‘Odds on look on’ was the sentiment for punters after the weekend’s racing, with many popular picks in betting going down, most notably Lankan Rupee, who was upstaged by the ‘Brisbane Bulldog’, Buffering, in the Moir Stakes (1200m).
Many had lost faith in the Queensland champ after a winless Autumn campaign, but a couple of slick jumpouts and a glowing appraisal from jockey Damien Browne gave the camp confidence the horse was back to his best.
But would his best be good enough to defeat Lankan Rupee, the world’s highest-rated sprinter?
Yes and no.
Yes, he was able to win and show those fighting qualities that have now seen him win four majors, but the tactics from Craig Newitt and Lankan Rupee were questionable.
He was clearly the best to jump, comfortably crossing Unpretentious. With the track appearing to have a bias towards leaders, the thing to do would have been to kick up, hold the rail and lead. But he handed up to Buffering, a horse who is near impossible to get past, then the horse resented being eased back off heels to allow Buffering to cross.
In saying that, the horse had every chance to win. Maybe he doesn’t race best at Moonee Valley, maybe he isn’t at his best. We will find out where he is at after the Schillaci.
Rebel Dane was fantastic, and he is certainly on track for the Manikato.
Dear Demi showed she is going to be one of the hardest to beat in the Caulfield Cup with an outstanding win in the Stocks Stakes (1600m), and provided the needed tonic to spur on Clarry Conners after his mounting yard accident at Hawkesbury the day prior. This bonny mare has never raced so well, and in particular so early on in a preparation. She had a relatively light Autumn with John Singleton and Clarry Conners having one eye on the Spring. They are getting rewards for their patience.
Solicit was much better and will go to what should be a hot edition for Toorak, as will Commanding Jewel, who was most disappointing. She also had every chance outside the leader, but was a beaten horse on the turn. Many were tipping her as a serious Cox Plate contender, but based on this run, I’d go back to the Myer on Derby Day.
The Cleaner confirmed that he deserves his spot in the Cox Plate with a brilliant all the way in the JRA Cup (2040m). He did his usual thing of leading at a genuine tempo before Steve Arnold, like he did last start, put the foot down 800m out and go for home, and for the class of horse behind him, they can’t chase for 800m and win. He had enough on the line but won, beating Sangster and Mr O’Ceirin.
Can The Cleaner win a Cox Plate? Barring a ridiculous on-pace bias, no. But one thing is for certain – he’ll sort the men out from the boys and the best horse will win the Cox Plate, unlike last year when the race was handed on a plate (no pun intended) to Chad Schofield and Shamus Award.
Almalad claimed Caulfield Guineas favourtism with a dominant Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) triumph. Most of the Sydney three-year-olds are towards the end of their campaign, whereas this horse was only having his third run back from the Brisbane winter. He was given a gun ride by Tommy Berry, but as for some of the other riders behind, they wouldn’t want to watch a replay.
Moonovermanhattan picked up well late when clear and is going in the right direction from a Derby perspective, and Chivalry is racing now like a Derby horse. He got further back than expected and really ground to the line late, as if he wants 2000m and beyond. Kumaon was also good late.
Three things I learnt from Moonee Valley
1. Never doubt a proven champion
2. There is plenty left in the four legs of Precedence
3. Craig Newitt won’t hand up the lead in the Schillaci
Four feature races were run and won at Rosehill, starting off with Sweynesse and his dominant Gloaming Stakes (1800m).
The unbeaten colt sat out the back in the small field before peeling wide on the turn and quickly rounding up his rivals to win by a length over Diamond Valores, with a space to Pounamu in third. The Spring Champion Stakes should be won by Sweynesse provided he holds his form.
Shooting To Win showed an electric turn of foot to surprise the more fancied Scissor Kick in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m). The winner was tardy away again, but the good barrier meant he could make up the ground without doing too much work. He travelled beautifully in the run, and when he got the split near the fence he zoomed past his rivals with ease.
Scissor Kick was outstanding again, sitting wide with no cover. Both colts are good enough to win the Caulfield Guineas, just whether or not they’ve had enough remains to be seen.
Rock Sturdy guaranteed himself a start in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) with a brilliant win in the Shannon Stakes (1500m). He sprinted very sharply when coming off the pace and put the race to bed in a couple of strides, winning by 1.5 lengths over Liberty’s Choice and Ninth Legion. Best Case and Kirramosa were very good late, coming from the back.
Rock Sturdy was beaten the week prior, but by a Group l winner who is back to his best. There were no Group l milers here. He has the potential to be a Group l mile winner. We will find out next week.
Catkins was rated as the good thing of the weekend across Australia, but in racing you can never be too sure, and Arabian Gold proved that with a devastating finish to win the Golden Pendant (1400m), beating Catkins, who seemingly had every chance, with the low-flying My Sabeel in third.
Coming back to the 1400m here from the 2400m of the Queensland Oaks and winning was a wonderful training effort by David Vandyke, and that mare will go to Melbourne and prove hard to beat in whatever she runs in.
As for Catkins, on face value, she was disappointing, but I wouldn’t jump off her. I still think the Myer Classic is hers to lose.
Three things I learnt from Rosehill
1. The Reginald Allen Quality needs to be scrapped
2. Scissor Kick is one of the best, if not the best three-year-old colt in Australia
3. All Cerise will be winning next start
A good crowd was on hand to witness a strong card of racing at Caulfield on Sunday, highlighted by a nail-biting finish in the feature event on the card, the $400,000 Group 1 Bendigo Bank East Malvern Sir Rupert Clarke (1400m), taken out by the most consistent galloper in Australia, Trust In A Gust, who held off Dissident, both on the track and in the stewards room.
Bull Point rattled home for third, while Sweet Idea was as game as ever in fourth.
Trust In A Gust was well backed late, and went around as favourite. He was given a beaut steer by Damien Lane, sitting outside the leader Sistine Demon, put him away on the turn and found plenty when challenged.
Dissident was fantastic with the big weight, and really should have won had he not wanted to lay in over the concluding stages.
Did we see the next superstar of racing in Rich Enuff? Perhaps, because he simply could not have been any more impressive in winning the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m). He did a power of work early on from the wide barrier to sit outside the leader Liberation, who once again was erratic.
Rich Enuff put him away on the turn and showed a dazzling turn of foot without real pressure from jockey Michael Rodd, ending up a 2.5-length winner under a hold.
Looks Like The Cat wobbled badly around the turn, but his best work was late and hit the line with purpose for second, while Awesome Rock stuck on for third, just ahead of Wandjina, who flashed home late from the back.
Bring Me The Maid was one of the better backed runners on Sunday, but it was left to the David Hayes/Tom Dabernig purple patch to continue, this time thanks to Afleet Esprit, who continues to step up to the plate and recorded her fourth win from six outings, fending off Amicus to win by a half length with Go Indy Go really catching the eye late in third.
As for Bring Me The Maid, it was similar to the Golden Rose. She got cluttered up between runners and got held up, but unlike the Golden Rose, she had plenty of time to pick up and surge, but couldn’t and was most disappointing, running seventh of nine. Very much doubt she’ll feature in the big race in a couple of weeks.
Joe Pride continued his white-hot form when Target In Sight, aided by a lovely ride from Craig Williams, proved too good for the ever consistent In Cahoots in the Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m). The pair sat wide beside each other all the way, and drew clear late, but with the proven form at this level, Target In Sight proved a touch too good.
Turquoise King cut back to the fence and worked home solidly, while Vain Queen was just fair in fourth. She was given every chance by Tom Sadler, but she wanted to lay in badly and really just turned it up when it mattered most.
Three things I learnt from Caulfield
1. Never underestimate Dissident again
2. Go Indy Go, if she turns up with four legs and is healthy, will win the Thousand Guineas
3. Regan Bayliss is the next rising superstar of the Australian jockey ranks
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