3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews racing around Australia on June 9.

THE STARS

ANTHONY FREEDMAN/SANTA ANA LANE: It’s been some training achievement with this sprinter to win three G1 races this season in Melbourne. Adelaide and Brisbane including his historic Goodwood/Stradbroke double. With that record why wouldn’t this horse deserve a place in the Everest?

Easy as you like!

Calm and collected was as Santa Ana Lane goes bang, launching past his rivals and onto Group 1 glory in the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Big congratulations to and all connections! pic.twitter.com/OAM8o5YsFQ

— Sky RacingJune 9, 2018

CHRIS WALLER: There was no stopping the Waller train with seven metro wins in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. His feature Group treble at Doomben completes an absolute dominance of the Brisbane carnival as he lands his 13th G1 win for the season and adds quinellas in the G1 JJ Atkins (The Autumn Sun/Zousain) and G2 Queensland Guineas (Sambro/Seaway). His carnival haul has also included quinellas in the G1 Doomben Cup (Comin' Through/Egg Tart), G1 Queensland Oaks (Youngstar/ Another Dollar) and G2 BRC Sires Produce (Lean Mean Machine/Zousain), G2 wins in the PJ O'Shea Stakes and Dane Ripper and a Queensland record for prizemoney in one season on top of his national record.

Special!

The Autumn Sun comes from deep in the field with a commanding turn of foot, arriving in the shadow of the post ahead of stablemate Zousain to win the Group 1 J.J Atkins Plate at just his third start. pic.twitter.com/7wO3zSyW7P

— Sky Racing June 9, 2018

KERRY PARKER/DARK DREAM: A long racing career that began in the 1980s brings its reward with a first G1 win for the talented Kembla Grange trainer. And there’s a good rags to riches story behind the breeding of Dark Dream, a horse certain to make his mark next season.

It was a battle for the ages as Dark Dream goes to the surging Heavenly Thought, proving too good in the end to win the final Group 1 of the day at Doomben for . pic.twitter.com/eI9dAemYwR

— Sky Racing June 9, 2018

JUNGLE EDGE: There are good wet trackers…and then there’s this bloke! What a marvel when the rain is about, and what a horse he has been for his trainer Mick Bell and his 57-year-old veteran rider Kevin Forrester.

TYE ANGLAND: A treble at Randwick underlines his renewed confidence and adds to his best season since he returned from Hong Kong.

LUKE CURRIE: Racing is often about choices. Made the right choice to ride in Adelaide where he landed a winning treble, another lesson in keeping an eye on where jockeys elect to ride.

ANDREW GIBBONS: Hard working Newcastle rider enjoys a big day on his home track with four wins. Love his strike rate at Hunter Valley meetings for the Kris Lees stable.

HIGHLIGHTS

KATE WALTERS: Her daring ride to steal the staying race at Flemington on was worth the price of admission - tearaway leaders always thrill the crowds.

"Kate Walters

Choysa with an epic front-running performance. pic.twitter.com/yyDhxnHXMZ

— Racing.com June 9, 2018

NOEL CALLOW: No place like home. His Flemington double makes that disappointing short stint in NSW a fading memory.

PLOT TWIST: Goes back to back in the Stayers Cup at Randwick. Had to wait 12 months between wins – all he needs is more 3200 metres races.

LOWLIGHTS

MICHAEL WALKER: Collapsed in distress and taken hospital suffering from dehydration after winning the Queensland Guineas on Sambro, the result of wasting 5kg while suffering from the flu.

A SHIN ROOK: It wasn’t all roses for Anthony Freedman at Doomben after his well-supported Japanese import failed to jump and came out lengths behind them in the Wayne Wilson.

BRISBANE CUP: Shame! A poor imitation of a race that was once a centrepiece of the winter carnival.

RIDES OF THE DAY

BEN MELHAM/TIM CLARK: Their winning doubles at Doomben featured super rides in the Stradbroke (Melham) and Derby (Clark). Top Cat gets the nod for his Derby effort on Dark Dream as it is obvious the 3YO is not the easiest horse to ride, especially when Clark had to get aggressive before the turn in a move that won him the race.

The in-form wins his 10th Group 1 aboard Dark Dream in the Queensland Derby. The pair put forth a perfectly timed challenge to give the stable their first win at the Group 1 level. Well deserved! pic.twitter.com/NLUwawqHUQ

— Sky Racing June 9, 2018

QUOTE OF THE DAY• “I think he's the best wet-tracker in Australia – if it looks like being a wet spring then he would give anything a run for its money in The Everest.” – Jungle Edge’s trainer Mick Bell after his sprinter won his 14th race in the wet.

THEY SAID IT!

• “I have been ruthless about who I started in a Group One. I don’t like to run them on a whim. I have had 17 runners in them this season - to put it in perspective I have won six Group Ones this season with just two horses.” - Anthony Freedman on his strike rate with his G1 stars Shoals and Santa Ana Lane.

• “We’ve won it before as a team. Now to win it on my own, it’s a special thing.” – Freedman reflects on past Stradbroke success with his brothers and doing it solo.

• “This carnival is great for horses coming through. It's about gradually getting up to this Group One level and then to springboard off it and catch up to other horses in the spring with confidence." – Chris Waller on his Brisbane carnival success with young horses.

• “It will be interesting to see where he gets to in the spring. He is one I'll definitely be keen to stay on the back of in the big races.” – Kerrin McEvoy puts his hand up for impressive youngster The Autumn Sun.

• “I thought she was going to run a nice third, then a furlong from home when they started paddling I thought she was a chance of winning….and then she sprouted wings.” – James McDonald on Invincibella’s big finish at Doomben.

Three runners hit the line locked together, but it was Invincibella surging up to nab them right on the line under a precise ride to take out the Dane Ripper Stakes for @cwallerracing double on the day. pic.twitter.com/iXd28SBW5B

— Sky Racing June 9, 2018

• “He is the horse of a lifetime. What a dream come true to get a horse that has clocked over $1 million, it’s absolutely unbelievable. He is a beautiful horse.” - trainer Mick Bell’s love for his mudlark Jungle Edge.

• “He is powerful horse. At the 600m he said I'm going so I said, OK off you go. I can't believe I get paid." – Jungle Edge’s jockey Kevin Forrester.

• “I could tell someone was riding with me to get him home.” - Plot Twist’s emotional rider Andrew Adkins lost his grandfather during the week.

• “We always knew two miles was going to be his go. He's just so dour. I wish he had a better turn of foot because we could aim a bit higher with him.” – Plot Twosts’ trainer Peter Snowden.

• “I found out that his mother was a mudder and his father was a mudder so it looks like we've got a mudder.” - Dio D’Oro’s trainer Gary Porteli after his first-up win in the Randwick mud.

• “I got beaten as an apprentice at Manangatang doing that one day so that's something I don't ever do.” – Kate Walters explains why she never looked back on tearaway winner Choysa.

• “I didn't want to pass up this opportunity. I don't get that many opportunities in town so you've got to make them count and hopefully someone will throw you a bone." – Jarrod Fry after a rare Flemington win on Rocket Tommy.

Rocket Tommy, the big grey gelding gets the win with Jarrod Fry aboard. pic.twitter.com/G3qDOS22jh

— Racing.com June 9, 2018

BLACKBOOK

DUCIMUS: Flying finish. Good things ahead.

GOD OF THUNDER: Will show his real talent on a firm surface.

YOUNGSTAR: She’ll be even better as a 4YO.

CRACK ME UP: Should be respected in any company.

SESAR: One to follow next season.