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An absolute belter of an afternoon of racing was seen at Rosehill and Flemington, highlighted by the stunning win of Brazen Beau in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
The ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira showed once again why he is clearly the best rider in the world with a beautiful steer on the three-year-old colt, who is worth up to $30 million.
He showed an electric turn of foot between the 400-200m, much like Lankan Rupee in this race last year. He beat home Chautauqua, who was simply outstanding in defeat, as was Terravista.
Lord Of The Sky had a soft lead and he stuck on well for fourth. Big flop was Lankan Rupee, who seemingly had every chance, but was a beaten horse 400m out. He will find it very hard to win the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on that effort.
Michael Walker has ridden for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig for a couple of seasons, but was yet to get a major, until the Australian Cup (2000m). He steered Spillway to a narrow win ahead of stablemate and veteran Extra Zero, who ran in the 2009 Australian Cup behind Zipping.
Happy Trails got too far back from a good draw and worked home very strongly for third.
Suavito defied a poor beginning and a more aggressive ride from Damien Oliver to win the Blamey Stakes (1600m), beating home a gallant Sertorius, who was great in his return to the track. Koukram had a cheap run on the rail and held on for third.
Smokin’ Joey was wide most of the way and can be forgiven for his fourth. Full marks to the winner. That’s four group wins on the bounce, and that is near impossible to do, especially during the spring-autumn.
Wawail was a touch disappointing in the Vanity (1400m), but a sit off the speed helped her gain another Stakes win with a gritty performance in the Kewney Stakes (1400m), fending off favourite Sabatini, who just got too far back from the gate. She was great in defeat.
Vezelay was ridden more aggressively from the wide gate and she stuck on well for third. I’m prepared to forgive Bottle Of Smoke, who got too far back at Caulfield, and I think Craig Newitt pushed it a tad too much here, sitting too close to the tempo.
Three Blackbookers From Flemington
1. Queen Of Wands
2. Red Cadeaux
3. Natuzzi
Linda Meech became the fourth female jockey in Australian racing history to win a Group 1 when she perfectly steered the Peter Moody-trained Plucky Belle in the feature race at Rosehill, the Coolmore Classic (1500m). She charging through between runners to grab hot pot First Seal right on the peg.
The runner-up was brave, sitting three deep for the entire race. But from a Doncaster Mile perspective, she won’t be winning. If she was to be a Doncaster horse she had to win this, and she didn’t. So I think the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) will be her go. Diamond Drille bounced back to some sort of form with her closing third, while Arabian Gold also caught the eye late.
It’s rare that you see a horse drop back to 1500m from 2000m in the space of six days, but trainer Bjorn Baker saw the lack of quality nominations for the Ajax Stakes and chucked in Canberra Cup runner-up Burbero.
After a brilliant ride from apprentice Brodie Loy, the gelding got the bob to win and nail Ninth Legion right on the peg. San Diego and Spy Decoder were warming up nicely late for third and fourth.
The hard luck story was Rudy. It was a combination of bad luck and a bad ride from the lad on the Villiers winner. Just had no hope from where he was and rightfully dropped out. First up run was too good to sack after one failure, so don’t drop off him yet. Remember that he will only carry 50.5 kilograms in the Doncaster and the bigger surroundings of Randwick will be more ideal.
Most expected Inner Circle to win the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), but it was stablemate Tarquin, ridden by star international hoop William Buck, to get the bikkies in what looked to be a fairly ordinary edition of the Slipper lead up.
Rageese worked home strongly ahead of Odyssey Moon, who was ridden more positively today and stuck on well for third. Inner Circle ran fourth and seemingly had his chance.
Speak Fondly booked herself a start in the Golden Slipper (1200m) next week with a strong on speed win in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m), fending off all her rivals in the run home to win narrowly from Perignon and the unlucky Italy, who bungled the start.
The other unlucky runner was Always Allison, who got badly checked in the straight when making ground, but I doubt she would have troubled the winner, who did some early work, so full credit to her. But she won’t win the Slipper if Gai goes that way with her.
Three Blackbookers From Rosehill
1. Silverball
2. Opinion
3. Rudy
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