With a change in conditions, the VRC has made this into the main carnival sprint.
Effectively the Salinger and other sprint swapped over and now this has the G1 status. Let's see what happens in the leg of the Global Sprint challenge.
2nd: Shadoways (51.5kg), 3rd: Miss Andretti (55.0kg)
Timeform Rating: 122
Dance Hero winning the Salinger Photo by Racing and Sports The 2yo Triple Crown wins seemed light years away. Dance Hero was now a 5yo warrior who'd been in a few dogfights and some injuries since. However there were signs of improvement with his on the pace effort in the Manikato behind Miss Andretti. Getting close to her around Moonee Valley was some effort. He then found Fast 'n' Famous too nippy in the Gilgai. Come Derby Day, the big boy was primed on a big day for Gai. She'd already cleaned up with Tuesday Joy and Desert War so why not add to it. He drew near the outside and ventured near the stands rail. Controlling the speed to his liking, Munce allowed him to do what this horse loved – to bowl along unrestrained. While meeting a series of straight trackers he was never really tested winning by a length from three future G1 winners.
• 2007 – MISS ANDRETTI 6m (Ihtiram x Peggie's Bid) ($1.57 fav)
Miss Andretti kept holding off Gold Edition Photo by Racing and Sports This was the first running of the revitalised race in the WFA format of the G1. Run on the final day it attracted the two champion sprinters Miss Andretti and Gold Edition. After the extraordinary year which had a Lightning, Australia Stks and Newmarket Hcp carrying 56kg, she had gone to England and flown the flag in the Kings Stand with great success. A light Spring followed with first up victory in the old Moir before taking on this G1 WFA test. She'd meet her adversary Gold Edition in a classic. There were only six runners and they all came grandstand. That was until the 900 when Katsidis on the younger mare veered left and went for the inside like a cyclist at the velodrome. Newitt knew this was dangerous and so followed the tete de la course. 'Goldy' had the front for most of the way until MA wore her down in the last 100m. It was a wonderful tactical battle. Sadly this was the beginning of the end as she went hopelessly in Hong Kong and poorly afterwards as she might have been saying I just wanna become a mum. What a ride the connections had though.
• 2008 – SWICK 7g (O'Reilly x Creme Anglaise) ($16)
Jockey: Michael Rodd, Trainer: Bart Cummings
Barrier: 1, Weight: 58.5kg
Gross Time: 1:11.05, 600m Sectional: 35.00
Margin: 0.5L, Track: Dead, Starters: 11
2nd: Turffontein (58.5kg), 3rd: Sunburnt Land (58.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 120
Swick caused an upset win Photo by Racing and Sports Everyone established he loved the Flemington straight. He had taken out the Salinger and was placed in the Lightning and 4th in the Newmarket. Besides the Rupert Clarke run at G1, he only contested straight sixes in the Bobbie Lewis, Gilgai, Salinger and this race. The Salinger was the worst of them and contributed to the price – that and Apache Cat's entry. At the start Triple Honour went down on his nose and his effort to run 4th was excellent. Apache Cat raced fresh and even pulled early, leading up the middle of the track. Despite drawing inside, Rodd pulled him to the outside and as the leaders caved in he swamped them. Apache was first beaten while it was a Cummings quinella with Bart beating Anthony. The third horse looked very promising but sadly he'd lose his life in a lightning strike on the farm.
• 2009 – ALL SILENT 6g (Belong To Me x Lisheenowen) ($4 fav)
Jockey: Nicholas Hall, Trainer: Grahame Begg
Barrier: 7, Weight: 58.5kg
Gross Time: 1:08.78, 600m Sectional: 33.14
Margin: 0.8L, Track: Good, Starters: 9
2nd: Wanted (53.5kg), 3rd: Bank Robber (58.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 127
All Silent flashed home late Photo by Racing and Sports Now All Silent was a Flemington horse if there ever was one. He won twice during the carnival last year including the Emirates and also flew from an impossible position to win the Gilgai Stks a month earlier. While this field was small in number it was high in quality. It included every major G1 winner in Melbourne for the 6 months either side bar Starspangledbanner from the Oakleigh Plate. They came up the middle of the track with Bank Robber and Wanted in front. They didn't look to be going quickly but the time suggests otherwise. Nick Hall had him last but with cover. He was still there at the 300m but came with a brilliant burst to run them all down. Not a lot has gone right since then at Sha Tin, Meydan or in the Newmarket during that freak storm.
• 2010 – BLACK CAVIAR 4m (Bel Esprit x Helsinge) ($1.90 fav)
Jockey: Ben Melham, Trainer: Peter Moody
Barrier: 6, Weight: 56.5kg
Gross Time: 1:07.96, 600m Sectional: 33.36
Margin: 4L, Track: Dead, Starters: 7
2nd: Star Witness (53.5kg), 3rd: Ortensia (56.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 129
Black Caviar wins her first G1 Photo by Racing and Sports Greatness comes in many sizes. For this mare, it came at about 600 plus kilos. We all knew at this time she was good and unbeaten after seven runs had proved that. But sadly for the team, Luke Nolen got suspended on day one of the carnival and missed the ride in the race which would hopefully give the mare her due recognition. So Ben Melham took the ride which was somewhat of a surprise. The expectations were for the clash with Hay List but he'd had issues in the lead up. They came up the middle with Star Witness stalking her. Hay List was under pressure 700m out at the same time as Black Caviar was under a throttle hold. She went that well she was eased down and Melham had time to pose for the photo. The post-race was about where to next with international ambitions possible. But Moody was not going there. “If they want to challenge her, let them come here and have a crack at us.”
RACE PREVIEW
o Comparisons are difficult with the change in conditions.
o 'Flemington horses' tend to run well in this race.
o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner – 5yo (6 times)
o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <1-4> - 4 times (Straight?)
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $9.20
o Breakdown of winners – 5 geldings, 4 mares & 1 entire
o Last 10 Years Kings Stand Stks / Patinack Classic double – Miss Andretti ('07)
o Last 10 Years Gilgai Stks / Patinack Classic double – All Silent ('09)
o Last 10 Years Salinger Stks / Patinack Classic double – Glamour Puss ('05)
o Last 10 Years Newmarket Hcp / Patinack Classic double – Miss Andretti ('07), Rubitano ('02)
o Last 10 Years Bletchingly Stks / Patinack Classic double – Rubitano ('02)
o Last 10 Years Ramornie Hcp / Patinack Classic double – Takeover Target ('04)
o Last 10 Years Lightning Stks / Patinack Classic double – Miss Andretti ('07)
o Last 10 Years Goodwood Hcp / Patinack Classic double – Glamour Puss ('05)
o Last 10 Years Moir Stks / Patinack Classic double – Black Caviar ('10), Miss Andretti ('07)
o Last 10 Years Monash Stks / Patinack Classic double – Rubitano ('02)
SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
The Queen returns to defend her crown and it won't take much to work out this race.
She is a champ Photo by Racing and Sports
At least we can see we get to see her for perhaps one final time at Flemington in her career unless she goes in the Lightning which is doubtful.
Buffering will lead with Curtana and Response not far away and Black Caviar minding her own business outside them.
She just wins and pays 33s on probably.
The exacta horse is the quandary. Response was not great at all in the Myer Classic and maybe has had enough. Dropping back so quickly in trip is not a great prep.
So for that reason we'll go for Mid Summer Music who was excellent on Saturday when getting home hard for sixth in the Salinger, coming from 11th at the 400m.
Every chance Moody could get the trifecta here as Curtana has good straight form prior to last weekend. She might have just had an off day.
