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Past the post: Flemington and Rosehill wrap

Roar Guru
13th September, 2014
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Roar Guru
13th September, 2014
23

Well, wowee! Racing doesn’t get much better than what we saw on Saturday at Flemington and Rosehill, with outstanding performances, whether it be horse or human.

Let’s start off with the $400,000 Group l Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

I’ll put my hand up, I potted Dissident because I thought he had everything go his way in the Memsie win, but all you could say about his win today was wow.

It was an amazing effort to sit outside a hot speed, kick at the top of the straight and fend off a Caulfield Cup winner in Fawkner. Massive effort and a much deserved Group l triumph, again.

As for the beaten brigade, Fawkner is the clear horse to follow going forward. No doubt if he was trained as a miler, like he was this time in 2012, he would have put three or four lengths on them. But now that he is a Cups horse, he just lacked that killer punch first up, but it was still a super run.

Puissance De Lune got another big tick for mine. Brad Rawiller tracked up every move Nick Hall made on Fawkner, peeled off his back and looked the winner for a few strides, but just couldn’t quite ping when let down. I have no doubt that if the track had any sort of give in it, he would have put them away.

Spillway was excellent from the back, Sertorious and Green Moon got strong pass marks heading forward. As for Boban, I am yet to see a head-on shot of the concluding stages, so I can’t determine for sure if he was unlucky. But one thing I know is that he hates being cluttered up between runners, so going back to the inside wasn’t ideal. I’m prepared to forgive him, just, but he is becoming costly.

Three wide no cover, it didn’t matter for Commanding Jewel when she took out the $200,000 Group ll Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m). Horses inside her kicked up early on, so Damien Oliver had no choice but to sit three deep, but the champion didn’t panic. He let her get into a nice rhythm, and when they straightened for home, she quickly put away Gregers and Solicit before fending a valiant Dear Demi to win narrowly, with nothing left in the tank on the line.

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Jury is out on Solicit, because I thought she was entitled to do more, and Gregers is to never be backed again beyond 1200m. She had a charmed run outside the speed, but as soon as Williams went for her, there was nothing.

Rich Enuff proved that his McKenzie win was no fluke with a determined triumph in the $200,000 Group ll Danehill Stakes (1200m). Ridden by Michael Rodd, the Ken Keys-trained colt travelled sweetly down the straight, cruised to the lead at 400 metres and proved too good for Looks Like The Cat and Ghibellines.

Both placegetters were outstanding from the back, while I can forgive Brazen Beau, because he was ridden far too close to the speed. As for boom horse Galaxy Pegasus, I think it’s too much too soon. Wait until the Autumn and you’ll see how good this really is.

Did we see our next star of the turf? Perhaps, because it was very hard not to be impressed by the win of Chautaqua in the Bobbie Lewis (1200m). Dwayne Dunn had the gelding out the back with plenty of cover before peeling out 400 metres from home, counting to ten before letting down. And boy, what a turn of foot he showed. Would like to see him do it again, but if he does, there is a Group l win this Spring no doubt.

Temple Of Boom got a big pass mark for me. He was holding the rest of them off, but couldn’t hold off the winner, who was out of this world. In Cahoots did well for third, Speediness was good and Alma’s Fury was solid enough for a horse who will be better over further.

Three things I learnt from Flemington
1. Oliver still has the magic touch and can lift a horse over the line about as good as anyone I’ve seen.
2. Chautaquq is out next potential sprinter.
3. They are going to have to be very good to beat Fawkner in the Cups.

Many had Hallowed Crown penned down as simply just a wet tracker. Well, the horse and a gun Hugh Bowman ride quickly put those qualms to bed with a devastating finish to win the $1 Million De Bortoli Golden Rose (1400m), beating home an unbelievable Scissor Kick, who was no closer than four wide for the entire journey. Shooting To Win was on the back of the first two and worked home for third.

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As for the rest? Bring Me The Maid didn’t have a great deal of luck and should have finished closer, but wouldn’t have won. Almalad and Nostradamus were much better on top of the ground and the former will go to Melbourne and be a real contender for the Caulfield Guineas.

The horse I liked, Sarajevo, worked home okay for sixth. What I’d love to see John O’Shea do with that horse is give him a little break and wind him up for a first up crack at the Coolmore on Derby Day. Big surroundings and the straight course would suit him perfectly I reckon.

Ridden with cover and He’s Your Man is one of the better up and coming stayers in Sydney, and he showed that in the $125,000 Group lll Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), powering clear of his rivals late to beat home Queenslander Kingdoms, with Kiwi visitor Deane Martin in third.

The talking points from the race were the flops of La Amistad and Greatwood. With La Amistad, I think this Spring has come around too soon for her to be a serious contender. I’d say wait until the Autumn and you’ll see her perform at a high level in good races, and we saw that when pressure is applied, Greatwood folded up and folded up bad. Could be overhyped a tad.

Cluster has always promised to win a good race and delivered for connections courtesy of a last-to-first triumph in the $200,000 Group ll Theo Marks Stakes (1400m). The son of Fastnet Rock was pocketed inside Bull Point and looked in trouble 600m out, but Corey Brown on Bull Point got going and followed up the three wide line started by Jetset Lad.

That allowed Cluster to get out and follow up Bull Point, and with the fitness edge and sharper turn of foot, Cluster just got the better of Bull Point in a thrilling finish. Ninth Legion was back in third ahead of Jetset Lad, who was excellent despite the hard run.

Three things I learnt from Rosehill
1. Greatwood is overrated.
2. Catkins will be winning a Group l this Spring.
3. Paul Messara might have gone the early crow in calling it quits as a trainer.

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