In the Mood for Romance – Turnbull Stakes Day Review

Gold Trip wins the 2023 Turnbull Stakes

Though it was not the most exciting race meeting, I decided to attend Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington last Saturday, ostensibly to see the hyped Hong Kong runner Romantic Warrior.

I also wanted to remember my photographer friend George who had  passed away suddenly on 3rd October 2023.

He was an amiable soul with a mischievous sense of humour – one of the good guys - and an excellent photographer who will be greatly  missed.

You can check out his horse racing photos on this Facebook page.

I’m sure if George was still with us he would have attended the Turnbull Stakes, as he was always interested in the unusual or quirky side of the sport and would probably have attended to see Romantic Warrior.

Anyway, back to my afternoon at the races, I arrived at the track around 2.00 pm and headed to the stalls area to see if I could get a photo of Romantic Warrior. He wasn’t in his stall (no 86), but I caught sight of him walking around the parade ring, and noted that he looked a classy animal.

In the Stall 87, was the English horse West Wind Blows.

West Wind Blows

I hung around a bit and eventually Romantic Warrior was brought back to his stall.

Romantic Warrior

After visiting the stalls area I headed back trackside to practice photography on Race 5, the Danehill Stakes, a Group 2 event run over 1,000 metres.

Archo Nacho was the starting favourite, but he finished unplaced, a narrow victory going to 3 year old filly Stretan Angel who outgunned second favourite I Am Unstoppable.

Stretan Angel wins the Danehill Stakes

I Am Unstoppable

The afternoon was overcast for the main and the rail was out by 9 metres, so I’m surprised my photos turned out better than I imagined they would.

Race 6. the Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes was one for the mares and run over 1400 metres.  American mare Princess Grace was the favourite, but she was beaten by Life Lessons, and Wrote to Arataki ran third, the first three home all racing on the pace.

Life Lessons wins the Rose of Kingston Stakes from Princess Grace

Life Lessons on her way to the barriers

Princess Grace on her way to the barriers

Wrote to Arataki on her way to the barriers

The Bart Cummings, a race over 2520 metres, was of interest due to the winner being exempt from ballot for the Melbourne Cup.

A huge field of 16 runners were competing in the event, with First Immortal being the starting favourite, but he was relegated to second by the winner Future History. Serpentine finished third.

Future History wins the Bart Cummings from First Immortal

Future History returns to scale

The feature Group 1 race, the Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres) was the next to run. It has been won in the past by first class horses, notably by  Winx in 2017 and 2018. Verry Elleegant won in 2020. Last year Smokin’ Romans won the money.

This year’s edition had a classy field and Romantic Warrior was the warm favourite. However, last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Gold Trip, who raced towards the back of the field zoomed up the straight and outclassed all and sundry to win by 1.75 metres from West Wind Blows and Soulcombe. Romantic Warrior managed to run fourth, his colours somewhat lowered.

Gold Trip on his way to the barriers

West Wind Blows on his way to the barriers

Soulcombe on his way to the barriers

Romantic Warrior on his way to the barriers – thankfully a reasonable photo

With the Turnbull Stakes done and dusted I headed home, not staying for the Gilgai Stakes which was won by Star Patrol.

Next Saturday is Caulfield Guineas Day which features three Group 1 races – Caulfield Guineas, Toorak Handicap (starring Amelia’s Jewel) and the Might and Power – a much more interesting race meeting than last Saturday’s offerings.

Underwood Stakes Day Review

Alligator Blood wins the Group 1 Underwood Stakes

As the best races were to be run towards the late afternoon, I took my time getting to Caulfield, arriving just after 1.10 pm.

I watched, but did not photograph Race 3, the Pancare Recycle Plate, which was won by Cardigan Queen from Seradess and Le Danseuse Rouge.

The earlier races were not that interesting, but I got in some photography practice during the next few races.

Race 4 was the Here For The Horses Handicap for mares run over 1400 metres, which resulted in a win for the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman runner Nunthorpe, who won easily from Frigid and Yellow Sam.

Nunthorpe on her way to the barriers

Oz Empress won Race 5, the Jim Moloney Stakes, with De Sonic Boom and Poifect filling the minor places.

Oz Empress leads to the finish ahead of De Sonic Boom and Poifect

Buffalo River was the victor in Race 6, the Testa Rossa, leading from the start to the finish to narrowly hold out challengers Savannah Cloud and Corner Pocket.

Buffalo River wins the Testa Rossa

The next race held considerably more interest, it being the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, where Steparty, winner of all five of his starts won the bickies from Southport Tycoon and Scentify by a short margin.

Steparty (no 3) coming wide to overtake the leaders of the Guineas Prelude

Steparty about to hit the front as they race to the finish line

There was one more race before the feature Group 1 and this was the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (registered as the Naturalism Stakes), run over 2000 metres, where the winner earns a chance to run in the Caulfield Cup.

Uncle Bryn won the privilege from race favourite Floating Artist with Alaskan God running third.

Uncle Bryn on his way to winning the MRC Foundation Cup

The Group 1 Underwood Stakes is run over 1800 metres and has been won by top class horses, most memorably from my point of view by It’s A Dundeel ten years ago in 2013, where he defeated star mare Atlantic Jewel, the one and only time that she was beaten in a race.

This year’s edition had attracted a good field of stayers that included the likes of Vow And Declare who had  won the 2019 Melbourne Cup.

Alligator Blood was the warm favourite and he prevailed, winning by over length from Tuvalu with Duais running third.

Alligator Blood on his way to the barriers

It was a bright sunny day last Saturday, perfect for an afternoon at the races.

Caulfield Racecourse is going through some kind of upgrade, so several areas that were accessible in the past were off limits, but surprisingly it was relatively easy to get a position on the fence to take photos.

Let’s hope that by the time the Caulfield Cup is run the renovations will be less obstructive and more areas will be open.

The main race meeting next week is on Friday night at Moonee Valley with the Group 1 Moir Stakes being the feature event, starring New Zealand mare Imperatriz, so next Saturday I will be watching the racing action at home for a change.

Queens of the Turf – Makybe Diva Stakes Day

Makybe Diva Statue at Flemington

When I read that Makybe Diva, three time Melbourne Cup winner, was to make a special appearance at Flemington, how could I not attend.

Fortunately there were no public transport disruptions last Saturday, so I arrived at Flemington shortly after 1.00 pm, in time for Race 3, The Sofitel, a race over 1400 metres.

This resulted in a win for Kalino who narrowly beat Umgawa and Detonator Jack.

The Sofitel finish – Kalino is the widest in purple silks

With time in hand I decided to tramp up to the stalls area for a look at Makybe Diva who was in Stall number 1.

A big crowd of admirers surrounded her stall, but I managed to get a few photos, including one of her with Glen Boss who rode her in all three of her Melbourne Cup victories from 2003 to 2005.

Glen Boss is obviously delighted to see Makybe Diva again

Makybe Diva in the stalls area

There was display on the public lawn close to her statue of symbols of her three Melbourne Cups.

Makybe Diva’s Cups Display

All this dilly dallying in the stalls caused me to miss Race 4, the Poseidon Stakes, but I had returned to my usual spot for Race 5, the Exford Plate, which was won by Griff from Surprise Coming and King of Fighters.

Griff (no 8) is the widest with Surprise Coming in yellow silks

The feature race of the day was of course the Makybe Diva Stakes, scheduled as Race 7, so there was still one more race to run before it occurred. Luckily, the weather on Saturday was fine and sunny, so it was pleasant to bask in the sun after the chill winter we had recently experienced.

This was the Cap D’Antibes Stakes, a sprint over 1100 metres that had attracted a largish field of 19 runners.

Shesallshenanigans (a mouthful of a name) was the victor at big odds, beating Stretan Angel and Skirt The Law to the post.

Shesallshenanigans (foreground)  wins the Cap D’Antibes Stakes.

Finally it was time for the Makybe Diva Stakes and the result was pretty much as predicted by the experts with Mr Brightside, tongue lolling out, winning the bickies from Alligator Blood with Osipenko running third and Princess Grace fourth.

Mr Brightside wins the 2023 Makybe Diva Stakes from Alligator Blood

Mr Brightside on his way to the barriers

Alligator Blood on his way to the barriers

Osipenko on his way to the barriers

Princess Grace on her way to the barriers

Mr Brightside celebrates with his connections in the mounting yard

Mr Brightside has won his last five races and is one of the shining lights of the Spring racing season.

Another bright light of this Spring is undoubtedly Amelia’s Jewel who contested and won the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Amelia’s Jewel was bred in West Australia and has had ten starts for eight wins and two seconds.

The Let’s Elope Stakes was her first start in Melbourne and she passed the test with flying colours, doing it easily after drawing the widest gate, winning by over a length from Life Lessons and El Patroness.

Amelia’s Jewel parading in the mounting yard

Amelia’s Jewel on her way to the barriers

Amelia’s Jewel overtaking Life Lessons & El Patroness

Amelia’s Jewel returns to scale after winning the Let’s Elope Stakes

I’m pleased that I was there to see her in the flesh and hope I get to see her race again later in the Spring. There is some talk of her tackling the Cox Plate.

It was pleasant being back at the big track. The roses were not yet in bloom; no doubt timed as always to reappear in stunning arrays during the Melbourne Cup  Carnival.

Next Saturday I plan to head to Caulfield for the running of the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.

Feehan Stakes Day at Moonee Valley

Pinstriped on his way to winning the 2023 Feehan Stakes

The weather was awful – a brisk cold wind and the occasional shower marring the afternoon, but the racing made it worth while attending Feehan Stakes Day at Moonee Valley.

Particularly impressive was the sensational win by New Zealand mare Imperatriz of the Group 2 McEwen Stakes.

As the best races were scheduled towards the latter part of the afternoon, I took my time getting to track, arriving just before Race 5, the Listed McKenzie Stakes, run over 1200 metres.

A contest for three year old colts and geldings, Steparty started as the warm favourite and didn’t disappoint, winning by a length from Scentify, with Brave Mead taking third spot.

Steparty wins the McKenzie Stakes

With a bit of time to kill before the next race, I headed off to the stalls interested in getting photos of New Zealand mare Imperatriz and Giga Kick.

This I succeeded in doing, both horses being stabled close to each other in Stalls 135 and 137.

Imperatriz

Giga Kick

Race 6 was the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, also run over 1200 metres, but for three year old fillies.

Charm Stone came out the winner in this case, beating Inhibitions by over a length.

Charm Stone wins the Atlantic Jewel Stakes

Run over the Cox Plate distance of 2040 metres, Race 7 was the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap, where a large field of stayers were kicking off their spring campaigns.

English bred Future History started as favourite, but he was upstaged by Young Werther with Born A King running third.

Young Werther holds off a challenge from Future History to win Race 7

Up next was the Group 2 McEwen Stakes, the pick of the afternoon, a sprint over 1000 metres and seen as a match race between Imperatriz and Giga Kick, the latter being the hot favourite.

It was an exciting competition with Giga Kick being slow to begin tailing the field for most of the race, until his jockey, Craig Williams, urged him forward  as they entered the straight. Imperatriz swept past all the contenders to register a sensational  2½ lengths win from Rothfire. Giga Kick ended up finishing third.

Imperatriz wins the McEwen Stakes

Giga Kick and Rothfire vie for second place

The feature Feehan Stakes was certainly  upstaged by the McEwen Stakes, but worth lingering at the track for.

The highly touted, so far unbeaten, Globe was the favourite, but he faded to finish last after racing on the pace from the beginning. It was discovered that he suffered Cardiac Arrhythmia during the race and was eased out of the running.

Pinstriped won the Golden Ticket into the Cox Plate beating Attrition by one length with Tuvalu filling third place.

Throughout the afternoon a band on the public lawn had been entertaining the crowd with tasteful covers of popular songs, including Moonee Valley favourite Horses where I found it amusing to note the drunks dancing and singing along.

 
A portion of the band

And so ended another afternoon at the races.

I was pleased to have attended the event and glad to have witnessed a potential new sprinting Queen of the Turf in Imperatiz.

She will do all her Spring racing in Melbourne, so I’ll get to see her again later in the season.

Next Saturday I hope to attend the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes meeting at Flemington, where the grand old lady and triple Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva herself, will be a special guest.

Also on the program is star Western Australian mare Amelia’s Jewel contesting either the feature Group 1 race or the Let’s Elope Stakes.

A Rare Pleasure –The Milk Carton Kids at Thornbury Theatre

The Milk Carton Kids  - live 9 July 2023 at Thornbury Theatre

I’d be the first to admit that I have been neglectful in blogging, though truth to tell there is not much happening in my life worth reporting, as we endure another winter.

In the past I attended many musical events, but these days, with old age diminishing my hearing I’m less inclined to go.

However I made an exception for The Milk Carton Kids having seen them twice before, firstly at Thornbury Theatre way back in June 2013, then again at the Athenaeum Theatre in July 2015.

Before attending I did purchase and listen to their latest CD I Only See The Moon, a masterful collection of ten beautiful songs, and was particularly taken with several of them, namely  One True Love,  North Country Ride and Will You Remember Me.

The Thornbury Theatre was configured for concert mode, in rows of reserved seating and I’d booked tickets early enough to secure seats three rows from the stage in the centre section, a perfect position.

The show was opened by the support act, Canadian- American singer songwriter Vera Sola.

Vera Sola live at Thornbury Theatre 9 July 2023

I must admit her act was quite dramatic, though not really to my personal taste.

The Milk Carton Kids on the other hand were just as engaging as previously witnessed and performed a wonderful set of thirteen songs, drawn from their 10 record repertoire.

They are a minimalist act, just the two of them – Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale – standing around a single mike and combining gorgeous harmony singing with guitar (and banjo) accompaniments.

The Milk Carton Kids – Joey Ryan & Kenneth Pattengale

I was delighted that they performed my favourites from their new record - exquisite renditions as you’d expect.

The audience in attendance were predominantly in the older age bracket, a circumstance remarked on by Joey Ryan when he singled out a young person sitting in the front row during one of the breaks between songs. Us older folk were amused rather than affronted by this, and gave the boys a rousing reception and even a standing ovation at the end of the night, where they returned for an encore of two songs, a fabulous cover of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and the final track on I Only See the Moon, Will You Remember Me?

They are a class act that I hope to see live again before I die.

 

Milk Carton Kids Setlist

1. Younger Years

2. Monterey

3. Maybe It's Time

4. Honey, Honey

5. All Of The Time In The World To Kill

6. When You're Gone

7. I Only See the Moon

8. One True Love

9. North Country Ride

10. Heaven

11. Michigan

12. All the Things I Did and All the Things that I Didn’t Do

13. I Still Want a Little More

 Encore:

15. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover)

16. Will You Remember Me?