Happy Clapper and Teofilo -- There could'nt have been a more popular win on the weekend, than when Happy Clapper saluted in the Group 1 Epsom Hcp. Perfectly ridden by Blake Shinn the 7yo Teofilo gelding finally broke his duck after regularly running into the mighty mare, Winx and after fifty years, trainer Pat Webster finally got his long awaited group one.Tom Melbourne got out late and chased hard but the race was really never in doubt. The Galileo stallion, Teofilo is out of a Danehill mare. His 3yo colt Ataraxia was successful in the earlier run Dulcify Quality to make it a double for the breed at Randwick and gave James Cummings and Godolphin a great day out with Azilee given him his first group 1 for the stable.
2017 Epsom Happy Clapper
Classic Uniform -- After
a frustrating run of seconds the Al Maher gelding led them up, in a jog
and kept finding, to score in the Group 2 Hill Stakes, ridden by
Michael Walker . Gary Moore, said "he got it easy in front and that
probably helped his cause but never the less it was a good victory". Alizee -- In the group 1 Flight Stakes on Saturday saw victory go to the James Cummings trained and Glyn Schofield ridden well bred filly by Sepoy out of Exceed and Excel mare, Essaouira . She came from last to beat Champagne Cuddles, once again, the bridesmaid .She is half sister to last years star colt, Astern. Lope de Vega and Santa Ana Lane -- In the 1400m Group 1 Rupert Clarke we saw a breakneck speed which suited the Tony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane, as jockey Dean Yendal sat back and waited for the last shot at the sitting duck and that duck was Mr Sneaky who shot clear on straightening only to be run over, on the line. The Lope de Vega gelding is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Fast Fleet. The breed have had a red letter week and tend to love sitting off the pace and swooping late . In Adelaide in the 1100m listed Wiley Hcp we saw the unbeaten Desert Lashes get run over late by Lope de Capio who made it 7 wins from 23 starts. The owners of the stallion ceased shuttling to Australia in 2015 because they rated him to valuable commodity.
Exceed and Excel winning the 2003 Rupert Clarke
Bonneval -- Another group one win for this mare by Makfi, out of the Zabeel mare, Imposingly. It brings her tally now to six in a row and her Caulfield campaign is well on target. There was heaps of pace on, in the Underwood Stakes which set it up for the back markers and even though Hartnell, come off her back . He was no match for the mare and she looks almost assured of more spring glory. Bonneval's is a dual Oaks winner and was recently voted New Zealand, Horse of the Year, Three-Year-Old of the Year and Stayer of the Year.
Foundry -- The 8 year old gelding by Galileo won the group one Metropolitan Hcp at Randwick. Its been a long wait for the Williams camp but it could well give them another runner in the big ones this spring.
Galileos most famous son Frankel
Perast -- The Snitzel colt is now got the Caulfield Guineas on his radar, after a good win in the prelude. He came off the back of summer Passage, the other snitzel colt to grab victory with unbeaten Royal Symphony chasing back in fourth. Trainer Paul Perry believes the extra 200m of the Guineas should be no worries.
Not quite the quality weekend compared to last week but still some good gallopers at Caulfield and Rosehill with only, the one,Group 1 event. The Golden Rose in Sydney being staged. It was won by a Snitzel colt to get the breed off to a strong start in the new season. Just this week the Snitzel stallion Spill The Beans has been shuttled to the UK. The first of the dynasty to head to the Northern Hemisphere. There were some surprisers from up and comers on the weekend like Bons Away and the stayers, Harlem and Ace High but I was really impressed by the courage of the Commands colt, Bandipur . It was a gutsy win, the old Danehill stallion with the Eight Carat female side, still has some quality in his final crops.
Leather'n'Lace --The Street Cry mare is really putting it together with another runaway victory at Caulfield on Saturday in the Pinchapoo Stakes. The Darren Weir trained and ridden at all his starts by Damian Lane now has three wins of 4 starts. Victoria's premier trainer has penciled in the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes 1600m at Flemington as the filly's next start on October 7.
Commands and Bandipur --This Godolphin runner by Commands continues to get the job done for the stable and in the Foundation Plate on Saturday was caught wide but Damian Lane or frosty as he his known, didnt panic and kept the colt balanced, until straightening when he let him go. It was a hard fought victory but this guy is a winner and is now looking to add the Group 3 Blue Sapphire at Caulfield to his Lightning Stakes Morphetville victory back in July to his tally, in a fortnight. At Rosehill on Saturday we saw the Gerald Ryan, trained, Washington Heights prove his last win was no fluke, with a convincing win in the Shannon Stakes and is now heading for the Epsom Hcp. In the 1500m event he was ridden well back in the field by Kerrin Mcevoy but came with a strong run to finish over the top of them.
Bandipur winning the Group 1 Lightening in July.
Bons Away -- In the Testa Rossa Stakes, it was thought Brave Smash would continue on his winning way but a talented Bon Hoffa gelding ridden by Linda Meech put a spoke in the works with a big finish down the outside under strong riding. The favorite did cop a solid bump on turning so there was excuses but you cant take anything away from Bons Away. The Ciaron Maher trained 4yo landed his fifth win from nine starts on Saturday.He had recorded consecutive victories at Sale, Mildura and Seymour and managing part owner Ken King, who bred the gelding, said the road trips were all about for Bons Away’s maturity.“He had a few issues as a two and 3yo and he missed a fair bit of racing at that stage,” King said.“Ciaron just wanted to build his confidence and get him through the grades."
Harlem -- On Saturday, Harlem repaid only a fraction of his purchase price by winning the $150,000 MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield. He cost $890.000 at the Newmarket sale in England last year. The stayer is guaranteed a start in the $3 million Caulfield Cup and after a penalty is in with just 51.5 kilograms. The David Hayes believes that Harlem, who has just 51 kilograms in the Melbourne Cup, will be better suited at 3200 metres as the horse has all of the staying potential required to win Australia's most important handicap. His most important weapon is his turn of foot that surprised most at Caulfield on Saturday. Harlem is by the Danehill stallion Champs Elysees.
Canford Cliffs -- Cliffs Edge is a 3yo colt ridden on Saturday by John Allen for Darren Weir. He is out of the Snaadee mare Simulation which is the Danzig line. Winning the 3yo hcp over 1600m now gives him 3 wins from 6 starts. I wanted to highlight the breed because they have been getting plenty of quality winners lately.
High Chaparall and Ace High --In the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, the High Chaparral colt led them up and never looked like getting caught in front. Ridden by Tye Angland over the 1800m distance which was a perfect trip after a previous start at 1600m. He may have only won 2 of ten but there is plenty of talent with him.He is out of the Redoutes Choice mare Come Sunday.
Trapeze Artist -- The win in the Golden Rose Group 1 at Rosehill on Saturday by Trapeze Artist put enormous value on the Snitzel colt and also earned him a trip to Melbourne, for the Caulfield Guineas. He was ridden by Tye Angland who gave the colt a good run off the hot speed to race away with the race halfway down the straight. Now the winner of three races and close to a million dollars in prizemoney. The Gerald Ryan trained colt is out of the dam Treppes who is by Domesday .
The Black Opal winner salutes in the Golden Rose Saturday
The weekends racing promised so much and delivered more, with brilliant three year olds, Catchy and Royal Symphony confirming their talent. While the old brigade Almandin,Winx,Hartnell all performed true to form. There were also a couple of eye opening runs for the future , Redzel and Humidor. What an epic Spring Carnival we are in for, this year.
Royal Symphony -- The Domesday colt now heads to the Caulfield Guineas as favorite, after saturdays, stunning victory in the Pin and Win Stakes. Jockey, Dwayne Dunn looked to be in a lot of trouble at the tail of the field and with no where to go but somehow, wound his way through the middle of them and with a scintillating finish got the job done, right on the line.
Royal Symphony winning the Pin and Win Stakes
Almandin -- Last years Melbourne Cup winner was ridden by Damien Oliver in the Japan Racing Association Plate, over 2500m. He carried 61kg and after Damien gained a rails run in the straight, he left his rivals in his wake. It was enough to send him to the top of the betting for this years cup. Damien has now had three rides on him for three wins.
Catchy -- What a gem of a finish by the Fatnet Rock filly in the Danehill Stakes. The race named after her grand sire. The champion two year old filly has come back better than ever as a three year old and trainers Hayes nd Dabernik are looking at taking on the colts, in the Caulfield Guineas. The three year olds this year, look exceptional. The unbeaten Fastnet Rock filly, Shoals and colt, Merchant Navy are putting the quality of the breed to the fore front.
Redkirk Warrior -- A convincing win by Redkirk Warrior down the straight at Flemington. David Hayes has always had a high opinion of the seven year old gelding but said "he won way better than I thought he would on Saturday ". When speaking to racing.com yesterday said, "he had secured a spot in the Everest with Vega Magic and Redkirk Warrior. Redkirk Warrior will trial the Sydney way of going at Lindsay Park until then and go to Sydney on the week of the Everest.We will keep him fresh until the big race. We raced him Saturday mainly to secure the spot."
Humidor -- The wayward Humidor is finally straightening out and the promising 5 year old by Teofilo could well be the X factor this spring . Since winning the Australia Cup earlier this year he has been showing a lot of maturity and Saturday in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes saw a highly polished professional racehorse give Hartnell wind burn and jump to Caulfield Cup favouritism.
Humidor Australian Cup 2017
Redzel -- In the group 2 Shorts at Randwick we saw the Snitzel gelding continue his winning form by setting a track record against English and other Everest contenders including the mighty Chautauqua who motored home over the last 100 metres of the event, in an eye catching return. The Snowden trained Redzel already had secured a slot n the big race but after today looks like the one to beat.
Winx -- The amazing mare added another group 1 to her tally in the George Main Stakes on Saturday.At the 800m she looked to be in a bit of trouble but once she ignited the after burners, the doubts disappeared. Within a few strides she seems to put a race away and that was the case at Randwick. There is something special about the mare where on the post she seems to do it so easily.
The weekends racing saw the very best in Australasian thoroughbreds return to racing and one young sprinter i have a good respect for is Russian Revolution. The son of Snitzel has an awesome consistent record and a huge desire to win. While we also saw the return of the talented females like Bonneval and Egg Tart making super returns.
Russian Revolution -- The Snowden trained Russian Revolution is almost assured a position in The Everest with a convincing win in the Mcewan Stakes on Saturday at Moonee Valley. After sitting on the speed he exploded clear on straightening, to defeat Heatherly. The 4 year old son of Snitzel has come back better than ever.
Russian Revolution winning his first group 1 in the Galaxy
Shoals -- The talented three year old filly Shoals maintained her unbeaten record in the listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes. The Hayes Dabernick trained, Mark Zahra ridden, Fastnet Rock filly sat outside the leader, Blondie until turning where she applied the pressure to pull away on the line for a good win. It was a good performance by both fillies with Shoals now heading to the Thousand Guineas where she is second favorite. While the Reward For Effort filly Blondie is still on the up and bound to find a good race.
Bonneval -- An impressive win in the Dato Tan Stakes by Bonneval on Saturday.The race qualifies her for a start in the Cox Plate but hearing what her trainer Murray Baker said yesterday "she would only go there if Winx dropped out, we will be targeting the Caulfield Cup" were his words. Winners of this race that went on to win the Cox Plate were Sunline,Northerly, Better Loosen Up and Fields of Omagh.
Bonneval winning the Group 2 Dato Tan Stakes
Sebring -- The star filly Egg Tart returned on Saturday and although she was runner up in the Theo Marks Stakes, breaking her picket fence. Im sure the spring is going to bring plenty of riches to this daughter of Sebring. There were two other victories for the breed, earlier in the day at Rosehill. One being in the Kari Stan Fox Stakes with Gold Standard getting the money and in the opening event, bm76 saw a great Blake Shinn, front running ride, get Positive Problems, home first. Sebring, the More Than Ready stallion and winner of the 2008 Golden Slipper and sire of Criterion. His son now stands at Newgate Farm in New Zealand. Criterion is the highest Stakes earner to ever stand at stud in Australasia , the winner of $7,280,000.
Deploy -- This gelded son of Fastnet Rock is flying right now and with Josh Parr riding, hit the ground running when they jumped in the 1300m Theo Marks Stakes and never looked like being headed even though Egg Tart ran on well. There is more wins in store for him this spring.
Ravi -- The Redoutes Choice five year old daughter has always showed talent even as a two year old and in the Sheraco Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill on saturday with Kerrin Mcevoy riding. She sat just off the speed until turning then shot clear, to win easily.
Menari -- In the Run For The Roses, the son of Snitzel was given a peach of a ride by Josh Parr. He had him positioned just behind the leaders and on turning let him go, to out pace Pariah who tried hard without ever looking like beating him.
Silent Command -- In the Listed Morphetville Guineas over 1600m on Saturday Silent Command became the third stakes winner from the Danehill stallion, Commands final crop,this year. Bandipur was successful in the Lightning Stakes in May while Melody Belle won the Group 1 Sires earlier in the year. Commands past on, in 2014, but has left a lasting dynasty with his broodmares producing many top line gallopers.
Super racing at Caulfield and Randwick this weekend with plenty of highlights. Jockeys, Kerrin Mcevoy, who had five winners and Mark Zahra who got three home at Caulfield were outstanding riding performances. We had Winx performimg her heroics with jockey Josh Parr on Red Excitement giving a brilliant riding display forcing the champion mare to pull out another legendary run to keep her winning streak in tact with a win in the Chelmsford Stakes.While Merchant Navy the top three year old colt kept his picket fence in tact as well in the Mcneil Stakes and we cant forget the in form sprinter of the moment Vega Magic who now looks a strong, Everest prospect.
Vega Magic --- The Hayes/Dabernick trained Lope De Vega 5 year old gelding is now into second favouritism for the Everest after another devastating win in the first Group 1 of the season. The 1400m Memsie Stakes was never in doubt as Craig Williams drove the gelding clear, in the straight.
Vega Magic winning the Group 1 Memsie Stakes
Merchant Navy -- The Fastnet Rock colt, stamped himself on Saturday, as possibly the gun three year old this year. He is unbeaten in four starts and improving all the time. He is out of the Snippets mare, Legally Bay, so what a stallion prospect he is for the future. If he can win one of the classic three year old events this spring, he may well have his pick of the ladies on retiring. Ridden by the in form Mark Zahra, he looked strong at the end of the 1200m Mcniel Stakes.
Merchant Navy making it 4 in a row in The Mcneil Stakes
Voodoo Lad -- The consistent and classy Weir trained, I Am Invincible gelding ridden by Brad Rawiller. Brad had a battle trying to keep the galloper under control midway through the 1100m event but when he let him go, at the top of the straight, there was no chance for any other galloper. He put them to bed quickly, surely he deserves a group 1 this prep, just for consistency.
Mr Sneaky -- In the benchmark 78 we saw another great ride by Mark Zahra. The 4 year old, High Chapparal gelding won in style, racing clear from a battling Answer My Friend, another High Chaparral gelding who had to be used up early from his wide gate and was a sitting duck for Mr Sneaky, both galloper''s are worth following.
Kerrin Mcevoy -- The 36 year old jockey was inducted into the South Australian Racing Hall of Fame on the weekend after celebrating with five winners on Saturday at the Randwick meeting. He was on some really promising horses with wins on Formality the Hayes /Dabernick trained filly who won the Furious Stakes with a fighting performance. In the Concord Stakes he controlled the race on the Snitzel gelding Redzel who skipped clear on straightening for a good win. The 5 year old gelding is now heading for the Everest. The best ride of the day had to be in the last on Washington Heights where he gained a late opening to win the 1400m benchmark 95 on the 6 year old Commands gelding.
Winx -- When i watched the Chelmsford i saw a few things which stood out to me. The great front running ride by Josh Parr on the 8 year old Red Excitement who is in career best form. The pure champion qualities of Winx as she chased the runaway leader on her own, to run him down and add another epic victory to her legendary stats. To me she looked like she could have gone another 400 metres at the pace she was travelng and this is what stands her apart from other horses. Her ability to maintain a top pace for a considerable distance. All hail the queen !
Winx in the Chelmsford Stakes
Redzel -- The Snitzel gelding who won the Doomben Ten Thousand in Brisbane is now going to take on the best sprinters in the Everest. It was an easy victory for the Snowden trained galloper who is out of the Rubiton mare Millrich. He led all the way with a confident Mcevoy, in charge !
Other Highlights --Oregans Day put up a good effort to win the Chandler Mcleod Plate over 1400m. He is one of the many promising Domesday progeny . The High Chaparral gelding Embley trained by Blorn Baker won the Jockey Trust Mile at Randwick . The Webster trained Happy Clapper recorded another win in the Tramway Stakes. The honest 7 year old Teofilo, gelding was held up for the last run at them and won well defeating Tom Melbourne who had done all the work and was left vulnerable near the finish.
This saturday we saw another great day for Fastnet Rock progeny at Moonee Valley with excellent victories for Miss Rock and Roomooz. This is after last weeks treble at Randwick for the breed. The I Am Invincible's also had a great weekend with wins in all three states. Miss Rock -- The Fastnet Rock mare was unlucky in the group 1 Goodwood Hcp at the end of the Autumn Carnival and made amends on Saturday, after digging deep to get up and beat Heatherly right on the line in the listed Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley. She is out of that top Strategic mare Miss Judgement. Earlier in the day we saw Roomooz another of the Fastnet Rocks storm home and get up on the line in the 1200m Johnnie Walker Plate.Ridden by Luke Currie and out of the Keiron Mcevoy yard, the Fastnet Rock filly held off the fast finishing Tulip.
MissRock ridden by Ben Melham
Overshare -- The I Am Invincible colt is out of the Hawkes yard and ridden by Dwayne Dunn got the job done in the 1200m Mckenzie Stakes. He is out of the Redoutes Choice mare Savannah's Choice. Savannah’s Choice being out of the Sadlers Wells mare Kirov Premiere makes her a half sister to six other winners including Champion 3YO Filly, Cesario, in turn the dam of Japan Cup winner, Epiphaneia and another Group One winner in Leontes. Wayne Hawke's says he is a much more mature horse this time in and he settled so well in front today and was never headed. Mariquita won the benchmark 74 at Rosehill, the 5 year old mare has a Danehill line mum. While at the Gold Coast a third I Am Invincible made it a great day for the clan with a win in the 1100m open event. Whypeeo the 3 year old gelding ridden by Jeff Lloyd won well.
Oak Door -- In the benchmark 90 over 1200m, the Commands gelding ridden by young Ben Thompson sat on the pace and kicked clear on straightening to continue his impressive form from last preparation. He has now won $294,000 in prizemoney for his connections.
Raquel Clarke -- The young lady jockey from Tasmania is really making her mark in South Australian racing right now. She arrived there back in March and recorded 52 winners last season. After picking up a treble Saturday gives her ten winners already this season. She scored on the 3 year old filly Unscopable in the maiden,followed by 7 year old gelding, Danouli. Then in the second last race, she rode a patient race to get up on the 7 year old Hard Spun gelding Counter Spin for Leon Mcdonald in the benchmark 70. What I did notice on saturday was her riding technique and by gee she has some talent. Horses just seem to want to put in for her, she is able to get the best out of them and has a mature, patient riding style. Follow this talented lady this year and I'm sure you will come out on top.
Raquel Clarke
Pariah -- The valuable Redoutes Choice three year old colt, ridden by Blake Shinn for the Snowden camp, scored in the 1100m Group III San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Jockey Blake Shinn wound his way through the field and had control of the race 200m out . He is now being sprouted as the number one three year old this season.
Bonny O'reilly -- The five year old mare made easy work of her opponents in the last race of the day, over 1200m. The Bjorn Baker trained mare has now scored four wins in a row. She is out of a Pins broodmare and was ridden by Tim Clarke.
Highlights -- Spunlago, the 6yo Hard Spun gelding was ridden perfectly by Jye Mcneil to win the 1600m BM 78 at Moonee Valley.
The return of the quality thoroughbreds for the Warwick and P.B.Lawrence Stakes this weekend. We saw the A list two year olds return as three year olds and a promising group they are with Jukebox,Catchy and Formality just to name a few. The return of the older A listers as well with Hartnell, Blackheart Bart and the mighty mare Winx. Here is our rundown of the weekend and the talented thoroughbreds looming on the horizon.
Hartnell -- It was Hartnells day in the sun on Saturday at Caulfield, landing the P.B.Lawrence after battling away on the wrong leg for most of the race. He was still far too good for his opposition. It really pointed to a correct move by the Godolphin stable to avoid Winx, this campaign, after the autumn, where he was continually running into her behind.
Hartnell wins the 2017 P,B,Lawrence Stakes
Jukebox -- In the Vain Stakes at Caulfield we saw a good win by the Snitzel colt, Jukebox. The two year old who promised so much but struggled to produce, due to feet problems. Showed a good turn of foot to storm over top of Plutocracy. The colt could well be in for a big spring carnival.
Vega Magic -- In the 1200m listed Regal Roller Stakes saw Vega Magic the group 1 Goodwood Hcp winner continue on his winning way. Ridden by Damien Oliver the Lope De Vega gelding from the Hayes /Dabernick stable shot clear on turning and held off a strong finis from the Japanese horse Brave Smash who probably just peaked on his run in the last 50 metres.
Fastnet Rock --The Danehills son, Fastnet Rock continues to produce winners across the globe and on Saturday, at Randwick, they stood out with three of his progeny being successful. He opened the day in the Silver Shadow when Formality, his three year old filly returned to racing, with a good win. Coming Through the four year old entire won the benchmark 90 for Michael Walker and Chris Waller combination and in the Show County Hcp over 1200m, Brendan Avdulla got Deploy home, a Fastnet Rock 5 year old gelding.
Winx -- The Champion mare returned to the track and she really wanted to catch everyones attention when she played up in the barrier as she always does but this time a barrier attendant had just grabbed her bridle to straighten her as the gates open. This caused her to rear in the air brushing the barriers and missing the start by 4 lengths. Her jockey Hugh Bowman balanced her up and was able to get her home in the last stride.It took awhile to obtain her brilliant sectionals ,she had recorded because when she hit the barriers they had smashed the timing device attached to her.
