It’s hard to believe that the Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Flemington carnivals have come and gone. A great deal has been talked about the shortening of our Spring Carnival in terms of awareness amongst the general population. I’ll leave that debate to the marketing experts. But as a Trainer, it always comes and goes quickly!
This Spring we knew we have a rebuilding team with a lot of really nice two-year-olds not ready to head to the races, and a number of unraced or lightly-raced three-year-olds who are still progressing and were considered long-shots to appear on Australia’s biggest stage.
Nonetheless, we have enjoyed taking several runners to the feature racedays, and I was overall pleased with their performances.
Cup Week at Flemington was no exception.
I considered Amarela a very good winning chance on Cup Day in the 1700m mares race, if the speed was genuine. Coming back in grade and stepping up a little in distance, I was confident Amarela would run up to her track work and her physical appearance. That she did, but it was unfortunate that the leader and eventual winner, Sort After, had a cushy run in the lead and kick strongly, with Amarela staying on strongly for third.
Amarela is not a horse we can ride on the speed. She has a powerful turn of foot when settling early in her race and coming off a hot speed, but that sprint goes missing when ridden near the pace. So I decided to back her up in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes on Saturday, over the 2000m trip and in hope for a more solidly run race. Sadly though, we pulled the wrong reign to add blinkers for this race. Michael Walker and I though she would benefit from them as she did look around too much in the closing stages of Tuesday’s race. But she simply travelled too strongly in Saturday’s race, over-racing and unable to sustain her energy in the straight. So no more blinkers for her!
Myself, my team and connections were thrilled with Desert Jeuney‘s third placing in the Cup Day Plate over 1800m. It was a welcome return to form for our Group 1-placed son of Desert King.
“DJ” won well last Spring at Pakenham in a race that has proved to be a decent form reference for 2016. But in the Autumn, he sustained a minor injury forcing a spell. His first-up run this Spring was fair, perhaps lacking in fitness. Then he encountered a very heavy track in the Sale Cup, and some black eyes and lacerations from the clods of dirt flying from horses ahead of him. But he quickly bounced back, and his fast closing third in Tuesday race was a big thrill. DJ now heads to this Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown Ladbrokes Park, in a field very similar to last week.
Following a Listed victory at just his second race start earlier this Spring, and then a luckless run at Caulfield, we took Inside Agent to Flemington on Saturday for the 1400m Hilton Stakes.
I have been so impressed with this colt, a son of Stravinsky that I selected and purchased in New Zealand in early 2015. He has a sharp turn of foot, and I was keen to keep him at 1400m to ensure he gets into a race with speed on and the chance to swoop home and score a second stakes-win.
Saturday’s race panned out perfectly well for him, except Hugh Bowman had to contend with the inside barrier. This was a concern of mine, as Inside Agent is not yet capable of holding a forward position and being comfortable in a pack of horses. That will come in the Autumn I think, but it didn’t help him on Saturday, flying home from last on the turn to run second to talented Souchez.
Inside Agent has gone for a very short spell at Fulmen Park, before getting back on the Acquaciser and then a return to Flemington for feature Autumn races. Which race(s) we target, is still be considered.
Good luck to connections of Distant Sky, Itchicoo Park and Amortise today at Bendigo. All three are first-up after their Winter spells, in fact Amortise is first-up after a 12 month spell following some bruising to a tendon last year.
At Moe on Friday, we have Sonsee Array racing again following a pleasing closing finish last start. Exclusive Lass drops in grade to Friday night’s BM90 955m race at Moonee Valley. I mentioned Desert Jeuney in the Eclipse Stakes on Saturday, and promising middle-distance filly Groovin’ heads to Geelong on Sunday.
I also wish Patrick “Paddy” Pilley good luck today for his first Australian race ride. He has a few rides coming up this week, and other trainers will benefit from his services and 2kg claim this Summer. Read more about Paddy here.
Nigel