Hot & Steamy – Super Saturday Review

Humidor wins the 2017 Australian Cup

God knows why this particular Saturday in March is called “Super Saturday” when only two Group 1 races are featured, with the rest of the card being a bit ho hum, something to watch while waiting for the main event.

Yes, I sound underwhelmed and have been for most of this year’s Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

I was discussing this with my photographer friend George, on Saturday and he reckons it is because there were no charismatic equine stars this year to add excitement to the events. No doubt if Winx had contested a few races in Melbourne (we hope she does so next year) it would have been a different story.

However, Saturday’s meeting was quite enjoyable really, and flashed by relatively quickly, considering I was obliged to arrive early owing to the train timetable.

So I arrived at Flemington in time to watch Race 3, the Listed Incognitus Stakes a race for three year olds over 1100 metres. Hugh Bowman rode the longshot winner Falcool, who beat favourite Ken’s Dream by over a length. Sheriff John Stone finished third.

Falcool winning the Incognitus Stakes

Falcool returns to scale

Ken’s Dream returns to scale

Sheriff John Stone returns to scale

The Flemington Members Stand has recently been demolished to make way for a new stand, so the members have invaded areas that once were the province of Joe Public. Luckily Flemington is so large an area that such accommodations hardly inconvenience anyone, be they members or casual racegoers.

In the stalls area, to which I walked after Race 3, I found the two Living Legends special guests, Apache Cat and Zipping.  They were appropriate equine guests, one, Apache Cat,  being a former champion sprinter, the  other, Zipping, formerly a fine stayer, who won the Australian Cup in 2010.

They were both outside their stalls being fed carroty treats by their admirers.

Apache Cat with Living Legends CEO Dr Andrew Clarke

Zipping holding still for a moment

Whilst in the area I had a quick stroll through to see who had arrived, and found a few of the main contenders for the feature Group 1 races.

Extreme Choice – look at his lovely long forelock

Terravista communing with his strapper

Sheidel headshot in the walking ring

The Quarterback – a photo of him without blinkers

Humidor in his stall

Back trackside, Race 4 was about to run.

It was the Group 2, Sires Produce Stakes, for two year olds, run over 1400 metres.

Eshtiraak started favourite, but as seemed the case for most of the day, he was never in the picture, finishing sixth.

Female jockey Linda Meech steered Sircconi to victory, leading all the way, to narrowly defeat Aspect and Feng Chu.

Sires Produce Stakes Stakes finish

Sircconi returns to scale

Aspect on his way to the barriers

Feng Chu returns to scale

I Am A Star was one of only three favourites to win on Saturday, winning by a whisker Race 5 , the Group 2 Kewney Stakes, a 1400 metres race for three year old fillies.

Ellicazoom ran second with Kenedna a length behind taking third place.

I Am A Star and Ellicazoom neck and neck at the finish of the Kewney Stakes

I Am A Star returns to scale

Ellicazoom returns to scale

In between the Flemington races, I caught glimpes on screen, or heard through the loud speakers, the races from Sydney.  Like Flemington, very few favourites saluted.  2016  Australian Derby winner Tavago was back in winning circles defeating hot favourite Antonio Guiseppe in the Sky High Stakes, and outsider Heavens Above won the Coolmore Classic from Silent Sedition and Danish Twist. The highly fancied Omei Sword, Global Glamour and La Bella Diosa all finished well back.

Race 6, the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy was the last race before the two features, and “magic man” Joao Moreira, guided the starting favourite Circular to his only win for the afternoon, his “magic” image being a tad muggled as a result.

Zasorceress nudged out Miss Rose De Lago for second.

A close finish in the Schweppervescence Trophy

Circular on her way to the barriers

Zasorceress returns to scale

Miss Rose De Lago returns to scale

Finally at 3.55 pm the Newmarket Handicap was set to run.

Rather than split into two sections, as is mostly the case with sprints at Flemington, the entire field stuck to the inside fence, the colt Star Turn leading for most of the race with Redkirk Warrior handy in second or third place. He took over half way up the straight and drew away from the rest of the field to score a two length win. Voodoo Lad ran second and Star Turn hung on to run third.

Extreme Choice was the favourite, but it’s obvious now that he doesn’t handle Flemington. He finished sixth.

Jockey Regan Bayliss celebrates Redkirk Warrior’s Newmarket Handicap win

Redkirk Warrior in winners rug in the mounting yard

Redkirk Warrior came in at huge odds, paying over $30 for the win.

Voodoo Lad returns to scale

Star Turn returns to scale

Extreme Choice returns to scale

Jameka started as warm favourite for the Australian Cup and she almost won, if it hadn’t been for Humidor who tackled her close to the finish line and stole her glory. Exospheric ran third.

Humidor (green silks) and Jameka neck and neck approaching the finish line.  Exospheric is inside Jameka and Stratum Star is behind the leading bunch.

Humidor returns to scale

Jameka on her way to the barriers

Exospheric returns to scale

That was it for the afternoon, as I headed home after the Australian Cup.

The weather stayed fine all day and the forecast showers failed to eventuate.

I may go back to the races at on Easter Saturday for race caller Greg Miles’ farewell at Caulfield. He’s been calling races for over 40 years, and was a clear and articulate caller who will be sadly missed. There’s no news on his replacement as yet.

The racing focus heads to Sydney from now on and next Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill features five Group 1 races that include the Golden Slipper Stakes, always a fascinating event, and the George Ryder Stakes where Winx will be aiming for her 16th consecutive win. She’s rapidly catching up to Black Caviar’s record and could well surpass that great mare’s accomplishments in time.

As for the Melbourne autumn racing carnival, as previously mentioned, it lacked a certain oomph. There were few, if any, wow moments and probably the most exciting race was the Blue Diamond Stakes and Catchy’s amazing win.  Sure, Black Heart Bart won two Group 1 races, and he is a good honest horse who is always in the picture, but lacks the glamour of the likes of Winx.  Ditto with Hey Doc who has really developed into a potential star, who I’ll follow in the future.

Anyway, Catchy will be racing in the Golden Slipper Stakes next Saturday and will face a very classy field that includes She Will Reign and the unbeaten Houtzen.

And lastly, I promised another amateur photographer acquaintance Paul Colachi that I’d put a link to his Facebook page on my blog.

It’s dedicated to giving the humble and often overlooked strapper some love and is called Thankyou Strappers.

Super Saturday 2017

Jameka – 25 February 2017

Though there is the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at the end of the months, the main part of Melbourne’s autumn racing carnival finishes on a high note this coming Saturday at Flemington.

The meeting features two time honoured Group 1 races, these being the Newmarket Handicap, a sprint over 1200 metres, and the Australian Cup, a 2000 metre race for stayers.

The Newmarket Handicap is the first of the Group 1 races to run. Last year The Quarterback won the race at big odds, and he is back for another go. He was sensationally scratched from the recent Lightning Stakes after rearing and falling over in the stalls, so if he was not fazed by that setback he is a good chance to win the Newmarket a second time.

Some very classy sprinters will be opposing him and include Lightning Stakes winner Terravista who loves Flemington, Lightning Stakes runner up Spieth, Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel,  Rubiton Stakes winner Supercash, and colts Extreme Choice and Star Turn.

Twelve runners will be vying for Australian Cup glory and it has attracted a pretty even field with a number of chances. I’ll be barracking for Jameka who is third up after finishing a close fourth in the two races she has so far contested this autumn. 

She ran second to Hartnell over the distance and course in the Turnbull Stakes last spring. With Hartnell not in the field she could well have the race at her mercy. Hugh Bowman will be her rider.

Unfortunately, Nick Hall, who rode her in the spring to victory in the Caulfield Cup, is out of action due to injury, but Hugh Bowman is a good substitute, being an intelligent and skilful jockey and, of course, Winx regular rider.

Her main rivals are Stratum Star who is currently on a winning streak, Awesome Rock who technically won the Australian Cup last year before losing out to Preferment on an upheld protest, Ecuador, The United States, Boomtime, Humidor and Exospheric to a lesser extent who could easily run a place if not win.

Melbourne’s weather next Saturday is expected to be warmish with possible showers that may not eventuate judging by the lack of rain over the past two weeks.

In Sydney as usual it has been a wet week though clearing by Saturday where Rosehill features the Group 1 Coolmore Classic, a race for fillies and mares over 1500 metres.

A super field of 19 starters  - the classiest of the weekend racing – will contest it.

Top picks are fillies Omei Sword, Global Glamour and La Bella Diosa who ran the trifecta in the Surround Stakes, New Zealand filly La Bella Diosa being the boilover winner on that occasion, handling the heavy track better than the runners up. First Seal is the top weight and the class mare in the race, and at her best has to be considered. 

That’s my two bob’s worth. Who knows how the feature races will pan out. That’s the beauty of horse racing; anything could happen, and more often than not, does.

Hey Doc Pockets the Guineas

Hey Doc winning the 2017 Australian Guineas at Flemington

Compared to Sydney, where the weather was miserable and wet with the races run on a heavy 10 track, Flemington last Saturday, gloried in a hot sunny day and an afternoon of  fast racing on a good 3 track.

Owing to the train timetable I was obliged to arrive at Flemington fairly early, so I made it in time to watch Race 3, the 3AW is Football Stakes, a race for two year olds over 1000 metres. The highly regarded Madeenaty was the firm favourite, but she was pipped at the post by her stablemate, Ploverset, having her first start.

Down the straight in race 3 – Madeenaty leads on the rail with Ploverset storming down the outside.

Ploverset returns to scale

Madeenaty returns to scale

The Australian Guineas was scheduled as Race 7 to run at 4.30 pm, so it was longish afternoon to fill and too hot to be out in the sun for extended periods.

I killed a bit of time in the stalls area getting photos of the Guineas field in their stalls in between watching the races.

Happily the Flemington stalls area is more photo friendly and better lit than at Caulfield.

Here are few of the Guineas field…

Hey Doc

Prized Icon

Harlow Gold

Fuhryk

Inside Agent

Back trackside, race 4, the Mitty’s Handicap was due to start. It’s an open class race over 1600 metres.

It resulted in Show A Star, leading all the way,  defeating favourite Portman with Divine Mr Artie running third.

Show A Star on the fence leads with Portman trying to overtake down the straight


Show A Star returns to scale

Portman & Divine Mr Artie return to scale

Race 5 was the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes, a race for fillies and mares over 1400 metres.

Turbo Miss, unfancied in the betting, won the race from Rising Romance with Jalan Jalan running third.

A wall of horses approach the finish line – Turbo Miss (gold cap) is about to overtake Jalan Jalan (red cap) & Diamond Baroness (fence) Rising Romance is just in the picture on the left.

Turbo Miss returns to scale

Rising Romance returns to scale

Jalan Jalan on her way to the barriers

He or She who was in the three horse race Caulfield Stakes last spring won by Winx, scored his first win for a year in Race 6, the Group 3 TAB Rewards  Stakes.

He was one of the few favourites to win on the day, beating home Hooked and Zebrinz in the 1400 metre race.

He or She & Hooked cross the finish line in the TAB Rewards Stakes

He or She on his way to the barriers

Hooked on his way to the barriers

Zebrinz on his way to the barriers

In between the Flemington races I managed to watch the Group 1 races in Sydney on the drenched track.

In the Canterbury Stakes, Chautauqua showed his old spirit, fighting out the finish with Le Romain, to lose by a nose.  And Inference, a son of So You Think, won his sire his first Group 1 in the Randwick Guineas.  Invincible Gem, the sole filly in the race, ran second with Comin’ Through filling third place.

Back at Flemington the feature race was next up and soon the field was filing onto the track.

Hey Doc started from Barrier 1 and his jocky Luke Currie took full advantage of it, keeping Hey Doc close to the inside rail in fourth spot for most of the race as fillies Fuhryk, Legless Veuve and colt Attention set the pace. When a gap appeared near the 400 metre mark Currie eased Hey Doc through and he sped to the lead and maintained it to the line, winning from a fast finishing Prized Icon by ¾ length with Snitzon a further length back in third.

Australian Guineas down the straight approaching the finish line

Hey Doc in winners rug in the mounting yard post race

Prized Icon on his way to the starting gates

Snitzon on his way to the starting gates

I have been following Hey Doc since last Spring, first seeing him in action on Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes day at Moonee Valley in early September, so I’m delighted he finally won a Group 1 race.

Prized Icon was the good looker of the day, a splendid black colt worth following in future.

Speaking of good lookers, pretty boy Turn Me Loose has been retired to stud, so we won’t have the pleasure of seeing him race again. He injured his knee in the Futurity Stakes which accounts for his poor performance in the race.

The Melbourne autumn racing carnival basically winds up next Saturday at Flemington where the Group 1 Australian Cup is the feature race, along with the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.

The roses will be in full bloom for the day, though they were already looking fabulous last Saturday.

Rose hedge near where I stand to photograph the races

It will be my last Saturday of attending the races for a while, but the Sydney Championships will be in full swing from then on to keep my interest up.

A Couple of Guineas–Weekend Group 1 Racing

Divine Prophet  -  can he win the Caulfield Guineas/Australian Guineas double?

Flemington Racecourse hosts the sole Group 1 race in Melbourne  this week, so I’m looking forward to returning to its wide open spaces again for an afternoon of racing thrills.

Hey Doc, last seen winning the C S Hayes Stakes on Black Caviar Lightning day, is the current favourite for the Group 1 Australian Guineas. Whether he is up to the class of this race is questionable. Whatever his credentials, he faces a very smart field with the likes of Victorian Derby winner Prized Icon, and Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet being his main rivals. 

Others with claims are Seaburge, Attention, Oak Door and fillies Fuhryk, Legless Veuve and Harlow Gold.

The support card at Flemington is moderately interesting, but most of the focus of the weekend racing will be at Randwick where a second Group 1 Guineas (Randwick Guineas) is scheduled, along with the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes.

The weather in Melbourne is expected to be fine and the track fast, whereas in Sydney, a week of rain with more on the way will mean another heavy track. What’s new!

There is talk of the Saturday meeting being put off to early next week if the track is too heavy.

The grey flash Chautuaqua is entered in the Canterbury Stakes, a race over 1300 metres.  If he starts, it will be fascinating to see how he goes over the distance. He has won over 1400 metres in the past so the extra 100 metres distance from the standard 1200 metres should pose no problems for him. In fact the added distance will give him time to gather his considerable forces for a strong sprint to the line.

He will however have to beat some very classy rivals in Le Romain, Hauraki, Music Magnate and Japonisme.  And then there’s the New Zealand colt Ugo Foscolo thrown in at the deep by new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Prized Icon is entered in both the Australian Guineas and the Randwick Guineas and it all depends on the weather where he starts.  Top picks in the Randwick Guineas are Man From Uncle, Echo Effect, Malaise, Comin’ Through and sole filly Invincible Gem.

With the upcoming Golden Slipper Stakes in mind, the first two races at Randwick , the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (for fillies) and Todman Stakes (for colts & geldings), are of interest.

Had Houtzen, the Magic Millions Two Year Classic winner, not been scratched from the Reisling Stakes it would have been exciting to see her race against the unbeaten current Golden Slipper favourite She Will Reign.

We’ll have to wait to see that contest another time.

She Will Reign is favoured to keep her winning streak intact in the Reisling Stakes having winning form on heavy going in her favour as well. Her closest rivals appear to be Frolic and From Within.

The Todman Stakes stars the highly regarded Chauffeur, along with Jukebox and Menari.