Brutal and the Ambidexters

       The racing from Moonee Valley Saturday was a little spoiled by the on pace bias of the track but there were standout performances worth mentioning, in the main events. In the Mckenzie Stakes for three year olds we could have been seeing our next star as Brutal put the others to the sword with a powerful finish. His win against the bias gives every indication that 1600m of the Caulfield Guineas would be right up his alley. While Faatinah in the Carlyon Stakes for the Hayes/Dabernig stable has returned in great shape from his trip earlier this year, to Dubai. In Adelaide the last three races were won by the Ambidexters with the win by Dexelation in the last giving her four wins in succession. A Commands stallion that should be watched.

• Brutal and the Valley -- Brutal, the Hawkes trained colt by O'reilly could easily prove himself  one of the best this Spring if yesterdays strong win against the bias is any guide. Jockey Dwayne Dunn positioned him just off the leaders and was troubled a bit on the turns but the colt showed a strong will to win when pushed out. I think he could definately get the 1600m trip of the Caulfield Guineas, if they head that way. 

Brutal was in for the fight!

How far can this @HawkesRacing colt go? pic.twitter.com/NaheVvZccN

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 25, 2018

• Class prevailed in the listed Carlyon Stakes as the Nicconi gelding, Faatinah scored his first 1000m victory with sustained speed and a perfect ride from Regan Bayliss. The Hayes camp had been going on about how much he had improved after returning from Dubai and yesterday certainly showed that.  He will be aimed towards the group one Moir Stakes.Merriest win in the first was the fifth of her career. The Denman mare has a few quirks but she is now a five year old so they just maybe starting to be eliminated from her appearances. I thought the win of Sweet Rockette needed to be mentioned as she put up a great effort for the Michelle Payne, all lady syndicate. The outside barrier had trainer and jockey Michelle Payne a little hesitant to start the filly but a tenacious effort saw her defeat the Godolphin star Multaja by a lip. The Fastnet Rock filly is one to follow this spring for more success is looming. 

Sweet Rockette spoils the party!

The @mj_payne-trained and ridden galloper overruns the heavily-backed favourite Multaja. pic.twitter.com/Ubu7yNAoX9

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 25, 2018

• All Too Hard -- In Sydney every meeting we find one of the All Too Hard stock saluting and yesterday they got a double with wins by the four year olds, All Too Soon and Za Zi Ba . In the benchmark 78 it was an easy win for the David Payne trained mare All Too Soon over the 1500m trip under strong riding by Tye Angland. While the benchmark 78 over 1100m we saw Sam Weatherley/Widdup combination with the mare, Za Zi Ba claim an easy victory. In the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality over 1400m for three year olds there were plenty of leads for this season. It was won by the Tim Martin trained, Exceed and Excel colt, Danawi who had been runner up in his only three race appearances and one of them was behind the talented Autumn Sun . It was the super run by the awesomely bred filly, Mizzy that had light bulbs going off. She is by Zoustar who's progeny could be ready to stamp themselves as the new dominant force in Australian racing . They impressed as two year olds but just maybe they will be even better at three. She is out of a Magnus mare Missy Cummings which gives her it all. It may have been a breathe defeat but with the Black Caviar connection and Encosta as well as Redoute's through the stallion. She could be the BOMB!  

Nothing in it!
Danawi & Mizzy do battle in a thrilling two horse war down the straight, but it was the inside run of the Tim Martin colt that proved to get the edge on the line, taking out the G3 Ming Dynasty @rosehillgardens. pic.twitter.com/nl1VVfJDEQ

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 25, 2018

• Adelaide and Ambidexter --We opened the meeting at Morphetville with a win by the promising Darren Weir trained colt,Approach Discreet by Dawn Approach who won like a possible spring contender. Then we finished with an Ambidexter treble. This stallion has to be one of the best value options going at the moment. My assumption of them not getting further than 1400m may have been a little premature because with the win of Modulate yesterday and another last week, over the trip. Its hard to split the wins yesterday of the four year olds, Amberdi and Dexelation both added to there impressive records. The former four from six and the later has now won his last four in a row. Both wins were over their pet distance of 1200m. The Commands stallion stands at Cornerstone Stud for $7,700.