Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Another Prophet (Brazen Beau) won a moderate edition of the G1 Thousand Guineas (1600 metres) but Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) broke her Group 1 duck in fast time taking out the Sir Rupert Clarke S. (1400 metres).
The Yulong mare’s winning time of 1:23.52 was 1.7l better than Group 1 average for Caulfield 1400-metre contests. That time was 2s faster than the remaining 2 x 1400-metre races on the day. It was Kimochi’s eighth attempt to win a Group 1 race after placing three times at the elite level prior to Saturday’s victory. She relished the fast tempo. The 4-year-old was 6l off the lead at the 600 metres but was less than a length off benchmark time when she got to that marker. Her last 200 metres was bang on average meaning she has absorbed the pressure well.
Windy Caulfield favours swoopers as Niance defies the odds
Caulfield was a tricky day due to the 40km/hr headwind horses copped down the side from the 800 metres to 400 metres. Cover in run was paramount with only Niance (NZ) (Swiss Ace) able to face the lead and win. Eight of the 10 winners were 3l or more off the lead at the 600 metres. It was a good day for swoopers, who had cover in the run.
Thousand Guineas favourite Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) was most unlucky when she failed to pick up Another Prophet. Her last 200 metres was 2l faster than anything in the race and ranked second for the entire meeting. Aeliana’s jockey, James McDonald, tried for cover from the wind for as long as possible but in a game of inches his run was left just a fraction too late. Earlier in the day Jasmin Rouge put some good data down when she took out the G3 Thoroughbred Club of Australia S. (1200 metres). She broke the class benchmark with a strong close (last 400 metres) that rated 3.4l quicker than we expect from this grade. It was only her second career start, and her rating lifted significantly from her debut.
While we’re talking improved horses, we need to mention Regal Vow (Swear) for Charlotte Littlefield. The stable have shown patience with this now 5-year-old mare, who is posting the best sectionals of her career. Her last 600-metre rating at both runs this prep have been well beyond what we’ve seen from this mare previously. First-up at Moe her last 600 metres was a whopping 12l better than benchmark for grade. That’s why despite finishing third there she went around short odds in a harder race at Caulfield on Saturday. Her last 600 metres there ranked fourth for the day and she can be followed wherever she goes next.
We’ll wrap up Caulfield with the win of the day – Niance’s victory in the G3 How Now S. (1200 metres). The only leader to win, Niance was asked for an effort between the 800 metres and 400 metres, which weakened the last 600 metres of every other horse that tried the same thing at Caulfield. But not Niance, she powered to the line to win comfortably with her last 600 metres 5l quicker than benchmark for Group 3 races. She has developed into a lovely mare that can sustain a good speed. Out of that race came Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}), who clocked the best last 600 metres, 400 metres and 200 metres of the day. She’ll win a race soon.
Townsend shines at Newcastle as rising stars emerge
Newcastle staged its once-a-year Saturday meeting with the highlight being Townsend’s (Dundeel {NZ}) all-the-way victory in the BM88 1850-metre contest.
The blueblood busted the clock beating benchmark time by 5l and doing it all himself out in front.
The G3 Spring S. (1600 metres) victory of Snitzanova (Snitzel) rated only fairly with Ciaron Maher’s filly falling 2l short of average time for the race. But she did it tough being caught wide without cover leaving not much to be said about the beaten brigade.
Gobi Desert (Too Darn Hot {GB}) won the Max Lees Classic (900 metres) leading all the way on a slow tempo. But her acceleration over the last 400 metres was admirable with her stretch burst more than 4l quicker than benchmark. Good Hotpsur (Calyx {GB}) was 6.5l quicker and is worth throwing into the blackbook. So too is Bullets High (NZ) (Ace High), who simply was too far back on a moderate tempo. He’ll win next time in a similar race.
On the Highway to Tattersall’s glory
You might recall we gave a big wrap to Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) after she won two starts ago? There was a Queensland visitor in the race that day named Navyonthehighway (Merchant Navy). She wanted to lay in up the straight. No wonder either, given Belclare was humming along, and the sectionals say Navyonthehighway didn’t see the trip out. I see Chris Munce has nominated her for the Listed Tatersalls Classic (1200 metres) at Doomben on Saturday. If she draws a gate, I’ll be on her. Good luck!
