From One Extreme to Another–Moonee Valley & Flemington Review

Extreme Choice returns to scale after winning the Moir Stakes

On Friday night I spent as much time getting to and from Moonee Valley Race Course as I passed  at the venue.

As Friday was a public holiday for AFL Grand Final Eve, buses were running on a Saturday time table, so the regular bus I catch to Moonee Valley had stopped running by the time I departed from home. I was obliged to seek an alternative route further up in Northcote and had to wait 30 minutes for it to arrive.

An hour after I left home, I arrived at Moonee Valley, fortunately in time for the running of the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, a race for three year olds over 1600 metres.

I was keen to see how Hey Doc would fare in this race. He’d impressed me winning his last start at Moonee Valley on Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day, and he was facing a classier field than he ran against on that day.

He won the Stutt Stakes convincingly by 1½ lengths from Land Of Plenty, with Kaching three lengths back running third.

Hey Doc in the winner’s stall

His next assigment is the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas next Saturday where he’ll meet an even more talented field of rivals.

As you can see from the photos above, Moonee Valley at night is not conducive to good sharp images.  I’d inadvertently left my camera setting at a high noise reduction, so all the photos I took have an unpleasant over aggressive smoothness. 

The next race was the Group 2 Stock Stakes for mares. It also had a fine field that included class mares such as Rising Romance, Miss Rose De Lago and Don’t Doubt Mama.

The redoubtable Don’t Doubt Mama was the outstanding winner, narrowly beating Kaniana with Miss Rose De Lago running third.

Don’t Doubt Mama returns to scale after winning the Stock Stakes.

The races were spaced at 30 minutes intervals so there wasn’t long to wait for the feature Group 1 Moir Stakes. I’d been unable to buy a race book as they’d all sold out by the time I got to the track, so I killed some time cruising through one of the bar areas to see if anyone had dropped their race book, and found one eventually – in mint condition on an unoccupied table.

Chautauqua naturally was the hot favourite for the Moir Stakes, but the lightweighted Extreme Choice, came from the back of the field and caught everyone by surprise to win by 1½ lengths from mares, Heatherly and Wild Rain. Chautauqua was just winding up when the race was over, so 1000 metres is probably too short for him. He finished fourth, 3 lengths from the winner.

Moir Stakes finish

Leaving  Moonee Valley after the Moir Stakes, I tramped up to Moonee Ponds Junction aiming to catch the 10.05pm bus back to Northcote. It failed to arrive on time, and another lady waiting at the stop rang the bus company to ascertain its likely arrival and was told that it wasn’t running and that the next bus was due at 11.05pm.

I gave up and managed to hail a taxi, and got home 1½ hours after leaving the race course. The unreliability of the Moonee Valley buses rather puts me off going to Moonee Valley night races ever again.

Fortunately Friday night was fairly mild with little wind, but it was completely different, weather wise, on Sunday at Flemington, where it was warm and sunny with gale force winds.

Compared to the trials and tribulations of public transport on Friday night, it was a cinch getting to Flemington, the two trains coinciding nicely with little waiting time in between.

So I got to Flemington early, in time for Race 2, the Poseidon Stakes which was a Listed race for three year olds over 1400 metres.

What a relief it was to be back using the Nikon, after the Canon G16 on Friday night. I must admit, now that I’ve worked out the best settings, I prefer the Nikon over my other cameras and  prefer using the Viewfinder over the LCD screen, it not being affected by sunlight which renders screens virtually useless.

 
Poseidon Stakes finish – Inside Agent (pink cap) is overtaking Magnarock (orange silks) approaching the finish line.

The Poseidon Stakes was won by Inside Agent having only his second start. Magnarock ran a close second and Peacock was two lengths back in third place.

Inside Agent returns to scale

Checking out the stalls area, I came across first of all, the Living Legend guest Zipping. His mate Efficient was supposed to be present as well, but apparently he had a foot abscess so was obliged to stay at home.

Zipping

Zipping ran in two Turnbull Stakes finishing first in 2010 and second in 2008.  He’s now 16 years old and enjoyed the attention, and carrots, given to him by an admiring crowd.

Zipping – carrots and caresses

In the walking ring nearby to Zipping’s stall, I spotted Sydney champ Hartnell being walked. I recognised him instantly, much to my surprise and was pleased to have my suspicians confirmed by the tag attached to his bridle. He’s a handsome fellow, with large nostrils – that’s supposed to be a good sign for a stayer.

Hartnell in the walking ring

Also present in the stalls area were other Turnbull Stakes contenders…

Jameka

Preferment

Set Square

Tarzino

The colts and geldings engaged in Race 3, the UCI Stakes were soon parading in the walking ring. I was keen to get a glimpse of New Zealand colt Highlad.

Highlad in the walking ring

By the time I returned trackside it was not long before the field were making their way to the barriers.

Highlad on his way to the barriers

Rocketeer on his way to the barriers

Wine Bush on his way to the barriers

The race resulted in Sydney colt Wine Bush pipping Rocketeer at the post, relegating him yet again to second place. Highlad finished third.

UCI Stakes finish – Wine Bush (pink blinkers) is about to spoil Rocketeer’s (green silks) party. Highlad is just behind in third place

I couldn’t be bothered taking photos of the horses parading in the mounting yard, deciding to concentrate on action photos, but I did return to the stalls area to get a photo of Eleonora, the granddaughter of 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner, Ethereal.

Eleonora is a really pretty chestnut filly, and has lots of attitude according to her strapper, who remarked that the stable hands described her as a good date, but you wouldn’t want to marry her.

Eleonora in her stall

Race 4 was the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, a sprint down the Flemington straight over 1200 metres. Chautauqua won the race the last two years in sucession.

This year there were no real standouts, the field being evenly matched. Fatinaah, who won the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at his last start, was the favourite, with Under The Louvre being highly fancied as well.

However, The Quarterback , who won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap back in autumn, having his first start of the spring, proved too good for the rest of the field with a solid win, beating longshots We’ve Got This and Durendal.

Gilgai Stakes finish – The Quarterback surges ahead

 
The Quarterback returns to scale

The wind as mentioned before was fierce, and almost knocked you over on occasion. It also made holding the camera steady into the wind a struggle. That’s not to mention the hell of wearing contact lenses in windy conditions when dust gets under them and renders you practically blind.

However I persevered and was back in the prime spot for Race 5, The Bart Cummings, run over 2500 metres.

The race start is half way down the straight and run the full circuit.

Almandin who I last witnessed winning the Harry White Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight ago, put himself well into contention for the Melbourne Cup with a comfortable win in The Bart Cummings, which gives him automatic entry in the Cup.

Almandin wins The Bart Cummings

Zanteca was the runner up and Excess Knowledge ran third.

Almandin returns to scale

Excess Knowledge returns to scale

The fillies race, the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes was the next race on the program and last start winner Exocet started as the favourite. She finished unplaced, the race being taken out by Serenely Discreet from long odds Bella Sorellastra and Waterloo Sunset. Eleanora was badly blocked for a run and finished well back in the field.

Serenely Discreet (outside) wins the Edward Manifold Stakes

Serenely Discreet on her way to the barriers

Bella Sorellastra on her way to the barriers

Waterloo Sunset on her way to the barriers

Eleonora on her way to the barriers

I was well and truly battered by the wind by the time the feature race was run. My left contact lens had become displaced when I was trying to execute the removal of a mote of dust from my eye, so when looking through the viewfinder of my camera it was a bit blurry. Luckily the camera knew what it was doing and stayed sharp and true.

Here are the leading contenders for the Turnbull Stakes making their way to the barriers.

Happy Trails

Hartnell

Jameka

Preferment

Tally

Tarzino

Set Square

For the first time this spring racing carnival, the Turnbull Stakes delivered the wow factor, when Hartnell, coming around the field on the outside into the turn into the straight, powered past the leaders to gallop away to a commanding victory, Jameka in hot pursuit finishing 3¼ lengths behind in second place, and a further 3¼ lengths separating her from third place runner Tally.

My camera’s burst mode shows Hartnell, then daylight, then Jameka, then Tally and the rest of the field.

Halfway down the straight Hartnell is drawing away from the rest of the field.

Hartnell wins the 2016 Turnbull Stakes

Jameka crosses the finish line 3¼ lengths behind Hartnell

Hartnell returns to scale

I didn’t stay for the last two races, and it was relief to get out of the wind and into shelter on a train.

Despite the wind, it had been a wonderful afternoon of racing and I felt privileged to have been there to see Hartnell frank his Sydney form in such a spectacular fashion.

Speaking of Sydney racing the feature race day on Saturday yielded interesting results.

The Roman Consul Stakes was won by Russian Revolution, who led throughout and hung on for a narrow victory over Astern. Capitalist finished third.

Gai Waterhouse trained filly Global Glamour won the Flight Stakes from Yankee Rose with Sezanne running third.

Hauraki won the Epsom Handicap in sensational fashion, coming from last to just win on the line, pipping Dibayani, with Mackintosh finishing in third place.

And Sir John Hawkwood won the Metropolitan from Antonio Guiseppe and Allergic.

Next Saturday the racing action is back at Caulfield for Caulfield Guineas Day, with four Group 1 races on the program. Winx will be racing in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes, which I am very much looking forward to seeing in person.

The Grey Flash Kicks Off a Super Weekend of Racing

Chautauqua – Australian Cup Day 2016

An exciting feast of first class racing is on the cards this coming weekend with five Group 1 races being run over three days at three different race tracks.

The first of these is the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night which sees the return of top sprinters Chautauqua and Buffering taking on a field of younger pretenders that include Blue Diamond Stakes winner Extreme Choice.

Both Chautauqua and Buffering last raced in Hong Kong where Chautauqua was the astonishing winner of the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint and Buffering finished last.

Now 9 year’s old, Buffering has won the Moir Stakes three times in all, though not consecutively, winning in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and running second in 2013.

Challenging the top pair will be the aforementioned Extreme Choice a lightweight chance having his first start in open company and speedy mares Heatherly and Wild Rain.

It looks to be a fantastic race and I’m mightily tempted to attend even though I dislike night racing. I’ll take along the Canon G16 which handles low light situations better than the Nikon.

The AFL Grand Final is being played on Saturday, but Caulfield has a low key race meeting where Miss Vista will be gunning for her third win from as many starts in Race 4, an open handicap race over 1000 metres. I wont be there in person, it but I’ll certainly watch the race from hom, as I will be be doing with the races in Sydney, where three Group 1 races feature at Randwick as well as the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes.

The Flight Stakes is the first of the Group 1 events and is a race for fillies over 1600 metres.  The scratching of hot favourite Omei Sword leaves the race wide open and favours Yankee Rose, already a Group 1 winner and Golden Slipper runner up.  She races against 5 other fillies with Skylight Glow and Awoke being the most likely to be in the finish.

Winx won the Group 1 Epsom Stakes last year, but she is not part of the field this year. Run over 1600 metres a field of 13 will be vying for the prize.  Melbourne star Palentino fresh from winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes will be having his first start in Sydney and is up against Hauraki who ran second to Winx in the George Main Stakes.

These two are the top chances, but the lightweight Fabrizio, who won his last race by four lengths has to be a serious challenger to the top weights. Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain also is worthy of consideration along with some of Chris Waller’s runners – Mackintosh and McCreery in particular.

The Metropolitan is a race for stayers over 2400 metres and also has a field of 13 runners of which six are from the Chris Waller stable,  including Who Shot Thebarman, Grand Marshall, Storm The Stars and Antonio Guiseppe a former New Zealand trained horse who has won his last four races, albeit against weaker company.

Golden Rose winner Astern takes on the Golden Slipper winner Capitalist in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes, a race for three year olds over 1200 metres. Also in the mix is unbeaten colt Russian Revolution who I witnessed winning the Group 3 Vain Stakes back in August.

On Sunday the Group 1 action is at Flemington, which features the Turnbull Stakes and several other interesting Group 2 and Group 3 races at various distances.

I’m looking forward to seeing a number of runners in the flesh for the first time, such as Ele0nora a New Zealand filly trained by Murray Baker who is the granddaughter of 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Ethereal. She is entered in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes , a race for fillies over 1600 metres. Eleonora won her first start in Australia at Geelong a few weeks ago.

Another of the talented Murray Baker team is the unbeaten (in two starts) colt Highlad having his first start in Australia in the UCI Stakes, a race for three year olds over 1800 metres.

Which brings us to the feature race…

The Chris Waller trained Preferment won the Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres) last year and he’s back again to attempt to win it a second time. He’s top weight, but he loves Flemington having won three Group 1 races on the course.

He will have to beat the formidable Sydney champ Hartnell  who has won his last two starts by big margins. He has however never won in Melbourne; not that he has raced here since last year. He will start as the favourite and will be hard to beat if he handles Flemington and the anti clockwise way of going.

Others with a chance are The United States, Tarzino, Set Square, Jameka and Raw Impulse from the Darren Weir stable.

The weather in Melbourne as I write is iffy. The deluge that knocked out South Australia didn’t affect Melbourne at all, and even though rain is forecast for tonight and Sunday, it will hopefully hold off.

Veuve, Bart, Bon et al–Underwood Stakes Day Review

Black Heart Bart wins the Underwood Stakes

Melbourne woke on Saturday to a fine and sunny day, so it was a pleasure, despite a brisk wind, to head out to Caulfield for the Underwood Stakes meeting.

My arrival at the course was just after Race 3, so I missed Royal Rapture adding a fifth straight win to his season tally, but was in plenty of time for Race 4, the Inglis Cup, a race for four year olds over 2000 metres.

The in form Pay Up Bro started as the warm favourite, but he failed to run a place, with 13/1 shot Portion Control winning narrowly from stablemate Kifaah and Hierarchal.

Down the straight in the Inglis Cup – Portion Control (inside) leads Kifaah and Hierarchal.

The first of the Group races was up next, the Group 2 fillies Thousand Guineas Prelude, so I hung around to wait for them to parade in the pre-parade ring in the stalls area and went up to the hill to photograph them heading for the barriers.

Whispering Brook – started favourite but finished 7th

Legless Veuve – the surprise winner

New Zealand filly La Luna Rossa – ran a close second

Sword of Light – ran third

Just past the winning post – Legless Veuve still ahead

The amusingly named Legless Veuve romped in at big odds, her only previous win being a lowly race at Sale. La Luna Rossa was only beaten by a half length and looked the goods as far as the Thousand Guineas is concerned.

La Luna Rossa’s stablemate Saracino was the favourite for the colts Caulfield Guineas Prelude, but he too failed to place and finished fifth, though only a length from the winner, Sacred Elixir, another New Zealander, who already had a Group 1 race win (JJ Atkins in Queensland over winter) to his credit .

Here are the major players in the mounting yard or heading to the barriers.

Sacred Elixir on his way to the barriers

Saracino on his way to the barriers

Revolving Door – second placed -  in the mounting yard

Wazzenme – third placed - in the mounting yard

 
Sydney colt Evacuation – highly fancied – finished 7th

Down the straight in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Sacred Elixir is about to overtake Revolving Door with Seaburge (4th place) just behind.

The Living Legends special guest on Saturday was Might and Power, but I failed to find him. Apparently he was being displayed in one of the children’s play areas, which I avoided like the plague.

However, in the stalls area several of the horses I was keen to see were being walked and I was delighted to get the following photo of Lucia Valentina in the walking ring.

Lucia Valentina in the walking ring

Up next on the program was the first of the Group 1 races, the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. 

Bon Aurum emulated his sire Bon Hoffa (2007 winner) and won his first Group 1 race.  He managed to hold out the popular Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad, and Fast N Rocking finished third, the best he has run for years.

Sydney horse Counterattack started as favourite, but like most of the favourites on the day, he finished well back.

Xtravagant was well behaved this time, and ran fiercely in the early stages of the race, but faded to finish at the tail of the field.  I saw him early in the afternoon in his stall and he was good as gold.

Bon Aurum on  his way to the barriers

Voodoo Lad on his way to the barriers

Fast N Rocking on his way to the barriers

Counterattack on his way to the barriers

Xtravagant in the pre-parade ring waiting to go out to the track

Just past the winning post in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Bon Aurum returns to scale

The Underwood Stakes was scheduled as the second last race on the program so it was getting on for 5.00pm when the race was run,  the light having deteriorated considerably by then.

Even so, I decided I would get photos of the field in the mounting yard and on the fence, in the gap where an emergency access gate is placed.

The hedge abutting the track at Caulfield is so high that if you were vertically challenged you would not be able to see the track. I heard a number of people complaining about this, but doubt MRC will do anything to improve the view for General Admission patrons.

The emergency access gate does not have a sign to keep clear, so I figured it was OK to stand there as I had been doing on and off throughout the afternoon, and several other persons were  taking advantage of the view as well, when Security turned up and turfed us out.  The horses engaged in the Underwood Stakes were heading to the barriers at that time, so I gave up on getting photos of them running down the straight and headed back to the hill.

Black Heart Bart proved that he had no trouble running 1800 metres and gave Darren Weir his third Group 1 victory for the season. The former Western Australian galloper has become a force to be reckoned with these days under the Weir mantle. His next assignment is the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes where he will encounter the formidable Winx.

Black Heart Bart won by 2½ lengths from He Or She with Lucia Valentina flying home for third at the speed of light.

Black Heart Bart returns to scale

He Or She (yellow silks) and Awesome Rock return to scale

Lucia Valentina returns to scale

Next weekend is chock full of sporting events – the AFL Grand Final being the main show for most of Melbourne.

There is also plenty of racing action, starting on Friday night at Moonee Valley, who will host the Group 1 Moir Stakes in which Chautauqua will be making his first appearance for spring.

Sydney’s main Spring Racing meeting is at Randwick on Saturday and includes three Group 1 races – Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan and the Flight Stakes.

And on Sunday, the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes is run at Flemington along with several other interesting races.

I may go to Moonee Valley on Friday night, depending on the weather which is forecast to be a vile cold wet day, but will definitely head to Flemington on Sunday whatever the weather.

Spring Racing–Underwood Stakes Day

Lucia Valentina at Flemington - October 2014 - after winning the Turnbull Stakes

I’ve quite settled in to the Spring racing carnival, and  have become more enthusiastic as the action heats up and my familiarity with the runners develops.

Caulfield hosts the Underwood Stakes meeting this coming Saturday and features two Group 1 events – Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Underwood Stakes.

There is also the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude for fillies, and the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude for colts and geldings to warm up the crowd while waiting for the main events. They are both run over 1400 metres and the results will give a clearer idea of the likely good ones for the real Guineas.

The first to run of these is the fillies edition, and it has attracted a super field with the likes of Whispering Brook, I Am A Star and Leotie being top contenders along with New Zealand Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes winner La Luna Rossa, who beat stablemate Saracino in that race. She’s part of the Murray Baker stable so can’t be dismissed out of hand.

Sydney colts Sacred Elixir and Good Standing represent a challenge for the local boys in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. Originally Golden Rose winner Astern was nominated for this race, but a spike in temperature discouraged his connections from risking the colt on a trip to Melbourne.

However, New Zealand colt Saracino, last seen winning the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington, could well test the Sydneysiders and steal the show.

The first of the Group 1 races on the program is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is run over 1400 metres. Top picks are last start winners Voodoo Lad and Bon Aurum and the Chris Waller trained Counterattack.

Xtravagant is also entered in this race, so it will be interesting to see how he goes at Caulfield where there is a corner or two to turn before the straight. Reportedly he will not parade in the mounting yard but go to the barriers early, to keep him from getting over excited.

A field of eleven runners will contest the Group 1 Underwood Stakes. It is run over 1800 metres, so suits stayers and middle distance runners.

I’m hoping that the sole mare in the race, Lucia Valentina, can win. She has a good chance as she likes to have her races widely spaced and she hasn’t raced since finishing fourth to Winx in the Warwick Stakes on 20 August, and prior to that won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the autumn.  The stars are aligned favourably for her with the sun in Libra (ruled by Venus) conjunct Jupiter (good luck) on Saturday.

The usual suspects will be vying for the prize. Black Heart Bart is current favourite despite his loss to Palentino in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Palentino is not in the field, but old trooper The Cleaner is and will no doubt set the pace, even though he has drawn the widest barrier. Both Tarzino and Tavago will be aiming to restore their reputations and Awesome Rock who won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at his last start could be a threat again.

Sydney has no Group 1 races this weekend, but a very nice program of Group 2 and Group 3 races excites some interest.

The feature race is the Group 2 Golden Pendant, a race for fillies and mares over 1400 metres. All eyes will be on First Seal making a return to racing after a longish break. Back in her three year old days, she beat Winx on two occasions, but has never found the same form since.  Her main rivals are Tycoon Tara who is in great form having beaten the boys in two of her previous races, Zanbagh and Heavens Above. 

The feel good racing story of the week was the news of the birth of Black Caviar’s third foal, a filly by Snitzel early Sunday morning. There are some nice photos of Black Caviar and her foal here.

Her first foal (by Exceed and Excel), also a filly, is reportedly soon to hit the track. She has been named Oscietra after an expensive type of Russian caviar.

Two White Faces – Caulfield Races Review

Miss Vista & Apache Cat – Stalls – Caulfield Racecourse

It was sheer coincidence that the two white faced horses were both at Caulfield on Saturday. Apache Cat was there as the Living Legends representative, and the promising and striking looking mare Miss
Vista was present for a between races gallop, due to her regular track at Bendigo being washed out.

I missed Miss Vista’s gallop, but got to see her after it was over and was able to get some snaps of her in the pre-parade ring.

Miss Vista in the pre-parade ring after her gallop

Whether the get together with Apache Cat was prearranged or not, I was fortunate to be in the stalls area when it occurred, noticing the regular press photographers gathering near to where both horses were stabled.

The kind folk of Living Legends brought Apache Cat out of his stall later so I could get a photo of him by himself.

Apache Cat outside his stall

Saturday was a warm and sunny day, which was quite a change from the last few weeks where it has been overcast and chilly.

I wasn’t sure how the Nikon would go in sunny conditions. Apart from a few photos where the contrast is over the top, creating dark shadows, it mostly behaved itself.

Upon arriving at Caulfield at around 1.00 pm, I headed for the public lawn to watch Race 3, which was a race for fillies over 1400 metres.

Down the straight in race 3 – the winner Exocet is on the far left of the picture about to overtake the leaders

It was won by Exocet by two and half lengths from Outback Rain and Whyouask.

The early races were not particularly interesting, but in each there was a runner I was keen to see.

Such was the case in Race 4, the MRC Foundation Handicap, a race for mares over 1400 metres, where Miss Gunpowder was the original favourite, until French Emotion became the fancied one.

I watched the field parade in the pre-parade ring then went to the hill above the stalls to see the action and take snaps.

Miss Gunpowder in the pre-parade ring.

Alaskan Rose ended up the narrow winner from French Emotion with Miss Gunpowder a close third.

Just past the post – a line of mares swings around the corner.

Alaskan Rose on her way to the barriers

French Emotion returns to scale

I mostly spent the afternoon hanging around the stalls area, though ventured closer to the big screen to watch the Sydney races, especially the Hill Stakes and George Main Stakes, where both Hartnell and Winx respectively won their races with ease.

Also victorious at Randwick was the Chris Waller trained filly Foxplay in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes.  A steel grey filly, she’s one to follow and I hope she comes to Melbourne later in the Spring, perhaps to contest the Thousand Guineas.

The next race planned for Winx is the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes – whoopie – run on Caulfield Guineas Day in early October. Hartnell is expected to run in the Caulfield Cup, so we’ll get to see him in action in Melbourne as well. He raced here last Spring with no success, but appears to have improved considerably since then.

Races 5, 6 and 7 filled in the time until the Naturalism Stakes and afforded some nice photo opportunities.

Harlow Gold the winner of race 5

Rocketeer who ran second to Harlow Gold in race 5

Kaching - third in race 5

Race 6 past the post – the winner Secret Agenda has the no 4 saddlecloth.

Race 7 – Testa Rossa Stakes down the straight – won by Keen Array

Finally it was time for the feature race and I’d found a possie on the fence on the public lawn where there was gate and no hedge, so you could get clear unimpeded shots of horses running down the straight.

It was great to see Jameka win the Naturalism Stakes. She had drawn Barrier 1, often a curse, but a clever, patient ride by jockey Nick Hall, keeping her to the fence and on the pace in about fourth spot, had her primed to take the short cut on the turn and she galloped away to a 3¾ length win from Gallante with Berisha 5 lengths behind taking third place.

Jameka forges ahead up the straight leaving the rest of the field in her wake.

Jameka on her way to the barriers

Gallante on his way to the barriers

Berisha in the mounting yard

Jameka in the winners rug posing for the press

Jameka was already qualified for the Caulfield Cup, her Oaks win last spring guaranteeing her entry. She’s now second favourite for the Cup behind Hartnell.  It would be fabulous she could win it for the girls.

There wasn’t much of a crowd at Caulfield last Saturday, but I did notice quite a few punters dressed as wizards – Gandalf knows why.

These guys were only too pleased to pose for a photo.

It’s back to Caulfield again next Saturday for the Underwood Stakes meeting, which besides the two Group 1 events, has a classy support card where we’ll get to see some of the Sydney stars in action in the Guineas Preludes and feature races. 

Horrible Race Name–Good Race Though

Winx - Moonee Valley Cox Plate Day  2015

The time honoured George Main Stakes has been renamed the Colgate Optic White Stakes, in my opinion a totally absurd change and somewhat disrespectful to the many champion racehorses who have won the race in the past.

Anyway, it is of great interest due to the return of super mare Winx, having her second start for the spring.

She faces a very small field of five other starters that include two of her stablemates, Spirit Jim and Vanbrugh and a couple of Godolphin hopefuls in Hauraki and It’s Somewhat.  Japanese horse Tosen Stardom was an acceptor but he has been scratched after he sustained a minor injury on his trip to Sydney.  Winx of course is the short priced favourite and Hauraki is seen as her greatest threat.  It should be an easy win for Winx and, barring the unforeseen, she will achieve her 11th consecutive win.

For a change the track at Randwick shouldn’t be too soggy, as Sydney hasn’t had as much rain this week, unlike Melbourne, where it has rained solidly all week, and rural areas are flooded all over the State of Victoria.

There are no Group 1 races in Melbourne this coming weekend, but Caulfield is holding a fairly interesting meeting that features the Group 2 Naturalism Stakes, a race over 2000 metres for stayers aiming to gain automatic admission into the Caulfield Cup.

It has attracted a huge field of 16 starters plus 4 emergencies and includes staying mares Real Love, who ran second to Awesome Rock in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, Set Square who ran third on that occasion, and Jameka who will have no worries running on a heavy track.  An interesting runner is French mare Gabella who raced at Flemington last Saturday and finished a close fourth.

The favourite will no doubt be Tom Melbourne an Irish import who has a good reputation and several wins under his belt.

As I plan to get to the track later rather than early, I will miss seeing Cauthen in the first race. Now six years old he has been only lightly raced, but he has the distinction of defeating 2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award and Long John, 2013 Caulfield Guineas winner  at Moonee Valley back when he was three. He hasn’t raced for two years, so it’s surprising to see him back, but the recovery from various injuries kept him off the track all that time.

Also returning from a break is Hucklebuck, 2014 Emirates Stakes winner, in Race 7 the Testa Rossa Stakes.

And Alpine Eagle is entered in a Listed 1800 metre race at Morphettville on Saturday; no doubt an attempt on the part of his connections to restore his reputation and confidence.

Hopefully the rain will hold off tomorrow, but it will most likely be overcast again, the up side of that being better lighting for photographs than bright sunlight.