Many were doubting Hucklebuck and his ability to run a strong 1600m in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) given he can pull quite hard in the run.
But thanks to The Cleaner and his usual front running style, Hucklebuck travelled much more sweetly in the run and provided South Australia with their second Group l for Cup week after Happy Trails and his Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
Hucklebuck gripped on to win from a desperate Lucky Hussler. The Cleaner set up a very hot speed and did an amazing job to cling on for third ahead of Leebaz and Trusting.
Nothing from the back got a look in, so the form will be interesting heading forward because no doubt a few of these will run in the Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in two weeks’ time.
The Darley Classic (1200m) was hyped up as the race of the Cup Carnival, perhaps the entire Spring carnival, and it lived right up to it with a cracking 68 seconds of racing. In the end, Joe Pride’s cheeky remarks about Terravista being the best sprinter in the world were perhaps correct when he burst through between runners to win his maiden Group l.
He narrowly beat off competition from Chautauqua, who for mine lost no admirers with his second. He was great, as was Lankan Rupee (third) and Buffering (fourth), who set a strong tempo in front.
The rest were well beaten, headed by Moment Of Change, who was okay. The intriguing runner was the international sprinter Slade Power. He went into the gates without too much trouble, but as soon as they opened he missed the kick by a length, and at this level of horse race you can’t do that and expect to win.
Le Roi qualified for the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) with a tough and gritty win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) under the urgings of Damien Oliver, who had a wonderful Cup Carnival.
The Tony McEvoy trained former import held off Prince Of Penzance narrowly with the leader and stablemate of the winner, Big Memory, not far away in third despite wanting to drift about again. In fourth was the well fancied Noble Protector, and she had every chance. She will be better for the experience and will be thereabouts next prep at this level.
Suavito was seen as somewhat of a risk at 2000m in the Momentum Energy Stakes, but the risk was always minimal when you have an in form Ollie on board, and he produced an absolute gem to steer the mare home and grab Girl In Flight right on the peg to win.
Amanpour, who was backing up from Tuesday, attempted to lead all the way and looked the winner 100m out, but just felt the pinch late and weakened to run a close third. Scratchy Bottom again missed the kick and was out the back, and again she savaged the line when clear. She is absolutely flying, but just can’t get luck.
Three things I learnt from Flemington
1. Never doubt a proven champion like Damien Oliver
2. Team Hawkes are going to have a massive Autumn
3. Lord Aspen, potentially, could well be the best three-year-old miler in Australia
ray
Guest
Now that the dust has settled on the flem Emerates day. I can only reiterate with the forecast conditions. Mick Goodie should have prepared the track as a dead 5, when the sun rises. What we got, was a good 3 notificaction at 10.55. This was totally unaceptable. Then at 4pm track was upgraded to a concrete 2. With the Emerates next, the runners were deprived of racing to thier utmost merits. It's a handicap, yet they ran home more like Brown's cows. I even suspect we saw a slower time in the Darley, because of runners unable to completely stretch out. Yes, the punters were let down Big-Time Emerates day 2014.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Not sure how well the form will hold up from this meeting. So many jockeys jumped off and claimed their horses felt the hard ground, and several clearly never stretched out (in particular, Hooked loomed up to win the Emirates and just never let down). I reckon it'll be wise to treat this form with caution.
andrew
Guest
huckelbuck you beauty. ive had to stick up for him a fair bit on this forum over last 12 months, but the reality is for a horse whom people seem keen to knock (or maybe just in response to my spruiking) he has now won 8 from 13. 3 top shelf wins this spring from 3 goes and proved he could run 1600m, and very backable prices in the 1st two where he was just a good thing. it wasnt like he was shoehorned in with 51kgs and got a lucky rails run yesterday either, so credit must due to him. he was exposed from the 400m, its a long straight at flem, and he showed his class, but most importantly, he showed stamina and grit in the last 100m. and as it turned out, it was a massive day for the south australians, although i wasnt as bullish about eclair big bang, but still held hostage, lord aspen and huckbuck made it a truly memorable day. so, where to now for hucklebuck. i think the stop-start tactical nature of WFA may test him, not class wise, as he has a G1 turn of foot, but if he can relax and react to adjustments in tempo mid-race. with maturity, this may come. id suggest they 1st up in the goodwood and then onto bris for their sprint features which are typically big fields and fast run races. hopefully that win silences the criticis
ray
Guest
Good effort by Hucklebuck in moderate Emerates. He appears a big strider, that possibly gave him the edge. Darley was a great race, but we have comformation, Rupee has found at least two better than him. Meeting tainted by overly firm track, many runners felt the ground. Mick Goodie the track manager, knew what conditions were coming, he must water the track more than he did in antisipation, of the forecast conditions.
Tim
Guest
The rail stayed in the same position as thursday didn't it +4m.
Bondy
Guest
Teravista just can't quite get the mile he'd been duking it out with Dissident and El Rocca in the Autumn , back to sprint trips and he's tough to beat in anything, I think he's best at 1400 m personally. Did Bowman have his pants pulled down on Pirates of P or is my wallet deceiving me .. Once again you move the rail out and its then conducive to front runners . Well done Adam ...