Sunday, October 14, 2018

The Autumn Sun in Spring

  •      The huge Caulfield Guineas day was one of the most exciting days of racing in recent times even without the mighty WINX. We saw a superstar colt win the Guineas in The Autumn Sun and an awesome filly Amphitrite drop from the clouds to score in the Thousand Guineas. While in Sydney it was the Everest and a crowd of forty thousand witnessed the awesome Snitzel gelding Redzel win for the second year. While another Snitzel, the entire, Trapeze Artist finished runner up. 
  • Amphitrite and Sebring -- The Flying Start Syndications filly Amphitrite rocketed home to win the Thousand Guineas after favorite Smart Melody and Thrillstar set a solid pace. This Sebring filly just keeps producing and it would not surprise me if she wins another group one this Spring. I must congratulate caller Matt Hill on some epic calling Saturday and this race was one of his best ! When i spoke to Cameron Bennett from Flying Start Syndications he said, " the Sebrings were targets at the sales for him as they continually produce good earners for his clients. Well Done to all.
  • Benbatl and Dubawi -- There were plenty of internationals having their lead up runs for the big ones on Saturday. In the Ladbrokes ( Caulfield ) Stakes, Benbatl produced a courageous win after looking as though the other Godolphin horse Blair House was going to run him down. A great ride by Pat Cosgrove for the Saeed Bin Suroor stable as he box seated in the run and this probably was the difference in the end. Never the less I was impressed with the fight of the Dubawi gelding and he could well present some danger to the Queen in the Cox Plate. In the Schillaci Stakes the win of Ball of Muscle gave the stallion, Dubawi a double for the day as he continued his awesome form for the Joe Pride stable with Craig Williams riding in great form .
  •   The Autumn Sun -- We may well have witnessed a superstar on Saturday in the Caulfield Guineas as the The Autumn Sun was planted three deep the trip and then had the audacity to kick clear in the straight to win by 5 lengths. Jockey James Mcdonald was blown away by the performance saying this horse is something special. Arrowfield Stud is believed to have paid 20 million dollars for a fifty per cent share early last week and after Saturdays win they say he is now valued at fifty million.
  • Redzel and the Everest --  The Triple Crown Syndications owned Redzel scored his second Everest at Randwick with an all the way win on the heavy track. After a setback early this preparation, the Snowden camp got him back on track and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy rode a good race, from the front. What a record he has now 14 wins from 28 starts and over $15 million in prizemoney . Such a trier ! 
  • Yucatan and Galileo   -- Yucatan exploded away with the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes. The win was an eye catcher for the up coming cups as he was eased right down on the line by James Mcdonald for the Aiden O'brien camp. He is by the all conquering stallion Galileo and it could easily be O'brien/ William's, Melbourne Cup again, after this run. The 7 year old gelding Big Blue won the St Leger at Randwick and is also by Galileo and has now won three in a row. The sire of the great Frankel is certainly making his presence felt here in the Southern Hemisphere as well. Interesting The Autumn Sun is out of the Galileo mare, Azminya 
  • Not A Single Doubt and Pierro -- I wanted to quickly mention the wins of Tristan de Angel at Randwick for Matt Dunn and 4 year old mare, Winter Bride for Toby Edmunds both are by Not A Single Doubt. Who is a Redoute's Stallion who continually gets good types.  It was so good to see some trainers from up north collect a bit of prizemoney as well. The Winter Bride certainly knows how to fight. Sunlight   kept her super record going with her 7th win from 10 starts in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes group 3 for the Tony Mcevoy camp.While there was a double for Pierro at Randwick with the win of  I Like It Easy. The 3 year old filly scored in the Reginald Allen Quality and was followed by another victory to the talented Pierata in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes over 1200m with Tommy Berry riding.

     

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Winx and Invincibella

       The group racing at both Flemington and Randwick stepped up a notch over the weekend with the headline act of course being the wonder mare Winx. The amazing daughter of Street Cry delivered again putting in a memorable performance coming from well back in the field on the turn to record her 28th victory in a row beating her stablemate Youngstar in the Turnbull Stakes. The other group one was the Spring Championship Stakes in Sydney and the Smart Missile filly, Maid of Heaven gave Rachel King her first group one of her career. She finished doggedly to grab Aromaya on the post in the heavy conditions.  

 Rachel King First Group One -- At Randwick early in the day we saw an easy win to the Not A Single Doubt gelding, Doubt Defying who recorded his seventh win of his career with an in form, Tim Clarke, in the saddle. He is trained in Queensland by Steven O'dea and it is interesting to note that his half sister also trained by O'dea, Sesar won the group 2 Roman Consul over 1200m later in the day. Sesar is by Sebring and both out of the Street Cry, mare Sarthemore. The heavy conditions would definately of suited.
Maid of Heaven -- The Smart Missile filly Maid of Heaven gave Rachel King her first group one success of her career in the Spring Champion Stakes. The heavy track had improved by the end of the day but the middle of the track was still the place to be and the Mark Newhnam trained filly wore down Aramayo to score on the line. 
 Winx and Bowman -- The Group one Turnbull Stakes was to be a memorable one for the people who made their way to Flemington as the awesome Winx showed why she is the best in the world with an amazing turn of foot to run her opposition down in the last 100 metres of the race. After being stuck on the rails most of the way a cool Hugh Bowman had to wait for a passage to present itself and when it did she exploded to grab her stablemate the High Chaparral mare, Youngstar on the post to record her 28th win in a row.

Invincibles at Flemington -- First it was the four year old mare, Eckstein who has always shown so much but has been such a nightmare to train who won the listed Paris Lane Stakes over 1400 ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy early in the day then in the final race on the card. Winx's friend, Invincibella made it a double for the I Am Invincibles in the 1400m Blazer Stakes when Hugh Bowman took advantage of  Savatiano misfortune as the mare from the Cummings stable got bottled up, Hugh shot his mount clear. The Chris Waller trained Invincibella has now won 1.4 million in prizemoney and is out of the Galileo mare, Abscond.
 I Am Excited -- In the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes we saw I Am Excited storm home down the outside to snatch victory on the line. The four year old mare is trained by David Pfieffer and ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy. She is by Snitzel out of the General Nedyim mare, Lady Beckworth. I must say this spring the Snitzel's have been a bit quiet but never under estimate them.  
Avilius and Flemington --  In the group two Bart Cummings it was a battle royale between the legendary stables of Cummings and Hayes with the James Cummings trained, Avilius getting the bob to win the race named in James grandfathers honour but not without dramas as Michael Walker rider of the runner up Jaameh for the Hayes camp lodged a protest. It was dismissed and the Godolphin's Avilius qualifies for the Melbourne Cup.  
Sebrings -- In the group 2 Edward Manifold it was good to see Cameron Bennett's Flying Starts Syndicate salute with their filly Amphitrite who burst clear halfway down the straight to score a convincing win for the Weir/Williams combo.The Sebring filly is out of the Redoutes Choice mare, Ocean Dream.Ocen Dream is a half to great galloper Marble Halls.