Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
G1 Makybe Diva S. - Australia's best weight-for-age form lines
Can the upset G1 Memsie S. winner Pinstriped (Street Boss) do it again or can Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) turn the tables? And can they hold off the brilliant G1 Winx S. winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock)?
All questions making for an exciting edition of this weight-for-age feature at Flemington, one which was first contested as a Principal race in 1948 over 10 furlongs. The wonderful mare Light Fingers (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}) won its first 1600-metre running in 1965 and she is one of a number of high-class gallopers on its honour roll.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Last century winners of the race then known as the Craiglee S. included Comic Court, Chicquita (Blank {GB}), Aquanita, Tobin Bronze, Rain Lover, Dual Choice (Showdown {GB}), Ming Dynasty (Planet Kingdom), Family Of Man, Dulcify (NZ) (Decies {GB}), Zabeel (NZ), Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Northerly (Serheed {USA}).
That's a great list for a race run as a Group 2 contest, earning its upgrade in 2013 having been renamed six years earlier. Only Chicquita and Sailor's Guide have won the race twice, a feat looking to be equalled by Mr Brightside who was an odds-on favourite beating six others here last year. He came off a G1 Memsie S. victory, the race he was second in a couple of weeks ago.
Pinstriped vies for the same Memsie/Makybe Diva double one which had most recently been achieved by that season's Horse of the Year Dissident in 2014. He is again bigger odds than the horses he defeated with the popular free rolling mare Pride Of Jenni also in the market.
Pinstriped | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It is worth noting that whilst some were disappointed with her Memsie fifth, she has never won first-up but her second-up form (two wins and four placings from seven starts) includes The All-Star Mile over Mr Brightside in March.
But it is none of those horses due to start favourite, that honour going to Via Sistina whose first-up Sydney victory over Zougotcha (Zoustar) and Fangirl (Sebring) was certainly an eye-catcher. She also boasts an excellent second-up record, at this stage of her debut Australian campaign splitting the runaway Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside in a particularly memorable running of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Randwick.
G2 Run To The Rose - Golden Rose-bound rising stars
Resuming off a smart trial victory at Hawkesbury late last month, Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) seeks to continue the recent domination of Godolphin and James Cummings in this race, the all blue in the winner's circle four times in the last five years.
Cylinder, In Secret (I Am Invincible) and Anamoe have taken out the last three runnings of the G1 Golden Rose lead-up whilst Bivouac was successful in 2019.
As a stakes race this is not an old race, first contested as a Listed event in 2006 with quick elevation to Group 3 status the year later and another step up to its current Group 2 level in 2015.
But it is proving an excellent guide to future race success with with Denman, Hallowed Crown, Exosphere, Astern and Bivouac (who have all ended up standing at stud) going on to claim Golden Rose success whilst Mentality (Flying Spur), Pierro, Rothfire (Rothesay) and Anamoe all won at the elite level.
Traffic Warden takes on some extra smart ones on Saturday, Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) so impressive racing away to an easy all-the-way victory in the G3 San Domenico S. when resuming whilst the Western Australian star Bustling (Frosted {USA}) makes his debut for the Price and Kent Jnr stable.
Traffic Warden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Boom colt Switzerland (Snitzel) is also fresh, a couple of soft Rosehill trials having him ready to resume his second campaign with his first seeing him win his first three of four starts. Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) also showed plenty at two.
The other 3-year-olds - exciting types on show at Rosehill and Flemington
Three-year-olds are well catered for on Saturday with another three feature events being held at Rosehill and Flemington, the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality over 1400 metres, the Listed Poseidon S. over 1100 metres and the Listed Exford Plate over 1400 metres.
It is always an exciting time of year to see how last season's best 2-year-olds go on, and to see how much those who were behind them can improve.
Scratched from the Run To The Rose to avoid another confrontation with his stablemate Storm Boy, Mayfair (Fastnet Rock) opened up favourite in the Ming Dynasty. In the first two at each of his three starts to date, he is the only runner coming through the San Domenico S.
Mayfair | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
There are differing form lines to the race including the Listed Rosebud runner-up Clear Proof (Justify {USA}), the G3 Up And Coming S. third placegetter Snack Bar (Frosted) and the lightly raced up-and-comers Henlein (Dundeel {NZ}) and Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel).
Growing Empire (Zoustar) could not have been more impressive taking out the G3 McNeil S. first-up and he has an interesting clash in the Poseidon with a Price and Kent Jnr-trained horse yet to taste defeat; First Settler (Written Tycoon) who is two from two.
There is plenty of black-type form in the race with Dublin Down (Exceedance), Prost (Snitzel), High Octane (Deep Field) and Aardvark (Capitalist) all stakes winners at two.
There are only seven runners in the Exford Plate, a young race which was last year taken out by the subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff (Trapeze Artist).
With his fast-finishing second to Growing Empire, Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) is a worthy favourite, looking suited by the step up from 1200 metres to 1400 metres. He has some smart rivals however with Daggers (I Am Invincible) and Detroit City (Toronado {Ire}) both unbeaten.
Wonder Boy | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Daggers was always in control in what is shaping to be a decent form race at Moonee Valley last month whilst the Dominic Sutton-trained Detroit City came from off the pace to record a dominant win at Flemington in early August.
G2 Let's Elope S. - form reference on and off the track
First run in 1987 as the Listed Milady S., this 1400-metre contest for mares was renamed in honour of Let's Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}) not long after the retirement of that great Bart Cummings-trained chestnut in 1994.
The race has a good history of being won by mares able to go on to further stakes victories and then on to success at stud. Of its 36 different winners; Commanding Jewel (Commands) the only dual winner, 22 have won at least one more stakes race.
Included in that tally are four who have gone on to prove themselves at the elite level, the 1992 winner Mannerism (Amyntor {Fr}) taking out the G1 Show Day Cup (now the Sir Rupert Clarke S.) at her next outing and two starts later the G1 Caulfield Cup. Also taking out the Let's Elope/Rupert Clarke double was Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}) in 2006.
The race is named after the Bart Cummings-trained Let's Elope (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The following year's winner Devil Moon (King Cugat {USA}) won her next two including a hot edition of the G1 Turnbull S. whilst Pinker Pinker (Reset) was in great form in 2011, four starts after her win in this race causing an upset in the G1 WS Cox Plate.
Twelve Let's Elope winners have produced stakes winners; two of those represented by Group 1 horses whilst another four have had two stakes winners. Cats Whisker (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) is dam of the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock) whilst No Evidence Needed (Shamardal {USA}) produced the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce S. winner Move To Strike (I Am Invincible).
Ain't Seen Nothin' (Nothin' Leica Dane) foaled the Group 3 winner Bachman (All American) and the Listed winner Ain'Tnofallenstar (Starcraft {NZ}), Mannerism the Group winners Dandify (Danehill {USA}) and Manner Hill, Rose Of Marizza (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}) the Group 2 winner Buckle My Shoe (Rory's Jester) and the Listed winner Princess Marizza (Scenic {Ire}) whilst the flashy chestnut Rancheetah (Rancher) is dam of the Group 2 galloper Gallopini (Canny Lad) and the Listed winner Land Speed Record.
Quintessa (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
It's an open running of the race this year with five runners from around the country opening at single-figure odds, the last-start G3 Cockram S. winner Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award), the classy South Australian See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet), the Queenslander Wollombi (Extreme Choice) who had no luck in the Cockram, the consistent Western Australian Alsephina (Star Turn) and the recent Caulfield winner Running By (Impending).
G2 Sheraco S. - Joliestar on her Everest quest
This is another female feature with a good record, the race named in honour of the 1982 G1 AJC Oaks winner, won by 21 different mares with six of them going on to win at Group 1 level.
Invincibella (I Am Invincible), Mizzy (Zoustar), Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Heavens Above (Street Cry {Ire}), Driefontein (Fastnet Rock) and More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) are some of the lovely mares on its record.
Sheraco | Image courtesy of Sportpix
As well as the popular grey Catkins (Dubawi {Ire}) who, in 2015 became just the second mare to win this race twice and the first in consecutive years; More Joyous successful in 2010 and 2012.
This is a feat being chased on Saturday by Sunshine In Paris (Invader) who ran so well in Group 1 company over the spring.
She has some tough competition with Chris Waller trying to win the race for a fifth time, saddling up The Everest-bound Joliestar (Zoustar) odds-on on the back of her dominant first-up victory in the G3 Show County Quality.
Sunshine In Paris | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) brings Group 1 form from New Zealand whilst Royal Merchant (Merchant Navy) is also proven in that company whilst the lightly raced 4-year-olds Makarena (Snitzel) and Commemorative (I Am Invincible) have plenty of upside.
The sprinters - speedsters in three states
There is plenty of sprinting action on Saturday with stakes races in three states for the speedsters; the G2 Theo Marks S. over 1300 metres at Rosehill, the Listed Vale Black Caviar S. over 1400 metres at Flemington, the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality over 1200 metres at that same track and the Listed W.H Wylie H. over 1100 metres at Morphettville.
A race won by the likes of Shannon, Time And Tide (Star Kingdom {Ire}), Shogun Lodge (Grand Lodge {USA}), Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago), More Joyous and Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), the Theo Marks has attracted a quality field with favouritism going to Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}).
In action for the first time since an outstanding autumn campaign that culminated in G1 Doncaster H. success, the 4-year-old entire has always carried big raps from trainer Les Bridge and a first-up win by the grey would certainly be a popular one.
Celestial Legend | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Renamed in honour of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), the race registered as the Tontonan S. sees the consistent Nicolini Vito (Nicconi) well-fancied with his form around the likes of Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) reading well.
Bandersnatch (Casino Prince) enjoys a drop in class, Arran Bay (All Too Hard) is of interest having been in such great form last time in and Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) is due a change of luck whilst Makram (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) won a similar race at the track at the start of his last campaign.
Nicolini Vito | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Another race with some very nice horses on its honour roll, the Bobbie Lewis has been won by the likes of Special (Habituate {Ire}), Placid Ark (Arkenstone), Hareeba (Al Hareb {USA}), Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) and Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}).
It's an open edition this year with six of the 11 runners opening at single-figure odds; the fit and in-form Right To Party (Zoustar), Buenos Noches (Supido) who won the Listed Poseidon S. at this mating two years ago, Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) who has been racing well gelded, the consistent Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) and the G1 Goodwood H. second-placed Stretan Angel (Harry Angel).
Right To Party | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The feature event on the Morphettville card, the Wylie is another race of many chances including the G2 Standish H. winner Sghirripa (Lonhro), and the speedy geldings Press Down (Press Statement) and Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and the talented 4-year-olds Marble Nine (Kobayashi) and Lingani (America).
