The Last Roses of Summer - The End of the Carnival

Resplendent roses hedge the straight in front of the finish line

In the four years since I have been attending the races at Flemington in autumn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the famous roses in such profuse bloom. They looked magnificent, but unfortunately obscured the view of the mounting yard, and as mentioned previously, the horses in their stalls.

For this last day of Flemington’s mini racing carnival, I arrived early in the afternoon, obliged in fact by the train service from the city which cut out at 1.00pm.

As I stepped off the train and made my way to the public lawn, Race 1, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Plate, had just been run and won. I was pleased to hear that the winner was Augusta Proud’s daughter Thyme for Roses, who made her mother proud with an easy win after two unsuccessful starts this season.

Thyme for Roses poses for photos in the mounting yard

She came in at good odds of 10/1 beating Emphatically and Soviet Secret.

It was therefore a long afternoon, but the weather was reasonably kind, overcast though muggy and the crowds weren’t large.

There was some sort of food and wine festival going on in the upper lawn area. Curiously, the Kids’ Zone was in the same spot, no doubt so mums and dads could sample the wares and keep an eye on their off spring at the same time.

Anyway, it made that part of the lawn almost impassable, so when traversing from the winning post to the stalls, it was easier (and faster) to go around the back way via the Bookie’s Ring.

Thence I went after taking the above photo of Thyme for Roses to see who had arrived.

Apache Cat was the Living Legends special guest, but though I caught  glimpses of him, I somehow failed all afternoon to get a photo of him.  Not to worry, I have plenty of photos of him I’ve taken at other times.

I didn’t take all that many photos of the horsey stars in their stalls, the overabundant roses being somewhat off putting after a while, though my photographer friend George as usual was far more dedicated than me at getting shots of all the runners in the two feature races.

Here’s the few I managed to get good photos of…

Black Heart Bart

Chautauqua

Japonisme

Preferment

Suavito

Returning trackside to the rose hedge free gate just past the winning post, where you can get a diagonal view of the winning post, race 2, the Group 2 Sire’s Produce Stakes, was about to start. It’s a race for two year olds over 1400 metres.

It was won by Seaburge from Detective and Revolving Door.

Seaburge (inside) wins the Sires Produce Stakes

Seaburge returns to scale

Detective returns to scale

Revolving Door returns to scale

Somehow or other I killed time between the races either hanging out in the stalls area or mooching around on the public lawn, so there’s not much to report activity wise.

Race 3 was a sprint, the Listed Goodwood Racecourse Trophy over 1100 metres for three year olds.

The favourite was Brockhoff, but he finished out of the placings. A filly, Super Cash won the prize, beating longshots Sooboog and Stellar Collision by half a length.

As is often the case with sprints down the spacious Flemington straight, the field split into two sections, a group racing on the inside of the track, the rest racing down the grandstand side, which rather stymies one’s shots when shooting the finish.

Super Cash returns to scale after winning the Goodwood Racecourse Trophy

Sooboog returns to scale

Stellar Collision returns to scale

The next race was the Group 2 Blamey Stakes, a race over 1600 metres.

Stratum Star started as favourite, and managed to run third behind He Or She and The United States.

He or She (yellow blinkers) wins the Blamey Stakes from The United States (inside) and Stratum Star (red blinkers)

He or She returns to scale after winning the Blamey Stakes

The United States on his way to the barriers

Stratum Star on his way to the barriers

After the Blamey Stakes, there was only one more race before the first of the two features, the Newmarket Handicap, was scheduled to run.

Race 5 was another Group 2 race, the Kewney Stakes for three year old fillies run over 1400 metres.

As had been the pattern all afternoon, the favourite, in this case Catch A Fire, failed to win or even run a place. 

Badawiya, fresh from a spell, romped in two lengths ahead of the fast finishing Don’t Doubt Mama, with Egypt running into third place.

Badawiya wins the Kewney Stakes

Badawiya returns to scale

Don’t Doubt Mama returns to scale

Egypt on her way to the barriers

As the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap was the next race to jump, I ambled up to the mounting yard fence to see the parade. The haze at the bottom of some of the following photos is caused by rose petals and leaves casting a shadow on the lens.

Black Heart Bart

Charmed Harmony

Chautauqua

Japonisme

Churchill Dancer

Counterattack

Delectation

Keen Array

Secret Agent

The Quarterback

Before the race even started, while the horses were making their way to the starting gates at the top of the straight, Counterattack threw his jockey Glen Boss and tore up the straight riderless, eventually being caught. Though horse and jockey were both unhurt, Counterattack was scratched on the spot.

The race itself was run at lightning speed and the field split into two sections, or rather eight of the runners headed to the grandstand side, and Charmed Harmony ran all by himself on the inside.

It resulted in a boilover, when 20/1 shot The Quarterback won narrowly from Black Heart Bart and Chautauqua. Chautauqua tried hard, but carrying the top weight proved his downfall. First and second had a 4 to 6 kg advantage. He was beaten less than a length and hardly disgraced.

Newmarket Handicap finish on the outer rail

Surprisingly, Craig Newitt pulled The Quarterback up shortly after passing the finish line and turned him round to bring him back to scale.

Normally the winning horse returns last, being delayed by the traditional jockey interview post race with Sam Hyland up around the bend. It was amusing to see Sam galloping his pony in hot pursuit of The Quarterback.

The Quarterback returning to the mounting yard

Chautauqua returns to scale

The Australian Cup was a messily run race, with no horse wanting to set the pace. Last year The Cleaner kept up an honest pace, but this year, with the scratching of Mourinho, there was no natural leader.  Awesome Rock eventually took the lead with Preferment and Rising Romance close behind him on the pace.

Basically the first three on the pace finished in that order, Awesome Rock defeating Preferment by a nostril with Rising Romance a length back in third place.

Awesome Rock came in at big odds (26/1), but was denied first place by an upheld protest of second against first, alleging interference in the last 300 metres of the race. So Preferment ended up the winner in the end.

The race favourite was Bow Creek, but he missed the start and failed to make up enough ground, finishing eighth.

Preferment on his way to the barriers

Awesome Rock returns to scale

Rising Romance returns to scale

Having been at Flemington all afternoon, I headed for the station after the Australian Cup and thence home.

The Coolmore Classic in Sydney ended with a boilover win by the unfancied Peeping. Azkadellia ran second and Solicit third. It certainly wasn’t a day for favourites anywhere.

So ended the main part of Melbourne’s Autumn Racing Carnival.

Overall it was interesting all the way through and the highlights for me were Chautauqua in the Lightning Stakes, Extreme Choice in the Blue Diamond Stakes,  Turn Me Loose in the Futurity Stakes and Suavito in the Orr Stakes. 

Sydney’s autumn racing carnival kicks off in earnest next Saturday with Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill. Five Group 1 races are on the card, and stars such as Winx, Turn Me Loose, Fell Swoop, Extreme Choice, First Seal, Mongolian Khan, Criterion, Press Statement and Terravista are nominated to compete in one or another of the Group 1 races programmed.

The are no races in Melbourne next Saturday, just the Alister Clarke Stakes meeting at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Super Saturday at Flemington

Chautauqua returns to scale after winning the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heady Brew–Australian Guineas Review

Palentino, hot & sweaty in the mounting yard after winning the 2016 Australian Guineas

We woke to an overcast sticky morning in Melbourne on Saturday and those conditiions prevailed for the rest of the day.

That suited me fine, as the lighting for photography was excellent -  not too bright or too dark.

I arrived at Flemington Racecourse earlier than anticipated, in time to watch  Race 2, the Listed  3AW News Talk Sport Stakes, a race over 1000 metres for two year olds.

It ended up with Selenia winning from Alter Call and Creativity.

Selenia returns to scale after winning Race 2

The Flemington roses were rampantly in bloom, particularly in the stalls area, where rose hedges surround the bird cage walking ring and the stalls. The bushes were so high that it was difficult to get clear shots of horses in their stalls and many a photographer looked as if they had been playing with feisty kittens after being in the area.

Living Legend Brew was the first horse I came across as I entered the lower stalls area and his kindly attendants brought him out for a pat. What a thrill!

Brew outside his stall

He’s a big boy, but gentle and friendly and I was delighted to meet him. I still recall vividly his Melbourne Cup victory in 2000 . That year my astrological analysis of the field led me to decide that a strong Cancerian influence was the main aspect of the day.  Brew’s name, signifying domestic duties, was spot on for Cancer.  It also helped that he had the breeding of a Melbourne Cup winner – Sir Tristram from Horlicks -  a blue blood indeed.

He started from Gate 24, and his saddle cloth number was 24 as well which made him a light weight chance. A very young Kieran McEvoy was his jockey.

Brew, sporting a yellow rose in his bridle

Whilst in the area I cruised through to see which Guineas contenders had already arrived.

The Darren Weir contingent were in Stalls 12 to 22, though not necessarily in the same stalls allocated in the race book.


Mahuta

Palentino

Perfect Reflection

Along with the three year olds, former Western Australian mare Real Love was there as well. She was favourite for Roy Higgins Quality scheduled as Race 4.

Real Love

Back track side, Race 3 was about to start, so I made my way to the prime spot just past the winning post to get action shots of the finish and the field returning to scale.

The Mrs Mac’s Bakery Sprint, for fillies and mares, is run over 1100 metres, and last start winner Estaminet started as favourite, but failed to fire, finishing well back in the field.  New Zealand filly Miss Seton Sands, having her first start in Australia, narrowly won over Exclusive Lass and Hijack Hussy.

Race 3 finish – please note camera angle looks as if Exclusive Lass is the winner.

Estaminet returns to scale

Miss Seton Sands returns to scale

Exclusive Lass returns to scale

Hijack Hussy returns to scale

The stalls area at Flemington is in two sections, the front stalls being easily accessible from just outside Carbine’s stall, but you have to walk down Crabapple Lane to access the back section.

More Guineas contenders were stabled there, including hyped New Zealand colt Xtravagant, who had quite a crowd of interested spectators outside his stall.

Xtravagant in his stall

Close by was Tarzino along with the other Mick Price runners, whom I failed to get photos of, or couldn’t identify.

Tarzino in his stall

Vanbrugh

Bon Aurum – very pretty

Jameka in her stall

Back  in the front stalls was Divan who was entered in the last race on the program, which I didn’t stay to watch.

He was being rather naughty in his stall, pawing the ground and tossing his head around, which I remarked to his strapper, who said that at home he was a lamb, but he got excited coming to the races.

Blue blood Divan – a handsome fellow

Back trackside the Roy Higgins Quality was the next race to run, and Real Love was the warm favourite.

She didn’t disappoint, finally winning her first race in the East after running a place in her last two starts.

Real Love wins the Roy Higgins Quality from Dandy Gent – Black Jag ran third three lengths behind.

Real Love returns to scale

After tramping back and forth from the stalls to the upper public lawn several times I felt like a break, so went a bought a drink and watched the Canterbury Stakes from Sydney on the big screen.  Holler, who was underestimated in the betting, won from First Seal with Kermadec running third.

The earlier Todman Stakes resulted in a boilover as well, when the Gai Watherhouse trained Kiss and Make Up rolled the highly touted short priced favourite, Capitalist.

Brew was parading around the mounting yard as I waited for the Canterbury Stakes to screen and grazing on the centre lawn whilst the Living Legends chief vet posed for photos with him.

Brew in the mounting yard

Only two more races were scheduled before the feature, and they were only of interest in helping the time pass.

There wasn’t much of a crowd, certainly not a spring racing levels, and the kids were kept well out of the way in the Kids’ Zone and entertained in various ways. I saw Peanuts characters wandering around and posing for photos.

Charlie & Lucy

Snoopy posing for photos outside the Phar Lap Club (Kids’ Zone)

Race 5 was the Group 3 TAB Rewards Stakes an open handicap over 1400 metres. It resulted in Red Bomber beating Burning Front and Puccini. It was Red Bomber’s first win in a year.

Race 5 finish – Red Bomber on the outside beats Burning Front (orange silks) and Puccini (inside)

Red Bomber on his way to the barriers

Burning Front on his way to the barriers

Puccini on his way to the barriers

In Race 6, the ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap, race favourite Malaguerra romped in by almost two lengths from Grane and Thermal Current.

Malaguerra wins the ATA/ Bob Hoysted Handicap

Malaguerra returns to scale

Grane returns to scale

Thermal Current returns to scale

The Randwick Guineas was scheduled to run 15 minutes before the Australian Guineas, so I wandered back towards the mounting yard to get a better view of the big screen to watch it.  Le Romain caused an upset, beating  hot favourite Press Statement, who was blocked for a run and couldn’t catch him in the straight.  Rank outsider Gold Ambition ran third.

A similar scenario occured in the Australian Guineas where Xtravagant was the hot favourite, but failed to run a place. He burst from the gates at lightning speed and led for most of the race. He was overtaken in the straight by a mass of horses and Palentino pushed through at the last minute to win from Tarzino and the filly Risque.

As happened when he won, then lost, the CS Hayes Stakes, there was a protest against him from second place, Tarzino’s jockey, alleging interference, but this time the protest was dismissed. A collective groan rose up when the protest siren was sounded – not again!

Australian Guineas finish

Palentino returns to scale

Tarzino on his way to the barriers

Xtravagant on his way to the barriers

Xtravagant has returned to New Zealand, his colours lowered considerably. 

Flemington roses – a plethora of brilliant colour all along the straight

I went home after the Guineas, not staying for the Frances Tressady Stakes or the Antler Luggage Trophy, where Divan ran second again to runaway long shot Tom Melbourne.

It’s back to Flemington next Saturday for Super Saturday which features the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and the Group 1 Australian Cup, always a fabulous day of racing with  a quality support card.

The final Group 1 of the Melbourne Autumn racing carnival is the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on 25 March, which I may attend, even though it’s a night meeting.

Farewell Catkins & Australian Guineas Day

Catkins on Caulfield Cup Day 2015

It was announced earlier this week that Catkins has been retired. She was a much loved mare with a huge following during her sterling race career and I admit one of my favourites.

Known as the punters pal, she always ran an honest race and it’s a pity she never won a Group 1, though she finished second or third in quite a few of them. Her record stands at 16 wins from 38 starts, most of her wins being at Group 2 and Group 3 level.  I’ve followed her for several years and always looked forward to seeing her race. Enjoy your retirement sweet Catkins. I hope your babies are as pretty as you.

Meanwhile, the excitement of Group 1 racing continues this weekend at Flemington and Randwick and includes the ridiculous scheduling of two Guineas in two States – the Randwick Guineas in Sydney and the Australian Guineas in Melbourne.

Surprisingly both Guineas have attracted reasonable fields, the Melbourne Guineas being overall more classy in content.

The Randwick Guineas looks as if it will be a walkover by top colt Press Statement, who won the Caulfield Guineas in spring last year, and kicked off his autumn campaign in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes on 20 February with an easy win.

On that occasion he out ran Le Romain and Montaigne and most of the rest of the field contesting the Randwick Guineas, so you really can’t see him being beaten, unless Melbourne invader Tulsa or sole filly Stay With Me can mount a challenge.

Sixteen three year olds will contest the Australian Guineas at Flemington, and most of them are good enough to win the race.

You’ve got star New Zealand colt Xtravagant having his first start in Australia and recent results indicate that it is unwise to ignore the kiwi runners, Turn Me Loose and Risque for instance. Xtravagant makes a habit of winning his races by 8 lengths on good tracks. He’ll get a good track on Saturday as it hasn’t rained in Melbourne for ages, and none is forecast in the near future.

Risque is in the field along with talented former Western Australian filly Perfect Reflection, and Crown Oaks winner Jameka, challenging the boys. Several fillies have won the Australian Guineas, the most recent being Mosheen (2012) and Shamrocker (2011).

They have to beat some really talented boys; Mahuta, Tarzino, Vanbrugh, Palentino and Tivaci along with Xtravagant.

All in all it looks a fascinating race.

The Flemington support card is moderately interesting, but the Randwick card is much more classy with another Group 1 race on the program along with several choice Group 2 events.

The Group 1 Canterbury Stakes run over 1300 metres has a small but select field that includes top runners Criterion, Kermadec, First Seal, Our Boy Malachi and Holler.  Last year the Canterbury Stakes was won by Cosmic Endeavour from Catkins and Criterion, so that bodes well for First Seal, who returned from a long break with a stylish win in the Millie Fox Stakes .

Worthy of interest is Race 2 on the Randwick card,  the Todman Stakes, a Group 2 race for two year old colts and geldings over 1200 metres. It has a super lineup of six in form colts headed by Magic Millions Two Year Old Classic winner Capitalist, who is yet to lose a race from three starts. Trying hard to lower his colours will be Silver Slipper winner Astern and Talindert Stakes winner Weatherly, not to mention Tessera who has won two from two starts and Defcon who has run second to both Astern and Tessera and could well be in the finish again.

I’m looking forward to going back to Flemington on Saturday for the second last Saturday of the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. A bonus will be seeing the Living Legends representative, 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Brew.  He won me heaps of money that day when he romped in at big odds. He is regally bred, being one of super sire Sir Tristram’s sons, from champion New Zealand mare Horlicks who won the 1989 Japan Cup in world record time. I hope to give Brew a pat, and try to get a good photo.