vintage Stakes

Chautauqua, the sensational winner of Race 5, the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, seems to have come from out of the blue into the spotlight. He first came to notice in the Bobby Lewis Quality on 13 September, a race I didn’t witness as I’d left the course before it was run. Anyway, Chautauqua won that race by a couple of lengths and created a positive impression, but he won the Gilgai Stakes by four lengths, confirming that he is a sprinting force to be reckoned with.  We can look forward to him taking on Lankan Rupee and Buffering in either the Manikato Stakes or the VRC Sprint Classic.

Chautauqua was my first bet of the day, and even though he started favourite his odds were a reasonable $3.00, so I made a fair profit on my outlay, which basically financed the other two bets I placed. He’s also in my Star Stable.

New Zealand mare Bounding ran second with Final Crescendo filling third spot.

Bounding in the mounting yard

Chautauqua in the mounting yard

Spirit of Boom in the mounting yard

Chautauqua returns to scale after winning the Gilgai Stakes

Returning to the stalls area -  a fair walk up the public lawn, I noticed two small ravens sitting on the Makybe Diva statue – a good omen perhaps as two ravens are for joy, according to the old rhyme.

Ravens perched on Makybe Diva statue

In race 6, the Edward Manifold Stakes I decided to put my money on Pittsburgh Flyer, mostly because she was in my Star Stable.  I should have forgiven Fontein Ruby her last loss, for she redeemed herself with a vengeance and Pittsburgh Flyer ended up running fourth behind Maastricht and Crafty who ran second and third.

Fontein Ruby heads for the track

One filly, I’m A Flying Star didn’t want to leave the mounting yard, and had to be persuaded to go to the barriers.

I’m A Flying Star baulks at leaving the mounting yard

She did however compete in the race, which is more than can be said of  Suavito in the Blazer Stakes (race 8) who refused to leave the barrier and missed the race entirely.

As the next race was the Turnbull Stakes, I decided to catch up with Super Cool and his strapper Jade to whom I’ve been supplying photos via Dropbox.

He was being saddled up when I reached his stall, so I lingered until he was ready. While Jade demonstrated his sweet and laid back temperament by getting him to kiss her…

 

…I overheard his trainer Mark Kavanagh telling another bystander how he came to be called Super Cool. Apparently before they had named him, they noticed one day that he had three kids sitting on his back and he was completely unfazed by this attention. As Mark Kavanagh remarked, he couldn’t give a shit...

Returning trackside I got a good position on the mounting yard fence to get photos of the main contenders…

Brambles – ran third

Lidari – ran second

Green Moon – second last

Happy Trails with Super Cool following

 
Puissance de Lune – finished fourth

Silent Achiever – finished ninth

Lucia Valentina – the winner

Stipulate – finished fifth

Super Cool – a disappointing eleventh

Lucia Valentina became the first mare to win the Turnbull Stakes since Devil Moon took it out in 2007.  Before her Makybe Diva (2005) and Sunline (2001) also won the race.

Here’s an old photo of Devil Moon taken at Moonee Valley on Manikato Stakes Day in 2007 after she won the Group 2 Cranes Stakes (now known as the Stocks Stakes). 

Devil Moon – Moonee Valley 15 September 2007

Anyway it’s rare for a mare to win the race, and Lucia Valentina, after being under an injury cloud for most of the week, won it by ½ length from Lidari and Brambles who raced up on the speed for most of the race with Lucia Valentina swooping from mid field to deny them victory. She is now outright Caulfield Cup favourite, and she quite possibly can win it.

Lucia Valentina returns to scale

I did not wager on the Turnbull Stakes, being unable to make up my mind on a selection, so was delighted with Lucia Valentina’s win.

Deferring leaving the course after the feature race, I stayed to watch Race 8,  the Group 2 Blazer Stakes, where I fancied May’s Dream who had a good record of winning second up. The Gai Waterhouse trained Forever Loved won comfortably from Enquare with May’s Dream finishing third.  The big drama was the favourite, Suavito, refusing to leave the barriers, which was only noticed by race caller Greg Miles half way through the race.

May’s Dream leaving the mounting yard

Forever Loved returns to scale after winning the Blazer Stakes

Throughout the afternoon I caught up with the Sydney racing action.

He’s Your Man pipped his stable mate Royal Descent at the post to win the Epsom Handicap with outsider Hooked running third.

First Seal won the Flight Stakes in dynamic fashion by 3 lengths from Winx with Thinking of You running third. The top three fillies in the race a natural trifecta.

And in The Metropolitan Junoob made it two wins in succession, beating home Opinion and Araldo.

After collecting my place winnings on May’s Dream which were a pretty good $2.25, I headed to the station and home.

It was a very enjoyable day at the races, and I was pleased to witness two possible new stars of the turf in Chautauqua and Lucia Valentina in action. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if Who Shot Thebarman was somewhere in the finish in the Melbourne Cup.

Next week is Caulfield Guineas Day at Caulfield. I pre-purchased an early bird ticket ages ago, so mean to attend. There are four Group 1 races and an excellent support card to boot.

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.