Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
G1 Coolmore Classic - won by the good ones
The main event on a big card at Rosehill on Saturday is this 1500-metre mares contest, one which earned its Group 1 status in 1984... and it certainly kicked off its upgrade in style with that year's running taken out by the champion grey Emancipation (Bletchingly).
And haven't some grand mares won it since... the likes of Bounding Away (Biscay), Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) and Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) having won it, and they share something else in common - all earning the title of Australian Horse of the Year, as did Emancipation.
So it is certainly a race for the good ones and it has attracted its usual outstanding line up this year, four of whom - Zougotcha (Zoustar), Hinged (Worthy Cause), Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) and Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}) - are already Group 1 winners.
Zougotcha, the current favourite for the G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
With her terrific form lines Zougotcha is going to be hard to beat - in the G2 Millie Fox S. last time out proving too strong for Lady Laguna (Overshare) who took that form to the boys, beating them in last weekend's G1 Canterbury S.
Overall fillies have a good record against the older mares in this race, but the last success story was Typhoon Tracy in 2009. Attempting to step into her shoes is Tropical Squall who comes off an determined all-the-way victory in the G1 Surround S. Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) is another youngster lining up having not had much luck in that same lead-up.
Also in great form winning their last two at stakes level are Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) and Semana (Winning Rupert) whilst Hell Hath No Fury (Hellbent) has won three of her last four. Adding interest to the race is the bold front-running, Cranbourne-trained mare Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) and Semana's talented (Ciaron Maher) stable mates Jennilala (Shalaa {Ire}) and Yonce (NZ) (Proisir).
The All-Star Mile - a one-horse race, or a two-horse race?
Into its sixth year, The All-Star Mile, run at Caulfield, has had its share of ups and downs, this year a number of horses invited to run falling by the wayside in recent weeks. And whilst it is not a race of the depth Racing Victoria would've liked, it does have the state's current star galloper - last year's winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).
He has a tricky gate (11 of 12) to contend with but there is no doubt that, with six Group 1 wins on his record, he has a sizeable class edge on his rivals.
He comes into this race as an odds-on favourite having won both of his assignments this time in, the G1 CF Orr S. and the G1 Futurity S. and the form from his brave G1 WS Cox Plate second-up has held up exceptionally well.
The winner of over $12.3 million in stakes, Mr Brightside came into this race the same way last year - third-up having contested those same races though he was beaten in both; fifth behind Jacquinot in the Orr and second to Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) in the Futurity.
Mr Brightside (NZ), the current favourite for The All-Star Mile at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Both of those races were ran at Sandown last year and he is more of a Caulfield horse - in fact he has been beaten only once from six starts at the course. And he has won 10 of his 16 starts at the 1600 metres... by any measure he is going to prove very hard to beat.
Though there is one horse here who has already claimed his scalp, the bonny mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) too fast for him in last spring's G1 Cantala S. (also at the mile). He did however turn the tables on her in the Orr in which she was nabbed only late.
She was first-up there and second-up on this day last year where she was a such a brave second (pulling up with heat stress) to Espiona (Extreme Choice) in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Last year's All-Star Mile runner-up, the popular chestnut Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), was fourth-up last year having contested the longer G1 Australian Cup (now moved to late March) off a G2 Peter Young S. win and a CF Orr third. This time around he is third-up having had little luck at his last couple.
G1 New Zealand Oaks - the Classic fillies
First run under this current format over the traditional Oaks distance of 2400 metres - in 1974 - the G1 New Zealand Oaks boasts a strong record of producing future big-race winners; many of whom have made their mark in Australia.
We don't have to go far back for that - last year's winner Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) following up her win with success in the G1 Australian Oaks. She was the third filly to complete the double, Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and Domino (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) doing so in 2017 and 1990.
Other winners to enjoy Australian Group 1 success include Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}), Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Miltak (NZ) (McGinty {NZ}).
Last year's New Zealand Oaks winner, Pennyweka (NZ), went on to win the G1 Australian Oaks | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The race is also a very nice one for a broodmare to have on her resume with 18 of its winners since 1974 going on to produce stakes winners, five of those represented by Group 1 winners.
Maurita (NZ) (Harbor Prince {USA}), winner in 1978, made her mark internationally as the dam of the G1 Japan Cup winner Marvelous Crown (Jpn) (Miswaki {USA}) and the G1 Hollywood Turf H. winner Grand Flotilla (USA) (Caro {Ire}) whilst the 1998 winner Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}) produced the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Nadeem.
ATC Oaks winner Domino was represented by the dual Group 1 winner Hero (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}) whilst the 2013 winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready {USA}) is another to have enjoyed success overseas with her son Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) taking out this year's G1 Japanese St Leger.
The most influential winner however is Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}), the terrific race filly who at her next start won the G2 Surround S. at Randwick - a race now run at Group 1 level.
But it was at stud that she really made her mark as the dam of Savabeel - winner of the G1 WS Cox Plate and the G1 Spring Champion S. and one of the most influential New Zealand-based stallions of recent times.
Qali Al Farrasha (NZ), the current favourite for the G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Three of his daughters - Amarelinha (NZ), Savaria (NZ) and Savvy Coup (NZ) - have won this race and whilst he does not have a runner this year, Sol De Otono (NZ) (The Autumn Sun) and Saxs 'N' Silks (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) could provide him with his first New Zealand Oaks as broodmare sire.
Standing in their way as the main chances are Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) whose jockey Opie Bosson shares the record (with Chris Johnson) of number of Oaks victories; currently sitting on a tally of five with Amarelinha his most recent in 2021.
Last year's winning jockey - Ryan Elliot aboard Pennyweka has another nice chance in the shape of Harlow Rocks (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) whilst others with good leadup form include Still Bangon (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}), Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) and Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}).
G3 Magic Night S. - a last minute Slipper berth
The last chance for a precocious filly to make her way into next weekend's G1 Golden Slipper S., this 1200-metre feature at Rosehill - named after the 1961 Slipper winner - has on six occasions been won by a filly to go onto win the big one.
And it was not too long ago that this happened, Kiamichi (Sidestep) completing the double in 2019, joining in doing so Bint Marscay (Marsay) in 1993, Bounding Away in 1986, Dark Eclipse (Baguette) in 1980, Century Miss (Century) in 1979 and Toy Show (Showdown {GB}) in 1975... the year this race kicked off.
Castanya, second favourite for the G3 Magic Night S. at Rosheill | Image courtesy of Sportpix
With the boys (in Sydney at least) looking to have the edge this year, none of this race's contestants are high up in Slipper betting, the shortest-priced of them - at 33-1 - being the last-start Lonhro Plate winner Castanya (Capitalist) who is one of the four runners being kept safe at single-figure odds in the Magic Night.
Form from the G2 Sweet Embrace S. won by Manaal (Tassort) is expected to hold up here; those coming through that race including the game runner-up Fly Fly (Trapeze Artist), the fourth-placed Chateau Miraval (Zousain) who set up a good clip in front and Totoka (Brutal {NZ}) who ran sixth having done it tough out wide.
G3 Pago Pago S. - another chance for a Slipper run, this one for the boys
Another last minute G1 Golden Slipper leadup, at Rosehill, named after a winner of the big race, it saw Shinzo (Snitzel) become the first to land the double since Stratum's success in 2005.
Just another two horses have managed to take out both races - Inspired (Vain) in 1984 and the flashy chestnut Rory's Jester the year after.
As is the case with the Magic Night, none of these horses are high up in Slipper markets though the favourite here - the impressive Canterbury maiden debut winner Gatsby's (Snitzel) - is by no means unfancied for next week's race, quoted at 25-1.
He rises in class but the form from his Friday victory has certainly held up, the runner-up (who he had 0.75l on) Roselyn's Star (Shalaa {Ire}) bolting in with her maiden at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday whilst the third-placed Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was second in the G2 Reisling S.
Gatsby's, the current favourite for the G3 Pago Pago S. at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Victorian visitor Coleman (Pierata) was at face value out of the placings as favourite in the G1 Blue Diamond S. but he did race greenly and was not a long way off them. He was impressive easily defeating G3 Magic Night contender Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) in the G3 Chairman's S. at his previous outing.
Dublin Down (Exceedance) was also out of the money in the Blue Diamond but did not have a great deal of room in which to get his momentum going.
Meanwhile the Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) form is here with the favourite's stablemate Duvana (Dundeel {NZ}) a game G2 Skyline S. third behind that Slipper favourite at just his second outing - at debut running into another of next weekend's leading fancies in Switzerland (Snitzel).
Listed Redoute's Choice S. - named after one star, won by another!
A young race (first contested in 2008) for young horses, it has been contested on 16 occasions with half of its winners going on to further stakes success.
Some smart types are amongst that tally - such as Cannonball (Capitalist), Oregon's Day (Domesday) and Smokin' Joey (Encosta De Lago) but the 15 other winners combined have not won anywhere the number of feature races by the horse who was having her just her second run when contesting this race (then run in May as the Blue Sapphire S.) in 2009.
She'd won at her Flemington debut by 5l, she won this race by six. And few got much closer to her than that during her 25-start/25-win career... we are of course talking about the mighty Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
Black Caviar, winner of the Listed Redoute's Choice S. in 2009 | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It was a decent form race that year, Black Caviar leaving in her wake Demerit and Carrara who both went on to enjoy Group success.
Last year's winner I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible) hasn't won since but did hold the form up with a game G1 Coolmore Stud S. second to Ozzmosis (Zoustar) last spring.
So, will there be horses worthy of following coming out of this race this year - one which was run a few weeks later in April 2023?
Being sent out an odds-on favourite on the back of her dominant all-the-way victory in the Listed Festival S. down the Flemington straight is Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) who has only one rival to have already won a race - Immortal Star (I Am Immortal).
Bold Bastille, the current favourite for the Listed Redoute's Choice S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sky Cap (Capitalist), the stakes-placed Flying Straz (Strasbourg) and Yes Lulu (Yes Yes Yes) have all shown ability and also tackling the race is the debutant Comanche Miss (by Castelvecchio out of the G3 Tesio S. winner Ocean Challenger by Rubiton) who has been coming along nicely at the jump-outs.
