Group 1 racing in 2015 for Australia kicked off at Caulfield with the CF Orr Stakes (1400m). The punters elect was Dissident, and bless him, he didn’t let me and his many supporters down, putting in a dominant display that was aided by a peach steer from Ben Melham.
The four-year-old sat 1/1, got shunted wide by Mourinho on the turn, and handled the corner badly, but balanced up and surged clear to win and win with real authority. The first four out were the first four home (first 800m in 49.71), so I am not sure this could be used as serious form reference, but on face value, Dissident was very impressive.
Fontiton maintained her spot as favourite for the Blue Diamond with a dominant win in the Fillies Prelude, sitting off a hot speed and powering clear late when balanced up. She’s the best filly heading into the Blue Diamond by a fair way, but I think there is more depth with the boys.
The Colts and Geldings Prelude was taken out by the appropriately named Of The Brave, who sat on speed throughout and fended off a fast finishing Pride Of Dubai to win narrowly. The big eye catcher was Sampeah in third, who was a combination of Barney Gumble and Peter Griffin on the home turn.
Three things I learned from Caulfield
1. If Sampeah draws a decent gate, he’ll give the Blue Diamond an almighty shake.
2. Smokin’ Joey was absolutely unbelievable in winning the Carlyon Cup from the back (first 1000m in 61.09).
3. Politeness is in for a fruitful prep.
The feature racing wasn’t just at Caulfield. Randwick had an excellent program too, highlighted by the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), which was taken out in brilliant fashion by Contributor, who sat midfield in the run before pouncing 150m out and drawing clear for a dominant win. Ninth Legion stuck on well for second, ahead of Weary and the immediate black booker, Lucia Valentina.
She might have been the rank outsider in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), but some punters knew what they were doing with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Adrift, firming to $41 from $101. She was first up since an ordinary midweek win at Warwick Farm, but credit where credit is due she sprinted quickly when asked and held her rivals at bay. This was quite remarkable for her to beat the likes of First Seal, Winx and Amicus, so how good is she? Time will tell.
First Seal was clearly the best of the beaten brigade. She copped a nasty check about halfway home and probably lost a length, which did cost her in the end margin wise. Still, she had her chance to win, but the eventual winner was too good. Still, a lovely return by this filly and she’ll be hard to beat in whatever she contests up to a mile.
I was impressed by the return run of Winx. She bungled the start and was forced to sit last in the run, which isn’t her. She was ridden for luck in the straight but Collett was forced to go to the inside, which wasn’t the place to be, yet she made up significant ground there and was one of only a couple of horses to do so for the meeting. Good return from her also.
Three things I learned from Randwick
1. Ghost Protocol should be a Dairy Farmers Ambassador
2. Boban needs retiring ASAP
3. The track and the way it played was not good enough
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