The Racing Weekend In Review 13/3

All eyes were on the running of the All-Star Mile over the weekend with Mugatoo taking out the five million dollar event. Whilst in Sydney the Group 1 Coolmore Classic was the highlight of the day with Krone continuing her hot form to take out the fillies and mares feature. 

Moonee Valley 

It was Moonee Valley’s turn to showcase the All-Star Mile and they absolutely nailed it. With the best quality field since the race was introduced back in 2018, the final product was all that it was built up to be. Coming around the turn you could feel the atmosphere as Hugh Bowman and Damien Oliver found their gaps to make for a thrilling battle between Mugatoo and Russian Camelot down the straight. Once Bowman found the split on the Australian Bloodstock galloper, Mugatoo was able to find an extra length and prevailed in the wet conditions but nevertheless it was a nervous watch for trainer Kris Lees. 

“Coming to the corner I was thinking ‘Just have no bad luck from here, please’,” Lees said.

“He was getting a bit tired once he got that clear running but up the straight, I thought the other one had his measure, but he really rallied and found. It was great to see.”

Arriving in Australia at the end of 2019 as a winner over the longer trips, the Lees trained gelding has rapidly gone through the grades from a Benchmark 88 all the way to winning the richest mile race in the world. Mugatoo now heads to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in four weeks to take on the likes of Addeybb and Verry Elleegant and is currently a $8 chance on TopSport. 

Favourite Probabeel was most disappointing finishing back in 12th after clearly not enjoying the wet conditions. It was the same excuse for multiple runners too however the reigning Cox Plate champion got the conditions to suit but still couldn’t feature in the finish. 

Earlier in the day there were some nice winners including the return of Melbourne Cup fifth place getter Persan. First-up over a shorter trip he wasn’t expected to win but his class prevailed getting the better of Irish Flame. Persan looks one of the strongest local hopes heading into this year’s Melbourne Cup and connections are eyeing off a win in the Andrew Ramsden to guarantee his spot before the international raiders arrive. 

The Maher and Eustace team also produced the winner of Group 2 Alistair Clark Stakes with Grandslam. Jamie Kah was able to send him straight to the front and looked the winner a long way out, going on to win by 6.25 lengths beating some handy horses including Australian Guineas runner up Cherry Tortoni. 

Rosehill

The Coolmore Classic was once again wide open with the underrated Krone bursting through to claim her first Group 1. Similar to Bowman on Mugatoo, jockey Tim Clark was sweating on a split and got just that at the 200 metre mark. The Tony Gollan trained galloper was almost sent to the breeding barn last year but has since gone on to win three in a row and over a million dollars in prize money.

“We only got her last winter up to our place and she was meant to go through the June (Broodmare) sale,’’ Gollan said.

“Then the guys (owners) said ‘what do you think, are you happy to go to the Magic Millions mares race with her?’ and I said ‘well, she’s got a good appetite for her racing still’ and that worked out well.

“Then I thought we’d have a free throw at the stumps at the autumn down here which is a fairly high level again.

“But she’s just been great, I can’t praise the mare enough. She’s done a fantastic job. She’s just a really good mare, in good form and when they’re like this they are hard to beat.”

Favourite Forbidden Love finished back in 12th having no luck in the run. Whilst Vangelic was also held up in the straight and arguably could’ve been in the finish with some luck. The Archie Alexander trained Chaillot ran on well but simply got too far back.  

Earlier in the day, the running of the Group 2 Phar Lap stakes provided Hungry Heart its first win in just over a year. Chris Waller has now won the race the past five years with some impressive names including the likes of Foxplay, Unforgotten, Verry Elleegant and no bigger name than Winx. Hungry Heart will now most likely head to the Group 1 Vinery Stakes over 2000 metres in two weeks. 

It was the final chance for Golden Slipper hopefuls to make their way into the feature next weekend with the running of the Magic Night followed by the Pago Pago. 

Melbourne filly Arcaded further franked the hot Blue Diamond form by winning the fillies division comfortably. It is yet to be decided whether she backs up into the Golden Slipper next weekend but it looks likely she will bypass it and wait for the Group 2 Percy Sykes in four weeks. 

In the Colts and Geldings division, Magic Millions winner Shaquero was back to his best after his flat run in the Skyline a couple of weeks back. He will back up and head into the Golden Slipper next weekend as a great chance with Kerrin McEvoy sticking. Runner up Tiger of Malay was a nose off a guaranteed position in the Slipper and will wait for another race after connections deciding not to pay the late acceptance fee. 

Looking ahead to next weekend…

The Sydney Autumn Carnival ramps up with five Group 1’s including the feature Golden Slipper. The Ranvet Stakes will also feature the return of international raider Addeybb who will do battle with Verry Elleegant. Whilst in Melbourne the final Group 1 for the Autumn takes place on Friday Night at Moonee Valley with the running of the William Reid Stakes. A spot in the Caulfield Cup is also up for grabs to the winner of the Mornington Cup on Saturday with the nominations headed by the exciting Mount Popa.

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