Black Caviar Lightning – A Dash of Red

Redzel 2016 hot favourite for the Black Caviar Lightning

Currently regarded as the best sprinter in Australia, Redzel returns to scene of his most recent victory (Darley Classic) at Flemington on Saturday. No doubt he will be at unbackable odds and it’s hard to see any of the other nine competitors in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning outgunning him.

There’s Terravista who won this race last year and goes really well when fresh. Likewise Hey Doc and Redkirk Warrior who have both won down the Flemington straight first up. These three are in my opinion the best, though hardly likely, chances to topple Redzel.

The weather for Saturday is forecast to be warm and sunny, so I’m looking forward to heading to Flemington again to see the roses and plenty of first class racing action.

Fortunately this week I won’t feel obliged to get to the course early as the most interesting races are later in the afternoon, and the BC Lightning is scheduled to run at 4.45pm.

Other than the Lightning, the two Group 3 races for Guineas, Oaks & Derby bound three year olds are of the most interest.

The Vanity Stakes for fillies is run over 1400 metres and sees the return of Moonee Valley Vase (Group 2) winner Aloisia, along with Crown Oaks runner up Bring Me Roses.  Moonee Valley Classic (Group 2) winner Banish and the so far unbeaten Paris Rock.

Named in honour of the great trainer C S Hayes, the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes is the colts equivalent of the Vanity Stakes. Top picks for this are last start winner Cliff’s Edge, Victoria Derby  runner up Sully, Main Stage, Peaceful State and New Zealander Embellish. It’s a pretty open race with plenty of chances.

A Change of Luck for Hartnell–Orr Stakes Day Review

Orr Stakes finish – a wall of horses crosses the finish line together

In true Group 1 fashion, the Orr Stakes ended in a thriller with the first seven across the finish line being less than a length apart.

Hartnell demonstrated that he was back in contention with the narrowest of wins, denying the doughty Single Gaze her moment of glory on the line. Brave Smash finished third.

It was an overcast day on Saturday and I arrived at Caulfield Racecourse, with the odd raindrop threatening a downpour that failed to eventuate, just after the running of the first race, but in plenty of time for the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude.

Oohood started as favourite, and was impressive racing from the back of the field to miss by half a length, unable to overtake winner Enbihaar who raced on the speed. Seabrook finished third.

Enbihaar (blue & white striped cap) wins the Blue Diamond Prelude

Enbihaar returns to scale

Oohood returns to scale with 4th placed Lake District Girl

Seabrook returns to scale

As races in the early part of the program were only 35 minutes apart, it wasn’t long until the colts Blue Diamond Prelude.

Again the favourite, in this case Plague Stone,  was relegated to second place by an unfancied runner. He lost out by half a length to Written By. Native Soldier was a further 1½ lengths away running third.

Written By (red cap) wins the Colts Blue Diamond Prelude

Written By returns to scale

Plague Stone on his way to the mounting yard pre race

Native Soldier in the pre parade ring

As I’ve now witnessed the Blue Diamond Previews and Preludes, as well as the Inglis Premier and Chairman’s Stakes, the actual Blue Diamond Stakes likely winner is far from clear.  So far I’ve been the most impressed by Kinky Boom’s run in the Inglis Premier and the tote agrees, marking her pre-race favourite.

The Blue Diamond Stakes will be run on 24 February, so it’s not long to wait for the result.

In between races I  cruised through the stalls area, but my photos of horses in stalls are not much good, the overcast sky being as problematical as bright sunlight for photography.

The head turner of the day was the flashy Mighty Boss, a chestnut colt with a blonde mane and tail. His friendly strapper was only too pleased to pose Mighty Boss for snaps.

Mighty Boss being walked in the pre-parade ring

I can see Mighty Boss becoming a crowd favourite with his unusual looks. I know I noticed him the first time I saw him at Caulfield in the 2017 Blue Diamond Prelude, where he finished third last. He did go on to win the Caulfield Guineas at 100/1 last Spring.

The Carlyon Cup, the sole race on the day for stayers, run over 1800 metres, was race 4 on the schedule.  Only seven horses were in the field and Gailo Chop was the favourite.  He didn’t disappoint winning by 1¼ lengths from Harlem with Lord Fandango finishing third.

Carlyon Cup finish

Gailo Chop returns to scale

Harlem returns to scale

Lord Fandango on his way to barriers

In the Kevin Hayes Stakes Booker led from the start to the finish, and hot favourite Shoals failed to fire, finishing second last. Leather n Lace finished second and long shot See Me Exceed finished third.

Booker returns to scale

Leather n Lace on her way to the mounting yard

See Me Exceed returns to scale

So on to Race 6, the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, where Super Cash won the race for the second year in succession, pipping old Flamberge at the post.  Merchant Navy finished third.

Just past the post in the Rubiton Stakes

Super Cash returns to scale

Most of the afternoon had been warm and humid, despite the overcast sky, but a blustery change came through around 3.00pm which added a strong wind factor – hell for a contact lens wearer.

I wasn’t much interested in Race 7, the Group 2 Autumn Stakes, but as it was the penultimate race before the feature, I watched it and noted that Holy Snow, running wide from the back of the field won by over a length from Mr So And So and Astoria.

Autumn Stakes just past the post

Holy Snow returns to scale

It had been a long afternooon , though the time seemed to pass relatively quickly, until finally at around 4.45pm,  the Orr Stakes was due to run and it was worth waiting for.

Tosen Stardom was the favourite but after being aggressively ridden early in the race, he faded to end up at the tail of the field. It was a messy sort of race as evidenced by the mass of horses crossing the finish line in a bunch, with quite a few hard luck stories among the unplaced. Young Mighty Boss was keen as mustard, but was blocked and hampered and failed to get a clear run, which stymied his chances. There were similar complaints from several of the other runners.

However, all honours to Hartnell – it’s good to see him back as winner.  His next race will possibly be against Winx in the Chipping Norton Stakes on 3 March, though it is unlikely he will turn the tables on her as she’s beaten him fair and square seven times previously.

Anyway here are photos of the first seven home.

Hartnell returning to scale

Single Gaze on her way to the mounting yard

Brave Smash on his way to the mounting yard

Thronum (4th) returning to scale

Lord of the Sky (5th) returning to scale

Abbey Marie (6th) returning to scale

Mighty Boss (7th) on his way to the starting gates

Speaking of unusually coloured horses, the sad news yesterday was that Miss Vista has been euthanised due to painful foot issues. She was a great crowd favourite like her look alike Apache Cat.

I’m glad her sufferings are now over and that she rests in peace.

Miss Vista at Caulfield 15 April 2017

Next week the Group 1 action is at Flemington for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, dubbed The Great Horse Day. Living Legends will be out in force, so I’m looking forward to seeing the old champs again.

Group 1 Glory – Orr Stakes

 
Black Heart Bart – winner of 2017 Orr Stakes

Finally the Melbourne Group 1 racing season kicks off this coming Saturday and a wonderful race card featuring the Group 1 Orr Stakes offers plenty to interest the dedicated racing fan.

The Orr Stakes is scheduled as Race 8, so it’s going to be a long afternoon in the sun at Caulfield Racecourse.

Fortunately there are a plethora of interesting races before the feature event, starting with the two Blue Diamond Preludes as race 2 and 3.

The fillies Prelude is run first and is classed as a Group 2, whereas the colts version is Group 3, even though the prize money and distance (1100 metres) is identical.

A great field of 13 fillies have accepted for the girls race, headed by the more experienced Oohood and Crossing The Abbey who ran second and third to Lady Horseowner in the Blue Diamond Preview. Other top chances on form are Al Naifa, Pure Elation and Downloads, the latter two also contesting the BD Preview.  I’m interested in seeing Angel, the half sister to 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles of Life, who won her only start in a maiden race in Geelong in early January. Can Angel emulate her big sister and  win in the Blue Diamond?

Fourteen colts will be contesting the boys Blue Diamond Prelude, the main chances being Ollivander and Run Naan along with Written By, Plague Stone and Native Soldier. Four in the field are having their first start, so who knows what chance they have.

Race 4 is the Carlyon Cup for middle distance/stayers run over 1600 metres. It’s not that interesting as races go, so I won’t preview it, however Race 5, the Kevin Hayes Stakes sees the return of smart fillies Shoals and Tulip to the track. Shoals won the Group 1 Myer Classic at Flemington  at her last start in Spring last year so is the class filly in the field.

The Group 2 Rubiton Stakes, a sprint over 1100 metres, has a top field and remarkably the barrier draw matched each horse’s saddlecloth number – a rarity. Whether the  field will finish in that order remains to be seen.

Horse number 1 is Rich Charm who has an excellent chance of winning, having been successful at Caulfield on three previous occasions, the most recently on Caulfield Cup day where he won a Listed sprint.

He will however have to beat classy colt Merchant Navy who won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at his last start.  Others with a chance are Super Cash, Prezado and mystery New Zealand colt Ardrossan, now with the Mick Price stable,  having his first start in Australia.

The Orr Stakes is worth the wait having attracted a really interesting field with six Group 1 winners out of thirteen runners.  One of the main chances is Hartnell, cursed during the Spring racing carnival, winning only one race. At his best he’s too good to overlook. Then there’s Tosen Stardom, the former Japanese galloper who won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Emirates Stakes in Spring and the other Japanese horse Brave Smash who ran third in The Everest. 

Several mares have won the Orr Stakes in recent times, Suavito in 2016 and Black Caviar in 2012, and any of the four mares in the field could be a serious contender, particulary Single Gaze who always runs an honest race and Shillelagh who won the Cantala Stakes in Spring.

The last three year old to win the race was Black Caviar’s little brother All Too Hard in 2013. Whether Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss can repeat this feat is doubtful, but his weight advantage could be useful.

In Winx news, she will now kick off her autumn in the Chipping Norton Stakes on 3 March, due to a careless riding suspension incurred by her regular jockey  Hugh Bowman that prevented him riding the champion mare in the Apollo Stakes on 17 February. For one dizzying moment there was talk of running Winx in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, but alas for us Melbourne fans, the Chipping Norton option was decided upon.

And it was pleasing to read that Gingernuts, who sustained a serious injury on Emirates Stakes Day last year, has now returned to New Zealand in good condition, where, even if he never races again, he will  be cherished to the end of his days.

Blue Blood Babes Diamond Bound

Encryption

The most interesting races at Caulfield on Saturday, in terms of the Blue Diamond Stakes, were races 1 an 2, the Inglis Premier and the Chairman’s Stakes respectively, so I made sure to arrive at the course in time to watch the first race.

It was a perfect day for the races, the temperature being in the mid 20s, though still hot in the sun as the afternoon progressed.

Kinky Boom, a bargain buy and daughter of Spirit of Boom started as hot favourite for the Inglis Premier having  won a  trial at Morphetteville by 8 lengths in late January. This was her first start in a real race and she was most impressive winning the prizemoney, coming from last to win by 1¾ lengths over Grand Symphony with race leader Aristocratic Miss hanging on for third.

Race 1 finish just past the post

Kinky Boom returns to scale

Grand Symphony returns to scale

Aristocratic Miss returns to scale.

They don’t come more blue blooded than Race 2 favourite Encryption, sired by Lonhro out of four time Group 1 winner Guelph.

I saw Guelph win the 2013 Thousand Guineas and snapped a lovely picture of her at the time…

Guelph – Thousand Guineas 2013

Encryption is her sole foal and I noticed that he looks a lot like her in the head.

Guelph head shot

Encryption head shot

The 1000 metres distance of the Chairman’s Stakes was probably too short for Encryption as he was unable to overtake race leader Ennis Hill and finished 1½ lengths behind her in second place.

Outsider Prairie Fire finished third.

Race 2 finish just past the winning post

Ennis Hill returns to scale

Prairie Fire returns to scale

Race 3, the Ian Miller Handicap, included another blue blood in the field, this being Earth Angel, a daughter of Miss Finland by American sire Animal Kingdom.  The tote favourite was Twitchy Frank, but he finished out of a place, the winner being second favourite Paris Rock who scored narrowly over Earth Angel with Lucky Cat running third.

Paris Rock on her way to the barriers

Earth Angel returns to scale

Lucky Cat returns to scale

I didn’t stay at Caulfield for the full race card, let alone the feature Group 3 Manfred Stakes, but lingered to watch the next three races.

The Robert Hunter Handicap was the sole race for stayers, run over 2400 metres. The field was not that interesting and I didn’t bother taking photos of the runners returning to scale, not even the winner, outsider Double Bluff, who defeated Dornier and Al Haram.

Race 5, the Ladbrokes Handicap (1100 metres)  was more interesting with the lightly raced unbeaten Eurack, whom I admit I had never heard of, leading from the start to the finish to score comfortably from Handsome Thief and Highland Beat.

Race 5 finish just past the post – Eurack & Handsome Thief

Eurack returns to scale

There was a bit of class in the field for race 6, the W J Adams Stakes, a sprint over 1000 metres, that being Snitty Kitty who won the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint back in Spring last year. She started as the warm favourite, and  looked as if she would win easily after leading throughout, but she was pipped at the post by  50/1 shot Lady Esprit. Nasdex finished third.

Lady Esprit comes wide to win the W J Adams Stakes

Lady Esprit returns to scale

Snitty Kitty returns to scale

Nasdex returns to scale

I called it quits after the WR Adams Stakes and headed home.

Next week the racing action heats up with the first Group 1 race of the Autumn Racing Season.

The Orr Stakes is the feature race at Caulfield next Saturday, with two Blue Diamond Preludes on the cards for added interest.