Gai Waterhouse provides the only interstate youngster new to Melbourne in the final field for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Waterhouse's filly No Looking Back, the filly that lost the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on protest, is the only Blue Diamond acceptor without previous race experience in Melbourne.
Sydney-based trainers Peter Snowden and John Thompson are represented by runners out of their Melbourne stables with local experience and South Australia's Tony McEvoy has given his big hope Jimando all his racing in Melbourne.
The impressive filly Samaready from the Mick Price stable is a warm favourite with her home track advantage after her big win in the Blue Diamond Preview.
The publlc barrier draw will be conducted in the Melbourne CBD at 12.30pm today.
- Racing and Sports
For the full list of acceptances for the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes, please click here.
Pinker Pinker joins Black Caviar among the Futurity Stakes entries
Connections of 16 horses will be sweating on Black Caviar's Coolmore Lightning Stakes recovery ahead of Wednesday morning's Futurity Stakes acceptance deadline.
That's how many horses sat alongside the champion mare when nominations for the $500,000 Group 1, to be run at Caulfield this Saturday, closed at midday.
Immediately after Black Caviar's second straight Lightning success, trainer Peter Moody doubted her ability to recover in time to tackle this weekend's 1400-metre event, but she has surprised him to the point that he was happy to submit a Futurity Stakes entry.
Moody will monitor her condition closely and make a decision on whether she starts for the third weekend in a row before Wednesday's 10am Futurity Stakes acceptance deadline.
The uncertainty regarding the champion mare's Futurity status has meant trainers who might not previously have had the race on the agenda are now considering it.
Sydney sensation Rain Affair, a winner of his past eight starts and nine of 10 overall, has been entered for the Futurity along with the $250,000 Group 2 Apollo Stakes over the same distance at Sydney's Rosehill Gardens.
The Chris Waller-trained Shoot Out, David Payne's Centennial Park, Niwot from the Team Hawkes stable and the Todd Howlett-trained Star Of Octagonal are the others nominated for both the Futurity and the Apollo.
One horse likely to line up in the Futurity, with or without Black Caviar, is Pinker Pinker. Trainer Greg Eurell has long intended to start the Cox Plate winner's 2012 campaign in the Futurity and she is among the entries.
Top Kiwi milers King Mufhasa and Wall Street have also been entered, along with Group 1 winners Playing God, Scenic Shot and Eagle Falls.
The Futurity Stakes will be the most anticipated race on Saturday's nine-race card if Black Caviar gets the green light to start, but it won't be the richest race on the day.
That honour rests with the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, in which 66 horses remain in contention with the final field to be known tomorrow morning ahead of the barrier draw later that afternoon.
Victoria's premier juvenile event is one of three Group 1s on the Melbourne Racing Club's signature card of the Melbourne Festival of Racing. Rounding out the elite-level events is Caulfield's premier sprint race, the $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate, which has attracted 21 nominations.
Headline act is superstar three-year-old Sepoy, a winner of 10 of his 11 starts including the Golden Slipper, who is poised to have his final run before heading to Dubai to continue his career in the Northern Hemisphere.
But the Peter Snowden-trained colt will have a formidable set of rivals to contend with if he does run with rising star Bel Sprinter, defending champion Eagle Falls, triple Group 1 winner Yosei, Golden Slipper placegetter Elite Falls and the untapped African Pulse among his potential rivals.
In addition to three Group 1s, Saturday's card includes a trio of Group 2 events, headed by the $200,000 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), which will be run for the first time under that name having previously been run as the St George Stakes.
The traditional lead-up to the $1 million Dubai Australian Cup has attracted 19 entries, including leading Cup contenders Southern Speed, Lucas Cranach, Manighar, Illo, Glass Harmonium and Midas Touch.
The three-year-old fillies will chase $180,000 in the Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), with Kiwi star Anabandana and in-form locals Soft Sand and Shopaholic among the entries, while So You Think's half-brother Now You Know is one of 13 nominees for the $180,000 Autumn Classic for the three-year-old boys.
The other Black Type event on Saturday's card is the $125,000 Group 3 TBV Mannersism Stakes (1400m), for which Pinker Pinker has been entered as a precaution, alongside Sydney visitor Vintedge and Hi Belle.
Fields for all races bar the Blue Diamond will be drawn on Wednesday morning with the full list of nominations available here
- Racing Victoria
Connections of Ellerton Zahra Racing-trained Formidable today paid the $55,000 late nomination fee required for their filly to run in Saturday’s $1.015 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes.
The decision to nominate Formidable for Victoria’s richest juvenile race comes following her second placing behind ruling Diamond favourite, Samaready, in the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude on February 11.
Formidable’s entry increases the number of horses officially still in contention for the race’s 2012 renewal to 65, with final declarations due at 9am tomorrow morning.
The allocation of barriers for Saturday’s feature will then take place just hours after the final field is set, at 12.30pm, at a public function at City Square in Melbourne’s CBD.
Guests at the event, to be hosted by TVN’s Jason Richardson, include Mick Price – trainer of Samaready – and “Diamond” Dwayne Dunn, winner of four consecutive Blue Diamonds from 2005 to ’08.
A Melbourne Racing Club member will be randomly selected prior to the barrier draw, from a group that previously registered for the privilege, to represent Members Joy, the Robert Smerdon-trained filly raced by the Club’s members, at the draw.
As part of festivities relating to the barrier draw, the Melbourne Racing Club is providing attendees the opportunity to win a $2,200 jewellery piece courtesy of Catanach’s Jewellers. Entrants will be required to place entry tickets, which will be circulated both at the event and at Flinders Street Station from 7am, in a barrel at City Square where the winner will be drawn.
The Melbourne Racing Club will also be giving away 2,500 free entry passes for Saturday’s huge Caulfield meeting at the barrier draw function.
The free entry giveaway complements the distribution of 10,000 two-for-one food and beverage vouchers for Saturday’s meeting (details noted below).
Other attractions at the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Barrier Draw include a free gourmet BBQ sausage sizzle, CUB Clydesdales, Final Furlong displayed on a big screen, and a digital photo booth giving patrons the opportunity to have their photo taken with Black Caviar’s image.
Notes:
Vouchers for the two-for-one food and beverage offer will be distributed at entry points at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, and are valid for both Melbourne Racing Club members and general public patrons on Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes Day only. Complimentary drink or food items issued will be identical to the drink or food item purchased. Cost of purchased item must not exceed $7. Offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Offer limited to one voucher per person. Voucher is not redeemable for cash and must be used in one transaction. The Melbourne Racing Club promotes the Responsible Service of Alcohol. The MRC reserves the right to refuse service.
Peter Moody has put next Saturday’s Futurity Stakes back on the radar for Black Caviar
Black Caviar may yet line up in next week's $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Immediately after her near-track record win in yesterday's $750,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m), trainer Peter Moody all but ruled out backing up in the Futurity, but revealed this morning that he might have spoken too soon.
The Caulfield horseman said the champion mare, a winner of her only 19 starts, would be nominated for the race and he would make a decision closer to acceptance time.
“Yesterday I was probably a little bit quick on the draw to declare that,” Moody said in reference to the Futurity.
“I've got to say once again, she's pulled up unbelievably well.
“I looked at the clock (after the Lightning) and said in my own mind, ‘Futurity off', but looking at the horse post-race and looking at the horse again this morning, she'll certainly be nommed tomorrow morning and we might let it play out for a few days like we did last week.”
If the nine-time Group 1 winner chases the modern-day record of 20 straight wins in the Futurity it will be the third Saturday in a row that she has raced after winning the 1400m Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield on 11 February.
Nominations for the Futurity Stakes close at 9am tomorrow with acceptances taken on Wednesday morning and Moody said her condition, not the possible opponents would dictate whether she runs.
“My one concern and one interest for the next 48 hours will be the horse itself not what might line up,” Moody said on RSN.
The Futurity Stakes is one of three Group 1s on a bumper Caulfield card that also features the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes for the two-year-olds and the $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate for the sprinters.
- Racing Victoria
The Melbourne Racing Club today announced that it would formally acknowledge two important figures in its history – one human, one equine – by renaming feature races, effective of the 2012 renewals.
The weight-for-age Group 2 race historically known as the St George Stakes will henceforth be known as the Peter Young Stakes in honour of the Club’s long-serving former Chairman.
Meanwhile, the Listed race for two year-olds scheduled for April 25 this year will now be known as the Redoute’s Choice Stakes, replacing the Blue Sapphire Stakes moniker.
Peter Young served for five years as Chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club and six years as Vice Chairman among 21 years’ service on the Committee, a period through which several landmark events in the Club’s history took place. These included the rebranding of the Victorian Amateur Turf Club to the Melbourne Racing Club and the construction of the Sir Rupert Clarke Grandstand at Caulfield Racecourse.
During his time as an Office Bearer of the Club, Peter was substantially involved with establishing its current direction and policy and the expanded commercial projects and revenue-generating activities now in place at the Club.
Amongst many initiatives and projects, Peter’s input and leadership was to the fore in:
Club Chairman, Mr Mike Symons, paid tribute to his predecessor.
“Peter Young’s service, dedication, leadership and loyalty to the Melbourne Racing Club is demonstrated by the fact that in 21 years on the Committee, he attended almost every weekend race meeting, dedicated somewhere around 33,000 hours to Club business, but missed just three monthly Committee meetings; a remarkable commitment,” Mr Symons said.
“Given his devoted service, it is the Melbourne Racing Club’s absolute honour to rename a race carrying the importance of the St George Stakes to carry Peter Young’s name.”
The first running of the Peter Young Stakes in its new incarnation will take place on Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes day on February 25.
Redoute’s Choice was very much a Caulfield horse: four of his five career wins came at his home track, including three group ones: the 1999 Blue Diamond Stakes and Caulfield Guineas, and the 2000 C.F. Orr Stakes.
Walter McShane-trained Tasmanian galloper Norsqui assured himself a place in this year’s BMW Caulfield Cup by streaking to victory in the Listed $300,000 Centrebet Mornington Cup (2400m) today.
Connections contradicted the popular modern trend of Victorian horses raiding Tasmania’s February cups by bringing Norsqui north, with the lure of a considerably greater purse and Caulfield Cup ballot exemption simply too strong.
Norsqui was far too strong in Victoria’s richest country cup, running out a two-and-a-half length winner over Drunken Sailor, with Sea Galleon a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
In the day’s earlier features, well-tried filly Snitzerland vindicated the plunge on her to romp away with the $250,000 Inglis Premier, while Like An Eagle overcame a pre-race mishap in the barrier stalls to finish too strongly for Eight Bills in the Listed $100,000 Bayside Jeep Hareeba Stakes (1200m).
Tenno rounded out the feature events by taking out the $50,000 Mitavite Summer Challenge Final. The horse had already bolted in the series, however, with Vindication clinching the title prior to the final and thus landing Brett Scott $5,000 in Mitavite feed and apparel.
But Norsqui’s victory was the on-track highlight of a day that saw almost 9.000 patrons revel in the warm conditions, celebrating the Peninsula’s hallmark race day in a festive manner.
This included the hotly-contested Mornington BMW Fashions on the Field where in excess of $70,000 in prizes was awarded across four categories.
Winners included Melissa Buchanan (Stylish Ladies 18-39), Lisa Wilson (Stylish Ladies 40+), Josh Collins (Stylish Gentlemen) and Breanne Fanning (Marvellous Millinery).
Drunken Sailor is one of 14 horses who will chase a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption at Mornington
Fourteen horses will chase a guaranteed place in this year's BMW Caulfield Cup when they contest the Listed $300,000 Centrebet Mornington Cup (2400m) at the Mornington Peninsula circuit this Wednesday.
Horses from Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania will join an imported stayer in what is Victoria's richest race run outside metropolitan Melbourne.
The Mike Moroney-trained Drunken Sailor heads the field for the feature event on a 10-race card, which commences at 12pm.
Formerly trained by master English horseman Luca Cumani, Drunken Sailor will be having his second run for the Flemington trainer following a promising third placing over 1800m at Caulfield on Australia Day.
The seven-year-old will carry 60kg, the majority of which will be made up by champion jockey Damien Oliver, and jump from barrier eight in the event to be run at 4pm.
The Grant Williams-trained Western Jewel (54.5kg) heads Drunken Sailor's list of opposition with the mare aiming to emulate another Perth Cup winner, Guyno, who won last year's Mornington Cup but opted not to utilise the Caulfield Cup ballot exemption that accompanies victory.
This year's Mornington Cup winner will again be guaranteed a start in this $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m), to be run on 21 October, should connections choose to head that way.
Promising gelding Sea Galleon, Bagot Handicap winner Unchain My Heart, Werribee Cup victor Apprehend, consistent Tasmanian Norsqui and Peter Moody's Power O'Raylee, who is chasing a sixth straight win, are among those who will carry the 54kg limit weight in Wednesday's feature.
While the Cup is the main event, it is joined on the card by the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) for the two-year-olds and the $100,000 Listed Bayside Jeep Hareeba Sprint (1200m).
The appearance of Golden Slipper fancy Snitzerland, narrow runner-up to Applegate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, highlights the Inglis Premier with the Gerald Ryan-trained daughter of Snitzel to start from gate three in Wednesday's nine-horse event.
Blue Diamond Preview runner-up No Smoken will start from barrier five with Repousser and Weekend Getaway, from the in-form David Hayes stable, among the others engaged.
Zedi Knight will be given the chance to defend his crown in the Hareeba Stakes with the Brendan McCarthy-trained gelding, who will be ridden by Steven Arnold, to start from gate eight in the 15-horse event.
Full fields for the three features, plus the seven support races on the Mornington card, are available via the link
- Racing Victoria
114 horses have accepted for the Mornington Racing Club’s bumper Centrebet Mornington Cup card on Wednesday, Victoria’s richest non-metropolitan race day and the second-richest in Australia.
In a familiar story, a mare trained by Peter Moody is the hot favourite for the day’s feature.
And whilst she may not be Black Caviar, the Moody-educated Power O’Raylee looks to extend an impressive string of victories – currently standing at five – in the Listed $300,000 Centrebet Mornington Cup.
Power O’Raylee is a popular elect in a field that packs a punch in quality, including Stakes winners Drunken Sailor, Sea Galleon, Unchain My Heart, Apprehend and Western Jewel.
The latter of those is out to emulate the 2011 deeds of a fellow Western Australian, Guyno, in taking out Victoria’s most valuable country cup.
The Centrebet Mornington Cup takes top billing on a ten-race card offering no less than $880,000 in prize money, also featuring the Listed $100,000 Bayside Jeep Hareeba Stakes and the $250,000 Inglis Premier for two year-olds.
Returning to defend the Hareeba crown he won last year is Zedi Knight, who brings the ominous last-start form of a second placing behind Black Caviar into Wednesday’s 1200-metre event.
Meanwhile, Gerald Ryan-trained filly Snitzerland is a likely favourite in Inglis Premier, won in 2011 by Masthead before that colt went on to run third in the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes and fourth in the Golden Slipper.
For all the action on the turf on Wednesday at Mornington, there will be just as much off it, led by the Mornington BMW Fashions on the Field, where more than $70,000 in prizes is up for grabs.
Gates open at 10am.
Pied A Terre continued Peter Snowden's domination of Victoria's 3YO features
All that today's $180,000 Group 2 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) did was underline the strength of Peter Snowden's three-year-old stocks.
Darley's head trainer produced ultra-consistent Pied A Terre to score a convincing win the traditional Australian Guineas lead-up event, but said it was unlikely that the gelding would head to the $750,000 event at Flemington on 3 March.
Snowden is content for star colt Helmet to carry the stable's hopes in the 1600m Guineas.
“He won't be going to the Guineas, but we've just got to weigh up whether we stay here or take him back to Sydney,” Snowden said.
“It'd be good to have two chances in it (the Guineas), but I'm just not sure what to do with him yet.
“There are options back in Sydney, more there than here really, but the thing about him is he won't race for three to four weeks. That's the key to him really, just keeping him fresh.
Pied A Terre bounced back from what remains his only defeat, when second against the older horses in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes on January 14, to register his fourth win.
Jockey Mark Zahra rode an aggressive race to put the son of Ad Valorem outside leader Collar in what was a slow tempo before taking control of the race early in the straight.
The gelding, well backed to start $3.80 favourite, quickly kicked more than a length clear and maintained that for much of the run to the line, scoring by three quarters of a length from the previously unbeaten Proliferate ($14) with Adamantium ($10) just a half-head back third.
While Zahra described Pied A Terre as a “grinder”, he was impressed by his ability to find a couple of lengths when asked.
“When he was able to find that couple of lengths at the top of the straight, he was always going to be hard to beat,” Zahra said.
The full result of the Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes is available here
Soft Sand retrurned to winning form on her home track at Caulfield
Soft Sand achieved the first leg of a double that has been six months in the planning when she won Saturday's $100,000 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Trainer Colin Little has long had the Listed race in mind for the daughter of Dansili and is now looking forward to the second leg, the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), also at Caulfield, in a fortnight's time.
“We have been hanging around for this race for a long time because we turned her out pre-spring and brought her back specifically for this and the Angus Armanasco (Stakes),” Little said.
“Even though she had a run in December, we've been targeting this race for nearly six months.”
Soft Sand atoned for a third placing at Caulfield on Australia Day, the first defeat of her career, when she showcased her impressive finishing sprint to power to an emphatic win.
Despite settling closer than she had at her three earlier starts, Soft Sand was still able to show an explosive turn of foot when asked by jockey Damien Oliver to career away from her rivals midway down the straight.
Given an easy time of things by Oliver over the concluding stages, Soft Sand ($4.60) had 2-3/4 lengths to spare over star Kiwi filly Anabandana ($2.80 fav), who fought on well for second after racing wide early, on the line with Glows ($12) a short head away third.
Oliver said fitness gained from her previous start and dropping 4.5kg to 55kg in the Kevin Hayes Stakes played its part in Soft Sand's performance.
“She was just a little bit underdone last start and was badly served in the weights with 59kg,” the jockey said. “It was a real sit and sprint the other day, whereas today she just camped on the leaders lovely.
“She was going enormous coming to the turn and she came out and put them away pretty easily. It was pretty painless.”
Soft Sand's win completed a winning double for Oliver, who earlier teamed with General Rippa to win the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude for the colts and geldings.
A step up in distance proved no hurdle for Black Caviar in the G1 Orr Stakes
The 1400 metres of today's $400,000 Group 1 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes proved no greater challenge to Black Caviar than the shorter races that she has dominated for the past two years with the unbeaten mare cruising to yet another effortless win.
The Peter Moody-trained megastar excelled at her first start beyond 1200m, coasting to a 3-1/4-length win over Southern Speed in front of more than 20,000 fans that took full advantage of free entry at Caulfield to cheer her home.
The victory took her unbeaten streak to 18 races and matched the winning streak of Hall of Fame inductee Ajax, who put together his stretch in the late 1930s.
But Moody was just happy to see her deliver after another big build up and add another chapter to what has become one of Australian sport's all-time great stories.
“It's the public expectation that gets me, because you'd hate to disappoint the 20 to 30,000 people that have turned up,” Moody said.
“People from all over Australia have come here today. A lady left her flooded house in Grafton to come down and see her. Northern Queensland, Western Australia, people (have come) from everywhere and it's amazing.
“The end is nearer than the beginning but let's hope it goes for another season or two yet.”
Despite being 200m further than any event she had previously contested, the Orr Stakes played out similarly to most of Black Caviar's other races.
After settling just off the speed, jockey Luke Nolen edged the $1.05 favourite up alongside the leaders rounding the home bend before quickly putting the result beyond doubt and being eased down over the concluding stages.
Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed turned in an outstanding effort to come from the rear and grab second off what was a pedestrian early tempo, while Western Australian gelding Playing God was half a length back in third.
Black Caviar's time of 1:25.14 was almost four seconds outside Exceed And Excel's track record, but she covered the last 600m in 32.97secs, including a head-spinning 10.64secs split between the 400m and the 200m.
Nolen said the race could not have worked out any better and was again impressed by the feel Black Caviar gave him.
“If you were writing a script, that is probably how you would want it to play out,” Nolen said.
“I gave her a shake for 50 yards or so and then I felt her let down. I think the clock will say she has run slick from the three (furlong), because she towed-up good when the pressure came on in the race.
“I just slipped her a bit of rein and she thought it was game on.”
The good news for racing fans is they may get another look at Black Caviar next Saturday with Moody flagging the prospect of a start in the $750,000 Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington ahead of another 1400m event at Caulfield, the Group 1 Futurity Stakes, on 25 February.
Former Luca Cumani stayer Manighar made a winning debut for Peter Moody at Caulfield
Peter Moody worked his magic with Manighar, preparing the former European gelding to win at his first start for the Caulfield trainer.
The grey, who has contested both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups the past two Spring Racing Carnivals when in the care of English master Luca Cumani, showed a previously unseen turn of foot to claim the $125,000 Group 3 Cattanach's Jewellers Carlyon Cup (1600m).
Moody said the six-year-old had embraced a change in routine at his Caulfield stable and it was pleasing to see him bring his trackwork to the races.
“Four or five weeks ago he was a 4000-metre hurdler, with all due respect, but as we shortened and sharpened his work over the last couple of weeks he has started to show a turn of foot,” Moody said.
“If he ran to his work he was going to run OK but you want to see them take it before you put your head on the block, particularly with a horse you don't know a lot about.”
After settling fifth in the running line, jockey Luke Nolen put Manighar into the race from the 600m and he was quickly up challenging outside the leader.
Shadowfax gave a good kick in the straight, but Manighar ($8) responded impressively when asked in the final 200m to surge away to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Shadowfax ($8). One-and-a-half lengths away third was Veewap ($14).
“We ended up in a nice spot off a fair tempo early and then they strung them up a little bit down past the railway, but I was travelling like the winner a long way from home,” Nolen said.
“He didn't get complacent but he had a look around when he got there (to the front).
“Hopefully this is the platform for what will hopefully be a fruitful preparation.”
Moody said the $1 million Dubai Australian Cup (2000m), at Flemington on 10 March, was Manighar's Festival of Racing goal and he may even head there without another start.
History repeated when General Rippa scored a last-to-first win in his Blue Diamond Prelude
David Hayes unearthed a Patinack Farm Blue Diamond contender from nowhere for the second weekend in a row when General Rippa won Saturday's $125,000 Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) for the colts and gelding.
Seven days after Mama's Choice produced a powerful burst to come from last on the turn and score an upset win on debut, General Rippa did precisely the same thing.
The son of General Nediym, a $65,000 Magic Million purchase, showed great race sense to poke through a narrow gap midway down the straight and score.
General Rippa had his price slashed from $81 to $18 for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on 25 February, leaving Euroa-based Hayes thrilled with how his Diamond prospects are coming together close to the race.
“The timing is just right,” Hayes said. “I love seeing these young horses come from last and finish powerfully, especially on debut.
“I like their racing pattern for the Blue Diamond because it is a high pressure race and you love horses that are strong in the last 300 (metres).”
Handling the hustle and bustle of a Blue Diamond should be no problems for General Rippa judging by his debut performance.
The gelding was happy to take a gap at the 150m, which was around the same time $3.50 favourite Rusambo was involved in a bumping duel with Andre Roo Hoo, before sprinting away to score impressively.
The $17 chance, who was the second outsider of the field, scored by a neck from the Peter Snowden-trained Rusambo, who lost no admirers in defeat, with Ferment ($21) working home nicely down the outside the claim third, 1-1/4 lengths back.
General Rippa's time of 1:04.15 was much slower than the 1:03.38 Samaready went to win the fillies' Prelude, but Oliver, who won the 2004 Blue Diamond aboard Alinghi, said General Rippa has the qualities required to claim Victoria's premier juvenile event.
“He didn't know much early and he was content to sit back and watch them, but he took a nice gap there in the straight,” Oliver said.
“Even when he got to the front he didn't know how to put them away and when they came to him he sort of went again.
“He is still pretty raw and a long way from learning what it's all about yet but the extra distance (of the Blue Diamond) certainly won't hurt him.
“His style of racing won't hurt him either because he is the sort of horse that will race in the second half of the field and be strong at the end.”
General Rippa's win was one of two upset results engineered by Hayes at Caulfield with Eagle Falls getting home at $21 in the $125,000 Group 3 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes.
The Hussonet six-year-old posted his first win since last year's Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, 50 weeks ago, when overpowered First Command in the 1100m event.
Eagle Falls and top jockey Dwayne Dunn got home by three quarters of a length, to take his record to eight wins from 28 starts, from First Command with Hot Spin 3-1/4 lengths away third.
The full result of the Rubiton Stakes and the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude for the boys, along with Saturday's other seven races, are available by clicking here.
Mick Price has a new Blue Diamond favourite after Samaready's stunning Prelude win
Mick Price headed to today's Caulfield meeting as the trainer of the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes favourite and he left in the same enviable position, albeit with a different horse.
Malasun held sway at the top of pre-post betting for the 25 February feature after her debut victory in the Preview on Australia Day, but it's stablemate Samaready who now holds that position.
After impressing on the training track, Samaready was sent out a $4.20 favourite in today's Group 3 $125,000 Blue Diamond Fillies Prelude (1100m) and didn't let punters down with an easy 3.3-length victory.
Second across the line was Formidable ($10) with Sweetner ($7) a length back in third as Malasun ($7) wilted to run sixth, eight lengths behind her stablemate, after racing fiercely on the pace.
The victory was Samaready's second from as many appearances and the daughter of More Than Ready earned rave reviews from premiership-leading jockey Craig Newitt.
“The amount this filly has improved since her first preparation is unbelievable,” he said.
“I haven't ridden a lot of good two-year-olds but she is the best I've sat on.
“All she wants to do this preparation is relax and travel so come Blue Diamond day she will be 110%.”
Samaready ran 1:03.38 for the 1100-metre journey, almost a second quicker than General Rippa did to claim the Colts Prelude earlier in the program.
Price, who prepared Roedean to win the 2003 Blue Diamond only to lose the race after the filly returned a positive swab, is confident Samaready will prove had to beat in a fortnight.
“I think the margin, the time and the way she found were a little bit like Flemington in the way that she found that extra gear while hear she copped a little bit of a niggle but it certainly points pretty strongly towards her running a nice 1200 metres next time,” he said.
“Physically if you look at her from December to now……she's a different colour in the coat, bright in the eye, stronger and I think there should be some improvement from today.”
Eight horses have accepted the challenge of meeting Black Caviar in Saturday’s $400,000 Group 1 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes as the super mare sets out for an eighteenth straight victory from debut and her eighth at group one level.
Led by reigning BMW Caulfield Cup champion Southern Speed, Black Caviar’s Orr opposition also contains fellow group one winners Efficient and Playing God, plus Moody Racing second-stringer Doubtful Jack.
Should Black Caviar win – or indeed, should Doubtful Jack – Peter Moody will land his third straight Orr after Typhoon Tracy’s consecutive successes in 2010 and ’11.
The Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes is the highlight of a card that features eight black-type races, including a brace of $125,000 Group 3 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preludes.
All eyes will be fixed on Malasun among the Prelude runners, with the Mick Price-trained filly the only two year-old still in contention to win the $1 million bonus associated with the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Series.
Out to prevent that outcome is the filly raced by the Melbourne Racing Club Members’ Horse Club, Members Joy, whose sole defeat came at Malasun’s hands on Australia Day.
Patrons will be admitted free of charge to Saturday’s meeting, which carries the moniker of Caulfield Festival Family Day.
In line with this theme, the Melbourne Racing Club is laying on all manner of free family entertainment, including:
Family Day kids’ lunch packs – containing nuggets, chips and a choice of drink – are available all day for $5.90 from the Public and Members’ Concourse snack bars.
The Black Caviar flavour will not be restricted to the turf, with Caulfield to be draped in salmon and black and her official Cheer Squad to travel en masse from Flinders Street Station on the 10.58am “Black Caviar Express” bound for Caulfield. Free Black Caviar flags and masks will be available upon entry, and patrons visiting a dedicated Black Caviar marquee will enjoy themed activities including a photo booth and autograph signings.
Retired champions-cum-Living Legends Silent Witness and Apache Cat will also be on hand at Caulfield to meet, greet and pose for photos, with the former to lead the Sportingbet C.F. Orr field out on the track in a symbolic baton handover from one world champion sprinter to another.
Lastly, the Melbourne Racing Club is trialling a new wireless internet facility granting up to 3000 patrons access to free WiFi around the Sir Rupert Clarke Grandstand.
Gates open at 10.30am.
Notes: A media call at the stable of Peter Moody (32 Booran Rd, Caulfield) will be held at 9am tomorrow (Thursday 9 February), where Moody and Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Alasdair Robertson, will field questions regarding Caulfield Festival Family Day and Black Caviar’s tilt at eighteen unbeaten victories in the Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes.
A new protagonist in the twisting, turning narrative of the 2012 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes was revealed today as Mama’s Choice stormed to victory in the Listed $100,000 Emirates Airline (née Chairman’s) Stakes at Caulfield.
The most impressive last-to-first victory, under four-time Blue Diamond-winning hoop Dwayne Dunn, created further disarray in betting for February 25’s Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes as another nominal favourite, this time Jimando, was deposed.
Mama’s Choice – one of eight David Hayes-trained youngsters among Wednesday’s third declarations – is now a $9.50 sixth-elect in Sportingbet Australia’s Diamond market, led by Australia Day’s impressive Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview winner, Malasun ($6).
The Emirates Airline Stakes was the first of four Stakes-level races on Shadwell Stud Australasia Race Day, included imposing fresh wins from returning stars Mosheen and Bel Sprinter.
Mosheen was sent out a warm favourite in the Listed $100,000 Shadwell Stud Australasia (Manfred) Stakes and coasted to victory with the class she exhibited abundantly in the spring.
The thunder of Bel Sprinter’s dominant hooves in the Listed $100,000 United Arab Emirates (W.J. Adams) Stakes was matched only by the excited hoots and hollers of a delighted gaggle of owners, who now look forward to their first attempt at the highest level in the $400,000 Group 1 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on February 25.
The smorgasbord of black-type racing was rounded out with the Listed $100,000 Reaan Plate – formerly the Victoria Gold Cup and now also considered the Prelude to the $300,000 Centrebet Mornington Cup on February 15 – which was taken out by Bolton.
The theme of Shadwell Stud Australasia Race Day was a fusion of Australian and Arabian, with United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Ali Nasser Al Nuaimi, and Minister for Racing, Dr Denis Napthine, among those celebrating at Caulfield.
The day began with the running of the Shadwell Arabian Mile, for pure-bred Arabian horses, which was taken out by Warrawee Naaziq.
Racing returns to Caulfield in a week’s time with Caulfield Festival Family Day, featuring Black Caviar’s attempt at 18 consecutive victories from debut in the $402,000 Group 1 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes, at which the public will be admitted free of charge.
That’s The One will resume alongside Mosheen at Caulfield this Saturday
Saturday's Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes at Caulfield heralds the return of Crown Oaks heroine Mosheen, but another three-year-old who carried big raps last spring will also resume in the 1200-metre event.
That's The One, a one-time fancy for last year's The Age Caulfield Guineas, will recommence his career in the $100,000 Listed event.
Trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson opted to spell the son of Snippetson after a sixth placing in the Guineas Prelude, which followed impressive winter wins at Sandown and Flemington, and they hope to reap the rewards during the Melbourne Festival of Racing.
The Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes is the first of a planned three-run Melbourne campaign, which will hopefully end in the $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas on March 3, with a trip to Sydney a possibility afterwards.
“He'll have three runs down here and depending on how he goes, if he measures up, he might end up in Sydney,” Cindy Alderson said.
“I think this race will be a little bit short for him on Saturday, but I'm very happy with his condition and the way he's come through his two trials leading into it.
“I think he'll be running on strongly at the end of the race and I'm excited to have him back.”
A $61 chance in the Australian Guineas, That's The One is an $8.50 chance on Saturday with TAB Sportsbet. Favourite, at $4, is David Hayes' progressive colt Rifleman with joint 57kg topweight Mosheen holding down the $4.20 second line.
In-form jockey Craig Williams will take the ride on That's The One, who will carry 56kg, and they will jump from the second-widest barrier in the 11-horse field.
That's The One is one of two leading contenders the Aldersons have at Caulfield on Saturday with promising stayer Sea Galleon a top hope in one of the day's other $100,000 Listed events, the Reaan Plate.
The 2000m event will be the five-year-old's first run since completing a winning hat-trick in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on December 10 and while Alderson said the son of Galileo felt the trip north, she thinks he took benefit from it.
“He lost quite a bit of weight when he went to Sydney, but he's put it all back on now,” she said. “He's never been a horse that carries an enormous amount of condition, but he certainly looks to have benefitted from the short break he had.
“Obviously you've got to be a little bit cautious about a horse coming back off a let-up, sometimes they need run or two just to bring them to their peak, but he's certainly worked well and looks well, so I'm hopeful of a forward showing from him.”
Sea Galleon occupies the $5 fourth line in TAB Sportsbet's open Reaan Plate market. The Big Steel is the $3.80 favourite with Bolton ($4.20) and Royal Mail ($4.60) also in contention.
The Reaan Plate is a prelude to the $300,000 Mornington Cup, which is the race the Aldersons have in mind for Sea Galleon after Saturday's event.
Full fields for both the Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes and the Reaan Plate, along with Saturday's other six events, are available here
- Racing VIctoria
Patrons attending Caulfield’s free-entry Festival Family Day on February 11 will not only be treated to the presence of Black Caviar, but two other Living Legends of the turf: Silent Witness and Apache Cat.
Three-time World Champion Sprinter Silent Witness will lead Black Caviar and her opponents on to the track for the Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes, a fitting event given that Black Caviar will be out to surpass Silent Witness’s record of 17 consecutive wins from debut.
Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Alasdair Robertson, said the Club couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of hosting three bona fide superstars.
“Having Silent Witness and Apache Cat joining a modern-day champion at Caulfield just adds another dimension again to what already shapes as a sensational day,” Mr Robertson said.
“Apache Cat was an unforgettable racehorse that developed a cult following during his career so it will be great to see that baldy face again.
“But Australian racing fans should look particularly forward to seeing Silent Witness, an Australian-bred that was crowned World Champion Sprinter three times but never raced here.
“That Black Caviar is set to outdo his record of 17 straight wins from debut just adds even more romance to the occasion.”
In line with the Melbourne Racing Club’s Caulfield Festival Family Day theme for the February 11 race day, patrons of all ages will have the opportunity to mingle and take photos with the former star pair, who will be situated alongside a Black Caviar-themed marquee containing a photo booth, murals for signing, and other merchandise.
With the public granted free admission on February 11, Melbourne Racing Club members can also expect some perks of their own. This includes a special on pots of beer and Yellowglen Piccolos, which will be on offer exclusively to members for 99 cents and $1.99 respectively from 12-1pm.
With the 2012 renewal of the $1.015m Group 1 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes just 24 sleeps away, 64 two year-olds remain in contention for Victoria’s premier juvenile race as of today’s deadline for third declarations.
That number represents the strongest collection of third declarations taken by the Melbourne Racing Club for five years.
Among the 64 lasting contenders is Mick Price-trained filly Malasun, impressive winner of the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day and the only juvenile still qualified to take out the $1m bonus attached to the Blue Diamond Series.
In order to remain in the running to win the bonus, Malasun must next win the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) on February 11.
The enduring Diamond shortlist also includes Members Joy, the Robert Smerdon-conditioned filly raced by the Melbourne Racing Club’s members.
The most prominent nominator is race sponsor Patinack Farm, which retained nine in the hunt for the million-dollar bounty having originally entered 178 two year-olds in July last year.
David Hayes and Darley are the next best-represented, with eight and six third declarations respectively.
Exceed and Excel is the stallion with the greatest number of progeny still entered with eight, followed by More Than Ready (six) and Casino Prince, who himself stands at Patinack Farm, with five.
For more information on the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes, including the full list of declarations, please click here.
Some big names have been nominated for Saturday’s Caulfield program
The Spring Racing Carnival's most dominant Group 1 winner, the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes favourite and one of Australia's most exciting sprinters are likely to add star factor to Saturday's Caulfield card.
Mosheen, Jimando and Bel Sprinter have all been nominated to kick off campaigns at what is the final Saturday meeting before the Melbourne Festival of Racing begins.
The $100,000 Listed Manfred Stakes (1200m) will see Mosheen make her first appearance since demolishing her rivals in the Crown Oaks in November.
The classy daughter of Fastnet Rock was nominated to tackle Black Caviar in last Friday night's Group 2 Australia Stakes, but trainer Robert Smerdon has opted for the easier option against her own age.
Classy Mick Price-trained gelding Secret Hills, rising star That's The One, consistent colt Highly Recommended and promising stayer Collar are among Mosheen's potential rivals in what is one of four $100,000 Listed events on the eight-event card.
The Chairman's Handicap presents the Tony McEvoy-trained Jimando with the chance to protect his place at the head of Blue Diamond markets.
The hulking son of Commands will return to the scene of his dominant Debutants Stakes win on Thousand Guineas Day, which remains the only time the colt has been to the race.
The 1100m event will almost certainly be his only start before the $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes, at Caulfield on 25 February, for which he is the $5 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.
He has some highly-rated types for possible competition, however, including Maribyrnong Plate runner-up Andre Roo Hoo, Flemington winner Formidable, last week's Blue Diamond Preview placegetter Timely Truce and Peter Snowden-trained blueblood Forget, a son of Exceed And Excel and Thousand Guineas winner Mnemosyne.
Jason Warren's speedy Bel Sprinter, whose five starts have produced four wins and a narrow last-start second in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality, returns in the W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m).
It will be the Bel Esprit gelding's only start before his first shot at Group 1 glory, in the Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate on 25 February, and he should get a good hit out with First Command, Definitely Ready, Decircles and General Truce also among the Adams Stakes entries.
Saturday's other co-feature is the Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m), for which impressive Australia Day winner Rainbow Styling and last-start Listed Christmas Cup winner Sea Galleon head the list of 21 entries.
Most will be on trial for a crack at the $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m), which will be run on Wednesday 15 February and again carries a ballot exemption from this year's $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup.
The full set of entries for all races at Caulfield on Saturday are available via the link
- Racing Victoria