Coolangatta Lightning

Coolangatta winning the 2023 Black Caviar Lightning

Her name may be the same as the Gold Coast town, but three year old filly, Coolangatta, was the heroine of Melbourne after her determined win in the feature race at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.

This was my first outing to the racetrack since the Spring Racing Carnival, and I chose well, as the afternoon was sunny but not overly hot after a cool change on Friday brought a welcome end  to the three day heat wave.

Obliged by the Flemington Racecourse train timetable, I arrived at the track in time to witness Race 3, the Talindert Stakes for two year old contenders, run over over 1100 metres. In the past this race has been won by classy youngsters, such as All Too Hard in 2012.

Flemington wasn’t crowded by any means, so it was easy to get around, so I headed directly to my favourite spot on the Western Front Lawn to get some photo practice before the main event later in the day.

Maharba started as the favourite and won the race by a length from Hell Queen with Tacito running third.

Maharba wins the Talindert Stakes

I decided  that I didn’t mind missing Race 4, the Asian Racing Federation Trophy, so made my way to the stalls area to get photos of the main contenders in the feature Black Caviar Lightning.

Nature Strip – favourite for the Lightning

Coolangatta

I Wish I Win

Race 5 was the more interesting Tony Bourke Memorial, usually run as the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes over 1400 metres and for fillies and mares.

Annavisto who won the race last year, started as the warm favourite was victorious again , leading from the start to win by over three lengths from Wrote to Arataki with Excelida running third.

Annavisto crosses the finish line unopposed

Annavisto returns to scale

Wrote to Arataki on her way to the barriers

As the Black Caviar Lightning was scheduled as as Race 7, there was still one more race to run before the feature. This was the  Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes for three year old colts and geldings and also run over 1400 metres

A large field of 14 starters were contesting the event with the favourite being Bank Maur. He ended up unplaced with victory going to Elliptical who narrowly won from Holymanz and Maximillius.

A wall of horses crosses the finish line in the CS Hayes – Elliptical is the widest in red silks

Elliptical on his way to the barriers

Holymanz on his way to the barriers

A pretty good field had accepted for the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning and included Nature Strip, acknowledged as the world’s top sprinter.  He naturally was the hot favourite, but was disappointing, failing to run a place. The sole three year old filly Coolangatta, taking advantage of her weight advantage, and skilfully steered by top Jockey Jamie Kah, won the prize from the fast finishing I Wish I Win with Bella Nipotina filling third place, just ahead of September Run.

It  was a surprise result, but Coolangatta is no slouch as a race horse having won the 2022 Magic Millions 2yo Classic and also the Group 1 Moir Stakes last year. It will be interesting to see how she performs in the future.

Bella Nipotina and Coolangatta return to scale side by side

Coolangatta returns to scale

I Wish I Win returns to scale

Nature Strip returns to scale

The run of the race was no doubt I Wish I Win, who ran from last at the speed of lightning to narrowly miss out on winning.

He’s also one to watch for in the future.

I called it  quits after that and headed home, glad to have witnessed yet another exciting running of the Black Caviar Lightning and seeing Nature Strip once more. He’s now 8 years old and in the twilight of his illustrious career, so there won’t be many more chances to see him in action in the future.

The Waiting Game

Sophie – a recent photo

Here we are in a brand new year and I’ve been slack, feeling uninspired to write a blog post.

So far in 2023, nothing much has happened, life trundling along as normal as we grow older by the year.

Life without expectation of treats is not worth living, but I this year I am eagerly anticipating finally receiving my long ago ordered copy of the 25th anniversary edition of John Crowley’s wonderful novel Little, Big.

It was in February 2005 that I subscribed to obtain a Numbered Edition of the book, so I’m living in high hopes that it will be delivered before mid year. Already,  some subscribers to the standard Trade Edition have received their copies, but alas the Numbered Edition is delayed, due to  issues in the manufacture of the Slip Cases. Hopefully those issues will be resolved soon.

Even though I have been patiently waiting for 18 years, somehow it has now become excruciating the closer it gets to actual delivery.

Fortunately there are other distractions to ease the waiting, such as the Autumn Racing Carnival.

Caulfield racecourse is being renovated this  summer/autumn, so the Group races are being run at Sandown, not a track I have any intention of attending, so I’ll miss witnessing in person the Blue Diamond Stakes and other Group 1 races that are normally run at Caulfield. Luckily Flemington and Moonee Valley are sticking to the regular program of events, so I’ll attend a few in February and March, and have already purchased tickets to Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington and the All Star Mile at Moonee Valley.

Meanwhile on the domestic front, our cat Sophie rules the house.

She is almost a year old now, but still has Attitude with capital A, and is vengeful if thwarted, though not as violent as she was as a kitten.

My niece recently visited with her youngest daughter who is five years old, but surprisingly Sophie behaved quite civilly despite the daughter picking her up and carrying her around without being bitten or scratched.

She spends most of the day sleeping inside the house, but we try to keep her  in at night, even though she resents being confined and will turn into the cat from hell in the blink of an eye, before finally settling down for the night

The Stars of the Turf– Champion Stakes Day Review

Sign above Mounting Yard Gate at Flemington 5/10/22

Melbourne racing’s answer to Sydney, Champion Stakes Day, used to be called Emirates Stakes Day, and featured two Group 1 races – the Mackinnon Stakes and Darley Sprint Classic. It was also known as family day and was, and still is, the final race day of Flemington’s Melbourne Cup mini carnival. Generally it was a pleasant afternoon at the races and less crowded than Derby Day.

This year, however Racing Victoria launched a new concept race meeting that actually was better than Derby Day last weekend. It featured three Group 1 events, a sprint over 1200 metres, a mile race over 1600 metres and a middle distance competition over 2000 metres and had attracted quality fields in each.  What’s not to love in keen contests between class horses such as Nature Strip versus Giga Kick in the Champions Sprint, Anamoe versus Zaaki in the Champions Stakes and Alligator Blood versus Private Eye in the Champions Mile

The day dawned dry with a promise of sunshine, so it was a pleasure to set out for the big track and soak up the Group 1 action along with Vitamin D.

As trains to Flemington were running all afternoon at regular intervals, I took my time getting to the track and arrived as Race 3, the Amanda Elliot was in the process of running.

I had no trouble using my mobile ticket this time, having saved it to my phone for easy access.

The horses were returning to scale as I made it out onto the public lawn, so was was able to snap the winner, Magic Time heading for the mounting yard after the race.

Magic Time returns to scale after winning the Amanda Elliott

As there was plenty of time in hand until the next race, I decided to head to the stalls and see who had arrived. Most of the horses I was interested in were present, so for a change I got some stalls shots.

Anamoe

Zaaki

Nature Strip

Giga Kick

Whilst I was cruising around the stalls I missed Race 4, the Queens Cup, so failed to get a photo of the highly regarded Irish import Soulcombe who won it by over two lengths from Luncies and Captain Envious.

The next race was the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes, run over 2000 metres for mares, so I headed for my favourite spot just past the winning post and there I stayed for the rest of the afternoon.

The Chris Waller trained Atishu was the winner by two lengths from Steinem with Tokorangi running third.

Atishu wins the Matriarch Stakes

Atishu on her way to the barriers

Steinem on her way to the barriers

The next three races were the Group 1 Champions events, starting off with the Champions Sprint.

Nature Strip naturally started as the hot favourite, but this time he was outgunned by 20/1 shot Roch ‘N’ Horse who won by a narrow margin. Baller finished third.

Jockey Jamie Mott celebrates Roch ‘N’ Horse’s victory in the Champion’s Sprint

Roch ‘N’ Horse obviously has an affinity with the Flemington straight as she won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap there in Autumn.

Nature Strip returns to scale

Baller returns to scale

Favourites were rolled in the next two races as well.

In the Champions Mile, Alligator Blood, racing on the pace held on to win by half a length from Tuvalu and Mr Brightside. Favourite Private Eye finished seventh.

Alligator Blood wins the Champions Mile from Tuvalu

Alligator Blood on his way to the barriers

Tuvalu on his way to the barriers

Mr Brightside returns to scale

It was good to see Alligator Blood back in winning circles after undergoing treatment for a back problem, and  after all the controversy of his ownership, which at one time banned him from racing in Melbourne.

Last year Zaaki took out the Mackinnon Stakes as the Champions Stakes used to be known, and he repeated the feat  this year, leading from the start to the finish to win narrowly from stablemate Mo’unga with outsider Hezashocka relegated to third after a successful protest from Nash Rawiller, Mo’unga’s jockey. Anamoe started as firm favourite, but finished fourth.

When heading out for the barriers, Zaaki unseated his jockey Jamie Kah, but she quickly remounted and all was well.

Zaaki unseats Jamie Kah on his way to the barriers

Zaaki resumes heading for the barriers

Zaaki wins the Champions Stakes

Mo’unga (white cap) and Hezashocka vie for second place

Mo’unga on his way to the barriers

Hezashocka on his way to the barriers

Zaaki returns to scale

There was one more race on the card but I did not stay for it, heading to the station and home after the Champions Stakes.

It had been a fine afternoon of first class racing action, and despite the crowds, which were larger than Derby Day, I was pleased to be in attendance after missing it for two years due to Covid restrictions.

So from now on my Saturday afternoons will be free, though I may attend the Zipping Classic meeting at Caulfield a few weeks hence.

Derby Day 2022

Derby finish – Manzoice (blue silks) n his way to winning the Victoria Derby

The last time I attended the Derby meeting was in 2019 and the weather was shocking – heavy rain and a heavy track. The feature event was won by Warning at big odds.

This year the weather was not as bad, though throughout the afternoon rain showers had the attendees running for cover several times.

My arrival at Flemington coincided with the running of the third race, the Group 3  Rising Fast Stakes , but sad to say I missed it, being held up entering the course,. This was due to the newfangled mobile ticketing that I was obliged to accept when paying for my ticket on Ticketmaster. The trouble was that the ticket would not open in the Ticketmaster App on my phone at Flemington – quelle horreur!

All was not lost as I managed to get a printed ticket at the Ticketmaster booth at the entrance and could eventually enter.

The race had been run and won – I was pleased to note – by Argentia.

Argentia returns to scale in the mounting yard after winning the Rising Fast Stakes

I’ve been to many Derby Days in the past and they’ve all been jam packed. This year there were not as many people, no doubt due to the iffy weather. There were no patrons spread out on the grass, which made it easy to get around.

I ended up spending most the afternoon close to my favourite spot just past the clock tower on the public lawn

The atmosphere was predominantly cheerful and friendly.

Race 4 was the Group 2 Wakeful Stake, for three year old fillies run over 2000 metres.

Star jockey James McDonald rode four winners at Flemington on Saturday and the winner of the Wakeful Stakes, Zennzella, was the second of them.

She and Pavitra fought out the finish  down the straight with Zennzella prevailing by a narrow margin. As Time Goes By ran third, two lengths behind.

Zennzella (blue spots) and Pavitra hit the line together

Zennzella on her way to the barriers

Pavitra returns to scale

As Time Goes By on her way to the barriers

Run over 1400 metres, the Group 3 Linlithgow Stakes resulted in another win for James McDonald who rode Old Flame to victory over Poland and Ironclad in the rain.

Old Flame defeats Poland at the finishing post

The first of the Group 1 events was up next. This was the Coolmore Stud Stakes, a sprint over 1200 metres.

Again James McDonald was successful aboard blueblood Godolphin filly In Secret, who registered an impressive 2  length win over C’est Magique and Buenes Noches.

In Secret wins the Coolmore Stud Stakes

In Secret returns to scale

The feature race of the day was of course the Victoria Derby, a race for young stayers over 2500 metres.

James McDonald’s mount Sharp ‘n Smart started as favourite, but he was upstaged by the Chris Waller trained Manzoice who came in at big odds and caused a boilover result. Nothing new there, as the Victoria Derby often ends up in a long shot winner. 100/1 shot Aberfeldie Boy ran third.

Manzoice returns to scale

A race over 1600 metres, the Empire Rose Stakes was the final Group 1 event of the afternoon. The last time I saw it 2019 star New Zealand mare Melody Belle won it in torrential rain.

In this year’s edition, Icebath ran from the back of the large field,  sneaking along the rail to seize the lead close to the finish line and hold on to win narrowly from Mirra Vision with Excelida running third.

Icebath wins the Empire Rose Stakes

Icebath dumped her rider, Craig Williams, shortly after the finish, but registered a long overdue first Group 1 victory.

I headed for the station and home after the Empire Rose Stakes, having enjoyed a pleasant, if rather damp afternoon at the races.

Tomorrow is the Melbourne Cup.  I haven’t a clue as to who the winner will be, but am glad I will not be there to witness it. The weather is predicted to be miserable – cold and wet.

I will however be returning to Flemington next Saturday for Champion Stakes Day, and hope my mobile ticket works this time.