3 minute read
A look at some of the stories of interest outside the Group 1 races on Guineas Day
Bellatrix Star launches in Schillaci Stakes
Bellatrix Star is likely to chase Group 1 honours after beating the older sprinters in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m).
The only three-year-old and the only filly against eight seasoned geldings, Bellatrix Star gave her rivals a galloping lesson in her half-length victory from Perth visitor Oscar's Fortune.
The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is firmly in the view of trainer Mark Walker.
Walker's assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said the filly deserves her chance at the highest level after her impressive victory.
"Dare to dream, dare to dream. She deserves a crack at it now," Gleeson said.
"Hopefully all the good colts and sprinters will go and bash each other up in The Everest and we get every chance at it, and we'd love some rain as well, but I guess that's not a worry now.
"She deserves it."
Herman's Herbert but no Caulfield Cup
Herman Hesse denied those who were hoping to book their Caulfield Cup ticket via the Herbert Power Stakes when he won the $300,000 Group 2.
The imported son of Frankel led home a Ciaron Maher quinella, neither of whom remain in the entries for next weekend's $5m Group 1, when he overpowered Okita Soushi late in the 2400m event.
The victory made it back-to-back wins for the eight-year-old, who was coming off a victory in the Listed Harry White Classic (2400m) at Mornington, but the Caulfield Cup was never a realistic option.
"I'm glad he's put a couple together," Maher said.
"He's probably in career-best form. He looks fantastic and they're going to have a great rest of the Spring Carnival as well."
Third placegetter Fancy Man, who finished one length behind Okita Soushi, was the first home of those who remain entered for the Caulfield Cup with the Sydney stayer left languishing in 41st position in the order of entry.
Jimmy's star on the rise
Jimmysstar did not contest one of the Group 1 races at Caulfield but it seems a matter of time before he asserts himself at the top level after a brilliant win in the $175,000 Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m).
The son of Per Incanto, who started $2.30 favourite, put his hand up for win-of-the-day outside the elite-level events when he swept home from midfield, despite limited urging from jockey Blake Shinn, for a 2-1/4-length win over Superazi ($11) and Who Dares ($8.50).
The victory made it two wins from as many starts this time in for the once-polarising gelding, following a similarly-powerful first-up win over 1100m and trainer Ciaron Maher is already plotting a path towards a Group 1 debut for the five-year-old.
"I thought that Rupert Clarke might suit him," Maher said.
"Late in the carnival, 1400 (metres), have a run in between (and) he's still going to come on. He'll improve again.
"The future's pretty bright for Jimmy."
The $1.5m Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) will be run at Caulfield on November 16.
Aviatress proves her worth
Richard Jolly has always felt Aviatress was good enough to be competitive in races like the $200,000 Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes and on Saturday she proved why.
The daughter of Smart Missile demolished her rivals in the 1200m event.
Craig Williams steered the four-year-old, who started $6, to a 2-3/4-length win over A Little Deep and Bizot in a performance that Jolly could see coming.
"She was struggling to get a run in these races and we needed her rating to be a bit higher, so we opted to stay in Adelaide, which she duly won," Jolly, who trains in partnership with daughter Chantelle, said.
"That bumped her up another four points to an 80 rater, which just helped her secure a run in these races because we've always thought she was good enough, but we were borderline being emergencies and not knowing where we were going.
"Thankfully, we went that path and you saw the best of her today."
The win was the first in Stakes company for Aviatress, who placed in the Listed Lightning Stakes in Adelaide earlier in the campaign, and Jolly said she would now head to a 1400m fillies and mares' race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Mixed Emotions for Lindsay Park to start the day
Lindsay Park training trio experienced contrasting emotions in the first 35 minutes of the program when joy after the opening event was replaced by anguish after Race 2.
Four-year-old mare Extreme Virtue got the Hayes boys' day off to the perfect start when the $8 chance completed a hat-trick of wins, and made it four wins from seven starts overall, with a gritty on-pace win in the 1700m BM80 that launched proceedings.
Not long after, $31 chance Chewing Gum missed by just a long head when she flashed from the rear to finish second in the 1200m event for 3YO fillies.
That race was won by Group 1 Blue Diamond third placegetter Kuroyanagi($4.40), who scored her first win since her debut success in a BM64 at Gawler in a performance that delighted co-trainer Niki O'Shea.
"We knew she was going well, but we just needed to get her back on track and she's done that today."
