It was another day where the training capabilities of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace were again to the fore after their five-year-old mare Snapdancer led throughout to win the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400 metres) on Saturday.
The Caulfield meeting was also highlighted by several other exciting wins headed by I Wish I Win, Jaquinot and Emissary.
Maher reasoned that Snapdancer’s fitness and racing style would be suited by the Memsie Stakes and his rationale was proven spot on when she led throughout to win.
Snapdancer was ridden perfectly by one of Melbourne’s most promising young jockeys in Ethan Brown whose two Group One wins have come on the mare.
I’m Thunderstruck proved he’s on track for a big spring making up many lengths to finish second behind Snapdancer.
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The Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior three-year-old colt Jaquinot looked as if he had left his immature ways behind him when he produced a brilliant finishing burst to win the McNeil Stakes.
The son of Rubick is on a path towards the Caulfield Guineas.
The win which flew under the radar was that of Emissary in the Heatherlie Handicap.
His astute trainer Mike Moroney said he was a” really nice horse who should be a lightweight chance in the Cups.”
“We sort of threw him in the deep end a bit in the autumn because we thought he was good enough and now he comes to handicaps, he’s going to be nicely in I would think,” Moroney said.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
HE’S HEAVEN
Good first-up effort to finish fourth in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes. He took up a forward position from the outset and travelled well in the run. He looked a winning chance on the turn but was outsprinted in the run to the line. He’ll be better over more ground.
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I WISH I WIN
Another from the Moody stable who simply could not have been more impressive winning his Australian debut. He ran the quickest of four races over 1400 metres including the Memsie Stakes. He ran the fastest last 400 metres of the day in 22.8 seconds and wasn’t pushed out over the closing stages.
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STAR PATROL
He’ll be hard to beat when he gets back to a straight race at Flemington. He wasn’t ridden aggressively in a bid to get him to navigate the turn. He looked a winning chance but wanted to lug in in the straight. He also tired in the closing stages. Don’t drop off him.
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